EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1278027
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 1278027_10-K_2021_0001558370-21-002267.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business.
Overview
The terms “B&G Foods,” “our,” “we” and “us,” as used in this report, refer to B&G Foods, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, except where it is clear that the term refers only to the parent company. Throughout this report, we refer to our fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, December 30, 2017, December 29, 2018, December 28, 2019, January 2, 2021 and January 1, 2022 as “fiscal 2016,” “fiscal 2017,” “fiscal 2018,” “fiscal 2019,” “fiscal 2020” and “fiscal 2021,” respectively. Our fiscal year is the 52 or 53 week reporting period ending on the Saturday closest to December 31. Fiscal 2021 contains 52 weeks, fiscal 2020 contained 53 weeks and fiscal 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 each contained 52 weeks.
B&G Foods manufactures, sells and distributes a diverse portfolio of branded, high quality, shelf-stable and frozen food and household products across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Many of our branded products have leading regional or national market shares. In general, we position our products to appeal to the consumer desiring a high quality and reasonably priced product. We complement our branded product retail sales with institutional and foodservice sales and private label sales.
B&G Foods, including our subsidiaries and predecessors, has been in business for over 125 years. We were incorporated in Delaware on November 25, 1996 under the name B Companies Holdings Corp. On August 11, 1997, we changed our name to B&G Foods Holdings Corp. On October 14, 2004, B&G Foods, Inc., then our wholly owned subsidiary, was merged with and into us and we were renamed B&G Foods, Inc.
Our company has been built upon a successful track record of both organic and acquisition-related growth. Our goal is to continue to increase sales, profitability and cash flows through organic growth, disciplined acquisitions of complementary branded businesses and new product development. Since 1996, we have successfully acquired and integrated more than 50 brands into our company.
The table below includes some of the acquisitions and the divestiture we have completed in recent years:
Date
Significant Event
December 2020
Acquisition of the Crisco brand of oils and shortening from The J. M. Smucker Co., referred to as the “Crisco acquisition” in the remainder of this report.
May 2019
Acquisition of Clabber Girl Corporation, including the Clabber Girl, Rumford, Davis, Hearth Club and Royal brands of retail baking powder, baking soda and corn starch, and the Royal brand of foodservice dessert mixes, from Hulman & Company, referred to as the “Clabber Girl acquisition” in the remainder of this report.
October 2018
Divestiture of Pirate Brands, including the Pirate’s Booty, Smart Puffs, and Original Tings brands, which was sold to The Hershey Company, referred to as the “Pirate Brands sale” in the remainder of this report.
July 2018
Acquisition of the McCann’s brand of premium Irish oatmeal from TreeHouse Foods, Inc., referred to as the “McCann’s acquisition” in the remainder of this report.
October 2017
Acquisition of Back to Nature Foods Company, LLC and related entities, including the Back to Nature and SnackWell’s brands, from Brynwood Partners VI L.P., Mondelēz International and certain other sellers, referred to as the “Back to Nature acquisition” in the remainder of this report.
December 2016
Acquisition of Victoria Fine Foods, LLC, and a related entity, from Huron Capital Partners and certain other sellers, referred to as the “Victoria acquisition” in the remainder of this report.
November 2016
Acquisition of the spices & seasonings business of ACH Food Companies, Inc., including the Spice Islands, Tone’s, Durkee and Weber brands, referred to as the “spices & seasonings acquisition” in the remainder of this report.
November 2015
Acquisition of the Green Giant and Le Sueur brands from General Mills, Inc., referred to as the “Green Giant acquisition” in the remainder of this report.
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Products and Markets
The following is a brief description of some of our brands and product lines:
The Green Giant and Le Sueur brands trace their roots to Le Sueur, Minnesota in 1903, and the Minnesota Valley Canning Company. For more than 100 years, fresh and great-tasting Green Giant and Le Sueur vegetables have been grown and picked at the peak of perfection in the Valley of the Jolly Green Giant. In the remainder of this report, we generally refer to the Green Giant and Le Sueur brands collectively as the “Green Giant brand.”
The Crisco brand was introduced in 1911 and has revolutionized the way food is prepared and the way it tastes. From being the first shortening product made of plant based oils and oil seeds to creating the first cooking oil that was promoted for its light taste, Crisco has been making life in the kitchen more delicious for years. Today, Crisco is the number one brand of vegetable shortening, the number one brand of vegetable oil and also holds a leadership position in other cooking oils and cooking sprays.
The Ortega brand has been in existence since 1897. Its products span the shelf-stable Mexican food segment including taco shells, tortillas, seasonings, dinner kits, taco sauces, peppers, refried beans, salsas and related food products.
Clabber Girl, which originated as a wholesale grocery company dating back to the 1850’s, is a leader in baking products, including baking powder, baking soda and corn starch. In addition to Clabber Girl, the number one retail baking powder brand, product offerings also include the Rumford, Davis, Hearth Club and Royal brands of retail baking powder, baking soda and corn starch, and the Royal brand of foodservice dessert mixes.
The Maple Grove Farms of Vermont brand, which originated in 1915, is one of the leading brands of pure maple syrup sold in the United States. Other products under the Maple Grove Farms of Vermont label include a line of gourmet salad dressings, sugar free syrups, marinades, fruit syrups, confections, pancake mixes and organic products.
The Cream of Wheat brand was introduced in 1893 and is among the leading brands and one of the most trusted and widely recognized brands of hot cereals sold in the United States. Cream of Wheat is available in Original, Whole Grain and Maple Brown Sugar stove top, and also in instant packets of Original and other flavors. We also offer Cream of Rice, a gluten-free, rice-based hot cereal.
The Dash brand, which was introduced in 1983 as the original brand in salt-free seasonings, is available in more than a dozen blends. In 2005, the leading brand in salt-free seasonings introduced salt-free marinades. Dash’s brand essence, “Salt-Free, Flavor-Full,” resonates with consumers and underscores the brand’s commitment to provide healthy products that fulfill consumers’ expectations for taste. Prior to 2020, the brand was known as Mrs. Dash.
Victoria Fine Foods is a Brooklyn-based business founded in 1929. The Victoria brand offers a variety of premium pasta and specialty sauces, savory condiments and tasty gourmet spreads. Using traditional cooking methods, Victoria sauces are slow kettle-cooked to ensure rich flavor and a homemade taste. Committed to its values of quality, honesty, authenticity and community, Victoria believes that Ingredients Come First.
Back to Nature has been a pioneer in the better-for-you snack foods category and it is a leading cookie and cracker brand in the category. The Back to Nature brand’s product offerings include plant-based, Non-GMO Project Verified, organic and gluten free products.
The Bear Creek Country Kitchens brand is the leading brand of hearty dry soups in the United States. Bear Creek Country Kitchens also offers a line of savory pasta dishes and hearty rice dishes.
The Weber brand of seasonings and other flavor enhancers was introduced in 2006 under a licensing agreement with Weber-Stephen Products LLC, maker of the popular Weber grills. Under the Weber brand, we offer a wide range of grilling seasoning blends, rubs, marinades, sprays and sauces.
The Spice Islands brand, established in San Francisco in 1941, is a leading premium spices and extracts brand offering a diverse line of high quality products including spices, seasonings, dried herbs, extracts, flavorings and sauce blends. The brand’s offerings include organic products.
The Las Palmas brand originated in 1922 and primarily includes authentic Mexican enchilada sauce, chili sauce and various pepper products.
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The Mama Mary’s brand was introduced in 1986 and is a leading brand of shelf-stable pizza crusts. Mama Mary’s also offers pizza sauces and premium gourmet pepperoni slices.
The Polaner brand was introduced in 1880 and is comprised of a broad array of fruit-based spreads as well as jarred wet spices such as chopped garlic and oregano. Polaner All Fruit is a leading national brand of fruit-juice sweetened fruit spread. The spreads are available in more than a dozen flavors. Polaner Sugar Free preserves are the second leading brand of sugar free preserves nationally.
The Underwood brand’s “Underwood Devil” logo, which was registered in 1870, is believed to be the oldest registered trademark still in use for a prepackaged food product in the United States. Underwood meat spreads, which were introduced in the late 1860s, include deviled ham, white-meat chicken, roast beef, corned beef and liverwurst.
The Tone’s brand started as a family business in 1873 and was responsible for many of the early advancements in the spice industry. The Tone’s brand sells predominantly in the club channel while also servicing traditional grocery.
The Ac’cent brand was introduced in 1947 as a flavor enhancer for meat preparation and is generally used on beef, poultry, fish and vegetables. We believe that Ac’cent is positioned as a unique flavor enhancer that provides food with the “umami” flavor sensation.
The Bloch & Guggenheimer (B&G) brand originated in 1889, and its pickle, pepper and relish products are a leading brand in the New York metropolitan area. This line consists of shelf-stable pickles, peppers, relishes, olives and other related specialty items.
The New York Style brand was created in 1985 and includes Original Bagel Crisps, Pita Chips and Panetini Italian Toast.
The B&M brand was introduced in 1927 and is the original brand of brick-oven baked beans and remains one of the very few authentic baked beans. The B&M line includes a variety of baked beans and brown bread. The B&M brand currently has a leading market share in the New England region.
The Grandma’s brand of molasses, which was introduced in 1890, is the leading brand of premium-quality molasses sold in the United States. Grandma’s molasses products are offered in two distinct styles: Grandma’s Original Molasses and Grandma’s Robust Molasses.
The Spring Tree brand originated in 1976 in Brattleboro, Vermont, and consists of pure maple syrup and sugar free syrup.
The Trappey’s brand, which was introduced in 1898, has a Louisiana heritage. Trappey’s products fall into two major categories-high quality peppers and hot sauces, including Trappey’s Red Devil.
The Old London brand was created in 1932 and offers a wide variety of flavors available in melba toasts, melba rounds and other snacks. Old London also markets specialty snacks under the Devonsheer brand name.
The McCann’s brand has been in existence since 1800 and offers classic traditional steel cut Irish oatmeal as well as convenience-oriented oatmeal products.
The Don Pepino and Sclafani brands originated in 1955 and 1900, respectively, and primarily include pizza and spaghetti sauces, whole and crushed tomatoes and tomato puree.
The Durkee brand was established in 1850 and, like our Tone’s brand, started as a family business and was an early leader in the spice industry.
The TrueNorth brand was introduced in 2008. TrueNorth nut cluster snacks combine freshly roasted nuts, a dash of sea salt and just a hint of sweetness. TrueNorth varieties include almond pecan crunch, chocolate nut crunch and cashew crunch.
The Emeril’s brand was introduced in 2000 under a licensing agreement with celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. We offer a line of pasta sauces, seasonings, cooking stocks, mustards and cooking sprays under the Emeril’s brand name.
The Baker’s Joy brand was introduced in 1982 and is the original brand of no-stick baking spray with flour. Baker’s Joy’s product proposition has been to “generate a perfect release from the pan every time,” making baking easier, faster and more successful for everyday bakers.
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The Cary’s brand originated in 1904 and is the oldest brand of pure maple syrup in the United States. Cary’s also offers sugar free syrup.
The Joan of Arc brand, which originated in 1895, includes a full range of canned beans including kidney, chili and other varieties.
The Wright’s brand was introduced in 1895 and is a seasoning that reproduces the flavor and aroma of pit smoking in meats, chicken and fish. Wright’s is offered in three flavors: Hickory, Mesquite and Applewood.
The SnackWell’s brand of reduced fat snacks originated in 1992. SnackWell’s offerings include a variety of delicious reduced fat products such as its signature Devil’s Food Cookie Cakes and peanut-free treats such as its tasty Vanilla Creme Sandwich Cookies.
The Sugar Twin brand, primarily sold in Canada, was developed in 1968 and is a calorie free sugar substitute.
The Regina brand, which has been in existence since 1949, includes vinegars and cooking wines. Regina products are most commonly used in the preparation of salad dressings as well as in a variety of recipe applications, including sauces, marinades and soups.
The Static Guard brand, the number one brand name in static elimination sprays, created the anti-static spray category when it was launched in 1978 to fulfill a previously unmet consumer need. The brand’s ability to consistently deliver on its promise to “instantly eliminate static cling” has resulted in a loyal consumer following.
The Brer Rabbit brand has been in existence since 1907 and currently offers mild and full-flavored molasses as well as blackstrap molasses. Mild molasses is designed for table use and full-flavored molasses is typically used in baking, barbeque sauces and as a breakfast syrup.
The Sa-són brand was introduced in 1947 as a flavor enhancer used primarily for Puerto Rican and Hispanic food preparation. The product is generally used on beef, poultry, fish and vegetables. The brand’s flavor enhancer is offered in four flavors: Original, Coriander and Achiote, Garlic and Onion, and Tomato. We also offer reduced sodium versions of Sa-són.
The Farmwise brand was introduced in 2014 with a mission of developing “better-for-you” alternatives to some of America’s favorite foods without compromising on taste. Farmwise Veggie Fries, Veggie Tots and Veggie Rings are vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified and free of the top eight allergens including gluten, wheat, soy, dairy, tree nuts and peanuts.
The Vermont Maid brand has been in existence since 1919 and offers maple-flavored syrups. Vermont Maid syrup is available in regular, sugar-free and sugar-free butter varieties.
The New York Flatbreads brand is a line of thin, crispy, flavorful crispbread that is available in several toppings.
The Molly McButter brand created the butter-flavored sprinkles category in 1987. Molly McButter is available in butter and cheese flavors.
The Canoleo brand offers an all-purpose margarine used for spreading, cooking and baking.
Food Industry
The food industry is one of the United States’ largest industries. Historically, it has been characterized by relatively stable sales growth, based largely on price and population increases. In recent years, however, excluding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many traditional center of store grocery brands in the industry have often experienced flat to modestly declining sales. Over the past decade or so, the retail side of the food industry has seen a continuing shift of sales to alternate food outlets such as supercenters, warehouse clubs, organic and “natural” food stores, dollar stores, drug stores and e-tailers. Among other things, this shift has caused consolidation of traditional grocery chains into larger entities, often spanning the country under varying banner names. Consolidation has increased the importance of having a number one or two brand within a category, be that position national or regional. At the same time, this shift has also introduced many alternatives to traditional grocery chains. A broad sales and distribution infrastructure has also become critical for food companies, allowing them to reach all outlets selling food to consumers and expanding their growth opportunities.
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Sales, Marketing and Distribution
Overview. We sell, market and distribute our products through a multiple-channel sales, marketing and distribution system to all major U.S. food channels, including sales and shipments to supermarkets, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, wholesalers, foodservice distributors and direct accounts, specialty food distributors, military commissaries and non-food outlets such as drug, dollar store chains and e-tailers. Certain of our brands, including Dash, Green Giant, Crisco, Cream of Wheat, Back to Nature, Ac’cent, Crock Pot® seasoning mixes, Underwood, Polaner, Static Guard, New York Style, Sugar Twin and Victoria are also distributed to similar food channels in Canada. We sell, market and distribute our household brand, Static Guard, through the same sales, marketing and distribution system to many of the same customers who buy our food products as well as to other household product retailers and distributors.
We sell our products primarily through broker sales networks to supermarket chains, foodservice outlets, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, non-food outlets and specialty distributors. The broker sales network handles the sale of our products at the retail level.
Sales. Our sales organization is aligned by distribution channels and consists of regional sales managers, key account managers and sales persons. Regional sales managers sell our products nationwide through national and regional brokers, with separate organizations focusing on foodservice, grocery chain accounts and special markets. Our sales managers coordinate our broker sales efforts, make key account calls with buyers or distributors and supervise broker retail coverage of the products at the store level.
Our sales strategy is centered on individual brands. We allocate promotional spending for each of our brands and our regional sales managers coordinate promotions with customers. Additionally, our marketing department works in conjunction with the sales department to coordinate special account activities and marketing support, such as couponing, public relations and media advertising.
We have a national sales force that is capable of supporting our current brands and quickly integrating and supporting any newly acquired brands.
Marketing. Our marketing organization is aligned by brand and is responsible for the strategic planning for each of our brands. We focus on deploying promotional dollars where we believe the spending will have the greatest impact on sales. Marketing and trade spending support, on a national basis, typically consists of advertising trade promotions, coupons and cross-promotions with supporting products. Radio, internet, social media and limited television advertising supplement this activity.
Distribution. We distribute our products through a multiple-channel system that covers every class of customer nationwide. Due to the different demands of distribution for frozen and shelf-stable products, we maintain separate distribution systems.
Our shelf-stable distribution network consists of five primary distribution centers in the United States, four of which are leased by us and are operated for us by a third party logistics provider, and one that is located at an owned manufacturing facility and is operated by us. We also ship to certain customers direct from some of our manufacturing facilities. In Canada, Mexico and from time to time in the United States we also use public warehouse and distribution facilities for our shelf-stable products.
Our frozen distribution network consists of seven primary locations in the United States and Canada, which are owned and operated by third party logistics providers.
We believe that our distribution systems for shelf-stable and frozen products have sufficient capacity to accommodate incremental product volume. See Item 2, “Properties” for a listing of our owned and leased distribution centers and warehouses.
In recent years, we have been negatively impacted by industry-wide increases in the cost of distribution, primarily driven by increased freight rates. We attempt to offset all or a portion of these increases through price increases and cost savings initiatives. For example, despite higher rates for freight in 2019, we were able to offset a portion of the freight cost increases through pricing, which included both list price increases and trade spend optimization. And in 2018 and 2019, we benefited from our distribution re-alignment efforts which have helped to optimize both our shelf-stable and our frozen distribution networks.
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Freight rates increased significantly during the fourth quarter of 2020 and we expect freight rates to remain elevated in 2021. To the extent that we are unable to offset present and future cost increases through pricing and cost savings initiatives, our operating results will be negatively impacted.
Customers
Our top ten customers accounted for approximately 62.6% of our net sales and approximately 62.5% of our end of the year receivables for fiscal 2020. Other than Walmart, which accounted for approximately 26.5% of our fiscal 2020 net sales, no single customer accounted for 10.0% or more of our fiscal 2020 net sales. Other than Walmart, which accounted for approximately 32.6% of our receivables as of January 2, 2021, no single customer accounted for more than 10.0% of our receivables as of January 2, 2021. During fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, our net sales to foreign countries represented approximately 7.8%, 7.7% and 7.3%, respectively, of our total net sales. Our foreign sales are primarily to customers in Canada.
Seasonality
Sales of a number of our products tend to be seasonal and may be influenced by holidays, changes in seasons/weather or certain other annual events. In general, our sales are higher in the first and fourth quarters.
We purchase most of the produce used to make our frozen and shelf-stable canned vegetables, pickles, relishes, peppers, tomatoes and other related specialty items during the months of June through October, and we generally purchase the majority of our maple syrup requirements during the months of April through August. Consequently, our liquidity needs are greatest during these periods.
Competition
We face competition in each of our product lines. Numerous brands and products compete for shelf space and sales, with competition based primarily on product quality, convenience, price, trade promotion, consumer promotion, brand recognition and loyalty, customer service, advertising and other activities and the ability to identify and satisfy emerging consumer preferences. We compete with numerous companies of varying sizes, including divisions or subsidiaries of larger companies. Many of these competitors have multiple product lines, substantially greater financial and other resources and may have lower fixed costs and/or be substantially less leveraged than we are. Our ability to grow our business could be impacted by the relative effectiveness of, and competitive response to, our product initiatives, product innovation, advertising and promotional activities. In addition, from time to time, we experience margin pressure in certain markets as a result of competitors’ pricing practices.
Our products compete not only against other brands in their respective product categories, but also against products in similar or related product categories. For example, our shelf-stable pickles compete not only with other brands of shelf-stable pickles, but also with pickle products found in the refrigerated sections of grocery stores, and all our brands compete against private label products to varying degrees.
Raw Materials
We purchase raw materials, including agricultural products, oils, meat, poultry, flour, other raw materials, ingredients and packaging materials from growers, commodity processors, other food companies and packaging suppliers located in U.S. and foreign locations. The principal raw materials for our products include corn, peas, broccoli, oils, beans, pepper, garlic and other spices, maple syrup, wheat, corn, nuts, cheese, fruits, beans, tomatoes, peppers, meat, sugar, concentrates, molasses and corn sweeteners. Vegetables for the Green Giant brand are primarily purchased under dedicated acreage supply contracts from a number of growers prior to each growing season with the remaining demand being sourced directly from third parties. We purchase certain other agricultural raw materials in bulk or pursuant to short-term supply contracts. Most of our agricultural products are purchased between April 1 and October 31. We generally source pepper, garlic and other spices and herbs from locations other than the United States. We purchase the majority of our maple syrup from Canada. We also use packaging materials, particularly glass jars, cans, cardboard and plastic containers. The profitability of our business relies in substantial part on the prices we and our co-packers pay for these raw materials and packaging materials, which can fluctuate due to a number of factors, including changes in crop size, national, state and local government sponsored agricultural programs, export demand, currency exchange rates, natural disasters, weather conditions during the growing and harvesting seasons, water supply, general growing conditions, the effect of insects, plant diseases and fungi, and glass, metal and plastic prices.
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Fluctuations in commodity prices can lead to retail price volatility and intensive price competition, and can influence consumer and trade buying patterns.
The cost of labor, manufacturing, energy, fuel, packaging materials and other costs related to the production and distribution of our food products can from time to time increase significantly and unexpectedly. We attempt to manage these risks by entering into short-term supply contracts and advance commodities purchase agreements, implementing cost saving measures and raising sales prices. During the past three years, our cost saving measures and sales price increases have not been sufficient to fully offset increases to our raw material, ingredient and packaging costs. To the extent we are unable to offset present and future cost increases, our operating results will be negatively impacted.
