Categories
Business

NICE Actimize recognized for technology innovation for the sixth consecutive year in the Chartis 2021 RiskTech100® rankings

Achieving a top ten ranking in the RiskTech100, NICE Actimize also received a category honor for its communications monitoring solution capabilities

HOBOKEN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–NICE Actimize, a NICE (NASDAQ: NICE) business, has been recognized by Chartis Research as the category winner for Communications Monitoring in its recently released 2021 RiskTech100® rankings. In addition to the Communications Monitoring category leadership accolade, NICE Actimize also maintained its position in the “Top Ten” of Chartis’ comprehensive list of top 100 global vendors in risk and compliance technology, achieving its sixth consecutive year in the top ten rankings. Chartis Research, part of Infopro Digital, is a leading provider of research and analysis on the global market for risk technology.

Reflecting overall value delivered to the financial services market, NICE Actimize achieved among the highest average scores across a range of parameters. The Chartis RiskTech100® ranking assessment criteria comprise six equally-weighted categories: functionality, core technology, strategy, customer satisfaction, market presence and innovation. The RiskTech100® only includes companies that sell their own risk management software products and solutions.

Observed Mark Feeley, Global Brand Director, Chartis Research, “Coronavirus has had a profound effect on societies, economies and markets, with impacts that may be longer-lasting than anyone has predicted. Notably, however, in a RiskTech context, COVID-19, rather than introducing new dynamics to RiskTech markets, has accelerated and amplified those that were already there. The pandemic has highlighted serious issues that had been lurking beneath the surface for some time. Addressing these issues and more, we congratulate NICE Actimize on this year’s success and as a continuing leader in the RiskTech100®.”

Chris Wooten, EVP, NICE, said, “As the market continues to turn to NICE Actimize for innovation and support, this year was unprecedented as we provided our customers with targeted solutions to meet the unique needs of this difficult environment. The work at home environment, in particular, required specialized attention in communication monitoring and we were the first to achieve certification in Microsoft Teams for unified communications recording. Our appreciation to Chartis for honoring our market leadership in financial crime and our communications monitoring capabilities.”

About Chartis

Chartis Research is the leading provider of research and analysis on the global market for risk technology. It is part of Infopro Digital, which owns market-leading brands such as Risk and WatersTechnology. The goal of Chartis Research is to support enterprises as they drive business performance through improved risk management, corporate governance and compliance, and to help clients make informed technology and business decisions by providing in-depth analysis and actionable advice on virtually all aspects of risk technology.

RiskTech Quadrant®, RiskTech100® and FinTech QuadrantTM are registered trademarks of Infopro Digital Services Limited (http://www.chartis-research.com).

About NICE Actimize

NICE Actimize is the largest and broadest provider of financial crime, risk and compliance solutions for regional and global financial institutions, as well as government regulators. Consistently ranked as number one in the space, NICE Actimize experts apply innovative technology to protect institutions and safeguard consumers and investors assets by identifying financial crime, preventing fraud and providing regulatory compliance. The company provides real-time, cross-channel fraud prevention, anti-money laundering detection, and trading surveillance solutions that address such concerns as payment fraud, cybercrime, sanctions monitoring, market abuse, customer due diligence and insider trading. Find us at www.niceactimize.com, @NICE_Actimize or Nasdaq: NICE.

About NICE

NICE (Nasdaq: NICE) is the world’s leading provider of both cloud and on-premises enterprise software solutions that empower organizations to make smarter decisions based on advanced analytics of structured and unstructured data. NICE helps organizations of all sizes deliver better customer service, ensure compliance, combat fraud and safeguard citizens. Over 25,000 organizations in more than 150 countries, including over 85 of the Fortune 100 companies, are using NICE solutions. www.nice.com.

Trademark Note: NICE and the NICE logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NICE Ltd. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners. For a full list of NICE’s marks, please see: www.nice.com/nice-trademarks.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including the statements by Mr. Wooten, are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of NICE Ltd. (the “Company”). In some cases, such forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “seek,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “project,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results or performance of the Company to differ materially from those described herein, including but not limited to the impact of changes in economic and business conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; competition; successful execution of the Company’s growth strategy; success and growth of the Company’s cloud Software-as-a-Service business; changes in technology and market requirements; decline in demand for the Company’s products; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; difficulties or delays in absorbing and integrating acquired operations, products, technologies and personnel; loss of market share; an inability to maintain certain marketing and distribution arrangements; the Company’s dependency on third-party cloud computing platform providers, hosting facilities and service partners;, cyber security attacks or other security breaches against the Company; the effect of newly enacted or modified laws, regulation or standards on the Company and our products and various other factors and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, refer to the Company’s reports filed from time to time with the SEC, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise them, except as required by law.

Contacts

Corporate Media Contact:

Cindy Morgan-Olson, +1 551 256 5000, ET, NICE Actimize, cindy.morgan-olson@niceactimize.com

Investors:

Marty Cohen, +1 551 256 5354, ET, ir@nice.com
Yisca Erez, +972 9 775 3798, CET, ir@nice.com

Categories
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Wynonna Judd opens up on “Fox & Friends” about her decadeslong battle with anxiety and how she’s spending her time quarantining on her Tennessee farm.

 

— FOX News

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New York’s $226 billion pension fund is dropping fossil fuel stocks

The fund will divest from many fossil fuels in the next five years and sell its shares in other companies that contribute to global warming by 2040.

— NYT: Top Stories

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Zara and Mike Tindall currently share two daughters: Mia Grace, 6, and Lena Elizabeth, 2.

 

— FOX News

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Work-from-home scheme targeting Latinas netted $7 million, U.S. says

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— NYT: Top Stories

Categories
Business

Campbell reports first-quarter fiscal 2021 results and increases quarterly dividend

  • Net Sales increased 7%; Organic Net Sales increased 8% reflecting continued elevated demand for Campbell’s brands.
  • Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) increased 45% to $461 million. Adjusted EBIT increased 18% to $463 million.
  • Earnings Per Share (EPS) from Continuing Operations of $1.02 increased 82%. Adjusted EPS of $1.02 increased 31%.
  • Increases quarterly dividend by 6% to $0.37 per share.
  • Provides guidance for the second quarter of fiscal 2021.

CAMDEN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) today reported results for its first-quarter fiscal 2021 and announced a 6% increase to its quarterly dividend.

Continuing Operations

Three Months Ended

($ in millions, except per share)

Nov. 1, 2020

Oct. 27, 2019

% Change

Net Sales

As Reported (GAAP)

$

2,340

$

2,183

7

%

Organic

8

%

Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT)

As Reported (GAAP)

$

461

$

317

45

%

Adjusted

$

463

$

392

18

%

Diluted Earnings Per Share

As Reported (GAAP)

$

1.02

$

0.56

82

%

Adjusted

$

1.02

$

0.78

31

%

Note: A detailed reconciliation of the reported (GAAP) financial information to the adjusted financial information is included at the end of this news release.

CEO Comments

Mark Clouse, Campbell’s President and CEO, stated, “Fiscal 2021 is off to a strong start with first-quarter sales growth across both divisions and double-digit gains in EBIT and EPS. Our Meals & Beverages division continued to drive impressive sales and margin growth as we positioned our brands to align with macro consumer trends, and retailers rebuilt inventory for the holidays and the heart of soup season. Snacks continued to deliver strong results while increasing capacity in key power brands. We continue to build a high-performing Snacks business with differentiated brands and improving margins.”

Clouse continued: “The Board approved a 6% increase in our quarterly dividend, reflecting the company’s strong earnings performance, cash flows and increasing confidence in our long-term growth prospects, as well as our continued commitment to shareholder returns.”

Items Impacting Comparability for Continuing Operations

The table below presents a summary of items impacting comparability in each period. A detailed reconciliation of the reported (GAAP) financial information to the adjusted information is included at the end of this news release.

Diluted Earnings Per Share

Three Months Ended

Nov. 1, 2020

Oct. 27, 2019

As Reported (GAAP)

$

1.02

$

0.56

Restructuring charges, implementation costs and other related costs associated with cost savings initiatives

$

0.02

$

0.03

Net pension settlement gains

$

(0.01

)

$

Charges associated with divestiture

$

$

0.20

Adjusted*

$

1.02

$

0.78

*Numbers may not add due to rounding.

First-Quarter Results from Continuing Operations

Net sales increased 7% to $2.34 billion driven by gains in both Meals & Beverages and Snacks. Organic net sales grew 8% driven by a 6% increase in volume and mix and a 2% increase from lower levels of promotional spending. The volume increase reflected heightened demand as at-home food consumption remained elevated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as improved retailer soup inventories. Organic net sales exclude the impact from the sale of the European chips business in fiscal 2020.

Gross margin increased from 33.8% to 34.7%. Excluding items impacting comparability in the current year, adjusted gross margin increased 100 basis points to 34.8% driven primarily by moderated promotional spending and favorable mix, offset partly by slightly higher net supply chain costs as productivity improvements and improved operating leverage were more than offset by cost inflation, other operational costs and COVID-19 related costs.

Marketing and selling expenses increased 1% to $208 million, driven primarily by increased investments in advertising and consumer promotion, partly offset by the benefits of cost savings initiatives, lower marketing overhead and lower selling expenses. Administrative expenses increased 5% to $141 million. Excluding items impacting comparability, adjusted administrative expenses increased by $11 million, or 9%, driven primarily by higher benefit costs, general administrative costs and inflation, partially offset by the benefits of cost savings initiatives.

Other income was $18 million compared to other expenses of $56 million in the prior year. Excluding items impacting comparability, adjusted other income was $14 million compared to $8 million in the prior year.

As reported EBIT increased 45% to $461 million. Excluding items impacting comparability, adjusted EBIT increased 18% to $463 million primarily due to higher sales volumes, improved gross margin performance and lower selling expenses, offset partly by increased marketing investment and higher adjusted administrative expenses.

Net interest expense was $55 million compared to $80 million in the prior year reflecting lower levels of debt. Taxes increased to $97 million compared to $68 million in the prior year. Excluding items impacting comparability, the adjusted tax rate decreased 20 basis points to 23.8% from 24.0%.

As reported and adjusted EPS from continuing operations were $1.02 per share. Excluding items impacting comparability, adjusted EPS from continuing operations increased 31% reflecting an increase in adjusted EBIT and lower net interest expense.

Cash flows from operations of $180 million were comparable to the prior year. Capital expenditures were $74 million compared to $98 million in the prior year. The decline was due to capital expenditures associated with discontinued operations in the prior year. Capital expenditures for continuing operations were comparable to the prior year. In the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the company paid $108 million of cash dividends, or the equivalent of $0.35 per share, reflecting our commitment to shareholder returns.

Cost Savings Program from Continuing Operations

In the first quarter of fiscal 2021, Campbell achieved $15 million in savings under its multi-year cost savings program, inclusive of Snyder’s-Lance synergies, bringing total program-to-date savings to $740 million. Campbell remains on track to deliver annualized savings of $850 million by the end of fiscal 2022.