Production
Manufacturing. We operate twelve manufacturing facilities for our products. See Item 2, “Properties” for a listing of our manufacturing facilities.
Co-Packing Arrangements. In addition to our own manufacturing facilities, we source a significant portion of our products under “co-packing” arrangements, a common industry practice in which manufacturing is outsourced to other companies. We regularly evaluate our co-packing arrangements to ensure the most cost-effective manufacturing of our products and to utilize company-owned manufacturing facilities most effectively. Third parties located in U.S. and foreign locations produce our Back to Nature, Baker’s Joy, Bear Creek Country Kitchens, Canoleo, Cream of Rice, Crock Pot, Joan of Arc, Le Sueur, MacDonald’s, McCann’s, New York Flatbreads, Regina, SnackWell’s, Spring Tree, Static Guard, Sugar Twin and TrueNorth products and a portion of our B&G, Cary’s, Cream of Wheat, Crisco, Emeril’s, Green Giant, Las Palmas and Ortega products under co-packing agreements or purchase orders. Each of our co-packers produces products for other companies as well. We believe that there are alternative sources of co-packing production readily available for the majority of our products. However, we may experience short-term or long-term disturbances in our operations and our ability to implement our business plan or meet consumer demand if we are unexpectedly required to change our co-packing arrangements or are unable to enter into additional or alternative arrangements in the future.
Trademarks and Licensing Agreements
Trademarks. We consider our trademarks, in the aggregate, to be material to our business. We protect our trademarks by registration in the United States, Canada and in other countries where we sell our products. We also oppose any infringement in key markets. Trademark protection continues in some countries for as long as the mark is used and in other countries for as long as it is registered. Registrations generally are for renewable, fixed terms. Examples of our trademarks and registered trademarks include Ac’cent, Back to Nature, B&G, B&G Sandwich Toppers, B&M, Baker’s Joy, Bear Creek Country Kitchens, Brer Rabbit, Canoleo, Cary’s, Clabber Girl, Cream of Rice, Cream of Wheat, Crisco, Dash, Devonsheer, Don Pepino, Durkee, Emeril’s, Farmwise, Grandma’s, Green Giant, JJ Flats, Joan of Arc, Las Palmas, Le Sueur, MacDonald’s, Mama Mary’s, Maple Grove Farms of Vermont, McCann’s, Molly McButter, New York Flatbreads, New York Style, Old London, Ortega, Polaner, Regina, Sa-són, Sclafani SnackWell’s, Spice Islands, Spring Tree, Static Guard, Sugar Twin, Tone’s, Trappey’s, TrueNorth, Underwood, Vermont Maid, Victoria, Weber and Wright’s.
Inbound License Agreements. From time to time we enter into inbound licensing agreements. For example, we sell Weber seasonings and other flavor enhancers pursuant to a licensing agreement with Weber-Stephen Products LLC, Emeril’s brand products pursuant to a license agreement with Marquee Brands, Crock Pot seasoning mixes pursuant to a license agreement with Sunbeam Products, Inc. dba Jarden Consumer Solutions, Skinnygirl fat free and sugar free salad dressings and sugar free cocktail inspired preserves pursuant to a license agreement with Better Bites, LLC, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnadust seasoning blend pursuant to a license agreement with General Mills, Inc., and Cream of Wheat Cinnabon®, a co-branded product, pursuant to a license agreement with Cinnabon, Inc.
Outbound License Agreements. We also from time to time enter into outbound license agreements for our trademarks and other intellectual property. For example, the Green Giant trademark is licensed to third parties for use in connection with their sale of fresh produce in the United States and Europe. We also license the Green Giant name and related intellectual property to General Mills for use with its sale of frozen and shelf stable products in parts of Europe, Asia and in various other locations outside of the United States and Canada.
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Human Capital
As of January 2, 2021, our workforce consisted of 3,207 employees. Of that total, 2,840 employees were engaged in manufacturing, 138 were engaged in marketing and sales, 135 were engaged in warehouse and distribution and 94 were engaged in administration. Approximately 66.0% of our employees, located at seven facilities in the United States and one facility in Mexico, are covered by collective bargaining agreements. See “-Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining Agreements” below.
Our Core Values; Compliance and Ethics. At B&G Foods, we are committed to providing quality products and observing high ethical standards in the conduct of our business. Together with our predecessors, we have been doing so since the 1800s. Our core values: passion; food safety and quality; integrity and accountability; customer and consumer focus; safety and health at work; collaboration; and empowerment, have been critical to our success. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, referred to as our Code, serves as a guide for all directors, officers, employees and representatives of B&G Foods in our daily interactions with our customers, consumers, stockholders, regulatory agencies, supply chain partners and fellow employees. We provide annual and periodic training and educational materials to our employees on our Code, raising and resolving ethical issues, ethical decision making and on various other compliance and ethics topics.
Our Culture. We love food and bringing our family of brands to our consumers and their families. We have fire in our bellies, are energized by new challenges and pursue excellence in everything we do. We believe in teamwork, have a common desire to be part of something big, and share a commitment to stay humble even as we continue to grow.
We believe in the power of teams while respecting individual differences. We believe in timely and open communication. We support each other professionally and personally without being asked. Our open-door policy creates an idea-driven environment where each of us, regardless of level, has a voice. We are approachable, collegial and fiercely loyal.
Communication and Transparency; Employee Feedback; Employee Engagement. We use various communication vehicles to share information with our employees about the business priorities, performance and internal happenings across our company.
We make it a priority to listen to our employees, to understand their diverse viewpoints and respond to their feedback by taking action to improve. We do this in part by monitoring employee engagement and satisfaction through periodic employee engagement surveys. In 2020, we expanded our employee engagement survey to include additional questions regarding diversity, equity and inclusion.
Employee Empowerment, Training and Professional Development. We enable and encourage our employees to grow, excel and realize their full potential. We strive to hire people more talented than we are. We empower our people to make the decisions needed today, and prepare them for even bigger decisions they will make in the future. We support professional development by providing access to internal and external training resources and programs.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). We seek people with diverse backgrounds and talents, and believe different perspectives achieve strong results.
As of the end of fiscal 2020, approximately 53% of our corporate employees were women and approximately 20% were minorities. Of our manufacturing, warehouse and distribution employees, approximately 29% were women and approximately 32% were minorities. Approximately 31% of our corporate leadership employees (director-level and above) were women and approximately 10% were minorities. Approximately 26% of our manufacturing, warehouse and distribution leadership employees were women and approximately 20% were minorities.
We have significantly increased our focus on DEI and are committed to achieving measurable improvements in results. As such, we have recently undertaken several DEI actions and initiatives, including:
In July 2020, our board of directors formed a corporate social responsibility committee that has been tasked with, among other things, oversight responsibility for our DEI efforts. Additionally, in January 2021, we formed a DEI council. The DEI Council consists of a cross-section of employees with different professional and personal backgrounds and experiences. The primary purpose of the DEI council is to provide input and guidance regarding our company’s DEI goals, strategy, metrics, initiatives, approach and communications and to partner with our company’s executive leadership team, human resources department and other employees to plan and implement DEI-related initiatives.
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In January 2021, we hired a third-party DEI consultant to help us further develop our DEI strategy and priorities, educate and increase our self-awareness, assess our internal demographics and work practices, and provide guidance to our board of directors, corporate social responsibility committee, DEI council and management as we continue to make progress on our DEI efforts.
We are also working on DEI efforts in our supply chain. We are encouraging our business leaders to work closely with our procurement team to identify diverse suppliers so that they are provided with meaningful opportunities to compete for our business and so that we can expand our outreach and support to small- and large-scale suppliers from underrepresented communities.
Discrimination and Harassment. As set forth in our Code and our discrimination and harassment policy, we have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination and harassment and have several methods under which employees can report incidents, including an online and telephone hotline through which employees can report any discrimination and harassment or any other compliance and ethics concerns confidentially or anonymously and without fear of reprisal.
Compensation and Benefits. We provide competitive and equitable wages and offer comprehensive and affordable benefits to our employees.
Human Rights. Consistent with the requirements of our Code, our core values and our human rights policy, we respect the personal dignity and individual worth of every human being. At B&G Foods, it is the responsibility of each of our employees to maintain a work culture that supports human rights. Likewise, in establishing and maintaining relationships with our supply chain partners and other business partners, we expect the same commitment to high ethical standards and compliance with applicable laws, including those relating to human rights. We are committed to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations with respect to human rights, and our respect for the protection and preservation of human rights is guided by the principles set forth in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We have and will continue to communicate to our employees, supply chain partners and other stakeholders our commitment to human rights through our Code, our supplier code of conduct and our human rights policy.
Safety & Health at Work. We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our employees and expect the same from our supply chain partners. We are committed to preventing accidents, injuries and illnesses related to the workplace. In January 2021, we adopted a new environmental, health and safety policy that, among other things, provides that we hold our leadership accountable for providing and maintaining safe and healthful working conditions; insist that no manufacturing facility, warehouse, office, or department will be considered properly managed regardless of its proficiency in other areas unless it maintains a safe and healthful work environment; and mandating that safety is a condition of employment and holding every employee accountable for following all prescribed work safety practices and procedures. To promote safety and health at work, we provide monthly safety and health training and assessments as well as annual internal and third-party safety and health audits.
Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining Agreements. We have collective bargaining agreements covering employees at seven of our facilities in the United States, which vary in term depending on the location:
Facility Location
Union
Effective
Date
Expiration
Date
No. of Employees Covered*
Ankeny, IA
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local No. 238
Apr. 5, 2020
Apr. 6, 2025
Brooklyn, NY
United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local No. 342
Jan. 1, 2020
Dec. 31, 2023
Cincinnati, OH
The Employees Representation Association
May 1, 2020
Apr. 30, 2023
Portland, ME
Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, AFL CIO, Local No. 334
Apr. 30, 2017
Apr. 30, 2022
Roseland, NJ
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & Helpers of America, Local No. 863
Apr. 1, 2020
Mar. 31, 2026
Stoughton, WI
Drivers, Salesmen, Warehousemen, Milk Processors, Cannery, Dairy Employees and Helpers Union, Local No. 695
Mar. 20, 2016
Mar. 27, 2021
Terre Haute, IN
Chauffeurs, Teamsters, Warehousemen and Helpers Union, Local No. 135
Apr. 4, 2015
Mar. 27, 2021
* As of January 2, 2021.
There are two unions representing 1,217 employees at our facility in Mexico, (1) the Industrial Union of Stevedore Workers, Cargo Transport Operators and Similar from the Mexican Republic and (2) the Union of Agriculture Workers at the Service of the Region. Our collective bargaining agreements with these two unions do not expire; however, certain terms of the agreements must be reviewed periodically.
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As noted in the table above, two of our collective bargaining agreements, covering employees at our Stoughton and Terre Haute facilities, expire in the next twelve months. While we believe that our relations with our union employees are in general good, we cannot assure you that we will be able to negotiate new collective bargaining agreements for our Stoughton and Terre Haute facilities on terms satisfactory to us, or at all, and without production interruptions, including labor stoppages. At this time, however, management does not expect that the outcome of these negotiations will have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
COVID-19. See “Update Regarding Impact and Expected Future Impact of COVID-19 on Our Company” included in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for information on the human capital management actions we have taken, including the wide range of precautionary measures we have implemented, at our manufacturing facilities and other work locations and enhanced compensation paid at our manufacturing locations, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Government Regulation
As a manufacturer and marketer of food and household products, our operations are subject to extensive regulation by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the United States Department of Labor, the Environmental Protection Agency and various other federal, state, local and foreign authorities (including government authorities in Canada and Mexico) regarding the manufacturing, processing, packaging, storage, labeling, sale and distribution of our products and the health and safety of our employees. Our manufacturing facilities and products are subject to periodic inspection by federal, state, local and foreign authorities. In addition, our meat processing operation in Portland, Maine is subject to daily inspection by the USDA.
We are subject to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Food Safety Modernization Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the FDA. This comprehensive regulatory program governs, among other things, the manufacturing, composition and ingredients, labeling, packaging and safety of food. We are also subject to the U.S. Bio-Terrorism Act of 2002 which imposes on us import and export regulations. Under the Bio-Terrorism Act we are required, among other things, to provide specific information about the food products we ship into the United States and to register our manufacturing, warehouse and distribution facilities with the FDA.
We believe that we are currently in substantial compliance with all material governmental laws and regulations and maintain all material permits and licenses relating to our operations. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that we are in full compliance with all such laws and regulations or that we will be able to comply with any future laws and regulations in a cost-effective manner. Failure by us to comply with applicable laws and regulations could subject us to civil remedies, including fines, injunctions, recalls or seizures, as well as potential criminal sanctions, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Environmental Matters
Environmental Sustainability. As part of our commitment to being a good corporate citizen, we consider environmental sustainability to be an important strategic focus area. For instance, our manufacturing operations have a variety of initiatives in place to reduce energy usage, conserve water, improve wastewater management, reduce packaging and where possible use recycled and recyclable packaging. We continue to evaluate and modify our manufacturing and other processes on an ongoing basis to mitigate risk and further reduce our impact on the environment, conserve water and reduce waste.
For more information about some of our key environmental sustainability initiatives, and for copies of our environmental, health and safety policy and our water stewardship policy, please see https://www.bgfoods.com/about/responsibility. The information contained on our website is not part of, and is not incorporated in, this or any other report we file with or furnish to the SEC. Over the next year, we plan to enhance our public disclosures regarding the steps we have been taking over the years to minimize our impact on the environment, including our sustainability goals and the progress we have been making to achieve those goals.
Environmental Laws and Regulations. We are also subject to environmental laws and regulations in the normal course of business. We have not made any material expenditures during the last three fiscal years in order to comply with environmental laws or regulations. Based on our experience to date, we believe that the future cost of compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations (and liability for known environmental conditions) will not have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. However, we cannot
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predict what environmental laws or regulations will be enacted in the future or how existing or future laws or regulations will be enforced, administered or interpreted, nor can we predict the amount of future expenditures that may be required in order to comply with such environmental laws or regulations or to respond to such environmental claims.
Available Information
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we are required to file with or furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy and information statements and other information. The SEC maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. We file electronically with the SEC.
We make available, free of charge, through the investor relations section of our website, our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, filed with or furnished to the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed or furnished to the SEC. The address for the investor relations section of our website is https://www.bgfoods.com/investor-relations.
The full text of the charters for each of the audit, compensation, corporate social responsibility, nominating and governance, and risk committees of our board of directors as well as our code of business conduct and ethics is available at the investor relations section of our website, https://www.bgfoods.com/investor-relations/governance/documents. Our code of business conduct and ethics applies to all of our employees, officers and directors, including our chief executive officer, chief financial officer and chief accounting officer. We intend to disclose any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of the code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer or chief accounting officer in the investor relations section of our website.
Our supplier code of conduct, environmental, health and safety policy, human rights policy and water stewardship policy are available in the responsibility section of our website, https://www.bgfoods.com/about/responsibility.
The information contained on our website is not part of, and is not incorporated in, this or any other report we file with or furnish to the SEC.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Any investment in our company will be subject to risks inherent to our business. Before making an investment decision, investors should carefully consider the risks described below together with all of the other information included in this report. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are not aware of or focused on or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. This report is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.
Any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. In that case, holders of our securities may lose all or part of their investment.
Risks Specific to Our Company
Pandemics or disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may disrupt our business, including among other things, our supply chain, our manufacturing operations and customer and consumer demand for our products, and could have a material adverse impact on our business.
The ultimate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic or any future pandemic or disease outbreak will have on our business and our consolidated results of operations is uncertain. To date we have seen increased customer and consumer demand for our products as the COVID-19 pandemic reached the United States and consumers initially began pantry loading and have increased their at-home consumption as a result of social distancing and stay-at-home and work-from-home mandates and recommendations.
Increases in net sales by our company to supermarkets, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, wholesalers and e-commerce customers have more than offset declines at foodservice customers. However, this increased customer and consumer demand may decrease in the coming months if and when the need for social distancing and stay-at-home and work-from-home mandates and recommendations decrease, and we are unable to predict the nature and timing of when that impact may occur. The spread of pandemics or disease outbreaks such as COVID-19 may also disrupt our third party
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business partners’ ability to meet their obligations to us, which may negatively affect our operations. These third parties include those who supply our ingredients, packaging, and other necessary operating materials, contract manufacturers, distributors, and logistics and transportation providers. If a significant percentage of our workforce or the workforce of our third party business partners is unable to work, including because of illness or travel or government restrictions in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic or any future pandemic or disease outbreak, our operations may be negatively impacted. In addition, the unprecedented demand for food and other consumer packaged goods products as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or any future pandemic may limit the availability of ingredients, packaging and other raw materials necessary to produce our products, and our operations may be negatively impacted. For example, we have experienced supply chain constraints for certain of our products, which have negatively impacted our ability to fully satisfy customer and consumer demand for certain of our products. Conversely, pandemics or disease outbreaks could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect economies and financial markets, consumer spending and confidence levels resulting in an economic downturn that could affect customer and consumer demand for our products.
Our efforts to manage and mitigate these factors may be unsuccessful, and the effectiveness of these efforts depends on factors beyond our control, including the duration and severity of any pandemic or disease outbreak, as well as third party actions taken to contain its spread and mitigate public health effects.
The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business will depend on many factors, including, among others, the duration of social distancing and stay-at-home and work-from-home mandates and recommendations and whether additional waves of COVID-19 will affect the United States and the rest of North America, our ability and the ability of our suppliers to continue to operate our and their manufacturing facilities and maintain the supply chain without material disruption and procure ingredients, packaging and other raw materials when needed despite unprecedented demand in the food industry, and the extent to which macroeconomic conditions resulting from the pandemic and the pace of the subsequent recovery may impact consumer eating and shopping habits. We cannot predict the duration or scope of the disruption. Therefore, the financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.
The packaged food industry is highly competitive and we face risks related to the execution of our strategy and our ability to respond to channel shifts and other competitive pressures.
The packaged food industry is highly competitive. Numerous brands and products, including private label products, compete for shelf space and sales, with competition based primarily on product quality, convenience, price, trade promotion, brand recognition and loyalty, customer service, effective consumer advertising and promotional activities and the ability to identify and satisfy emerging consumer preferences. We compete with a significant number of companies of varying sizes, including divisions or subsidiaries of larger companies. Many of these competitors have multiple product lines, substantially greater financial and other resources available to them and may have lower fixed costs and/or are substantially less leveraged than our company. In addition, the rapid growth of some channels, in particular in e-commerce, which has expanded significantly following the outbreak of COVID-19, may impact our current operations or strategies more quickly than we planned for, create consumer price deflation, alter the buying behavior of consumers or disrupt our retail customer relationships. We may need to increase or reallocate spending on existing and new distribution channels and technologies, marketing, advertising and new product innovation to protect or increase revenues, market share and brand significance. These expenditures may not be successful, including those related to our e-commerce and other technology-focused efforts, and might not result in trade and consumer acceptance of our efforts. If we are unable to continue to compete successfully with these companies or if competitive pressures or other factors, such as an inability to effectively respond to channel shifts and new technologies, cause our products to lose market share or result in significant price erosion, our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity could be materially and adversely affected.
We may be unable to maintain our profitability in the face of a consolidating retail environment.
Our largest customer, Walmart, accounted for approximately 26.5% of our fiscal 2020 net sales, and our ten largest customers together accounted for approximately 62.6% of our fiscal 2020 net sales. As retail customers, such as supermarkets, discounters, e-commerce merchants, warehouse clubs and food distributors, continue to consolidate and our retail customers grow larger and become more sophisticated, our retail customers may demand lower pricing and increased promotional programs. Further, these customers are reducing their inventories and increasing their emphasis on products that hold either the number one or number two market position and private label products. If we fail to use our sales and marketing expertise to maintain our category leadership positions to respond to these trends, or if we lower our
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prices or increase promotional support of our products and are unable to increase the volume of our products sold, our profitability and financial condition may be adversely affected.
We are vulnerable to decreases in the supply and increases in the price of raw materials and labor, manufacturing, distribution and other costs, and we may not be able to offset increasing costs by increasing prices to our customers.
We purchase agricultural products, including vegetables, oils and spices and seasonings, meat, poultry, other raw materials, ingredients and packaging materials from growers, commodity processors, other food companies and packaging manufacturers. Raw materials, ingredients and packaging materials are subject to increases in price attributable to a number of factors, including changes in crop size, federal and state agricultural programs, export demand, currency exchange rates, energy and fuel costs, water supply, weather conditions during the growing and harvesting seasons, insects, plant diseases and fungi, and glass, metal and plastic prices. Fluctuations in commodity prices can lead to retail price volatility and intensive price competition, and can influence consumer and trade buying patterns. The cost of labor, manufacturing, energy, fuel, packaging materials and other costs related to the production and distribution of our products can from time to time increase significantly and unexpectedly. We attempt to manage these risks by entering into short-term supply contracts and advance commodities purchase agreements from time to time, by implementing cost saving measures and by raising sales prices. During the past three years, our cost saving measures and sales price increases have not been sufficient to fully offset increases to our raw material, ingredient, packaging and distribution costs. To the extent we are unable to offset present and future cost increases, our operating results could be materially and adversely affected.
We may be unable to offset any reduction in net sales in our mature food product categories through an increase in trade spending for these categories or an increase in net sales in other categories.
Most of our food product categories are mature and certain categories have experienced declining consumption rates from time to time. If consumption rates and sales in our mature food product categories decline, our revenue and operating income may be adversely affected, and we may not be able to offset this decrease in business with increased trade spending or an increase in sales or profitability of other products and product categories.
We may have difficulties integrating acquisitions or identifying new acquisitions.