Quarterly Dividend Increase

The company’s Board of Directors has approved an increase in its quarterly dividend from $0.35 per share to $0.37 per share, an increase of 6%, or $1.48 on an annualized basis. The quarterly dividend is payable Feb. 1, 2021, to shareholders of record at the close of business Jan. 9, 2021.

Campbell Provides Second-Quarter Fiscal 2021 Guidance

The impact of the continuing pandemic on the company’s fiscal 2021 results is uncertain and makes it difficult to provide a full-year outlook at this time. Based on our expectation of a continued elevated demand landscape and increased investment in our brands, the company is providing second-quarter fiscal 2021 guidance as set forth in the table below:

Continuing Operations

Q2 2020

Results

Q2 2021

Guidance

($ in millions, except per share)

Net Sales

$2,162

+5% to +7%

Adjusted EBIT

$364*

+5% to +7%

Adjusted EPS

$0.72*

+12% to +15%

$0.81 to $0.83

* Adjusted – refer to the detailed reconciliation of the reported (GAAP) financial information to the adjusted financial information at the end of this news release.

Note: A non-GAAP reconciliation is not provided for 2021 guidance as certain amounts are not estimable, such as pension and postretirement mark-to-market adjustments, and these items are not considered to reflect the company’s ongoing business results.

Segment Operating Review

An analysis of net sales and operating earnings by reportable segment follows:

Three Months Ended Nov. 1, 2020

($ in millions)

Meals & Beverages*

Snacks*

Total

Net Sales, as Reported

$1,342

$998

$2,340

Volume and Mix

11%

1%

6%

Price and Sales Allowances

—%

—%

—%

Promotional Spending

2%

2%

2%

Organic Net Sales

12%

4%

8%

Divestiture

—%

(3)%

(1)%

% Change vs. Prior Year

12%

1%

7%

Segment Operating Earnings

$333

$139

% Change vs. Prior Year

18%

11%

*Numbers may not add due to rounding.

Note: A detailed reconciliation of the reported (GAAP) net sales to organic net sales is included at the end of this news release.

Meals & Beverages

Net sales, both reported and organic, in the quarter increased 12% reflecting increases across U.S retail products, including gains in U.S. soup, inclusive of Pacific Foods soups and broths, Prego pasta sauces, V8 beverages, Campbell’s pasta and Pace Mexican sauces, as well as gains in Canada, partially offset by declines in foodservice. Volume was favorable in U.S. retail and Canada, driven by increased demand of food purchases for at-home consumption, offset partly by the negative impact on foodservice as a result of shifts in consumer behavior and continued COVID-19 related restrictions. Sales of U.S. soup increased 21% due to retailers rebuilding inventory for the upcoming soup season, in-market gains in condensed soups and broth and moderated promotional activity.

Segment operating earnings increased 18%. The increase was primarily due to sales volume gains and improved gross margin performance, offset partly by increased marketing investment. Gross margin performance was impacted by the lower levels of promotional spending and favorable mix, as productivity improvements and improved operating leverage were offset by other operational costs, cost inflation and COVID-19 related costs.

Snacks

Net sales in the quarter increased 1%. Excluding the impact from the sale of the European chips business, organic sales increased 4% fueled by our power brands. Contributors to growth were lower levels of promotional spending as well as healthy velocity on the majority of the base business including volume gains in fresh bakery products, Late July snacks, Pop Secret popcorn, Pepperidge Farm cookies, Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps as well as Kettle Brand potato chips, partly offset by declines in Lance sandwich crackers. Sales of Goldfish crackers were relatively flat in the quarter, as increased demand for family size products was offset by reduced away-from-home consumption.

Segment operating earnings increased 11% driven by lower selling expenses, lower marketing overhead and sales volume gains partly offset by higher administrative expenses. Gross margin performance was consistent with prior year as lower levels of promotional spending were offset by higher net supply chain costs as productivity improvements, cost savings initiatives and improved operating leverage were more than offset by cost inflation and COVID-19 related costs.

Corporate

Corporate expenses were $10 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $87 million in the prior year. Corporate expenses in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 included costs related to cost savings initiatives of $5 million and pension settlement gains of $4 million. Corporate expenses in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 included charges related to the sale of the European chips business of $64 million and costs of $8 million related to cost savings initiatives. Excluding these amounts, the remaining decrease in expenses primarily reflects losses on investments in the prior year.

Conference Call and Webcast

Campbell will host a conference call to discuss these results today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To join, dial +1 (703) 639-1316. The access code is 4837006. Access to a live webcast of the call with accompanying slides, as well as a replay of the call will be available at investor.campbellsoupcompany.com/events-and-presentations. A recording of the call will also be available until midnight on December 23, 2020, at +1 (404) 537-3406. The access code for the replay is 4837006.

Reportable Segments

Campbell Soup Company earnings results are reported as follows:

Meals & Beverages includes the retail and foodservice businesses in the U.S. and Canada. The segment includes the following products: Campbell’s condensed and ready-to-serve soups; Swanson broth and stocks; Pacific Foods broth, soups and non-dairy beverages; Prego pasta sauces; Pace Mexican sauces; Campbell’s gravies, pasta, beans and dinner sauces; Swanson canned poultry; Plum baby food and snacks; V8 juices and beverages; and Campbell’s tomato juice.

Snacks includes Pepperidge Farm cookies, crackers, fresh bakery and frozen products in U.S. retail, including Milano cookies and Goldfish crackers, as well as Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels, Lance sandwich crackers, Cape Cod and Kettle Brand potato chips, Late July snacks, Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps, Pop Secret popcorn, Emerald nuts, and other snacking products in the U.S. and Canada. The segment also includes the retail business in Latin America.

About Campbell Soup Company

Campbell (NYSE:CPB) is driven and inspired by our purpose, “Real food that matters for life’s moments.” For generations, people have trusted Campbell to provide authentic, flavorful and affordable snacks, soups and simple meals, and beverages. Founded in 1869, Campbell has a heritage of giving back and acting as a good steward of the planet’s natural resources. The company is a member of the Standard and Poor’s 500 and the FTSE4Good Index. For more information, visit www.campbellsoupcompany.com or follow company news on Twitter via @CampbellSoupCo.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains “forward-looking statements” that reflect the company’s current expectations about the impact of its future plans and performance on the company’s business or financial results. These forward-looking statements, including any statements made regarding sales, EBIT and EPS guidance, rely on a number of assumptions and estimates that could be inaccurate and which are subject to risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause the company’s actual results to vary materially from those anticipated or expressed in any forward-looking statement include: (1) impacts of, and associated responses to, the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) the company’s ability to execute on and realize the expected benefits from its strategy, including growing sales in snacks and maintaining its market share position in soup; (3) the impact of strong competitive responses to the company’s efforts to leverage its brand power with product innovation, promotional programs and new advertising; (4) the risks associated with trade and consumer acceptance of product improvements, shelving initiatives, new products and pricing and promotional strategies; (5) the ability to realize projected cost savings and benefits from cost savings initiatives and the integration of recent acquisitions; (6) disruptions to the company’s supply chain and/or operations, as well as fluctuations in the supply of and inflation in energy and raw and packaging materials cost; (7) the company’s ability to manage changes to its organizational structure and/or business processes, including selling, distribution, manufacturing and information management systems or processes; (8) changes in consumer demand for the company’s products and favorable perception of the company’s brands; (9) changing inventory management practices by certain of the company’s key customers; (10) a changing customer landscape, with value and e-commerce retailers expanding their market presence, while certain of the company’s key customers maintain significance to the company’s business; (11) product quality and safety issues, including recalls and product liabilities; (12) the possible disruption to the independent contractor distribution models used by certain of the company’s businesses, including as a result of litigation or regulatory actions affecting their independent contractor classification; (13) the uncertainties of litigation and regulatory actions against the company; (14) the costs, disruption and diversion of management’s attention associated with activist investors; (15) a material failure in or breach of the company’s information technology systems; (16) impairment to goodwill or other intangible assets; (17) the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; (18) increased liabilities and costs related to the company’s defined benefit pension plans; (19) the company’s ability to attract and retain key talent; (20) negative changes and volatility in financial and credit markets, deteriorating economic conditions and other external factors, including changes in laws and regulations; (21) unforeseen business disruptions in one or more of the company’s markets due to political instability, civil disobedience, terrorism, armed hostilities, extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, other pandemics or other calamities; and (22) other factors described in the company’s most recent Form 10-K and subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company disclaims any obligation or intent to update the forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (unaudited)

(millions, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended

November 1, 2020

October 27, 2019

Net sales

$

2,340

$

2,183

Costs and expenses

Cost of products sold

1,527

1,445

Marketing and selling expenses

208

206

Administrative expenses

141

134

Research and development expenses

20

22

Other expenses / (income)

(18

)

56

Restructuring charges

1

3

Total costs and expenses

1,879

1,866

Earnings before interest and taxes

461

317

Interest, net

55

80

Earnings before taxes

406

237

Taxes on earnings

97

68

Earnings from continuing operations

309

169

Loss from discontinued operations

(3

)

Net earnings

309

166

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

Net earnings attributable to Campbell Soup Company

$

309

$

166

Per share – basic

Earnings from continuing operations attributable to Campbell Soup Company

$

1.02

$

.56

Loss from discontinued operations

(.01

)

Net earnings attributable to Campbell Soup Company

$

1.02

$

.55

Weighted average shares outstanding – basic

302

301

Per share – assuming dilution

Earnings from continuing operations attributable to Campbell Soup Company

$

1.02

$

.56

Loss from discontinued operations

(.01

)

Net earnings attributable to Campbell Soup Company

$

1.02

$

.55

Weighted average shares outstanding – assuming dilution

304

303

CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF SALES AND EARNINGS (unaudited)

(millions, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended

November 1, 2020

October 27, 2019

Percent

Change

Sales

Contributions:

Meals & Beverages

$

1,342

$

1,194

12

%

Snacks

998

989

1

%

Total sales

$

2,340

$

2,183

7

%

Earnings

Contributions:

Meals & Beverages

$

333

$

282

18

%

Snacks

139

125

11

%

Total operating earnings

472

407

16

%

Corporate

(10

)

(87

)

Restructuring charges

(1

)

(3

)

Earnings before interest and taxes

461

317

45

%

Interest, net

55

80

Taxes on earnings

97

68

Earnings from continuing operations

309

169

Loss from discontinued operations

(3

)

Net earnings

309

166

86

%

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

Net earnings attributable to Campbell Soup Company

$

309

$

166

86

%

Per share – assuming dilution

Earnings from continuing operations attributable to Campbell Soup Company

$

1.02

$

.56

82

%

Loss from discontinued operations

(.01

)

Net earnings attributable to Campbell Soup Company

$

1.02

$

.55

85

%

CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

(millions)

November 1, 2020

October 27, 2019

Current assets

$

2,463

$

1,738

Current assets of discontinued operations

315

Plant assets, net

2,352

2,352

Intangible assets, net

7,327

7,371

Other assets

275

390

Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations

944

Total assets

$

12,417

$

13,110

Current liabilities

$

2,906

$

3,252

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

183

Long-term debt

4,996

6,706

Other liabilities

1,742

1,679

Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations

41

Total equity

2,773

1,249

Total liabilities and equity

$

12,417

$

13,110

Total debt*

$

6,080

$

8,344

Total cash and cash equivalents*

$

722

$

176

*Includes discontinued operations as of October 27, 2019.

CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

(millions)

Three Months Ended

November 1, 2020

October 27, 2019

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net earnings

$

309

$

166

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flow

Restructuring charges

1

3

Stock-based compensation

16

14

Pension and postretirement benefit income

(20

)

(18

)

Depreciation and amortization

76

81

Deferred income taxes

25

(9

)

Loss on sales of businesses

104

Other

21

28

Changes in working capital, net of divestitures

Accounts receivable

(189

)

(174

)

Inventories

(38

)

(37

)

Prepaid assets

8

6

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(28

)

32

Other

(1

)

(14

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

180

182

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of plant assets

(74

)

(98

)

Purchases of route businesses

(1

)

(3

)

Sales of route businesses

3

2

Sales of businesses, net of cash divested

368

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

(72

)

269

Cash flows from financing activities:

Short-term borrowings, including commercial paper

2,508

Short-term repayments, including commercial paper

(123

)

(2,447

)

Long-term repayments

(399

)

Dividends paid

(108

)

(107

)

Treasury stock issuances

1

Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation

(13

)

(9

)

Other

(1

)

Net cash used in financing activities

(245

)

(453

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

(1

)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

(137

)

(3

)

Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of period

859

31

Cash balance of discontinued operations — beginning of period

148

Cash balance of discontinued operations — end of period

(115

)

Cash and cash equivalents — end of period

$

722

$

61

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

First Quarter Ended November 1, 2020

Campbell Soup Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission in certain communications. These non-GAAP financial measures are measures of performance not defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and should be considered in addition to, not in lieu of, GAAP reported measures. Management believes that also presenting certain non-GAAP financial measures provides additional information to facilitate comparison of the company’s historical operating results and trends in its underlying operating results, and provides 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.

Organic Net Sales

Organic net sales are net sales excluding the impact of currency, acquisitions, and divestitures. Management believes that excluding these items, which are not part of the ongoing business, improves the comparability of year-to-year results. A reconciliation of net sales as reported to organic net sales follows.

Three Months Ended

November 1, 2020

October 27, 2019

% Change

(millions)

Net Sales,
as
Reported

Impact of

Currency

Organic

Net Sales

Net Sales,
as
Reported

Impact of

Divestiture

Organic

Net Sales

Net Sales,
as
Reported

Organic

Net Sales

Meals & Beverages

$

1,342

$

$

1,342

$

1,194

$

$

1,194

12

%

12

%

Snacks

998

998

989

(25

)

964

1

%

4

%

Total Net Sales

$

2,340

$

$

2,340

$

2,183

$

(25

)

$

2,158

7

%

8

%

Contacts

INVESTOR CONTACT:
Rebecca Gardy

(856) 342-6081

rebecca_gardy@campbells.com

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Business

Crestron launches new Microsoft Teams scheduling panels

Crestron adds Teams software to its new 70 Series hardware to create a workplace solution that gives on-site employees comprehensive, real-time control over their office environment.

ROCKLEIGH, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Crestron, the global leader in workplace technology, today announces the new Crestron 70 Series Scheduling Panels integrated with Microsoft Teams®. The Crestron collaboration with Microsoft will drive the scheduling device category for enterprise applications to the next level, as both companies have made commitments to supporting and reimagining the workplace of the future, including managing meeting spaces more efficiently.

Building upon the recently launched Crestron’s 70 Series products, the new scheduling panels bring Teams meeting scheduling functionality to panel displays. The Crestron Scheduling Panels provide in-office employees with the ability to manage and monitor room availability and capacity using enterprise tools and software that they’re already familiar with, such as Microsoft Exchange and the Teams Admin Center.

Room Scheduling Emerges as Key Tool to Connecting Co-workers In-Office

As companies strive to bring simplicity and confidence to on-site employees, room scheduling has emerged as a key tool in the modern workplace. Crestron’s new 70 Series Scheduling Panels for Teams panels will provide a native Teams experience for in-office employees with a comprehensive overview of each room’s status in real-time, including occupancy, availability, cleanliness, and more via the Teams panel functionality coupled with Crestron hardware for any bookable spaces. The ability to gather, share, and act on room scheduling data in real time helps keep employees and management efficient and compliant with reconfigured safety protocols.

Employees use Teams panels to view meeting room details, reserve a space, view upcoming reservations, and easily identify the current availability of a room. Designed to be mounted outside the meeting room, the Crestron Scheduling Panel displays data from inside the room to the people approaching the room, avoiding issues before they arise. Network-based occupancy sensors provide data to notify employees when a room is at capacity or automatically release the space if no one shows up. Employees can even locate an available room close by with the “Nearby Rooms” feature in the event their desired room is occupied.

“In the reconfigured workplace, the journey to the room is just as important as the room itself, particularly as we face challenges in re-opening physical spaces post-pandemic,” said Andrew Gross, Sr. Director, UC Enterprise, Crestron. “Our collaboration with Microsoft represents a step forward in the room scheduling device category, an important component of supporting and building the workplace of the future. The Crestron 70 Series Scheduling Panels offer more than just the ability to book meetings – organizations can now better understand room utilization and improve how they manage their spaces which keeps organizations and their employees safe and informed.”

“The new Crestron 70 Series Scheduling Panels unlock the full Microsoft Teams Room experience and will let customers optimize and track the use of meeting spaces. Together with Crestron, we aim to provide a way to monitor and manage space usage, enforce company policies, and plan for future technology investments, all based on Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365,” said Albert Kooiman, Director of Microsoft Teams Devices Partner Engineering and Certification.