A major part of our strategy is to grow through acquisitions. For example, we completed the Crisco acquisition in December 2020 and we expect to pursue additional acquisitions of food product lines and businesses. However, we may be unable to identify and consummate additional acquisitions or may be unable to successfully integrate and manage the product lines or businesses that we have recently acquired or may acquire in the future. In addition, we may be unable to achieve a substantial portion of any anticipated cost savings from acquisitions or other anticipated benefits in the timeframe we anticipate, or at all. Moreover, any acquired product lines or businesses may require a greater than anticipated amount of trade, promotional and capital spending. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including difficulties in the assimilation of the operations, technologies, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, services and products of the acquired companies, personnel turnover and the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns. Any inability by us to integrate and manage any product lines or businesses that we have recently acquired or may acquire in the future in a timely and efficient manner, any inability to achieve a substantial portion of any anticipated cost savings or other anticipated benefits from these acquisitions in the time frame we anticipate or any unanticipated required increases in trade, promotional or capital spending could adversely affect our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Moreover, future acquisitions by us could result in our incurring substantial additional indebtedness, being exposed to contingent liabilities or incurring the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, all of which could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
We have substantial indebtedness, which could restrict our ability to pay dividends and impact our financing options and liquidity position.
At January 2, 2021, we had total long-term indebtedness of $2,356.6 million (before debt discount/premium), including $906.6 million principal amount of senior secured indebtedness and $1,450.0 million principal amount of senior unsecured indebtedness. Our ability to pay dividends is subject to contractual restrictions contained in the instruments governing our indebtedness. Although our credit agreement and the indentures governing our senior notes (which we refer to as the senior notes indentures) contain covenants that restrict our ability to incur debt, as long as we
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meet these covenants we will be able to incur additional indebtedness. The degree to which we are leveraged on a consolidated basis could have important consequences to the holders of our securities, including:
● our ability in the future to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures or acquisitions may be limited;
● we may not be able to refinance our indebtedness on terms acceptable to us or at all;
● a significant portion of our cash flow is likely to be dedicated to the payment of interest on our indebtedness, thereby reducing funds available for future operations, capital expenditures, acquisitions and/or dividends on our common stock; and
● we may be more vulnerable to economic downturns and be limited in our ability to withstand competitive pressures.
We are subject to restrictive debt covenants and other requirements related to our debt that limit our business flexibility by imposing operating and financial restrictions on our operations.
The agreements governing our indebtedness impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions prohibit or limit, among other things:
● the incurrence of additional indebtedness and the issuance of certain preferred stock or redeemable capital stock;
● the payment of dividends on, and purchase or redemption of, capital stock;
● a number of restricted payments, including investments;
● specified sales of assets;
● specified transactions with affiliates;
● the creation of certain types of liens;
● consolidations, mergers and transfers of all or substantially all of our assets; and
● entry into certain sale and leaseback transactions.
Our credit agreement requires us to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy financial condition tests, including, without limitation, a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio.
Our ability to comply with the ratios or tests may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. A breach of any of these covenants, or failure to meet or maintain ratios or tests could result in a default under our credit agreement and/or our senior notes indentures. Certain events of default under our credit agreement and our senior notes indentures would prohibit us from paying dividends on our common stock. In addition, upon the occurrence of an event of default under our credit agreement or our senior notes indentures, the lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under the credit agreement and the senior notes, together with accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable. If we were unable to repay those amounts, the credit agreement lenders could proceed against the security granted to them to secure that indebtedness. If the lenders accelerate the payment of the indebtedness, our assets may not be sufficient to repay in full this indebtedness and our other indebtedness.
To service our indebtedness, we require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control.
Our ability to make interest payments on and to refinance our indebtedness, and to fund planned capital expenditures and potential acquisitions depends on our ability to generate cash flow from operations in the future. This ability, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.
A significant portion of our cash flow from operations is dedicated to servicing our debt requirements. In addition, in accordance with our current dividend policy we intend to continue distributing a significant portion of any remaining cash flow to our stockholders as dividends.
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Our ability to continue to expand our business is, to a certain extent, dependent upon our ability to borrow funds under our credit agreement and to obtain other third-party financing, including through the issuance and sale of additional debt or equity securities.
Financial market conditions may impede our access to, or increase the cost of, financing for acquisitions.
Any future financial market disruptions or tightening of the credit markets, may make it more difficult for us to obtain financing for acquisitions or increase the cost of obtaining financing. In addition, our borrowing costs can be affected by short and long-term debt ratings assigned by independent rating agencies that are based, in significant part, on our performance as measured by credit metrics such as interest coverage and leverage ratios. A decrease in these ratings could increase our cost of borrowing or make it more difficult for us to obtain financing.
Future disruptions in the credit markets or other factors, could impair our ability to refinance our debt upon terms acceptable to us or at all.
Our $900.0 million of 5.25% senior notes due 2025 mature on April 1, 2025, our $800.0 million revolving credit facility matures on December 16, 2025, our $671.6 million of tranche B term loans mature on October 10, 2026 and our $550.0 million of 5.25% senior notes due 2027 mature on September 15, 2027. Our ability to raise debt or equity capital in the public or private markets in order to effect a refinancing of our debt at or prior to maturity could be impaired by various factors, including factors beyond our control. For example, in recent years U.S. credit markets experienced significant dislocations and liquidity disruptions that caused the spreads on prospective debt financings to widen considerably. These circumstances materially impacted liquidity in the debt markets, making financing terms for borrowers less attractive, and in certain cases resulted in the unavailability of certain types of debt financing. Any future uncertainty in the credit markets could negatively impact our ability to access additional debt financing or to refinance existing indebtedness on favorable terms, or at all. In addition, any future uncertainty in other financial markets in the U.S. could make it more difficult or costly for us to raise capital through the issuance of common stock or other equity securities. Any of these risks could impair our ability to fund our operations or limit our ability to expand our business or increase our interest expense, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
If we are unable to refinance our indebtedness at or prior to maturity on commercially reasonable terms or at all, we would be forced to seek other alternatives, including:
● sales of assets;
● sales of equity; and
● negotiations with our lenders or noteholders to restructure the applicable debt.
If we are forced to pursue any of the above options, our business and/or the value of an investment in our securities could be adversely affected.
We rely on co-packers for a significant portion of our manufacturing needs, and the inability to enter into additional or future co-packing agreements may result in our failure to meet customer demand.
We rely upon co-packers for a significant portion of our manufacturing needs. See Item 1, “Business-Production-Co-Packing Arrangements.” The success of our business depends, in part, on maintaining a strong sourcing and manufacturing platform. We believe that there are a limited number of competent, high-quality co-packers in the industry, and if we were required to obtain additional or alternative co-packing agreements or arrangements in the future, we can provide no assurance that we would be able to do so on satisfactory terms or in a timely manner. Our inability to enter into satisfactory co-packing agreements could limit our ability to implement our business plan or meet customer demand.
We rely on the performance of major retailers, wholesalers, specialty distributors and mass merchants for the success of our business, and should they perform poorly or give higher priority to other brands or products, our business could be adversely affected.
We sell our products principally to retail outlets and wholesale distributors including, traditional supermarkets, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, wholesalers, foodservice distributors and direct accounts, specialty food distributors, military commissaries and non-food outlets such as drug store chains, dollar stores and e-tailers. The replacement by or poor performance of our major wholesalers, retailers or chains or our inability to collect accounts receivable from our
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customers could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, our customers offer branded and private label products that compete directly with our products for retail shelf space and consumer purchases. Accordingly, there is a risk that our customers may give higher priority to their own products or to the products of our competitors. In the future, our customers may not continue to purchase our products or provide our products with adequate levels of promotional support. It is also possible that our customers may replace our branded products with private label products.
We may be unable to anticipate changes in consumer preferences and consumer demographics, which may result in decreased demand for our products.
Our success depends in part on our ability to anticipate and offer products that appeal to the changing tastes, dietary habits and product packaging preferences of consumers in the market categories in which we compete. If we are not able to anticipate, identify or develop and market products that respond to these changes in consumer preferences, whether resulting from changing consumer demographics or otherwise, demand for our products may decline and our operating results may be adversely affected. In addition, we may incur significant costs related to developing and marketing new products or expanding our existing product lines in reaction to what we perceive to be increased consumer preference or demand. Such development or marketing may not result in the volume of sales or profitability anticipated.
Severe weather conditions, natural disasters and other natural events can affect raw material supplies and reduce our operating results.
Severe weather conditions, natural disasters and other natural events, such as floods, droughts, frosts, earthquakes, pestilence or health pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may affect the supply of the raw materials that we use for our products. Our maple syrup products, for instance, are particularly susceptible to severe freezing conditions in Québec, Canada and Vermont during the season in which maple syrup is produced. Our Green Giant frozen vegetable manufacturing facility in Irapuato, Mexico is located in a region affected by water scarcity and restrictions on usage. The continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or any future pandemics may cause significant disruptions to our supply chain and operations, including disruptions in our ability to purchase raw materials, and delays in the manufacture and shipment of our products. Competing manufacturers can be affected differently by weather conditions, natural disasters and other natural events depending on the location of their supplies. If our supplies of raw materials are delayed or reduced, we may not be able to find supplemental supply sources on favorable terms or at all, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.
Climate change, water scarcity or legal, regulatory, or market measures to address climate change or water scarcity, could negatively affect our business and operations.
In the event that climate change has a negative effect on agricultural productivity, we may be subject to decreased availability or less favorable pricing for certain commodities that are necessary for our products. We may also be subjected to decreased availability or less favorable pricing for water as a result of such change, which could impact our manufacturing and distribution operations. For example, our Green Giant frozen vegetable manufacturing facility in Irapuato, Mexico is already affected by water scarcity in that region of Mexico. Any further restrictions on, or loss of, water rights due to water scarcity, water rights violations or otherwise for our Irapuato manufacturing facility could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.
The increasing concern over climate change also may result in more regional, federal, foreign and/or global legal and regulatory requirements to reduce or mitigate the effects of greenhouse gases. In the event that such regulation is enacted and is more aggressive than the sustainability measures that we are currently undertaking to monitor our emissions and improve our energy and resource efficiency, we may experience significant increases in our manufacturing and distribution costs. In particular, increasing regulation of fuel emissions could substantially increase the supply chain and distribution costs associated with our products. As a result, climate change or increased concern over climate change could negatively affect our business and operations.
Most of our products are sourced from single manufacturing sites, which means disruptions in our or our co-packers’ operations for any number of reasons could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our products are manufactured at many different manufacturing facilities, including our twelve manufacturing facilities and manufacturing facilities operated by our co-packers. However, in most cases, individual products are produced only at a single location. If any of these manufacturing locations experiences a disruption for any reason,
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including a work stoppage, power failure, fire, or weather related condition or natural disaster, etc., this could result in a significant reduction or elimination of the availability of some of our products. If we were not able to obtain alternate production capability in a timely manner or on satisfactory terms, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Our operations are subject to numerous laws and governmental regulations, exposing us to potential claims and compliance costs that could adversely affect our business.
Our operations are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA, the USDA, the FTC, the SEC, the CPSC, the United States Department of Labor, the Environmental Protection Agency and various other federal, state, local and foreign authorities. We are also subject to U.S. laws affecting operations outside of the United States, including anti-bribery laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Any changes in these laws and regulations, or any changes in how existing or future laws or regulations will be enforced, administered or interpreted could increase the cost of developing, manufacturing and distributing our products or otherwise increase the cost of conducting our business, or expose us to additional risk of liabilities and claims, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. In addition, failure by us to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including future laws and regulations, could subject us to civil remedies, including fines, injunctions, recalls or seizures, as well as potential criminal sanctions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. See Item 1, “Business-Government Regulation” and “-Environmental Matters.”
Failure by third-party co-packers or suppliers of raw materials to comply with food safety, environmental or other regulations may disrupt our supply of certain products and adversely affect our business.
We rely on co-packers to produce certain of our products and on other suppliers to supply raw materials. Such co-packers and other suppliers, whether in the United States or outside the United States, are subject to a number of regulations, including food safety and environmental regulations. Failure by any of our co-packers or other suppliers to comply with regulations, or allegations of compliance failure, may disrupt their operations. Disruption of the operations of a co-packer or other suppliers could disrupt our supply of product or raw materials, which could have an adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Additionally, actions we may take to mitigate the impact of any such disruption or potential disruption, including increasing inventory in anticipation of a potential production or supply interruption, may adversely affect our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
A recall of our products could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, we may be subject to significant liability should the consumption of any of our products cause injury, illness or death.
The sale of food products for human consumption involves the risk of injury to consumers. Such injuries may result from mislabeling, tampering by unauthorized third parties or product contamination or spoilage, including the presence of foreign objects, undeclared allergens, substances, chemicals, other agents or residues introduced during the growing, manufacturing, storage, handling or transportation phases of production. Under certain circumstances, we may be required to recall products, leading to a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Even if a situation does not necessitate a recall, product liability claims might be asserted against us. We have from time to time been involved in product liability lawsuits, none of which have been material to our business. While we are subject to governmental inspection and regulations and believe our facilities comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, if the consumption of any of our products causes, or is alleged to have caused, a health-related illness in the future we may become subject to claims or lawsuits relating to such matters. Even if a product liability claim is unsuccessful or is not fully pursued, the negative publicity surrounding any assertion that our products caused injury, illness or death could adversely affect our reputation with existing and potential customers and our corporate and brand image. Moreover, claims or liabilities of this sort might not be covered by our insurance or by any rights of indemnity or contribution that we may have against others. We maintain product liability insurance and product contamination insurance in amounts we believe to be adequate. However, we cannot assure you that we will not incur claims or liabilities for which we are not insured or that exceed the amount of our insurance coverage. A product liability judgment against us or a product recall or the damage to our reputation resulting therefrom could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
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Pending and future litigation may lead us to incur significant costs.
We are, or may become, party to various lawsuits and claims arising in the normal course of business, which may include lawsuits or claims relating to contracts, intellectual property, product recalls, product liability, the marketing and labeling of products, employment matters, environmental matters or other aspects of our business. Even when not merited, the defense of these lawsuits may divert our management’s attention, and we may incur significant expenses in defending these lawsuits. In addition, we may be required to pay damage awards or settlements or become subject to injunctions or other equitable remedies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. The outcome of litigation is often difficult to predict, and the outcome of pending or future litigation may have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Consumer concern regarding the safety and quality of food products or health concerns could adversely affect sales of certain of our products.
If consumers in our principal markets lose confidence in the safety and quality of our food products even without a product liability claim or a product recall, our business could be adversely affected. Consumers have been increasingly focused on food safety and health and wellness with respect to the food products they buy. We have been and will continue to be impacted by publicity concerning the health implications of food products generally, which could negatively influence consumer perception and acceptance of our products and marketing programs. Developments in any of these areas could cause our results to differ materially from results that have been or may be projected.
A weakening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Canadian dollar or the Mexican peso would significantly increase our future costs relating to the production of maple syrup or frozen vegetable products.
We purchase a significant majority of our maple syrup requirements from suppliers in Québec, Canada. A weakening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Canadian dollar would significantly increase our future costs relating to the production of our maple syrup products to the extent we have not purchased Canadian dollars or otherwise entered into a currency hedging arrangement in advance of any such weakening of the U.S. dollar. These increased costs may not be fully offset by the positive impact the change in the relative strength of the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar would have on our net sales in Canada. In addition, we operate a frozen vegetable manufacturing facility in Irapuato, Mexico. A weakening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Mexican peso would significantly increase our costs relating to the production of frozen vegetable products to the extent we have not purchased Mexican pesos or otherwise entered into hedging arrangements in advance of the weakening of the U.S. dollar.
Our operations in foreign countries are subject to political, economic and foreign currency risk.
Our relationships with foreign suppliers and co-packers as well as our manufacturing location in Irapuato, Mexico also subject us to the risks of doing business outside the United States. The countries from which we source our raw materials and certain of our finished goods may be subject to political and economic instability, and may periodically enact new or revise existing laws, taxes, duties, quotas, tariffs, currency controls or other restrictions to which we are subject, including restrictions on the transfer of funds to and from foreign countries or the nationalization of operations. Our products are subject to import duties and other restrictions, and the U.S. government may periodically impose new or revise existing duties, quotas, tariffs or other restrictions to which we are subject, including restrictions on the transfer of funds to and from foreign countries.
In particular, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected by the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or other regulatory and economic impact of changes in taxation and trade relations among the United States and other countries.
In addition, changes in respective wage rates among the countries from which we and our competitors source product could substantially impact our competitive position. Changes in exchange rates, import/export duties or relative international wage rates applicable to us or our competitors could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. These changes may impact us in a different manner than our competitors.
Our financial performance on a U.S. dollar denominated basis is subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. These fluctuations could cause material variations in our results of operations. Our principal exposures are to the Canadian dollar and the Mexican peso. For example, our foreign sales are primarily to customers in Canada. Net sales in Canada accounted for approximately 6.4%, 5.7% and 5.7% of our total net sales in fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018,
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respectively. Although our sales for export to other countries are generally denominated in U.S. dollars, our sales to Canada are generally denominated in Canadian dollars. As a result, our net sales to Canada are subject to the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, and these fluctuations could have an adverse impact on operating results. From time to time, we may enter into agreements that are intended to reduce the effects of our exposure to currency fluctuations, but these agreements may not be effective in significantly reducing our exposure.
Litigation regarding our trademarks and any other proprietary rights and intellectual property infringement claims may have a significant negative impact on our business.
We maintain an extensive trademark portfolio that we consider to be of significant importance to our business. If the actions we take to establish and protect our trademarks and other proprietary rights are not adequate to prevent imitation of our products by others or to prevent others from seeking to block sales of our products as an alleged violation of their trademarks and proprietary rights, it may be necessary for us to initiate or enter into litigation in the future to enforce our trademark rights or to defend ourselves against claimed infringement of the rights of others. Any legal proceedings could result in an adverse determination that could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
We face risks associated with our defined benefit pension plans and multi-employer pension plan obligations.
We maintain four company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans that cover approximately 34.9% of our employees. A deterioration in the value of plan assets resulting from poor market performance, a general financial downturn or otherwise could cause an increase in the amount of contributions we are required to make to these plans. For example, our defined benefit pension plans may from time to time move from an overfunded to underfunded status driven by decreases in plan asset values that may result from changes in long-term interest rates and disruptions in U.S. or global financial markets. Additionally, historically low interest rates coupled with poor market performance would have the effect of decreasing the funded status of these plans which would result in greater required contributions. For a more detailed description of these plans, see Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Critical Accounting Policies; Use of Estimates-Pension Expense” and Note 12, “Pension Benefits,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
We also participate in a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan maintained by the labor union representing certain of our employees at our Portland, Maine facility. We make periodic contributions to this plan pursuant to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. In the event that we withdraw from participation in this plan or substantially reduce our participation in this plan (such as due to a workforce reduction), or if a mass withdrawal were to occur, applicable law could require us to make withdrawal liability payments to the plan, and we would have to reflect that liability on our balance sheet. The amount of our withdrawal liability would depend on the extent of this plan’s funding of vested benefits at the time of our withdrawal. Currently the plan is severely underfunded. Furthermore, our withdrawal liability could increase as the number of employers participating in this plan decreases.
For a more detailed description of this multi-employer plan, which is in critical and declining status, see Note 12, “Pension Benefits,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
An obligation to make additional, unanticipated contributions to our defined benefit plans or the multi-employer plan described above could reduce the cash available for working capital and other corporate uses, and may have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial position, results of operations and liquidity.
Our financial well-being could be jeopardized by unforeseen changes in our employees’ collective bargaining agreements, shifts in union policy or labor disruptions in the food industry.
As of January 2, 2021, approximately 66.0% of our 3,207 employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements. A prolonged work stoppage or strike at any of our facilities with union employees or a significant work disruption from other labor disputes in the food or related industries could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Two of our collective bargaining agreements expire in the next twelve months. The collective bargaining agreement covering our Stoughton facility, which covers 174 employees, is scheduled to expire on March 27, 2021, and the collective bargaining agreement covering our Terre Haute facility, which covers 109 employees, is also scheduled to expire on March 27, 2021.
While we believe that our relations with our union employees are in general good, we cannot assure you that we will be able to negotiate new collective bargaining agreements for our Stoughton and Terre Haute facilities on terms
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satisfactory to us, or at all, and without production interruptions, including labor stoppages. If, prior to the expiration of the collective bargaining agreements for the Stoughton or Terre Haute facilities or prior to the expiration of any of our other existing collective bargaining agreements, we are unable to reach new agreements without union action or any such new agreements are not on terms satisfactory to us, our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity could be materially and adversely affected.
We are increasingly dependent on information technology; Disruptions, failures or security breaches of our information technology infrastructure could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Information technology is critically important to our business operations. We rely on information technology networks and systems, including the Internet, to process, transmit and store electronic and financial information, to manage a variety of business processes and activities, including manufacturing, financial, logistics, sales, marketing and administrative functions.
We depend on our information technology infrastructure to communicate internally and externally with employees, customers, suppliers and others. We also use information technology networks and systems to comply with regulatory, legal and tax requirements. These information technology systems, many of which are managed by third parties or used in connection with shared service centers, may be susceptible to damage, disruptions or shutdowns due to failures during the process of upgrading or replacing software, databases or components thereof, issues with or errors in systems’ maintenance or security, migration of applications to the cloud, power outages, hardware or software failures, computer viruses, malware, attacks by computer hackers or other cybersecurity risks, telecommunication failures, denial of service, user errors, natural disasters, terrorist attacks or other catastrophic events.