Crestron 70 Series Room Scheduling Panels are enterprise-grade devices engineered to meet the demands of a corporate office, conference center, or higher education environment.

Flexibility to Suit Evolving Company Needs

With Crestron Room Scheduling, customers can future-proof their investment by purchasing a single hardware solution from Crestron. Customers can then upgrade for future solutions and capabilities, such as Teams integration, without having to replace or purchase new hardware. Support staff have the ability to configure the panels with new partners via firmware updates and confirm room status without needing to be on-site. Organizations are also able to configure, deploy, and manage their Crestron Scheduling Panels remotely through the Teams Admin Center augmented by the onboard Crestron XiO Cloud® platform.

Offering enterprise-grade networking and robust security features, the Crestron 70 Series Scheduling Panels feature proximity sensors that wake upon approach to reveal the intuitive user interface, as well as dual USB 2.0 ports, and add-on capabilities such as an optional RFID indicator that controls badge access to rooms to support contact tracing.

Available in black and white finishes, the new panels feature a modern design and thin bezel with 7” and 10” sizes. Crestron offers a variety of options for mounting the panels to drywall, masonry, glass, mullions, and other surfaces.

In addition to direct integration with Teams, the 70 Series products integrate seamlessly with more than 15 scheduling partners to optimize the use of meeting spaces, as well as customize experiences through integration of first and third-party apps.

Availability

Crestron 70 Series Scheduling Panels are available for order today with a Microsoft Teams firmware upgrade available in Q1 2021. Crestron customers can install the hardware now and connect to Microsoft Exchange, with the ability to switch to the Teams panel experience once generally available. For more information and pricing options, please visit: www.crestron.com/roomscheduling

About Crestron

At Crestron we build technology for every way people work, everywhere in the world – from desktop to boardrooms, offices to multi-nationals. Technology that adapts to what you have and prepares you for what you’ll need. Platforms, devices, and systems designed to improve communication and collaboration. All managed by a cloud-based system for easy deployment, monitoring and upgrading. At Crestron we create faster, better, simpler solutions so people can work faster, better, and more productively.

Our products are backed by more than 90 fully-staffed offices that provide 24 x 7 x 365 sales, technical, and training support across the globe. In addition to our World Headquarters in Rockleigh, New Jersey, Crestron has sales and support offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Australia. Discover Crestron by visiting www.crestron.com.

All brand names, product names, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Certain trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Crestron disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Crestron is not responsible for errors in typography or photography. ©2020 Crestron Electronics, Inc.

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For Edit

AP sources: Biden picks Lloyd Austin as secretary of defense

FILE – In this Sept. 16, 2015, photo, U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. Lloyd Austin III, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. Biden will nominate retired four-star Army general Lloyd J. Austin to be secretary of defense. That’s according to three people familiar with the decision who spoke on condition of anonymity because the selection hadn’t been formally announced. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden will nominate retired four-star Army general Lloyd J. Austin to be secretary of defense, according to four people familiar with the decision. If confirmed by the Senate, Austin would be the first Black leader of the Pentagon.

Biden selected Austin over the longtime front-runner candidate, Michele Flournoy, a former senior Pentagon official and Biden supporter who would have been the first woman to serve as defense secretary. Biden also had considered Jeh Johnson, a former Pentagon general counsel and former secretary of homeland defense.

The impending nomination of Austin was confirmed by four people with knowledge of the pick who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the selection hadn’t been formally announced. Biden offered and Austin accepted the post on Sunday, according to a person familiar with the process.

As a career military officer, the 67-year-old Austin is likely to face opposition from some in Congress and in the defense establishment who believe in drawing a clear line between civilian and military leadership of the Pentagon. Although many previous defense secretaries have served briefly in the military, only two — George C. Marshall and James Mattis — have been career officers. Marshall also served as secretary of state.

Like Mattis, Austin would need to obtain a congressional waiver to serve as defense secretary. Congress intended civilian control of the military when it created the position of secretary of defense in 1947 and prohibited a recently retired military officer from holding the position.

One of the people who confirmed the pick said Austin’s selection was about choosing the best possible person but acknowledged that pressure had built to name a candidate of color and that Austin’s stock had risen in recent days.

Austin is a 1975 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served 41 years in uniform.

Biden has known Austin at least since the general’s years leading U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq while Biden was vice president. Austin was commander in Baghdad of the Multinational Corps-Iraq in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected president, and he returned to lead U.S. troops from 2010 through 2011.

Austin also served in 2012 as the first Black vice chief of staff of the Army, the service’s No. 2-ranking position. A year later he assumed command of U.S. Central Command, where he fashioned and began implementing a U.S. military strategy for rolling back the Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.

Austin retired from the Army in 2016, and he would need a congressional waiver of the legal requirement that a former member of the military be out of uniform at least seven years before serving as secretary of defense. That waiver has been granted only twice — most recently in the case of Mattis, the retired Marine general who served as President Donald Trump’s first Pentagon chief.

The Mattis period at the Pentagon is now viewed by some as evidence of why a recently retired military officer should serve as defense secretary only in rare exceptions. Although Mattis remains widely respected for his military prowess and intellect, critics say he tended to surround himself with military officers at the expense of a broader civilian perspective. He resigned in December 2018 in protest of Trump’s policies.

Loren DeJonge Schulman, who spent 10 years in senior staff positions at the Pentagon and the National Security Council, said she understands why Biden would seek out candidates with a deep understanding of the military. However, she worries that appointing a general to a political role could prolong some of the damage caused by Trump’s politicization of the military.