Cyberattacks and other cyber incidents are occurring more frequently in the United States, are constantly evolving in nature, are becoming more sophisticated and are being made by groups and individuals (including criminal hackers, hacktivists, state-sponsored institutions, terrorist organizations and individuals or groups participating in organized crime) with a wide range of expertise and motives (including monetization of corporate, payment or other internal or personal data, theft of trade secrets and intellectual property for competitive advantage and leverage for political, social, economic and environmental reasons). Such cyberattacks and cyber incidents can take many forms including cyber extortion, denial of service, social engineering, such as impersonation attempts to fraudulently induce employees or others to disclose information or unwittingly provide access to systems or data, introduction of viruses or malware, such as ransomware through phishing emails, website defacement or theft of passwords and other credentials. We may incur significant costs in protecting against or remediating cyberattacks or other cyber incidents.
If any of our significant information technology systems suffer severe damage, disruption or shutdown, whether due to natural disaster, cyberattacks or otherwise, and our disaster recovery and business continuity plans, or those of our third party providers, do not effectively respond to or resolve the issues in a timely manner, our product sales, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected, and we could experience delays in reporting our financial results, loss of intellectual property and damage to our reputation or brands.
In addition, if we are unable to prevent physical and electronic break-ins, cyberattacks and other information security breaches, we may suffer financial and reputational damage, be subject to litigation or incur remediation costs or penalties because of the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information belonging to us or to our partners, customers, suppliers or employees. The mishandling or inappropriate disclosure of non-public sensitive or protected information could lead to the loss of intellectual property, negatively impact planned corporate transactions or damage our reputation and brand image. Misuse, leakage or falsification of legally protected information could also result in a violation of data privacy laws and regulations and have a negative impact on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we are unable to hire or retain key management personnel, our growth and future success may be impaired and our results of operations could suffer as a result.
We must hire, retain and develop effective leaders and a highly skilled and diverse workforce. We compete to hire new personnel with the variety of skills needed to manufacture, sell and distribute our products. Unplanned or increased turnover of employees with key capabilities, failure to attract and develop personnel with key capabilities, including emerging capabilities such as e-commerce and digital marketing skills, or failure to develop adequate succession plans for leadership positions or to hire and retain a workforce with the skills and in the locations we need to operate and grow our business could deplete our institutional knowledge base and erode our competitiveness. Our
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success depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of senior management, certain of whom would be difficult to replace. As a result, departure by members of our senior management could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. In addition, we do not maintain key-man life insurance on any of our executive officers.
We are a holding company and we rely on dividends, interest and other payments, advances and transfers of funds from our subsidiaries to meet our obligations.
We are a holding company, with all of our assets held by our direct and indirect subsidiaries, and we rely on dividends and other payments or distributions from our subsidiaries to meet our debt service obligations and to enable us to pay dividends. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other payments or distributions to us depends on their respective operating results and may be restricted by, among other things, the laws of their jurisdiction of organization (which may limit the amount of funds available for the payment of dividends), agreements of those subsidiaries, our credit agreement, our senior notes indentures and the covenants of any future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur.
Future changes that increase cash taxes payable by us could significantly decrease our future cash flow available to make interest and dividend payments with respect to our securities and have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
We are able to amortize goodwill and certain intangible assets in accordance with Section 197 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. We expect to be able to amortize for tax purposes approximately $1,299.7 million between 2021 and 2035. The expected annual deductions are approximately $135.3 million for fiscal 2021, approximately $123.8 million for fiscal 2022, approximately $121.9 million per year for fiscal 2023 through fiscal 2024, approximately $121.6 million for fiscal 2025, approximately $117.7 million for fiscal 2026, approximately $97.8 million for fiscal 2027, approximately $95.3 million for fiscal 2028, approximately $94.6 million for fiscal 2029, approximately $88.5 million for fiscal 2030, approximately $55.9 million for fiscal 2031, approximately $37.7 million for fiscal 2032, approximately $32.7 million for fiscal 2033, approximately $29.4 million for fiscal 2034 and approximately $25.6 million for fiscal 2035.
We also take material annual deductions for net interest expense due to our substantial indebtedness. However, the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law on December 22, 2017, limits the deduction for net interest expense (including the treatment of depreciation and other deductions in arriving at adjusted taxable income) incurred by a corporate taxpayer to 30% of the taxpayer’s adjusted taxable income. We were not impacted by this limitation in fiscal 2018 due to the gain on sale from the Pirate Brands divestiture, which increased our adjusted taxable income. However, in fiscal 2019 our interest expense exceeded 30% of our adjusted taxable income and this limitation resulted in an increase to our taxable income of $30.2 million, and we accordingly established a deferred tax asset of $7.4 million without a valuation allowance.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, which we refer to as the “U.S. CARES Act,” was signed into law. The U.S. CARES Act, among other things, includes provisions related to net operating loss carryback periods, modifications to the interest deduction limitation and technical corrections to tax depreciation for qualified improvement property. The U.S. CARES Act increased the adjusted taxable income limitation from 30% to 50% for business interest deductions for tax years beginning in 2019 and 2020 and the limitation will revert back to 30% in future periods. This modification increased the allowable interest expense deduction and resulted in a net operating loss (NOL) for the year 2019. We were able to carryback the 2019 NOL and receive a tax refund of $7.2 million in fiscal 2020. The NOL carryback to the 2014 and 2015 tax years generated a refund of previously paid income taxes at an approximate 35% federal tax rate. This resulted in a benefit related to tax rate differential of $2.6 million in fiscal 2020, $2.3 million of which was recorded as a discrete item in the first quarter of 2020. See Note 10, “Income Taxes,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
We were not subject to an interest expense deduction limitation in fiscal 2020. However, if our interest expense deduction becomes limited or if we are unable to fully utilize our interest expense deductions in future periods, our cash taxes would increase.
If there is a change in U.S. federal tax law or, in the case of the interest deduction, a change in our net interest expense relative to our adjusted taxable income that eliminates, limits or reduces our ability to amortize and deduct goodwill and certain intangible assets or the interest deduction we receive on our substantial indebtedness, or otherwise
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results in an increase in our corporate tax rate, our cash taxes payable would increase, which could significantly reduce our future cash and impact our ability to make interest and dividend payments and have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
Likewise, the ultimate impact of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the U.S. CARES Act on our reported results in fiscal 2021 and beyond may differ from the estimates provided in this report, possibly materially, due to guidance that may be issued and other actions we may take as a result of the new tax law different from that currently contemplated. See Note 10, “Income Taxes,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report for information about the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the U.S. CARES Act.
A change in the assumptions used to value our goodwill or our indefinite-lived intangible assets could negatively affect our consolidated results of operations and net worth.
Our total assets include substantial goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets (trademarks). These assets are tested for impairment at least annually and whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets might be impaired. The annual goodwill impairment testing is performed by comparing our company’s market capitalization with our company’s carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying value of our company exceeds our market capitalization, an impairment charge is recognized for the difference, not to exceed the amount of goodwill. We test our indefinite-lived intangible assets by comparing the fair value with the carrying value and recognize a loss for the difference. We estimate the fair value of our indefinite-lived intangible assets based on discounted cash flows that reflect certain third party market value indicators. Estimating our fair value for these purposes requires significant estimates and assumptions by management. We completed our annual impairment tests for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 with no adjustments to the carrying values of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. If, however, operating results for any of our brands, including newly acquired brands, deteriorate, at rates in excess of our current projections, we may be required to record non-cash impairment charges to certain intangible assets. In addition, any significant decline in our market capitalization, even if due to macroeconomic factors, could put pressure on the carrying value of our goodwill. A determination that all or a portion of our goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired, although a non-cash charge to operations, could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
Any future financial market disruptions or tightening of the credit markets could expose us to additional credit risks from customers and supply risks from suppliers and co-packers.
Any future financial market disruptions or tightening of the credit markets could result in some of our customers experiencing a significant decline in profits and/or reduced liquidity. A significant adverse change in the financial and/or credit position of a customer could require us to assume greater credit risk relating to that customer and could limit our ability to collect receivables. A significant adverse change in the financial and/or credit position of a supplier or co-packer could result in an interruption of supply. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
Risks Relating to our Securities
Holders of our common stock may not receive the level of dividends provided for in our dividend policy or any dividends at all.
Dividend payments are not mandatory or guaranteed and holders of our common stock do not have any legal right to receive, or require us to pay, dividends. Our board of directors may, in its sole discretion, decrease the level of dividends provided for in our dividend policy or entirely discontinue the payment of dividends. Future dividends with respect to shares of our capital stock, if any, depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions (including restrictions in our credit agreement and senior notes indentures), business opportunities, provisions of applicable law (including certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law) and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
If our cash flows from operating activities were to fall below our minimum expectations (or if our assumptions as to capital expenditures or interest expense were too low or our assumptions as to the sufficiency of our revolving credit facility to finance our working capital needs were to prove incorrect), we may need either to reduce or eliminate dividends or, to the extent permitted under our credit agreement and senior notes indentures, fund a portion of our dividends with borrowings or from other sources. If we were to use working capital or permanent borrowings to fund dividends, we would have less cash and/or borrowing capacity available for future dividends and other purposes, which
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could negatively impact our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and ability to maintain or expand our business.
Our dividend policy may negatively impact our ability to finance capital expenditures, operations or acquisition opportunities.
Under our dividend policy, a substantial portion of our cash generated by our business in excess of operating needs, interest and principal payments on indebtedness, and capital expenditures sufficient to maintain our properties and assets is in general distributed as regular quarterly cash dividends to the holders of our common stock. As a result, we may not retain a sufficient amount of cash to finance growth opportunities or unanticipated capital expenditure needs or to fund our operations in the event of a significant business downturn. We may have to forego growth opportunities or capital expenditures that would otherwise be necessary or desirable if we do not find alternative sources of financing. If we do not have sufficient cash for these purposes, our financial condition and our business will suffer.
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue without stockholder approval preferred stock that may be senior to our common stock in certain respects.
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of preferred stock without stockholder approval and, in the case of preferred stock, upon such terms as the board of directors may determine. The rights of the holders of shares of our common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any class or series of preferred stock that may be issued in the future, including any preferential rights that we may grant to the holders of preferred stock. The terms of any preferred stock we issue may place restrictions on the payment of dividends to the holders of our common stock. If we issue preferred stock that is senior to our common stock in right of dividend payment, and our cash flows from operating activities or surplus are insufficient to support dividend payments to the holders of preferred stock, on the one hand, and to the holders of common stock, on the other hand, we may be forced to reduce or eliminate dividends to the holders of our common stock.
Future sales or the possibility of future sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock may depress the price of our common stock.
We may issue shares of our common stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock from time to time in future financings or as consideration for future acquisitions and investments. In the event any such future financing, acquisition or investment is significant, the number of shares of our common stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock that we may issue may in turn be significant. In addition, we may grant registration rights covering shares of our common stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock, as applicable, issued in connection with any such future financing, acquisitions and investments.
Future sales or the availability for sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock, whether issued and sold pursuant to our currently effective shelf registration statement or otherwise, would dilute our earnings per share and the voting power of each share of common stock outstanding prior to such sale or distribution, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our securities and could impair our ability to raise capital through future sales of our securities.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and several other factors could limit another party’s ability to acquire us and deprive our investors of the opportunity to obtain a takeover premium for their securities.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain certain provisions that may make it difficult for another company to acquire us and for holders of our securities to receive any related takeover premium for their securities. For example, our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of preferred stock without stockholder approval and upon such terms as the board of directors may determine. The rights of the holders of shares of our common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any class or series of preferred stock that may be issued in the future.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. Properties.
Our corporate headquarters are located at Four Gatehall Drive, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Our manufacturing facilities are generally located near major customer markets and raw materials. Of our twelve manufacturing facilities, eight are owned, two are leased and two consist of multiple buildings, some of which are owned and some of which are leased. Management believes that our manufacturing facilities, together with our current and available contract manufacturers, have sufficient capacity to accommodate our planned growth. Listed below are our manufacturing facilities and the principal warehouses, distribution centers and offices that we own or lease.
Facility Location
Owned/Leased
Description
Parsippany, New Jersey
Leased
Corporate Headquarters
Mississauga, Ontario
Leased
Canadian Headquarters
Ankeny, Iowa
Owned
Manufacturing/Warehouse
Hurlock, Maryland
Owned
Manufacturing/Warehouse
Irapuato, Mexico
Owned
Manufacturing/Warehouse
Portland, Maine
Owned
Manufacturing/Warehouse
St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Owned
Manufacturing/Warehouse
Stoughton, Wisconsin
Owned
Manufacturing/Warehouse
Terre Haute, Indiana
Owned/Leased
Manufacturing/Warehouse
Williamstown, New Jersey
Owned
Manufacturing/Warehouse
Yadkinville, North Carolina
Owned
Manufacturing/Warehouse
Brooklyn, New York
Leased
Manufacturing/Warehouse
Roseland, New Jersey
Leased
Manufacturing/Warehouse
Cincinnati, Ohio
Owned/Leased
Manufacturing/Warehouse
Easton, Pennsylvania
Leased
Distribution Center
Fontana, California
Leased
Distribution Center
Joliet, Illinois
Leased
Distribution Center
Lebanon, Tennessee
Leased
Distribution Center
St. Evariste, Québec
Owned
Storage Facility
Bentonville, Arkansas
Leased
Sales Office

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
The information set forth under the heading “Legal Proceedings” in Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Shares of our common stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BGS” and have been so traded since May 23, 2007. According to the records of our transfer agent, we had 317 holders of record of our common stock as of February 24, 2021, including Cede & Co. as nominee for The Depository Trust Company (DTC). Cede & Co. as nominee for DTC holds shares of our common stock on behalf of participants in the DTC system, which in turn hold the shares of common stock on behalf of beneficial owners.
Performance Graph
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the change in the cumulative total shareholder return on our company’s common stock with the cumulative total return of the Russell 2000 Index and the S&P Packaged Foods & Meats Index for the period from January 2, 2016 to January 2, 2021, assuming the investment of $100 on January 2, 2016 and the reinvestment of dividends. The common stock price performance shown on the graph only reflects the change in our company’s common stock price relative to the noted indices and is not necessarily indicative of future price performance.
Comparison of 5 Year Cumulative Total Return
Among B&G Foods, Inc. Common Stock, the Russell 2000 Index
and the S&P Packaged Foods & Meats Index
1/2/2016
*
12/31/2016
12/30/2017
12/29/2018
12/28/2019
1/2/2021
B&G Foods, Inc. (NYSE: BGS)
$
100.00
130.20
110.04
100.25
65.15
110.40
Russell 2000 Index
$
100.00
121.31
139.08
123.76
155.35
186.36
S&P Packaged Foods & Meats Index
$
100.00
109.14
110.61
89.81
117.50
122.82
*
$100 invested on January 2, 2016 in B&G Foods’ common stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. Indexes calculated on month-end basis.
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Dividend Policy
General
Our dividend policy reflects a basic judgment that our stockholders are better served when we distribute a substantial portion of our cash available to pay dividends to them instead of retaining it in our business. Under this policy, a substantial portion of the cash generated by our company in excess of operating needs, interest and principal payments on indebtedness, capital expenditures sufficient to maintain our properties and other assets is distributed as regular quarterly cash dividends to the holders of our common stock and not retained by us. We have paid dividends every quarter since our initial public offering in October 2004.
For fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, we had cash flows from operating activities of $281.5 million and $46.5 million, respectively, and distributed $121.9 million and $123.7 million as dividends, respectively. At our current dividend rate of $1.90 per share per annum, we expect our aggregate dividend payments in 2021 to be approximately $122.8 million.
The following table sets forth the dividends per share we have declared in each of the quarterly periods of 2020 and 2019:
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fourth Quarter
$
0.475
$
0.475
Third Quarter
$
0.475
$
0.475
Second Quarter
$
0.475
$
0.475
First Quarter
$
0.475
$
0.475
Under U.S. federal income tax law, distributions to holders of our common stock are taxable to the extent they are paid out of current or accumulated earnings and profits. Generally, the portion of the distribution treated as a return of capital should reduce the tax basis in the shares of common stock up to a holder’s adjusted basis in the common stock, with any excess treated as capital gains. Qualifying dividend income and the return of capital, if any, will be allocated on a pro-forma basis to all distributions for each fiscal year. Based on U.S. federal income tax laws, B&G Foods has determined that for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, approximately 25.0% and 92.5%, respectively, of distributions paid on common stock were treated as a return of capital and approximately 75.0% and 7.5%, respectively, were treated as a taxable dividend paid from earnings and profits.
Our dividend policy is based upon our current assessment of our business and the environment in which we operate, and that assessment could change based on competitive or other developments (which could, for example, increase our need for capital expenditures or working capital), new acquisition opportunities or other factors. Our board of directors is free to depart from or change our dividend policy at any time and could do so, for example, if it was to determine that we have insufficient cash to take advantage of growth opportunities.
Restrictions on Dividend Payments
Our ability to pay future dividends, if any, with respect to shares of our capital stock will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions, provisions of applicable law and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. Under Delaware law, our board of directors may declare dividends only to the extent of our “surplus” (which is defined as total assets at fair market value minus total liabilities, minus statutory capital), or if there is no surplus, out of our net profits for the then current and/or immediately preceding fiscal years. Our board of directors will periodically and from time to time assess the appropriateness of the then current dividend policy before actually declaring any dividends.
In general, our senior notes indentures restrict our ability to declare and pay dividends on our common stock as follows:
● we may use up to 100% of our excess cash (as defined below) for the period (taken as one accounting period) from and including March 31, 2013 to the end of our most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such payments, plus certain incremental funds described in the indentures for the payment of dividends so long as the fixed charge coverage ratio for the four most recent fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available is not less than 1.6 to 1.0; and
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● we may not pay any dividends on any dividend payment date if a default or event of default under our indentures has occurred or is continuing.
Excess cash is defined in our senior notes indentures and under the terms of our credit agreement. Excess cash is calculated as “consolidated cash flow,” as defined in the indentures and under the terms of our credit agreement (which, in each case, allows for certain adjustments and which is equivalent to the term adjusted EBITDA), minus the sum of cash tax expense, cash interest expense, certain capital expenditures, excess tax benefit from issuance of performance share long-term incentive award (LTIA) shares, certain repayment of indebtedness and the cash portion of restructuring charges.
In addition, the terms of our credit agreement also restrict our ability to declare and pay dividends on our common stock. In accordance with the terms of our credit agreement, we are not permitted to declare or pay dividends unless we are permitted to do so under our senior notes indentures. In addition, our credit agreement does not permit us to pay dividends unless we maintain:
● a “consolidated interest coverage ratio” (defined as the ratio on a pro forma basis of our adjusted EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters to our consolidated interest expense for such period payable in cash) of not less than 1.75 to 1.00; and
● a “consolidated leverage ratio” (defined as the ratio on a pro forma basis of our consolidated net debt, as of the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters to our adjusted EBITDA for such period) of not more than 7.00 to 1.00.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
We did not issue any unregistered securities in fiscal 2020.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Not applicable.
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---

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
The following selected historical consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes to those statements included in this report. The selected historical consolidated financial data as of and for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021 (fiscal 2020), December 28, 2019 (fiscal 2019), December 29, 2018 (fiscal 2018), December 30, 2017 (fiscal 2017) and December 31, 2016 (fiscal 2016) have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements.
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2018
Fiscal 2017
Fiscal 2016
(In thousands, except per share data and ratios)
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data(1) (2) (3):
Net sales(2) (3)
$
1,967,909
$
1,660,414
$
1,700,764
$
1,646,387
$
1,372,307
Cost of goods sold(4)
1,486,169
1,277,290
1,351,264
1,205,809
943,295
Gross profit(2)
481,740
383,124
349,500
440,578
429,012
Selling, general and administrative expenses(2) (5)
186,191
160,745
167,389
183,448
157,028
Amortization expense(6)
19,111
18,543
18,343
17,611
13,803
(Gain) loss on sale of assets(7)
-
-
(176,386)
1,608
-
Impairment of intangible assets(8)
-
-
-
-
5,405
Operating income(2)
276,438
203,836
340,154
237,911
252,776
Interest expense, net
101,634
98,126
108,334
91,784
74,456
Loss on extinguishment of debt(9)
-
1,177
13,135
1,163
2,836
Other income(2)(10)
(2,558)
(1,159)
(3,592)
(3,098)
(1,582)
Income before income tax expense (benefit)
177,362
105,692
222,277
148,062
177,066
Income tax expense (benefit)
45,374
29,303
49,842
(69,401)
67,641
Net income
$
131,988
$
76,389
$
172,435
$
217,463
$
109,425
Earnings per share data:
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding
64,163
65,013
66,145
66,487
63,203
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding
64,557
65,039
66,255
66,706
63,240
Cash dividends declared per common share
$
1.90
$
1.90
$
1.89
$
1.86
$
1.73
Basic earnings per common share
$
2.06
$
1.17
$
2.61
$
3.27
$
1.73
Diluted earnings per common share
$
2.04
$
1.17
$
2.60
$
3.26
$
1.73
Other Financial Data(1):
Net cash provided by operating activities(7)
$
281,477
$
46,504
$
209,456
$
37,799
$
289,661
Capital expenditures
(26,748)
(42,355)
(41,627)
(59,802)
(42,418)
Cash payments for acquisition of businesses
(542,488)
(82,430)
(30,787)
(162,965)
(438,787)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
327,952
77,713
(753,327)
359,336
216,005
EBITDA(11)
$
342,697
$
263,729
$
397,385
$
290,181
$
291,624
Senior debt / EBITDA(12)
6.9x
7.2x
4.2x
7.8x
6.0x
Total debt / EBITDA
6.9x
7.2x
4.2x
7.8x
6.0x
EBITDA / cash interest expense(13)
3.5x
2.8x
3.9x
3.4x
4.2x
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (at end of year)(1):
Cash and cash equivalents
$
52,182
$
11,315
$
11,648
$
206,506
$
28,833
Total assets(14)
3,767,570
3,227,590
3,057,795
3,564,816
3,046,208
Total debt(15)
2,354,410
1,900,652
1,653,371
2,251,741
1,746,769
Total stockholders’ equity
$
831,877
$
812,542
$
900,049
$
880,819
$
785,657
(1) We completed the Crisco acquisition from The J.M. Smucker Company on December 1, 2020. We completed the Farmwise acquisition from its founders and certain other sellers on February 19, 2020. We completed the Clabber Girl acquisition from Hulman & Company on May 15, 2019. We completed the sale of Pirate Brands to The Hershey Company on October 17, 2018. We completed the McCann’s acquisition from TreeHouse Foods, Inc. on July 16, 2018. We completed the Back to Nature acquisition from Brynwood Partners VI L.P., Mondelēz International and certain other sellers on October 2, 2017. We completed the Victoria acquisition from Huron Capital Partners and certain other sellers on December 2, 2016. We completed the spices & seasonings acquisition from ACH Food Companies, Inc. on November 21, 2016. Each of the acquisitions listed above has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting and, accordingly, the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and results of operations of the acquired business is included in our consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.