“But retired generals are not one-for-one substitutes of civilian leaders,” she said. “General officers bring different skills and different perspectives, and great generals do not universally make good appointees.”

Austin has a reputation for strong leadership, integrity and a sharp intellect. He would not be a prototypical defense secretary, not just because of his 41-year military career but also because he has shied from the public eye. It would be an understatement to say he was a quiet general; although he testified before Congress, he gave few interviews and preferred not to speak publicly about military operations.

When he did speak, Austin did not mince words. In 2015, in describing how the Islamic State army managed a year earlier to sweep across the Syrian border to grab control of large swaths of northern and western Iraq, Austin said the majority of Iraqi Sunnis simply refused to fight for their government.

“They allowed — and in some cases facilitated — ISIS’s push through the country,” Austin said.

He earned the admiration of the Obama administration for his work in Iraq and at Central Command, although he disagreed with Obama’s decision to pull out of Iraq entirely in December 2011.

Austin was involved in the Iraq War from start to finish. He served as an assistant commander of the 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and oversaw the withdrawal in 2011. When Austin retired in 2016, Obama praised his “character and competence,” as well as his judgment and leadership.

One person familiar with the matter said Biden was drawn to Austin’s oversight of the Iraq pull-out, especially given the military’s upcoming role in supporting the distribution of the coronavirus vaccines.

Like many retired generals, Austin has served on corporate boards. He is a member of the board of directors of Raytheon Technologies.

Word of Austin’s selection broke a day before a meeting between Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and civil rights groups, many of whom had pushed the president-elect to pick more Black Cabinet members.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist, said Monday: “It’s a good choice that I think many in the civil rights community would support. It’s the first time we have seen a person of color in that position. That means something, in a global view, especially after such an antagonistic relationship we had with the previous administration.”

Sharpton, who is set to be in the meeting with Biden on Tuesday, called the choice “a step in the right direction but not the end of the walk.”

Politico first reported Biden’s selection of Austin.

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Lemire reported from Wilmington, Del. AP Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace contributed to this report.

— Associated Press

Categories
For Edit

Safe harbor law locks Congress into accepting Biden’s win

In this Dec. 4, 2020, photo, President-elect Joe Biden speaks about jobs at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. Other than Wisconsin, every state appears to have met a deadline in federal law that essentially means Congress has to accept the electoral votes that will be cast next week and sent to the Capitol for counting on Jan. 6. Those votes will elect Joe Biden as the country’s next president. It’s called a safe harbor provision because it’s a kind of insurance policy by which a state can lock in its electoral votes by finishing up certification of the results and any state court legal challenges by a congressionally imposed deadline, which this year is Tuesday, Dec. 8. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Happy Safe Harbor Day, America.

Other than Wisconsin, every state appears to have met a deadline in federal law that essentially means Congress has to accept the electoral votes that will be cast next week and sent to the Capitol for counting on Jan. 6. Those votes will elect Joe Biden as the country’s next president.

It’s called a safe harbor provision because it’s a kind of insurance policy by which a state can lock in its electoral votes by finishing up certification of the results and any state court legal challenges by a congressionally imposed deadline, which this year is Tuesday.

“What federal law requires is that if a state has completed its post-election certification by Dec. 8, Congress is required to accept those results,” said Rebecca Green, an election law professor at the William & Mary law school in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The Electoral College is a creation of the Constitution, but Congress sets the date for federal elections and, in the case of the presidency, determines when presidential electors gather in state capitals to vote.

In 2020, that date is Dec. 14. But Congress also set another deadline, six days before electors meet, to insulate state results from being challenged in Congress.

By the end of the day, every state is expected to have made its election results official, awarding 306 electoral votes to Biden and 232 to President Donald Trump.

The attention paid to the normally obscure safe harbor provision is a function of Trump’s unrelenting efforts to challenge the legitimacy of the election. He has refused to concede, made unsupported claims of fraud and called on Republican lawmakers in key states to appoint electors who would vote for him even after those states have certified a Biden win.

But Trump’s arguments have gone nowhere in court in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Most of his campaign’s lawsuits in state courts challenging those Biden victories have been dismissed, with the exception of Wisconsin, where a hearing is scheduled for later this week.

Like the others, the lawsuit does not appear to have much chance of succeeding, but because it was filed in accordance with state law procedures for challenging election results, “it’s looking to me like Wisconsin is going to miss the safe harbor deadline because of that,” said Edward Foley, a professor of election law at Ohio State University’s Moritz School of Law.

Judge Stephen Simanek, appointed to hear the case, has acknowledged that the case would push the state outside the electoral vote safe harbor.

Missing the deadline won’t deprive Wisconsin of its 10 electoral votes. Biden electors still will meet in Madison on Monday to cast their votes and there’s no reason to expect that Congress won’t accept them. In any case, Biden would still have more than the 270 votes he needs even without Wisconsin’s.

But lawmakers in Washington could theoretically second-guess the slate of electors from any state that misses the Dec. 8 deadline, Foley said.

Already one member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., has said he will challenge electoral votes for Biden on Jan. 6. Brooks would need to object in writing and be joined by at least one senator. If that were to happen, both chambers would debate the objections and vote on whether to sustain them.

But unless both houses agreed to the objections, they would fail.

The unwillingness of Trump and his supporters to concede is “dangerous because in an electoral competition, one side wins, one side loses and it’s essential that the losing side accepts the winner’s victory. What is really being challenged right now is our capacity to play by those rules,” Foley said.

The safe harbor provision played a prominent role in the Bush v. Gore case after the 2000 presidential election. The Supreme Court shut down Florida’s state-court-ordered recount because the safe-harbor deadline was approaching. The court’s opinion was issued Dec. 12, the deadline in 2000.