(2) In fiscal 2018, net sales, gross profit, selling, general and administrative expenses, operating income and other income for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016 were adjusted as a result of our retrospective adoption of new accounting standards relating to revenue recognition and the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit costs. We also reclassified a
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$1.6 million pre-tax loss on sale of assets for fiscal 2017 from selling, general and administrative expenses to loss on sale of assets. The adjustments described above had no impact on net income or earnings per share.
(3) Fiscal 2020 contained 53 weeks and fiscal 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 each contained 52 weeks.
(4) Cost of goods sold for fiscal 2020 includes $5.0 million of non-recurring expenses, which primarily relates to the amortization of acquisition-related inventory fair value step-up (for certain Crisco inventory acquired and sold during the year) and distribution restructuring, other cost savings initiatives and other non-recurring expenses. Cost of goods sold for fiscal 2019 includes $22.0 million of non-recurring expenses, $16.4 million of which relates to the trailing non-cash accounting impact of the underutilization of our manufacturing facilities in 2018 as we reduced inventory during the implementation of the inventory reduction plan, $0.9 million of which relates to amortization of acquisition-related inventory fair value step-up (for certain Clabber Girl inventory acquired and sold during the year) and $4.7 million of which relates to other non-recurring expenses. Cost of goods sold for fiscal 2018 includes $76.3 million of non-recurring expenses, including $66.3 million relating to the non-cash accounting impact of our inventory reduction plan and $10.0 million of warehouse, delivery and other costs associated with our transition from certain of our existing distribution centers to new distribution centers. Cost of goods sold for fiscal 2017 includes $2.4 million of amortization of acquisition-related inventory fair value step-up (for certain spices & seasonings business and Back to Nature inventory acquired and sold during the year) and a $3.3 million loss on disposal of inventory related to the write-off of discontinued and expired inventory from recent acquisitions. Fiscal 2016 includes $5.4 million of amortization of acquisition-related inventory fair value step-up (for certain spices & seasonings business inventory acquired and sold during the year and certain Green Giant inventory sold during the year) and a $0.8 million loss on disposal of inventory related to the impairment of Rickland Orchards.
(5) Selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal 2020 includes $13.6 million of acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses, including acquisition and integration expenses for the Crisco, Farmwise and Clabber Girl acquisitions, and severance and other separation benefits payable pursuant to a separation agreement we entered into with our former president and chief executive officer in fiscal 2020 and a workforce reduction in fiscal 2019 and other non-recurring expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal 2019 includes $16.7 million of acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses, including acquisition and integration expenses for the Clabber Girl acquisition and transition expenses for the Pirate Brands sale, and severance and other expenses primarily relating to a workforce reduction. Selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal 2018 includes $16.9 million of acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses, including transition expenses for the Pirate Brands sale and acquisition and integration expenses for the McCann’s, Green Giant, spices & seasonings, Victoria and Back to Nature acquisitions. Selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal 2017 includes $35.6 million of acquisition-related and non-recurring expenses, including acquisition and integration expenses for the Green Giant, spices & seasonings, Victoria and Back to Nature acquisitions, severance and hiring costs and a non-recurring startup surcharge paid to a co-packer. Selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal 2016 includes $17.5 million of acquisition-related expenses for the Victoria, spices & seasonings, Green Giant and Mama Mary’s acquisitions and $1.3 million of distribution restructuring expenses.
(6) Amortization expense includes the amortization of customer relationships, finite-lived trademarks and other intangible assets.
(7) During fiscal 2018, our divestiture of Pirate Brands resulted in a gain on sale of approximately $176.4 million. The gain on sale negatively impacted our income taxes for fiscal 2019 by approximately $73.9 million, which includes cash tax payments we made during fiscal 2019 of $44.7 million and a cash tax benefit we otherwise would have expected to receive of approximately $29.2 million. Excluding the negative tax impact of the gain on sale, our net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2019 would have been approximately $120.4 million. See Note 3, “Acquisitions and Divestitures” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report, for detailed information. During fiscal 2017, we recorded a $1.6 million pre-tax loss as we sold to a third-party co-packer our Le Sueur, Minnesota research center, including the seed technology assets, property, plant and equipment.
(8) Impairment of intangible assets for fiscal 2016 includes a $4.5 million loss for the impairment of finite-lived trademarks and a $0.9 million loss for the impairment of customer relationships, both relating to Rickland Orchards, a discontinued brand.
(9) There was no loss on extinguishment of debt in fiscal 2020. Fiscal 2019 loss on extinguishment of debt includes the write-off of deferred debt financing costs and unamortized discount of $1.2 million relating to the repayment of all outstanding borrowings under the 4.625% senior notes due 2021. Fiscal 2018 loss on extinguishment of debt includes the write-off of deferred debt financing costs and unamortized discount of $11.1 million and $2.0 million, respectively, relating to the repayment of our then outstanding tranche B term loans. Fiscal 2017 loss on extinguishment of debt includes the write-off of deferred debt financing costs of $0.9 million and the write-off of unamortized discount of $0.2 million in connection with the repayment of all outstanding borrowings under the tranche A term loans and the write-off of deferred debt financing costs and the write-off of unamortized discount of less than $0.1 million in connection with the refinancing of our tranche B term loans. Fiscal 2016 loss on extinguishment of debt includes the write-off of deferred debt financing costs of $2.2 million and the write-off of unamortized discount of $0.6 million in connection with the repayment of $40.1 million aggregate principal amount of our tranche A term loans and $109.9 million aggregate principal amount of our tranche B term loans.
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(10) Other income for fiscal 2020 includes the non-service portion of net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit costs of $2.6 million and the remeasurement of monetary assets denominated in a foreign currency into U.S. dollars of less than $0.1 million. Other income for fiscal 2019 includes the non-service portion of net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit costs of $1.2 million and the remeasurement of monetary assets denominated in a foreign currency into U.S. dollars of less than $0.1 million. Other income for fiscal 2018 includes the non-service portion of net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit costs of $2.4 million and the remeasurement of monetary assets denominated in a foreign currency into U.S. dollars of $1.2 million. Other income for fiscal 2017 includes the non-service portion of net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit costs of $1.5 million and the remeasurement of monetary assets denominated in a foreign currency into U.S. dollars of $1.6 million. Other income for fiscal 2016 includes the non-service portion of net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit costs of $1.2 million and the remeasurement of monetary assets denominated in a foreign currency into U.S. dollars of $0.4 million.
(11) EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses are non-GAAP financial measures used by management to measure operating performance. A non-GAAP financial measure is defined as a numerical measure of our financial performance that excludes or includes amounts so as to be different from the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) in our consolidated balance sheets and related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows. We define EBITDA as net income before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and loss on extinguishment of debt (see footnote (9) above). We define adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for cash and non-cash acquisition/divestiture-related expenses, gains and losses (which may include third party fees and expenses, integration, restructuring and consolidation expenses, amortization of acquired inventory fair value step-up and gains and losses on the sale of assets); non-recurring expenses, gains and losses, including distribution restructuring expenses, severance and other expenses relating to the separation of our former chief executive officer in fiscal 2020 and a workforce reduction in fiscal 2019; gains and losses related to changes in the fair value of contingent liabilities from earn-outs; the non-cash accounting impact of our inventory reduction plan; intangible asset impairment charges and related asset write-offs; and loss on product recalls, including customer refunds, selling, general and administrative expenses and the impact on cost of sales. We define adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses as adjusted EBITDA adjusted for COVID-19 expenses.
Management believes that it is useful to eliminate these items because it allows management to focus on what it deems to be a more reliable indicator of ongoing operating performance and our ability to generate cash flow from operations. We use EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses in our business operations to, among other things, evaluate our operating performance, develop budgets and measure our performance against those budgets, determine employee bonuses and evaluate our cash flows in terms of cash needs. We also present EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses because we believe they are useful indicators of our historical debt capacity and ability to service debt and because covenants in our credit agreement and our senior notes indentures contain ratios based on these measures. As a result, reports used by internal management during monthly operating reviews feature the EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses metrics. However, management uses these metrics in conjunction with traditional GAAP operating performance and liquidity measures as part of its overall assessment of company performance and liquidity, and therefore does not place undue reliance on these measures as its only measures of operating performance and liquidity.
EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses are not recognized terms under GAAP and do not purport to be alternatives to operating income, net income or any other GAAP measure as an indicator of operating performance. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses are not complete net cash flow measures because EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses are measures of liquidity that do not include reductions for cash payments for an entity’s obligation to service its debt, fund its working capital, capital expenditures and acquisitions and pay its income taxes and dividends. Rather, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses are three potential indicators of an entity’s ability to fund these cash requirements. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses are not complete measures of an entity’s profitability because they do not include certain costs and expenses and gains and losses described above. Because not all companies use identical calculations, this presentation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. However, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses can still be useful in evaluating our performance against our peer companies because management believes these measures provide users with valuable insight into key components of GAAP amounts. A reconciliation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses to net income and to net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 along with the components of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses, follows:
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Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2018
Fiscal 2017
Fiscal 2016
(In thousands)
Net income
$
131,988
$
76,389
$
172,435
$
217,463
$
109,425
Income tax expense (benefit)
45,374
29,303
49,842
(69,401)
67,641
Interest expense, net
101,634
98,126
108,334
91,784
74,456
Depreciation and amortization
63,701
58,734
53,639
49,172
37,266
Loss on extinguishment of debt(A)
-
1,177
13,135
1,163
2,836
EBITDA
342,697
263,729
397,385
290,181
291,624
Acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses(B)
17,227
21,519
26,863
35,745
18,796
Inventory reduction plan impact(C)
-
16,382
66,320
-
-
Amortization of acquisition-related inventory step-up(D)
1,323
-
2,380
5,424
Impairment of intangible assets(E)
-
-
-
-
5,405
Loss on disposal of inventory(F)
-
-
-
3,287
(Gain) loss on sale of assets(G)
-
-
(176,386)
1,608
-
Adjusted EBITDA
361,247
302,521
314,182
333,201
322,040
COVID-19 expenses(H)
13,521
-
-
-
-
Adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses
374,768
302,521
314,182
333,201
322,040
Income tax (expense) benefit
(45,374)
(29,303)
(49,842)
69,401
(67,641)
Interest expense, net
(101,634)
(98,126)
(108,334)
(91,784)
(74,456)
Acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses(B)
(17,227)
(21,519)
(26,863)
(35,745)
(18,796)
Inventory reduction plan impact(C)
-
(16,382)
(66,320)
-
-
Amortization of acquisition-related inventory step-up(D)
(1,323)
(891)
-
(2,380)
(5,424)
Net (gain)/loss on sales and disposals of property, plant and equipment
(50)
Deferred income taxes
42,613
20,415
(1,494)
(80,525)
56,190
Amortization of deferred debt financing costs and bond discount/premium
4,691
3,511
5,282
5,812
5,426
Share-based compensation expense
10,618
2,594
3,025
4,615
5,798
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation
-
-
-
-
(343)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of business combinations
27,916
(116,413)
138,889
(165,004)
66,530
Net cash provided by operating activities(G)
$
281,477
$
46,504
$
209,456
$
37,799
$
289,661
(A) See footnote (9) above.
(B) See footnote (4) and footnote (5) above.
(C) Inventory reduction plan impact relates to our 2018 inventory reduction plan. For fiscal 2019, inventory reduction plan impact of $16.4 million includes the trailing non-cash accounting impact of the underutilization of our manufacturing facilities in 2018 as we reduced inventory during the implementation of the inventory reduction plan. For fiscal 2018, inventory reduction plan impact of $66.3 million includes $51.1 million of fixed manufacturing, warehouse and other corporate overhead costs associated with inventory purchased and converted into finished goods in fiscal 2017 and sold in fiscal 2018 and $15.2 million for the underutilization of our manufacturing facilities as we reduced inventory during the implementation of the inventory reduction plan.
(D) See footnote (4) above.
(E) See footnote (8) above.
(F) Fiscal 2017 includes a loss on disposal of inventory related to the write-off of discontinued and expired inventory from recent acquisitions. Fiscal 2016 includes a loss on disposal of inventory related to the impairment of Rickland Orchards. See footnote (8) above.
(G) See footnote (7) above.
(H) COVID-19 expenses for fiscal 2020 of $13.5 million primarily include temporary enhanced compensation for our manufacturing employees; compensation that we continue to pay manufacturing employees while in quarantine (which is incremental to the compensation we pay to the manufacturing employees who produce our products while others are in quarantine); and expenses relating to other precautionary health and safety measures.
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(12) As of the end of each fiscal year presented, senior debt is defined as the face amount of all of our outstanding debt.
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2018
Fiscal 2017
Fiscal 2016
(In thousands, except ratios)
Current and former senior secured credit agreement:
Revolving credit facility
$
235,000
$
-
$
50,000
$
-
$
176,000
Tranche A term loan due 2019
-
-
-
-
233,640
Tranche B term loan due 2022
-
-
-
650,110
640,110
Tranche B term loan due 2026
671,625
450,000
-
-
-
4.625% senior notes due 2021
-
-
700,000
700,000
700,000
5.25% senior notes due 2025
900,000
900,000
900,000
900,000
-
5.25% senior notes due 2027
550,000
550,000
-
-
-
Senior debt
$
2,356,625
$
1,900,000
$
1,650,000
$
2,250,110
$
1,749,750
EBITDA
$
342,697
$
263,729
$
397,385
$
290,181
$
291,624
Senior debt / EBITDA
6.9x
7.2x
4.2x
7.8x
6.0x
Adjusted EBITDA
$
361,247
$
302,521
$
314,182
$
333,201
$
322,040
Senior debt / adjusted EBITDA
6.5x
6.3x
5.3x
6.8x
5.4x
See Note 7, “Long-Term Debt,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report, for more information about our long-term debt. As of January 2, 2021, we were in compliance with all of the covenants, including the financial covenants, in our credit agreement and the indentures governing the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 and 5.25% senior notes due 2027.
(13) Cash interest expense, calculated below, is equal to net interest expense less amortization of deferred debt financing costs and bond discount/premium.
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2018
Fiscal 2017
Fiscal 2016
(In thousands, except ratios)
Interest expense, net
$
101,634
$
98,126
$
108,334
$
91,784
$
74,456
Amortization of deferred debt financing costs and bond discount/premium
(4,691)
(3,511)
(5,282)
(5,812)
(5,426)
Cash interest expense
$
96,943
$
94,615
$
103,052
$
85,972
$
69,030
EBITDA
$
342,697
$
263,729
$
397,385
$
290,181
$
291,624
EBITDA / cash interest expense
3.5x
2.8x
3.9x
3.4x
4.2x
Adjusted EBITDA
$
361,247
$
302,521
$
314,182
$
333,201
$
322,040
Adjusted EBITDA / cash interest expense
3.7x
3.2x
3.0x
3.9x
4.7x
See Note 7, “Long-Term Debt,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report, for more information about our long-term debt. As of January 2, 2021, we were in compliance with all of the covenants, including the financial covenants, in our credit agreement and the indentures governing the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 and 5.25% senior notes due 2027.
(14) Total assets includes $4.6 million and $2.2 million of unamortized deferred debt financing costs related to our revolving credit facility as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively. During fiscal 2019, we reclassified unamortized deferred debt financing costs related to our revolving credit facility from a reduction in long-term debt to other assets in the consolidated balance sheet data in the table above of $3.0 million, $3.8 million and $2.7 million as of the end of fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(15) Total debt includes outstanding principal and unamortized discount/premium. Does not include unamortized deferred debt financing costs, which are included in total assets, see (14) above.
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those set forth under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements” before Part I of this report and elsewhere in this report. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report.
General
We manufacture, sell and distribute a diverse portfolio of branded, high quality, shelf-stable and frozen foods and household products, many of which have leading regional or national market shares. In general, we position our branded products to appeal to the consumer desiring a high quality and reasonably priced product. We complement our branded product retail sales with institutional and foodservice sales and private label sales.
Our company has been built upon a successful track record of acquisition-driven growth. Our goal is to continue to increase sales, profitability and cash flows through strategic acquisitions, new product development and organic growth. We intend to implement our growth strategy through the following initiatives: expanding our brand portfolio with disciplined acquisitions of complementary branded businesses, continuing to develop new products and delivering them to market quickly, leveraging our multiple channel sales and distribution system and continuing to focus on higher growth customers and distribution channels.
Since 1996, we have successfully acquired and integrated more than 50 brands into our company. Most recently, on December 1, 2020, we acquired the Crisco oils and shortening business from The J.M. Smucker Company and certain of its affiliates. On February 19, 2020, we acquired Farmwise LLC, maker of Farmwise Veggie Fries, Farmwise Veggie Tots and Farmwise Veggie Rings, from its founders and certain other sellers. On May 15, 2019, we acquired the Clabber Girl Corporation, including the Clabber Girl, Rumford, Davis, Hearth Club and Royal brands of retail baking powder, baking soda and corn starch, and the Royal brand of foodservice dessert mixes, from Hulman & Company. We refer to these acquisitions in this report as the “Crisco acquisition,” the “Farmwise acquisition” and the “Clabber Girl acquisition.” All of these recent acquisitions have been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting and, accordingly, the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and results of operations of the acquired businesses are included in our consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. These acquisitions and the application of the acquisition method of accounting affect comparability between periods.
We are subject to a number of challenges that may adversely affect our businesses. These challenges, which are discussed above before Part I of this report under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements” and in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” include:
Fluctuations in Commodity Prices and Production and Distribution Costs. We purchase raw materials, including agricultural products, oils, meat, poultry, ingredients and packaging materials from growers, commodity processors, other food companies and packaging suppliers located in U.S. and foreign locations. Raw materials and other input costs, such as fuel and transportation, are subject to fluctuations in price attributable to a number of factors. Fluctuations in commodity prices can lead to retail price volatility and intensive price competition, and can influence consumer and trade buying patterns. The cost of raw materials, fuel, labor, distribution and other costs related to our operations can increase from time to time significantly and unexpectedly.
We attempt to manage cost inflation risks by locking in prices through short-term supply contracts and advance commodities purchase agreements and by implementing cost saving measures. We also attempt to offset rising input costs by raising sales prices to our customers. However, increases in the prices we charge our customers may lag behind rising input costs. Competitive pressures also may limit our ability to quickly raise prices in response to rising costs.
We experienced moderate net cost increases for raw materials during fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 and anticipate higher raw materials cost increases for fiscal 2021. We are currently locked into our supply and prices for a majority of our most significant raw material commodities (excluding, among others, maple syrup and oils) through fiscal 2021 and for most of our needs for oils through the first half of 2021.
In recent years, we have been negatively impacted by industry-wide increases in the cost of distribution, primarily driven by increased freight rates. We attempt to offset all or a portion of these increases through price increases
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and cost savings initiatives. For example, despite higher rates for freight in 2019, we were able to offset a portion of the freight cost increase through pricing, which included both list price increases and trade spend optimization. And in 2018 and 2019, we benefited from our distribution re-alignment efforts which have helped to optimize both our shelf-stable and our frozen distribution networks. Freight rates increased significantly during the fourth quarter of 2020 and we expect freight rates to remain elevated in 2021.
We plan to continue managing inflation risk by entering into short term supply contracts and advance commodities purchase agreements from time to time, and, if necessary, by raising prices. To the extent we are unable to avoid or offset any present or future cost increases by locking in our costs, implementing cost saving measures or increasing prices to our customers, our operating results could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, if input costs begin to decline, customers may look for price reductions in situations where we have locked into purchases at higher costs. During the past three years, our cost saving measures and sales price increases have not been sufficient to fully offset increases to our raw material, ingredient and packaging and distribution costs.
Consolidation in the Retail Trade and Consequent Inventory Reductions. As customers, such as supermarkets, discounters, e-commerce merchants, warehouse clubs and food distributors, continue to consolidate and grow larger and become more sophisticated, our retail customers may demand lower pricing and increased promotional programs. These customers are also reducing their inventories and increasing their emphasis on private label products.
Changing Consumer Preferences and Channel Shifts. Consumers in the market categories in which we compete frequently change their taste preferences, dietary habits and product packaging preferences. In addition, the rapid growth of some channels and changing consumer preferences for these channels, in particular in e-commerce, which has expanded significantly following the outbreak of COVID-19, may impact our current operations or strategies more quickly than we planned for, create consumer price deflation, alter the buying behavior of consumers or disrupt our retail customer relationships. As a result of changing consumer preferences for products and channels, we may need to increase or reallocate spending on existing and new distribution channels and technologies, marketing, advertising and new product innovation to protect or increase revenues, market share and brand significance. These expenditures may not be successful, including those related to our e-commerce and other technology-focused efforts, and might not result in trade and consumer acceptance of our efforts. If we are unable to effectively and timely adapt to changes in consumer preferences and channel shifts, our products may lose market share or we may face significant price erosion, and our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity could be materially and adversely affected.
Consumer Concern Regarding Food Safety, Quality and Health. The food industry is subject to consumer concerns regarding the safety and quality of certain food products. If consumers in our principal markets lose confidence in the safety and quality of our food products, even as a result of a product liability claim or a product recall by a food industry competitor, our business could be adversely affected.
Fluctuations in Currency Exchange Rates. Our foreign sales are primarily to customers in Canada. Our sales to Canada are generally denominated in Canadian dollars and our sales for export to other countries are generally denominated in U.S. dollars. During fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, our net sales to customers in foreign countries represented approximately 7.8% and 7.7%, respectively, of our total net sales. We also purchase a significant majority of our maple syrup requirements from suppliers located in Québec, Canada. Any weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar could significantly increase our costs relating to the production of our maple syrup products to the extent we have not purchased Canadian dollars in advance of any such weakening of the U.S. dollar or otherwise entered into a currency hedging arrangement in advance of any such weakening of the U.S. dollar. These increased costs would not be fully offset by the positive impact the change in the relative strength of the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar would have on our net sales in Canada. Our purchases of raw materials from other foreign suppliers are generally denominated in U.S. dollars. We also operate a manufacturing facility in Irapuato, Mexico for the manufacture of Green Giant frozen products and are as a result exposed to fluctuations in the Mexican peso. Our results of operations could be adversely impacted by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Costs and expenses in Mexico are recognized in local foreign currency, and therefore we are exposed to potential gains or losses from the translation of those amounts into U.S. dollars for consolidation into our consolidated financial statements.
To confront these challenges, we continue to take steps to build the value of our brands, to improve our existing portfolio of products with new product and marketing initiatives, to reduce costs through improved productivity, to address consumer concerns about food safety, quality and health and to favorably manage currency fluctuations.
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Update Regarding Impact and Expected Future Impact of COVID-19 on Our Company
Business Impact. Consistent with B&G Foods’ core values, the health and safety of our employees and the quality and safety of our products are our highest priorities. We have implemented a wide range of precautionary measures at our manufacturing facilities and other work locations in response to COVID-19. We have also been working closely with our supply chain partners and our customers to ensure that we can continue to provide uninterrupted service. Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our employees, especially those throughout our supply chain, our ability to serve our customers has not, to date, been materially impacted, although, as discussed below, we have faced supply chain constraints for certain of our products.
We continue to monitor the latest guidance from the CDC, FDA and other federal, state and local authorities regarding COVID-19 and will continue to support our employees and our communities and do our part to keep our nation supplied with food during this difficult time.
Precautionary measures that we have taken to protect our employees, customers, suppliers and other business partners, and to maintain our ability to supply food products, include, among many others, the following:
● the establishment of a COVID-19 task force consisting of our executives and other members of senior management;
● social distancing and the required wearing of face masks at all manufacturing locations and the installation of plexiglass barriers at spots where line workers must work in close proximity;
● enhanced sanitization procedures at all manufacturing and other work locations;
● screening of all employees, including temperature checks, before entering manufacturing facilities;
● quarantining (with pay) of employees who may have been exposed to COVID-19 or who are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19;
● manufacturing plant shutdowns for sanitization when necessary upon a COVID-19 positive test;
● the notification of manufacturing employees of any COVID-19 positive tests at their manufacturing location and the quarantining (with pay) of employees who may have had contact with the employee who tested positive;
● instituting a work-from-home policy for office workers, and reducing office capacity and implementing social distancing and other precautionary measures for those workers returning to the office; and
● constant communication with our customers and supply chain partners.
We also rewarded our dedicated employees at our manufacturing facilities by temporarily increasing compensation for our hourly employees, supervisors and managers from March 30, 2020 through February 15, 2021. This is in addition to the continued pay we provide to workers while in quarantine (as described in the bullet points above).
Financial Impact to Date. Due in part to general industry softness as well as reduced volumes resulting from our trade spend optimization efforts designed to reduce unprofitable trade spend during the non-holiday season, net sales in January and February 2020 were lower than in the prior year. However, we began to see a significant increase in net sales in the second half of March 2020 that more than offset the January and February declines as the COVID-19 pandemic reached the United States and consumers began pantry loading and increasing their at-home consumption as a result of increased social distancing and stay-at-home and work-from-home mandates and recommendations. As discussed more fully below, the increase in net sales continued during the remainder of the year. Increases in our net sales to supermarkets, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, wholesalers and e-commerce customers more than offset declines at foodservice customers (our net sales to foodservice customers represented approximately 13% of our overall net sales for fiscal 2019 and 9% for fiscal 2020). To date, we have spent approximately $13.5 million on COVID-19-related costs since the start of the pandemic. This includes our estimated costs to take the precautionary health and safety measures described above, to provide our manufacturing employees the temporary enhanced compensation described above and to continue to pay employees while they are in quarantine. Most of these costs impact our costs of goods sold and the remaining portion impacts our selling, general and administrative expenses.
As described in more detail below, the pandemic has to date overall had a positive impact on our operating results and therefore our net cash provided by operating activities, which increased to $281.5 million for fiscal 2020.
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Expectations and Risk Factors in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Increased customer and consumer demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing and stay-at-home and work-from-home mandates and recommendations has had a material positive impact on our company’s net sales, adjusted EBITDA, net cash provided by operating activities and net leverage in fiscal 2020. However, the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business will depend on many factors, including, among others, the duration of social distancing and stay-at-home and work-from-home mandates and recommendations and whether additional waves of COVID-19 will affect the United States and the rest of North America, our company’s ability to continue to operate our manufacturing facilities, maintain our supply chain without material disruption, and procure ingredients, packaging and other raw materials when needed despite unprecedented demand in the food industry, and the extent to which macroeconomic conditions resulting from the pandemic and the pace of the subsequent recovery may impact consumer eating and shopping habits. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of this report for a discussion of certain of the challenges relating to the COVID-19 pandemic that could adversely affect our businesses.
Critical Accounting Policies; Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) requires our management to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions made by management involve revenue recognition as it relates to trade and consumer promotion expenses; pension benefits; acquisition accounting fair value allocations; the recoverability of goodwill, other intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, and deferred tax assets; and the determination of the useful life of customer relationship and finite-lived trademark intangible assets. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions.
Our significant accounting policies are described more fully in note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. We believe the following critical accounting policies involve the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition and Trade and Consumer Promotion Expenses
We offer various sales incentive programs to customers and consumers, such as price discounts, in-store display incentives, slotting fees and coupons. The recognition of expense for these programs involves the use of judgment related to performance and redemption estimates. Estimates are made based on historical experience and other factors. Actual expenses may differ if the level of redemption rates and performance vary from our estimates.
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued authoritative guidance related to new accounting requirements for the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for the goods or services.
We adopted this guidance and related amendments as of the first quarter of fiscal 2018, applying the full retrospective transition approach to all contracts. Based on our comprehensive assessment of the new guidance, including our evaluation of the five-step approach outlined within the guidance, we concluded that the adoption would not have a significant impact to our core revenue-generating activities. However, the adoption did result in a change in presentation of certain trade and consumer promotion expenses, specifically in-store display incentives, also referred to as marketing development funds.
We previously recorded in-store display incentives, or marketing development funds, within selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. Upon the adoption of the new guidance, many of these cash payments did not meet the specific criteria within the new guidance of providing a “distinct” good or service, and therefore, are required to be presented as a reduction of net sales. The impact of this change resulted in a reduction of net sales, gross profit and selling, general and administrative expenses during fiscal 2018, the first year of adoption, with no impact to net income.
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Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets with estimated useful lives are depreciated or amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted net future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted net future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Recoverability of assets held for sale is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to their fair value less estimated costs to sell. Estimating future cash flows and calculating the fair value of assets requires significant estimates and assumptions by management.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Our total assets include substantial goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets (trademarks). These assets are tested for impairment at least annually and whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets might be impaired. We perform the annual impairment tests as of the last day of each fiscal year. The annual goodwill impairment testing is performed by comparing our company’s market capitalization with our company’s carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying value of our company exceeds our market capitalization, an impairment charge is recognized for the difference, not to exceed the amount of goodwill. As of January 2, 2021, we had $644.7 million of goodwill recorded in our consolidated balance sheet. Our testing indicates that the implied fair value of goodwill is significantly in excess of the carrying value. Therefore, we believe that only significant changes in the cash flow assumptions would result in an impairment of goodwill.
We test our indefinite-lived intangible assets by comparing the fair value with the carrying value and recognize a loss for the difference. We estimate the fair value of our indefinite-lived intangible assets based on discounted cash flows that reflect certain third party market value indicators. Calculating our fair value for these purposes requires significant estimates and assumptions by management, including future cash flows consistent with management’s expectations, annual sales growth rates, and certain assumptions underlying a discount rate based on available market data. Significant management judgment is necessary to estimate the impact of competitive operating, macroeconomic and other factors to estimate the future levels of sales and cash flows.
We completed our annual impairment tests for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 with no adjustments to the carrying values of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. As of January 2, 2021, we had $1,697.3 million of indefinite-lived intangible assets recorded in our consolidated balance sheet. None of our indefinite-lived intangible assets had a book value in excess of their calculated fair values and the percentage excess of the aggregate calculated fair value over the aggregate book value was approximately 173.3%. However, materially different assumptions regarding the future performance of our businesses could result in significant impairment losses. For example, if future revenues and contributions to our operating results for certain of our brands continue to decline and do not achieve our expected future cash flows, this could result in impairment losses for those brands. In addition, any significant decline in our market capitalization, even if due to macroeconomic factors, could put pressure on the carrying value of our goodwill. A determination that all or a portion of our goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired, although a non-cash charge to operations, could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
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The table below sets forth the book value as of January 2, 2021 of the indefinite-lived trademarks for each of our brands whose fiscal 2020 net sales were equal to or exceeded 3% of our total fiscal 2020 net sales, for the recently acquired Crisco brand and for “all other brands” in the aggregate (in thousands):
January 2, 2021
Brand:
Green Giant
$
422,000
Crisco
322,000
Dash
189,000
Back to Nature
109,900
Spices & Seasonings(1)
65,200
Ortega
32,339
Cream of Wheat
27,000
Clabber Girl(2)
19,600
Maple Grove Farms of Vermont
11,627
All other brands
498,634
Total indefinite-lived trademarks
$
1,697,300
(1) The spices & seasonings acquisition was completed on November 21, 2016. Includes trademark values for multiple brands acquired as part of the acquisition.
(2) The Clabber Girl acquisition was completed on May 15, 2019. Includes trademark values for multiple brands acquired as part of the acquisition.
All assumptions used in our impairment evaluations for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, such as forecasted growth rates and discount rate, are based on the best available market information and are consistent with our internal forecasts and operating plans. We believe these assumptions to be reasonable, but they are inherently uncertain. These assumptions could be adversely impacted by certain of the risks described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of this report.
Income Tax Expense Estimates and Policies
As part of the income tax provision process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes. This process involves estimating our current tax expenses together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. We then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent we believe the recovery is not likely, we establish a valuation allowance. Further, to the extent that we establish a valuation allowance or increase this allowance in a financial accounting period, we include such charge in our tax provision, or reduce our tax benefits in our consolidated statements of operations. We use our judgment to determine our provision or benefit for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against our deferred tax assets.
There are various factors that may cause these tax assumptions to change in the near term, and we may have to record a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets. We cannot predict whether future U.S. federal, state and international income tax laws and regulations might be passed that could have a material effect on our results of operations. We assess the impact of significant changes to the U.S. federal, state and international income tax laws and regulations on a regular basis and update the assumptions and estimates used to prepare our consolidated financial statements when new regulations and legislation are enacted. We recognize the benefit of an uncertain tax position that we have taken or expect to take on the income tax returns we file if it is more likely than not that such tax position will be sustained based upon its technical merits.
See “U.S. Tax Act and U.S. CARES Act” below for a discussion of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was signed into law on December 22, 2017, which we refer to as the “U.S. Tax Act,” as well as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act that was signed into law on March 27, 2020, which we refer to as the “U.S. CARES Act,” and the impact both have had, and may have, on our business and financial results.
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Pension Expense
We maintain four company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans covering approximately 34.9% of our employees. Our funding policy for company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans is to contribute annually not less than the amount recommended by our actuaries. The funded status of our pension plans is dependent upon many factors, including returns on invested assets and the level of certain market interest rates, employee-related demographic factors, such as turnover, retirement age and mortality, and the rate of salary increases. Certain assumptions reflect our historical experience and management’s best judgment regarding future expectations. Due to the significant management judgment involved, our assumptions could have a material impact on the measurement of our pension expenses and obligations. We review pension assumptions regularly and we may from time to time make voluntary contributions to our pension plans, which exceed the amounts required by statute. We made total contributions to our company-sponsored pension plans of $11.0 million and $5.0 million during fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, respectively. Changes in interest rates and the market value of the securities held by the plans could materially change, positively or negatively, the funded status of the plans and affect the level of pension expense and required contributions in fiscal 2021 and beyond.
Our discount rate assumption for our four company-sponsored defined benefit plans changed from 3.03% - 3.18% at December 28, 2019 to 2.23% - 2.46% at January 2, 2021. While we do not currently anticipate a change in our fiscal 2021 assumptions, as a sensitivity measure, a 0.25% decrease or increase in our discount rate would increase or decrease our pension expense by approximately $1.0 million to $1.1 million. Similarly, a 0.25% decrease or increase in the expected return on pension plan assets would increase or decrease our pension expense by approximately $0.4 million. During fiscal 2021 we expect to make contributions of approximately $5.5 million for our four company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans.
We also participate in a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan maintained by the labor union representing certain of our employees at our Portland, Maine facility. We make periodic contributions to this plan pursuant to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. During fiscal 2021, we expect to make contributions of approximately $1.1 million for the multi-employer pension plan. In the event that we withdraw from participation in this plan or substantially reduce our participation in this plan (such as due to a workforce reduction), or if a mass withdrawal were to occur, applicable law could require us to make withdrawal liability payments to the plan, and we would have to reflect that liability on our balance sheet. The amount of our withdrawal liability would depend on the extent of this plan’s funding of vested benefits at the time of our withdrawal. Currently the plan is severely underfunded. Furthermore, our withdrawal liability could increase as the number of employers participating in this plan decreases.
For a more detailed description about our pension expense, the company-sponsored pension plans to which we contribute, and the multi-employer plan to which we contribute, which is in critical and declining status, see Note 12, “Pension Benefits,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Acquisition Accounting
Our consolidated financial statements and results of operations include an acquired business’s operations after the completion of the acquisition. We account for acquired businesses using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recorded at the date of acquisition at their respective fair values. Any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
The judgments made in determining the estimated fair value assigned to each class of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as well as asset lives, can materially impact our results of operations. Accordingly, for significant items, we typically obtain assistance from third party valuation specialists. Determining the useful life of an intangible asset also requires judgment as different types of intangible assets will have different useful lives and certain assets may even be considered to have indefinite useful lives. All of these judgments and estimates can materially impact our results of operations.
In May 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a final rule that amends the financial statement requirements for acquisitions and dispositions of businesses. The amendments primarily relate to disclosures required by Rule 3-05 and Article 11 of Regulation S-X. Among other things, the final rule modifies the tests provided in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X used to determine whether a subsidiary or an acquired or disposed business is significant and modifies the number of years of audited financial statements required for acquisitions with significance levels greater than specified percentages. We early adopted the rule in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and we applied
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the rule to our financial statement disclosure requirements for the Crisco acquisition. See Note 3, “Acquisitions and Divestitures,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
U.S. Tax Act and U.S. CARES Act
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which we refer to as the “U.S. Tax Act,” was signed into law. The U.S. Tax Act provides for significant changes in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The changes in the U.S. Tax Act are broad and complex and we continue to examine the impact the U.S. Tax Act may have on our business and financial results. The U.S. Tax Act contains provisions with separate effective dates but was generally effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.
Under FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 740, Income Taxes, we are required to revalue any deferred tax assets or liabilities in the period of enactment of change in tax rates. Beginning on January 1, 2018, the U.S. Tax Act lowered the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% on our U.S. earnings from that date and beyond. The reduction in the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% was effective for our fiscal 2018 and subsequent years. Our consolidated effective tax rate was approximately 25.6% and 27.7% for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, respectively. We also expect to realize a cash tax benefit for future bonus depreciation on certain business additions, which, together with the reduced income tax rate, we expect to reduce our cash income tax payments.
The U.S. Tax Act also limits the deduction for net interest expense (including the treatment of depreciation and other deductions in arriving at adjusted taxable income) incurred by a corporate taxpayer to 30% of the taxpayer’s adjusted taxable income. In fiscal 2019 this limitation resulted in an increase to our taxable income of $30.2 million, and we accordingly established a deferred tax asset of $7.4 million without a valuation allowance.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, which we refer to as the “U.S. CARES Act,” was signed into law. The U.S. CARES Act, among other things, includes provisions related to net operating loss carryback periods, modifications to the interest deduction limitation and technical corrections to tax depreciation for qualified improvement property. The U.S. CARES Act increased the adjusted taxable income limitation from 30% to 50% for business interest deductions for tax years beginning in 2019 and 2020 and the limitation will revert back to 30% in future periods. This modification increased the allowable interest expense deduction and resulted in a net operating loss (NOL) for the year 2019. We were able to carryback the 2019 NOL and receive a tax refund of $7.2 million in fiscal 2020. The NOL carryback to the 2014 and 2015 tax years generated a refund of previously paid income taxes at an approximate 35% federal tax rate. This resulted in a benefit related to tax rate differential of $2.6 million in fiscal 2020, $2.3 million of which was recorded as a discrete item in the first quarter of 2020. We were not subject to an interest expense deduction limitation in fiscal 2020. See Note 10, “Income Taxes,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
The U.S. Treasury issued several regulations supplementing the U.S. Tax Act in 2018, including detailed guidance clarifying the calculation of the mandatory tax on previously unrepatriated earnings, application of the existing foreign tax credit rules to newly created categories and expanding details for application of the base erosion tax on affiliate payments. These regulations are to be applied retroactively and did not materially impact our 2019 or 2020 tax rates. See Note 10, “Income Taxes,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth the percentages of net sales represented by selected items for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 reflected in our consolidated statements of operations. The comparisons of financial results are not necessarily indicative of future results:
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Statement of Operations Data:
Net sales
100.0
%
100.0
%
Cost of goods sold
75.5
%
76.9
%
Gross profit
24.5
%
23.1
%
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses
9.5
%
9.7
%
Amortization expense
1.0
%
1.1
%
Operating income
14.0
%
12.3
%
Other income and expenses:
Interest expense, net
5.1
%
5.9
%
Loss on extinguishment of debt
-
%
0.1
%
Other income
(0.1)
%
(0.1)
%
Income before income tax expense
9.0
%
6.4
%
Income tax expense
2.3
%
1.8
%
Net income
6.7
%
4.6
%
As used in this section, the terms listed below have the following meanings:
Net Sales. Our net sales represents gross sales of products shipped to customers plus amounts charged to customers for shipping and handling, less cash discounts, coupon redemptions, slotting fees and trade promotional spending, including marketing development funds.
Gross Profit. Our gross profit is equal to our net sales less cost of goods sold. The primary components of our cost of goods sold are cost of internally manufactured products, purchases of finished goods from co-packers, a portion of our warehousing expenses plus freight costs to our distribution centers and to our customers.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Our selling, general and administrative expenses include costs related to selling our products, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Some of these costs include administrative, marketing and internal sales force employee compensation and benefits costs, consumer advertising programs, brokerage costs, a portion of our warehousing expenses, information technology and communication costs, office rent, utilities, supplies, professional services, severance, acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses and other general corporate expenses.
Amortization Expense. Amortization expense includes the amortization expense associated with customer relationships, finite-lived trademarks and other intangible assets.
Net Interest Expense. Net interest expense includes interest relating to our outstanding indebtedness, amortization of bond discount and amortization of deferred debt financing costs (net of interest income).
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt. Loss on extinguishment of debt includes costs relating to the retirement of indebtedness, including repurchase premium, if any, and write-off of deferred debt financing costs and unamortized discount, if any.
Other Income. Other income includes income or expense resulting from the remeasurement of monetary assets denominated in a foreign currency into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes and the non-service portion of net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit costs.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Certain disclosures in this report include non-GAAP financial measures. A non-GAAP financial measure is defined as a numerical measure of our financial performance that excludes or includes amounts so as to be different from the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in our consolidated balance
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sheets and related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows.
Base Business Net Sales. Base business net sales is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management to measure operating performance. We define base business net sales as our net sales excluding (1) the net sales of acquisitions until the net sales from such acquisitions are included in both comparable periods and (2) net sales of discontinued or divested brands. The portion of current period net sales attributable to recent acquisitions for which there is no corresponding period in the comparable period of the prior year is excluded. For each acquisition, the excluded period starts at the beginning of the most recent fiscal period being compared and ends on the first anniversary of the acquisition date. For discontinued or divested brands, the entire amount of net sales is excluded from each fiscal period being compared. We have included this financial measure because our management believes it provides useful and comparable trend information regarding the results of our business without the effect of the timing of acquisitions and the effect of discontinued or divested brands.