Vice President Al Gore conceded the race to George W. Bush, then the Texas governor, the next day.

In his dissent, Justice Stephen Breyer said the deadline that really mattered was the day on which the Electoral College was scheduled to meet. Whether there was time to conduct a recount by then “is a matter for the state courts to determine,” Breyer wrote.

When Florida’s electoral votes, decisive in George W. Bush’s victory, reached Congress, several Black House members protested, but no senators joined in. It was left to Gore, who presided over the count as president of the Senate, to gavel down the objections from his fellow Democrats.

 

— Associated Press

Categories
Science

Feds passed up chance to lock in more Pfizer vaccine doses

President Donald Trump speaks after awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, to Olympic gold medalist and former University of Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration opted last summer not to lock in a chance to buy millions of additional doses of one of the leading coronavirus vaccine contenders, a decision that could delay the delivery of a second batch of doses until manufacturer Pfizer fulfills other international contracts.

The revelation, confirmed Monday by people familiar with the matter, came a day before President Donald Trump aimed to take credit for the speedy development of forthcoming coronavirus vaccines at a White House summit Tuesday.

Pfizer’s vaccine is expected to be endorsed by a panel of Food and Drug Administration advisers as soon as this week, with delivery of 100 million doses — enough for 50 million Americans — expected in coming months.

Under its contract with Pfizer, the Trump administration committed to buy an initial 100 million doses, with an option to purchase as many as five times more.

This summer, the White House opted not to lock in an additional 100 million doses for delivery in the second quarter of 2021, according to people who spoke about the matter on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly.

Days ahead of the vaccine’s expected approval, the administration is reversing course, but it is not clear that Pfizer, which has since made commitments to other countries, will be able to meet the latest request on the same timeline.

The Pfizer vaccine is one of two on track for emergency FDA authorization this month, the other coming from drugmaker Moderna.

The Trump administration insisted late Monday that between those two vaccines and others in the pipeline, the U.S. will be able to accommodate any American who wants to be vaccinated by the end of the second quarter of 2021.

The administration’s decision not to lock in additional Pfizer purchases last summer was first reported by The New York Times. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told NBC the administration is “continuing to work across manufacturers to expand the availability of releasable, of FDA-approved vaccine as quickly as possible. … We do still have that option for an additional 500 million doses.”

Seeking to tamp down public skepticism over the vaccine and secure a key component of Trump’s legacy, Tuesday’s summit will highlight the administration’s plans to distribute and administer the vaccine. But officials from President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team, which will oversee the bulk of the largest vaccination program in the nation’s history once he takes office Jan. 20, were not invited.

The “Operation Warp Speed” summit will feature Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and a host of government experts, state leaders and business executives, as the White House looks to explain that the vaccine is safe and lay out the administration’s plans to bring it to the American people.

Senior administration officials provided details on the summit on Monday. An official with the Biden transition confirmed no invitation was extended.

Officials from the pharmaceutical companies developing the vaccines also were not expected to attend, despite receiving invitations, according to people familiar with the matter. Some expressed concerns about the event contributing to the politicization of the vaccine development process and potentially further inhibiting public confidence in the drugs.

Trump is set to kick off the event with remarks aiming to “celebrate” vaccine development, according to an official who previewed the event. Trump also will sign an executive order to prioritize Americans for coronavirus vaccines procured by the federal government. A second official said the order would restrict the U.S. government from donating doses to other nations until there is excess supply to meet domestic demand. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans for the summit.

It was not immediately clear what, if any, impact the order would have on other nations’ abilities to access the vaccines. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday he expects his country to receive about 250,000 doses of a vaccine from Pfizer by the end of the year.

The Food and Drug Administration’s panel of outside vaccine experts is to meet Thursday to conduct a final review of the Pfizer drug, and it will meet later this month on a vaccine developed by Moderna. The FDA is not required to follow the panel’s advice, though it usually does. Agency decisions on the two drugs are expected within days of each meeting. Both have been determined to be 95% effective against the virus that causes COVID-19. Plans call for distributing and then administering about 40 million doses of the two companies’ vaccines by the end of the year — with the first doses shipping within hours of FDA clearance.

Biden said Friday that “there’s no detailed plan that we’ve seen” for how to get the vaccines out of containers, into syringes and then into people’s arms.

Trump administration officials insist that such plans have been developed, with the bulk of the work falling to states and municipal governments to ensure their most vulnerable populations are vaccinated first. The administration says it has leveraged partnerships with manufacturers, distributers and health care providers, so that outside of settings like veterans’ hospitals, “it is highly unlikely that a single federal employee will touch a dose of vaccine before it goes into your arm.”

In all, about 50,000 vaccination sites are enrolled in the government’s distribution system, the officials said.

Each of the forthcoming vaccines has unique logistical challenges related to distribution and administration. The Pfizer vaccine must be transported at super-cooled temperatures, and comes in batches of 975 doses. Each vial contains 5 doses, requiring careful plannning. The administration has prepared detailed videos for providers on how to safely prepare and administer doses, to be posted after the FDA issues its emergency use authorization.

One such plan is to be announced Tuesday: Pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens have stood up a “mobile vaccination service” ready to vaccinate people in every nursing home and long-term care facility in the country. The roughly 3 million residents of those facilities are among the most vulnerable for COVID-19 and have been placed at the front of the line to access the vaccine, along with more than 20 million healthcare workers. So far 80-85% of the facilities have signed on to the service, the officials said.

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AP writers Jonathan Lemire in Wilmington, Delaware, and Linda Johnson in Trenton, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

— Associated Press