The definition of base business net sales set forth above, as it relates to acquisitions, was modified during the third quarter of 2019 from the definition we had most recently used. Under our most recent prior definition of base business net sales, for each acquisition, the excluded period started at the beginning of the most recent fiscal period being compared and ended on the last day of the quarter in which the first anniversary of the date of acquisition occurred. Our management believes that it is more useful to measure base business net sales on a partial quarter basis based upon the actual period of comparable ownership instead of adjusting for an entire quarter.
A reconciliation of base business net sales to net sales for fiscal 2020 and 2019 follows (in thousands):
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Net sales
$
1,967,909
$
1,660,414
Net sales from acquisitions(1)
(62,997)
-
Base business net sales
$
1,904,912
$
1,660,414
(1) For fiscal 2020, primarily includes $33.7 million of net sales from an additional seven and one-half months of Clabber Girl net sales and $27.8 million of net sales from one month of Crisco net sales. The Clabber Girl acquisition closed on May 15, 2019 and the Crisco acquisition closed on December 1, 2020.
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Before COVID-19 Expenses. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses are non-GAAP financial measures used by management to measure operating performance. We define EBITDA as net income before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and loss on extinguishment of debt. We define adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for cash and non-cash acquisition/divestiture-related expenses, gains and losses (which may include third party fees and expenses, integration, restructuring and consolidation expenses, amortization of acquired inventory fair value step-up and gains and losses on the sale of assets); non-recurring expenses, gains and losses, including distribution restructuring expenses, severance and other expenses relating to the separation of our former chief executive officer in fiscal 2020 and a workforce reduction in fiscal 2019; gains and losses related to changes in the fair value of contingent liabilities from earn-outs; the non-cash accounting impact of our inventory reduction plan; intangible asset impairment charges and related asset write-offs; loss on product recalls, including customer refunds, selling, general and administrative expenses and the impact on cost of sales. We define adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses as adjusted EBITDA adjusted for COVID-19 expenses.
Management believes that it is useful to eliminate these items because it allows management to focus on what it deems to be a more reliable indicator of ongoing operating performance and our ability to generate cash flow from operations. We use EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses in our business operations to, among other things, evaluate our operating performance, develop budgets and measure our performance against those budgets, determine employee bonuses and evaluate our cash flows in terms of cash needs. We also present EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses because we believe they are useful indicators of our historical debt capacity and ability to service debt and because covenants in our credit agreement and our senior notes indentures contain ratios based on these measures. As a result, reports used by internal management during monthly operating reviews feature the EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses metrics. However, management uses these metrics in conjunction with traditional GAAP operating
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performance and liquidity measures as part of its overall assessment of company performance and liquidity, and therefore does not place undue reliance on these measures as its only measures of operating performance and liquidity.
EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses are not recognized terms under GAAP and do not purport to be alternatives to operating income, net income or any other GAAP measure as an indicator of operating performance. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses are not complete net cash flow measures because EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses are measures of liquidity that do not include reductions for cash payments for an entity’s obligation to service its debt, fund its working capital, capital expenditures and acquisitions and pay its income taxes and dividends. Rather, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses are two potential indicators of an entity’s ability to fund these cash requirements. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses are not complete measures of an entity’s profitability because they do not include certain costs and expenses and gains and losses described above. Because not all companies use identical calculations, this presentation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. However, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses can still be useful in evaluating our performance against our peer companies because management believes these measures provide users with valuable insight into key components of GAAP amounts.
A reconciliation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses to net income and to net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, along with the components of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses, follows (in thousands):
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Net income
$
131,988
$
76,389
Income tax expense
45,374
29,303
Interest expense, net
101,634
98,126
Depreciation and amortization
63,701
58,734
Loss on extinguishment of debt(1)
-
1,177
EBITDA
342,697
263,729
Acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses(2)
17,227
21,519
Inventory reduction plan impact(3)
-
16,382
Amortization of acquisition-related inventory step-up(4)
1,323
Adjusted EBITDA
361,247
302,521
COVID-19 expenses(5)
13,521
-
Adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses
374,768
302,521
Income tax expense
(45,374)
(29,303)
Interest expense, net
(101,634)
(98,126)
Acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses(2)
(17,227)
(21,519)
Inventory reduction plan impact(3)
-
(16,382)
Amortization of acquisition-related inventory step-up(4)
(1,323)
(891)
Net (gain)/loss on sales and disposals of property, plant and equipment
(50)
Deferred income taxes
42,613
20,415
Amortization of deferred debt financing costs and bond discount/premium
4,691
3,511
Share-based compensation expense
10,618
2,594
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of business combinations
27,916
(116,413)
Net cash provided by operating activities(6)
$
281,477
$
46,504
(1) Loss on extinguishment of debt for fiscal 2019 includes the write-off of deferred debt financing costs of $1.2 million relating to the redemption of all outstanding borrowings under our 4.625% senior notes due 2021.
(2) Acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses for fiscal 2020 of $17.2 million primarily includes $10.5 million of acquisition and integration expenses for the Crisco, Farmwise and Clabber Girl acquisitions, and $6.7 million of severance and other separation expenses primarily relating to the separation of our former chief executive officer in fiscal 2020 and a workforce reduction in fiscal 2019 and other non-recurring expenses. Acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses for fiscal 2019 of $21.5 million primarily includes acquisition and integration expenses for the Clabber Girl acquisition, transition expenses for the Pirate Brands sale, and severance and other expenses primarily relating to a workforce reduction in fiscal 2019.
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(3) Inventory reduction plan impact relates to our 2018 inventory reduction plan. For fiscal 2019, inventory reduction plan impact of $16.4 million includes the trailing non-cash accounting impact of the underutilization of our manufacturing facilities in 2018 as we reduced inventory during the implementation of the inventory reduction plan.
(4) For fiscal 2020, amortization of acquisition-related inventory step-up of $1.3 million primarily relates to the purchase accounting adjustments made to inventory acquired in the Crisco acquisition. For fiscal 2019, amortization of acquisition-related inventory step-up of $0.9 million relates to the purchase accounting adjustments made to inventory acquired in the Clabber Girl acquisition.
(5) COVID-19 expenses for fiscal 2020 of $13.5 million primarily include temporary enhanced compensation for our manufacturing employees; compensation that we continue to pay manufacturing employees while in quarantine (which is incremental to the compensation we pay to the manufacturing employees who produce our products while others are in quarantine); and expenses relating to other precautionary health and safety measures.
(6) Our divestiture of Pirate Brands during the fourth quarter of 2018 resulted in a gain on sale during 2018 of approximately $176.4 million. The gain on sale negatively impacted our income taxes for fiscal 2019 by approximately $73.9 million, which includes cash tax payments we made during fiscal 2019 of $44.7 million and a cash tax benefit we otherwise would have expected to receive of approximately $29.2 million. Excluding the negative tax impact of the gain on sale, our net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2019 would have been approximately $120.4 million.
Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share. Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures used by management to measure operating performance. We define adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share as net income and diluted earnings per share adjusted for certain items that affect comparability. These non-GAAP financial measures reflect adjustments to net income and diluted earnings per share to eliminate the items identified in the reconciliation below. This information is provided in order to allow investors to make meaningful comparisons of our operating performance between periods and to view our business from the same perspective as our management. Because we cannot predict the timing and amount of these items, management does not consider these items when evaluating our company’s performance or when making decisions regarding allocation of resources.
A reconciliation of adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share to net income for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, along with the components of adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share, follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Net income
$
131,988
$
76,389
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net of tax(1)
-
Acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses, net of tax(2)
13,006
16,247
Inventory reduction plan impact, net of tax(3)
-
12,368
Amortization of acquisition-related inventory step-up, net of tax(4)
Accelerated amortization of deferred debt financing costs(5)
-
Tax benefit(6)
(2,258)
-
Tax true-ups(7)
1,432
-
Adjusted net income
$
145,975
$
106,566
Adjusted diluted earnings per share
$
2.26
$
1.64
(1) Loss on extinguishment of debt for fiscal 2019 includes the write-off of deferred debt financing costs and unamortized discount of $1.2 million (or $0.9 million, net of tax) relating to the redemption of all outstanding borrowings under our 4.625% senior notes due 2021.
(2) Acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses for fiscal 2020 primarily includes acquisition and integration expenses for the Crisco, Farmwise and Clabber Girl acquisitions, and severance and other separation expenses primarily relating to the separation of our former chief executive officer in fiscal 2020 and a workforce reduction in fiscal 2019 and other non-recurring expenses. Acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses for fiscal 2019 primarily includes acquisition and integration expenses for the Clabber Girl acquisition, transition expenses for the Pirate Brands sale, and severance and other expenses primarily relating to a workforce reduction in fiscal 2019.
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(3) Inventory reduction plan impact relates to our 2018 inventory reduction plan. For fiscal 2019, inventory reduction plan impact of $16.4 million (or $12.4 million, net of tax) includes the trailing non-cash accounting impact of the underutilization of our manufacturing facilities in 2018 as we reduced inventory during the implementation of the inventory reduction plan.
(4) For fiscal 2020, amortization of acquisition-related inventory step-up of $1.3 million (or $1.0 million, net of tax) primarily relates to the purchase accounting adjustments made to inventory acquired in the Crisco acquisition. For fiscal 2019, amortization of acquisition-related inventory step-up of $0.9 million (or $0.7 million, net of tax) relates to the purchase accounting adjustments made to inventory acquired in the Clabber Girl acquisition.
(5) Interest expense for fiscal 2020 includes the accelerated amortization of deferred debt financing costs of $1.1 million (or $0.8 million, net of tax), resulting from our voluntary partial prepayment of tranche B term loans.
(6) Fiscal 2020 includes a $2.3 million tax benefit associated with the U.S. CARES Act, which was recorded during the first quarter of 2020.
(7) Tax true-ups for fiscal 2020 reflects $0.9 million of non-deductible compensation expenses related to the separation of our former chief executive officer in fiscal 2020 and $0.5 million for the impact of enacted state rate changes and other tax adjustments.
Fiscal 2020 Compared to Fiscal 2019
Net Sales. Net sales for fiscal 2020 increased $307.5 million, or 18.5%, to $1,967.9 million from $1,660.4 million for fiscal 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to materially increased net sales beginning in March (as compared to prior year) resulting from increased demand for our products due to the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by supply chain constraints for certain of our products as a result of increased demand. Our net sales also benefited from acquisitions and from one extra reporting week in fiscal 2020 (which occurred in the third quarter) compared to fiscal 2019. Acquisitions benefited our net sales in fiscal 2020 by $63.0 million, which primarily includes $33.7 million of net sales from an additional seven and one-half months of Clabber Girl net sales and $27.8 million of net sales from one month of Crisco net sales. The Clabber Girl acquisition closed on May 15, 2019 and the Crisco acquisition closed on December 1, 2020. We estimate that the additional week in fiscal 2020 contributed approximately $35.0 million to our net sales.
Base business net sales for fiscal 2020 increased $244.5 million, or 14.7%, to $1,904.9 million from $1,660.4 million for fiscal 2019. The increase in base business net sales reflected an increase in unit volume of $209.8 million and an increase in net pricing (inclusive of the impact of our 2019 list price increases, the trade spend optimization program we initiated in 2019, and a temporarily lower trade spend environment in the industry during the first half of the year) and the impact of product mix of $35.8 million, or 2.2% of base business net sales, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign currency of $1.1 million.
Net sales of all Green Giant products in the aggregate (including Le Sueur) increased $112.2 million, or 21.3%, in fiscal 2020, as compared to fiscal 2019. Net sales of Green Giant shelf stable (including Le Sueur), increased $64.8 million, or 39.7%, for fiscal 2020. Net sales of Green Giant frozen increased $48.9 million, or 13.5%, for fiscal 2020 as compared to fiscal 2019.
See Note 16, “Net Sales by Brand,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report, for detailed information regarding total net sales by brand for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 for each of our brands that equaled or exceeded approximately 3% of our fiscal 2020 or fiscal 2019 net sales and for all other brands in the aggregate.
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The following table sets forth the most significant base business net sales increases and decreases by brand for fiscal 2020:
Base Business
Net Sales Increase (Decrease)
Dollars
(in millions)
Percentage
Brand:
Green Giant - shelf stable(1)
$
64.8
39.7
%
Green Giant - frozen
47.4
13.1
%
Ortega
17.9
12.7
%
Dash
13.4
22.9
%
Cream of Wheat
12.9
21.6
%
Spices & Seasonings(2)
12.1
4.9
%
Clabber Girl(3)
10.2
18.9
%
Maple Grove Farms of Vermont
6.1
8.7
%
Back to Nature
(7.5)
(12.4)
%
All other brands
67.2
15.3
%
Base business net sales increase
$
244.5
14.7
%
(1) Includes net sales of the Le Sueur brand.
(2) Includes net sales for multiple brands acquired as part of the spices & seasonings acquisition that we completed on November 21, 2016. Does not include net sales for Dash and our other legacy spices & seasonings brands.
(3) For fiscal 2020, includes net sales of Clabber Girl only from May 15, 2020 through January 2, 2021, as net sales prior to May 15, 2020 are not included in base business net sales. Clabber Girl was acquired on May 15, 2019. See Note 3, “Acquisitions and Divestitures,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report, for detailed information.
Gross Profit. Gross profit was $481.7 million for fiscal 2020, or 24.5% of net sales. Excluding the negative impact of $5.0 million of acquisition/divestiture-related expenses, the amortization of acquisition-related inventory fair value step-up and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold during fiscal 2020, our gross profit would have been $486.7 million, or 24.7% of net sales. Gross profit was $383.1 million for fiscal 2019, or 23.1% of net sales. Excluding the negative impact of $22.0 million of acquisition/divestiture-related expenses, the amortization of acquisition-related inventory fair value step-up and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold during fiscal 2019, which includes expenses related to the trailing non-cash accounting impact of our 2018 inventory reduction plan, our gross profit would have been $405.1 million, or 24.4% of net sales.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $25.5 million, or 15.8%, to $186.2 million for fiscal 2020 from $160.7 million for fiscal 2019. The increase was composed of increases in general and administrative expenses of $10.7 million, selling expenses of $8.2 million, consumer marketing expenses of $7.7 million and warehousing expenses of $2.0 million, partially offset by a decrease in acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses of $3.1 million. Expressed as a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses improved by 0.2 percentage points to 9.5% for fiscal 2020, compared to 9.7% for fiscal 2019.
Amortization Expense. Amortization expense increased $0.6 million to $19.1 million for fiscal 2020 from $18.5 million for fiscal 2019 due to the Crisco and Farmwise acquisitions completed in fiscal 2020.
Operating Income. As a result of the foregoing, operating income increased $72.6 million, or 35.6%, to $276.4 million for fiscal 2020 from $203.8 million for fiscal 2019. Operating income expressed as a percentage of net sales increased to 14.0% in fiscal 2020 from 12.3% in fiscal 2019.
Net Interest Expense. Net interest expense increased $3.5 million, or 3.6%, to $101.6 million for fiscal 2020 from $98.1 million in fiscal 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to the following factors: (1) additional interest expense of $1.5 million resulting from one extra week in the third quarter of 2020, (2) the accelerated amortization of $1.1 million of deferred debt financing costs resulting from our voluntary partial prepayment of tranche B term loans in the third quarter of 2020, and (3) an increase in average long-term debt outstanding during fiscal 2020 as compared to
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fiscal 2019. Net interest expense is expected to increase in fiscal 2021 primarily as a result of incremental borrowings we made in the fourth quarter of 2020 to fund the Crisco acquisition and related fees and expenses.
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt. We did not have any loss on extinguishment of debt for fiscal 2020. Loss on extinguishment of debt for fiscal 2019 includes the write-off of deferred deft financing costs of $1.2 million relating to the redemption of all outstanding borrowings under our 4.625% senior notes due 2021. See “-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Debt” below.
Other Income. Other income for fiscal 2020 primarily includes the non-service portion of net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit costs of $2.6 million and the remeasurement of monetary assets denominated in a foreign currency into U.S. dollars of less than $0.1 million. Other income for fiscal 2019 includes the non-service portion of net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit costs of $1.2 million and the remeasurement of monetary assets denominated in a foreign currency into U.S. dollars of less than $0.1 million.
Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense increased $16.1 million to $45.4 million in fiscal 2020 from $29.3 million for fiscal 2019, primarily due to materially increased net sales, as described above. See “U.S. Tax Act and U.S. CARES Act” above for a discussion of the impact of the tax legislation on income tax expense.
Fiscal 2019 Compared to Fiscal 2018
For a discussion of fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018, please refer to our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2020.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary liquidity requirements include debt service, capital expenditures and working capital needs. See also, “Dividend Policy” and “Commitments and Contractual Obligations” below. We fund our liquidity requirements, as well as our dividend payments and financing for acquisitions, primarily through cash generated from operations and external sources of financing, including our revolving credit facility.
Cash Flows
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities increased $235.0 million to $281.5 million for fiscal 2020 from $46.5 million for fiscal 2019. The increase was largely due to higher net income, primarily attributable to the positive impact of increased base business unit volume on our net sales as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the addition of one extra reporting week in fiscal 2020, and increased net sales due to one month of net sales of Crisco and an extra seven and one-half months of net sales of Clabber Girl during fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities was also due to the negative impact to income taxes of approximately $73.9 million in fiscal 2019 resulting from our divestiture of Pirate Brands in the fourth quarter of 2018, which included cash tax payments of $44.7 million made during the second quarter of 2019 and a cash tax benefit we otherwise would have expected to receive during the second quarter of 2019 of approximately $29.2 million. In addition, we experienced a positive impact to income taxes of approximately $7.2 million in fiscal 2020 as a result of the U.S. CARES Act in the form of a tax refund. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities also reflected favorable working capital comparisons in fiscal 2020 compared to the fiscal 2019, primarily comprised of inventories, trade accounts payable and accrued expenses.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities increased $444.2 million to $568.9 million for fiscal 2020 from $124.7 million for fiscal 2019. Net cash used in investing activities for fiscal 2020 includes the $539.3 million purchase price paid for the Crisco acquisition and net cash used in investing activities for fiscal 2019 includes the $82.4 million purchase price (net of cash acquired of $2.2 million) paid for the Clabber Girl acquisition. The increase in payments for acquisitions of businesses was partially offset by a reduction in capital expenditures from $42.4 million in fiscal 2019 compared to $26.7 million in fiscal 2020.
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities increased $250.3 million from $328.0 million for fiscal 2020 from $77.7 million for fiscal 2019. The increase was primarily driven by net borrowings under our revolving credit facility of $235.0 million during fiscal 2020 compared to net repayments under our revolving credit facility of $50.0 million during fiscal 2019 and $34.7 million of payments for repurchases of common stock in fiscal 2019 compared to no payments for repurchases of common stock in fiscal 2020, partially offset
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by lower net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt of $221.6 million in fiscal 2020 as compared to net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt of $300.0 million in fiscal 2019.
Cash Income Tax Payments. We made net cash tax payments of approximately $9.8 million (comprised of $17.4 million of cash tax payments less $7.6 million of cash tax refunds received, including a $7.2 million refund received as a result of the U.S. CARES Act, as discussed below) and $47.5 million during fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, respectively. The decrease was primarily attributable to $44.7 million of cash tax payments made in fiscal 2019 relating to the fiscal 2018 gain on sale of Pirate Brands. We believe that we will realize a benefit to our cash taxes payable from amortization of our trademarks, goodwill and other intangible assets for the taxable years 2021 through 2035. In fiscal 2020, our cash taxes were positively impacted by the U.S. CARES Act, which allowed us to carryback our 2019 net operating loss and receive a tax refund of $7.2 million in fiscal 2020. In fiscal 2019 our cash taxes were negatively impacted by the U.S. Tax Act’s limitations on the deductibility of interest expense. See “U.S. Tax Act and U.S. CARES Act” above for a discussion of the impact and expected impact of the U.S. CARES Act and the U.S. Tax Act on our cash income tax payments, including the impact the U.S. Tax Act had in fiscal 2019 and is expected to have in fiscal 2021 and beyond on our interest expense deductions. If there is a change in U.S. federal tax policy or, in the case of the interest deduction, a change in our net interest expense relative to our adjusted taxable income that eliminates, limits or reduces our ability to amortize and deduct goodwill and certain intangible assets or the interest deduction we receive on our substantial indebtedness, or otherwise that reduces any of these available deductions or results in an increase in our corporate tax rate, our cash taxes payable may increase further, which could significantly reduce our future liquidity and impact our ability to make interest and dividend payments and have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
Dividend Policy
For a discussion of our dividend policy, see the information set forth under the heading “Dividend Policy” in Part II, Item 5 of this report.
Acquisitions
Our liquidity and capital resources have been significantly impacted by acquisitions and may be impacted in the foreseeable future by additional acquisitions. As discussed elsewhere in this report, as part of our growth strategy we plan to expand our brand portfolio with disciplined acquisitions of complementary brands. We have historically financed acquisitions by incurring additional indebtedness, issuing equity and/or using cash flows from operating activities. Our interest expense has over time increased as a result of additional indebtedness we have incurred in connection with acquisitions and will increase with any additional indebtedness we may incur to finance future acquisitions. Although we may subsequently issue equity and use the proceeds to repay all or a portion of the additional indebtedness incurred to finance an acquisition and reduce our interest expense, the additional shares of common stock would increase the amount of cash flows from operating activities necessary to fund dividend payments.
We financed the Crisco acquisition, completed in December 2020, with revolving loans under our existing credit facility, a portion of which we subsequently refinanced with add-on tranche B term loans. We financed the Farmwise acquisition, completed in February 2020, with cash on hand. We financed the Clabber Girl acquisition, completed in May 2019, with cash on hand and additional revolving loans under our credit facility. The impact of future acquisitions, whether financed with additional indebtedness or otherwise, may have a material impact on our liquidity and capital resources.
Debt
See Note 7, “Long-Term Debt,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report for a description of our senior secured credit agreement, including our revolving credit facility and tranche B term loans, our 5.25% senior notes due 2025, and our 5.25% senior notes due 2027. See also “-Acquisitions” above regarding the long-term debt incurred in connection with the Crisco acquisition.
Stock Repurchase Program
On March 11, 2020, our board of directors authorized an extension of our stock repurchase program from March 15, 2020 to March 15, 2021. In extending the repurchase program, our board of directors also reset the repurchase authority to up to $50.0 million. We did not repurchase any shares of common stock during fiscal 2020. Therefore, as of
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January 2, 2021, we had $50.0 million available for future repurchases of common stock under the stock repurchase program.
Under the authorization, we may purchase shares of common stock from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.
The timing and amount of future stock repurchases, if any, under the program will be at the discretion of management, and will depend on a variety of factors, including price, available cash, general business and market conditions and other investment opportunities. Therefore, we cannot assure you as to the number or aggregate dollar amount of additional shares, if any, that will be repurchased under the program. We may discontinue the program at any time. Any shares repurchased pursuant to the program will be retired.
See Note 12, “Pension Benefits,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report for disclosure relating to shares of our company’s common stock purchased by our defined benefit pension plans.
Future Capital Needs
On January 2, 2021, our total long-term debt of $2,334.1 million, net of our cash and cash equivalents of $52.2 million, was $2,281.9 million. Stockholders’ equity as of that date was $831.9 million.
Our ability to generate sufficient cash to fund our operations depends generally on our results of operations and the availability of financing. Our management believes that our cash and cash equivalents on hand, cash flow from operating activities and available borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility will be sufficient for the foreseeable future to fund operations, meet debt service requirements, fund capital expenditures, make future acquisitions, if any, and pay our anticipated quarterly dividends on our common stock.
We expect to make capital expenditures of approximately $50.0 million in the aggregate during fiscal 2021. Our projected capital expenditures for fiscal 2021 primarily relate to productivity and cost saving initiatives, asset sustainability projects, information technology (hardware and software), and the Crisco integration.
Seasonality
Sales of a number of our products tend to be seasonal and may be influenced by holidays, changes in seasons or certain other annual events. In general our sales are higher during the first and fourth quarters.
We purchase most of the produce used to make our frozen and shelf-stable vegetables, shelf-stable pickles, relishes, peppers, tomatoes and other related specialty items during the months of June through October, and we generally purchase the majority of our maple syrup requirements during the months of April through August. Consequently, our liquidity needs are greatest during these periods.
Inflation
See “-General-Fluctuations in Commodity Prices and Production and Distribution Costs” above.
Contingencies
See Note 14, “Commitments and Contingencies,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2(s), “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Recently Issued Accounting Standards - Pending Adoption,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
As of January 2, 2021, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
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Commitments and Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations and commitments principally include obligations associated with our outstanding indebtedness, future purchase obligations and future pension obligations as set forth in the following table as of January 2, 2021:
Payments Due by Period
Fiscal
Fiscal 2022
Fiscal 2024
Fiscal 2026
Contractual Obligations:
Total
and 2023
and 2025
and Thereafter
(In thousands)
Long-term debt-principal
$
2,356,625
$
-
$
-
$
1,135,000
$
1,221,625
Long-term debt-interest(1)
517,749
98,161
196,323
160,714
62,551
Operating leases(2)
38,488
12,169
12,561
9,819
3,939
Purchase obligations(3)
62,721
22,633
15,696
12,196
12,196
Pension obligations(4)
6,580
6,580
-
-
-
Total
$
2,982,163
$
139,543
$
224,580
$
1,317,729
$
1,300,311
(1) Expected interest payments on long-term debt are based on principal amounts outstanding, scheduled maturity dates and interest rates at January 2, 2021. See Note 7, “Long-Term Debt,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 for further information as to our long-term debt interest obligations.
(2) See Note 13, “Leases” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 for further information as to our operating lease obligations.
(3) For the purposes of this table, purchase obligations represent agreements to purchase goods or services (such as raw materials, commodities, packaging, other materials and supplies and co-manufacturing arrangements) that are enforceable and legally binding on B&G Foods and that specify all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. The purchase obligations in the above table do not represent our entire expected future purchases for goods and services, which are significantly higher than the amounts set forth above. The table does not include purchase obligations under contracts that may be cancelled by B&G Foods without material penalty. Any amounts reflected on our consolidated balance sheet as accounts payable and accrued liabilities are excluded from the purchase obligations set forth in the table above. Penalties, if any, related to molds and equipment based upon failure to meet minimum volume requirements are also excluded from the table because we are unable to determine whether such penalties will be incurred and, if incurred, over what time period they will be paid.
(4) We expect to make $6.6 million of defined benefit pension plan contributions during fiscal 2021, including $5.5 million for our four company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans and $1.1 million for the multi-employer defined benefit pension plan to which we contribute. We are unable to reliably estimate the timing of our aggregate annual pension contributions and contribution amounts beyond fiscal 2021. See Note 12, “Pensions,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 for further information as to our pension obligations.
Supplemental Financial Information about B&G Foods and Guarantor Subsidiaries
As further discussed in Note 7, “Long-Term Debt,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report, our obligations under our 5.25% senior notes due 2025 and 5.25% senior notes due 2027 are jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by all of our existing and certain future domestic subsidiaries, which we refer to in this section as the guarantor subsidiaries. Our foreign subsidiaries are not guarantors, and any future foreign or partially owned domestic subsidiaries will not be guarantors, of the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 or the 5.25% senior notes due 2027. In this section, we refer to these foreign subsidiaries and future foreign or partially owned domestic subsidiaries as the non-guarantor subsidiaries. See Note 7, “Long-Term Debt” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
The senior notes and the subsidiary guarantees are our and the guarantor subsidiaries’ general unsecured obligations and are effectively junior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantor subsidiaries’ secured indebtedness and to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of our non-guarantor subsidiaries; are pari passu in right of payment to all of our and the guarantor subsidiaries’ existing and future unsecured senior debt; and are senior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantor subsidiaries’ future subordinated debt.
Each guarantee contains a provision intended to limit the guarantor subsidiary’s liability to the maximum amount that it could incur without causing the incurrence of obligations under its guarantee to be a fraudulent transfer.
- 54 -
However, we cannot assure you that this provision will be effective to protect the subsidiary guarantees from being voided under fraudulent transfer laws.
A guarantor subsidiary’s guarantee will be automatically released: (1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of that guarantor subsidiary (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a person or entity that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) B&G Foods or a “restricted subsidiary” of B&G Foods under the applicable indenture, if the sale or other disposition complies with the asset sale provisions of the applicable indenture; (2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all of the capital stock of that guarantor subsidiary to a person or entity that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) B&G Foods or a “restricted subsidiary” of B&G Foods, if the sale or other disposition complies with the asset sale provisions of the applicable indenture; (3) if B&G Foods designates any “restricted subsidiary” that is a guarantor subsidiary to be an “unrestricted subsidiary” in accordance with the applicable provisions of the indenture; (4) upon legal defeasance, covenant defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the applicable indenture; (5) if such guarantor subsidiary no longer constitutes a domestic subsidiary; or (6) if it is determined in good faith by B&G Foods that a liquidation, dissolution or merger out of existence of such guarantor subsidiary is in the best interests of B&G Foods and is not materially disadvantageous to the holders of the senior notes.
The following tables present summarized unaudited financial information on a combined basis for B&G Foods and each of the guarantor subsidiaries of the senior notes described above after elimination of (1) intercompany transactions and balances among B&G Foods and the guarantor subsidiaries and (2) investments in any subsidiary that is a non-guarantor (in thousands):
January 2,
December 28,
Current assets(1)
$
648,850
$
594,800
Non-current assets
2,979,902
2,513,668
Current liabilities(2)
223,644
198,378
Non-current liabilities
$
2,960,040
$
2,198,108
(1) Current assets includes amounts due from non-guarantor subsidiaries of $21.5 million and $30.9 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.
(2) Current liabilities includes amounts due to non-guarantor subsidiaries of $0.2 million and $0.0 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.
Fiscal 2020
Net sales
$
1,851,210
Gross profit
458,879
Operating income
259,289
Income before income tax expense
160,213
Net income
$
120,302

---

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Our principal market risks are exposure to changes in commodity prices, interest rates on borrowings and foreign currency exchange rates and market fluctuation risks related to our defined benefit pension plans.
Commodity Prices and Inflation. The information under the heading “Inflation” in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” is incorporated herein by reference.
Interest Rate Risk. In the normal course of operations, we are exposed to market risks relating to our long-term debt arising from adverse changes in interest rates. Market risk is defined for these purposes as the potential change in the fair value of a financial asset or liability resulting from an adverse movement in interest rates.
Changes in interest rates impact our fixed and variable rate debt differently. For fixed rate debt, a change in interest rates will only impact the fair value of the debt, whereas for variable rate debt, a change in the interest rates will impact interest expense and cash flows. At January 2, 2021, we had $1,450.0 million of fixed rate debt and $906.6 million of variable rate debt.
Based upon our principal amount of long-term debt outstanding at January 2, 2021, a hypothetical 1.0% increase or decrease in interest rates would have affected our annual interest expense by approximately $9.1 million.
- 55 -
The carrying values and fair values of our revolving credit loans, term loans and senior notes as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):
January 2, 2021
December 28, 2019
Carrying Value
Fair Value
Carrying Value
Fair Value
Revolving credit loans
$
235,000
$
235,000
(1)
$
-
$
-
Tranche B term loans due 2026
667,118
(2)
665,450
(3)
447,820
(2)
451,179
(3)
5.25% senior notes due 2025
902,292
(4)
931,616
(3)
902,832
(4)
929,917
(3)
5.25% senior notes due 2027
$
550,000
$
580,250
(3)
$
550,000
$
550,000
(3)
(1) Fair values are estimated based on Level 2 inputs, which were quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active.
(2) The carrying value of the tranche B term loans includes a discount. At January 2, 2021, and December 28, 2019, the face amount of the tranche B term loans was $671.6 million and $450.0 million, respectively.
(3) Fair values are estimated based on quoted market prices.
(4) The carrying value of the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 include a premium. At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the face amount of the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 was $900.0 million.
Cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, income tax receivable/payable, trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and dividends payable are reflected on our consolidated balance sheets at carrying value, which approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.
For more information, see Note 7, “Long-Term Debt,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Foreign Currency Risk. Our foreign sales are primarily to customers in Canada. Our sales to Canada are generally denominated in Canadian dollars and our sales for export to other countries are generally denominated in U.S. dollars. During fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, our net sales to customers in foreign countries represented approximately 7.8%, 7.7% and 7.3%, respectively, of our total net sales. We also purchase certain raw materials from foreign suppliers. For example, we purchase a significant majority of our maple syrup requirements from suppliers in Québec, Canada. These purchases are made in Canadian dollars. A weakening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Canadian dollar would significantly increase our future costs relating to the production of our maple syrup products to the extent we have not purchased Canadian dollars or otherwise entered into a currency hedging arrangement in advance of any such weakening of the U.S. dollar. Our purchases of raw materials from other foreign suppliers are generally denominated in U.S. dollars, but certain purchases of raw materials in Mexico are denominated in Mexican pesos. In addition, we operate a frozen vegetable manufacturing facility in Irapuato, Mexico. A weakening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Mexican peso would significantly increase our costs relating to the production of frozen vegetable products to the extent we have not purchased Mexican pesos or otherwise entered into hedging arrangements in advance of the weakening of the U.S. dollar.
As a result, certain revenues and expenses have been, and are expected to be, subject to the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, and these fluctuations may have an adverse impact on operating results.
Market Fluctuation Risks Relating to our Defined Benefit Pension Plans. See Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Critical Accounting Policies; Use of Estimates - Pension Plans” and Note 12, “Pension Benefits,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report for a discussion of the exposure of our defined benefit pension plan assets to risks related to market fluctuations.
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---

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
The consolidated balance sheets at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 and the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 and related notes are set forth below.
Page
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Schedule II-Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
- 57 -
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
B&G Foods, Inc.:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of B&G Foods, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, and the related notes and the schedule of valuation and qualifying accounts (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated March 2, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Initial measurement of Crisco trademark and customer relationships
As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, on December 1, 2020, the Company acquired Crisco brand oils and shortening business (Crisco) in a business combination. The Company acquired trademark and customer relationships associated with the generation of future income from Crisco’s existing customers. The acquisition-date fair values for the Crisco trademark and customer relationships were $322.0 million and $52.8 million, respectively. The preliminary purchase price allocation may be adjusted as a result of the finalization of the purchase price allocation procedures related to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
- 58 -
We identified the evaluation of the initial measurement of the acquired Crisco trademark and customer relationships as a critical audit matter. There is a high degree of subjectivity and judgment in evaluating the discounted cash flow model used to calculate the acquisition-date fair value of the Crisco trademark and customer relationships. Specifically, the discounted cash flow model included the following assumptions for which there was limited observable market information, and the calculated fair values of such assets were sensitive to possible changes in these assumptions:
● Forecasted revenue growth rates attributable to Crisco trademark and customer relationships
● Forecasted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)
● The estimated discount rate
● Estimated annual attrition.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of an internal control over the Company’s acquisition-date valuation process to develop the relevant assumptions, as listed above, including the analysis of the assumptions based on market participants’ views. We evaluated the Company’s forecasted revenue growth rates by comparing them to industry benchmarks and publicly available market data. We also compared the Company’s estimates of (1) forecasted revenue growth and EBITDA to Crisco’s historical actual results and (2) forecasted annual attrition to Crisco’s historical customer attrition data. In addition, we involved valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in:
● Evaluating the Company’s discount rate, and comparing it against a discount rate that was independently developed using publicly available market data for comparable entities
● Assessing an estimate of the fair value of the Crisco trademark and customer relationships using the Company’s discounted cash flow model and independently developed discount rate and comparing the results to the Company’s fair value estimates.
Assessment of the carrying value of a certain indefinite-lived intangible asset
As discussed in Notes 2 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company had $1,697.3 million of indefinite-lived trademark assets as of January 2, 2021, which included a certain indefinite-lived intangible asset. The Company performs indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment testing as of the last day of each fiscal year. The Company tests the indefinite-lived intangible assets by comparing the fair value with the carrying value and recognizes a loss for the difference. The Company estimates the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets based on discounted cash flows that reflect certain third-party market value indicators.
We identified the assessment of the carrying value of a certain indefinite-lived intangible asset as a critical audit matter. The revenue growth rates and the discount rate assumptions used to calculate the fair value of a certain indefinite-lived intangible asset were challenging to audit due to the significant estimation in the assumptions and that minor changes to these assumptions would have a significant effect on the Company’s assessment of the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Company’s indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment assessment process, including controls related to the determination of the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset, related revenue growth rates, and determination of the discount rate. We evaluated the Company’s revenue growth rates by comparing them to historical results. In addition, we compared the Company’s historical revenue forecasts to actual results. We involved valuation professionals with specialized skill and knowledge, who assisted in evaluating the Company’s discount rate, by comparing it to a discount rate that was independently developed using publicly available market data for comparable entities.
/s/ KPMG LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1996.
Short Hills, New Jersey
March 2, 2021
- 59 -
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
B&G Foods, Inc.:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited B&G Foods, Inc. and subsidiaries’ (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, and the related notes and the schedule of valuation and qualifying accounts (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated March 2, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
The Company acquired the Crisco business on December 1, 2020, and management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021, the internal control over financial reporting of the Crisco business associated with 14.4% of total assets and 1.4% of total net sales included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of the Crisco business.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
- 60 -
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Short Hills, New Jersey
March 2, 2021
- 61 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
January 2,
December 28,
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
52,182
$
11,315
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts and discounts of $1,739 and $1,794 as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively
132,935
143,908
Inventories
492,804
472,187
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
43,619
25,449
Income tax receivable
15,761
8,934
Total current assets
737,301
661,793
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $314,359 and $270,454 as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively
371,854
304,934
Operating lease right-of-use assets
32,216
38,698
Goodwill
644,747
596,391
Other intangible assets, net
1,971,326
1,615,126
Other assets
5,948
3,277
Deferred income taxes
4,178
7,371
Total assets
$
3,767,570
$
3,227,590
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable
$
126,537
$
114,936
Accrued expenses
77,460
55,659
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
11,034
9,813
Current portion of long-term debt
-
5,625
Income tax payable
Dividends payable
30,520
30,421
Total current liabilities
245,652
216,908
Long-term debt
2,334,086
1,874,158
Deferred income taxes
293,121
254,339
Long-term operating lease liabilities, net of current portion
23,959
31,997
Other liabilities
38,875
37,646
Total liabilities
2,935,693
2,415,048
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. Authorized 1,000,000 shares; no shares issued or outstanding
-
-
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share. Authorized 125,000,000 shares; 64,252,859 and 64,044,649 shares issued and outstanding as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
-
-
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(35,594)
(31,894)
Retained earnings
866,828
843,796
Total stockholders’ equity
831,877
812,542
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
3,767,570
$
3,227,590
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)
Fiscal Year Ended
January 2,
December 28,
December 29,
Net sales
$
1,967,909
$
1,660,414
$
1,700,764
Cost of goods sold
1,486,169
1,277,290
1,351,264
Gross profit
481,740
383,124
349,500
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses
186,191
160,745
167,389
Amortization expense
19,111
18,543
18,343
Gain on sale of assets
-
-
(176,386)
Operating income
276,438
203,836
340,154
Other income and expenses:
Interest expense, net
101,634
98,126
108,334
Loss on extinguishment of debt
-
1,177
13,135
Other income
(2,558)
(1,159)
(3,592)
Income before income tax expense
177,362
105,692
222,277
Income tax expense
45,374
29,303
49,842
Net income
$
131,988
$
76,389
$
172,435
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic
64,163
65,013
66,145
Diluted
64,557
65,039
66,255
Earnings per share:
Basic
$
2.06
$
1.17
$
2.61
Diluted
$
2.04
$
1.17
$
2.60
Cash dividends declared per share
$
1.90
$
1.90
$
1.89
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands)
Fiscal Year Ended
January 2,
December 28,
December 29,
Net income
$
131,988
$
76,389
$
172,435
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments
(830)
4,145
(3,507)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost and pension deferrals, net of tax
(2,870)
(12,537)
Other comprehensive income
(3,700)
(8,392)
(2,746)
Comprehensive income
$
128,288
$
67,997
$
169,689
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Accumulated
Additional
Other
Total
Common Stock
Paid-in
Comprehensive
Retained
Stockholders’
Shares
Amount
Capital
Loss
Earnings
Equity
Balance at December 30, 2017
66,499,044
$
$
266,789
$
(20,756)
$
634,121
$
880,819
Foreign currency translation
-
-
-
(3,507)
-
(3,507)
Change in pension benefit (net of $254 of income taxes)
-
-
-
-
Net income
-
-
-
-
172,435
172,435
Share-based compensation
-
-
3,025
-
-
3,025
Issuance of common stock for share-based compensation
127,996
(1,845)
-
-
(1,844)
Stock options exercised
1,787
-
-
-
Repurchase of common stock
(990,126)
(10)
(26,910)
-
-
(26,920)
Dividends declared on common stock, $1.89 per share
-
-
(124,780)
-
-
(124,780)
Balance at December 29, 2018
65,638,701
$
$
116,339
$
(23,502)
$
806,556
$
900,049
Foreign currency translation
-
-
-
4,145
-
4,145
Change in pension benefit (net of $4,107 of income taxes)
-
-
-
(12,537)
-
(12,537)
Net income
-
-
-
-
76,389
76,389
Share-based compensation
-
-
3,027
-
-
3,027
Issuance of common stock for share-based compensation
143,835
(906)
-
-
(905)
Repurchase of common stock
(1,737,887)
(17)
(34,697)
-
-
(34,714)
Dividends declared on common stock, $1.90 per share
-
-
(83,763)
-
(39,149)
(122,912)
Balance at December 28, 2019
64,044,649
$
$
-
$
(31,894)
$
843,796
$
812,542
Foreign currency translation
-
-
-
(830)
-
(830)
Change in pension benefit (net of $1,009 of income taxes)
-
-
-
(2,870)
-
(2,870)
Net income
-
-
-
-
131,988
131,988
Share-based compensation
-
-
10,669
-
-
10,669
Issuance of common stock for share-based compensation
123,732
(1)
-
-
Cancellation of restricted stock for tax withholding upon vesting
(3,813)
-
(69)
-
-
(69)
Stock options exercised
88,291
2,418
-
-
2,419
Dividends declared on common stock, $1.90 per share
-
-
(13,017)
-
(108,956)
(121,973)
Balance at January 2, 2021
64,252,859
$
$
-
$
(35,594)
$
866,828
$
831,877
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
- 65 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
Fiscal Year Ended
January 2,
December 28,
December 29,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
$
131,988
$
76,389
$
172,435
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
63,701
58,734
53,639
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets
11,959
11,396
-
Amortization of deferred debt financing costs and bond discount/premium
4,691
3,511
5,282
Deferred income taxes
42,613
20,415
(1,494)
Gain on sale of assets
-
-
(176,386)
Net (gain)/loss on sales and disposals of property, plant and equipment
(50)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
-
1,177
13,135
Share-based compensation expense
10,618
2,594
3,025
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of businesses acquired:
Trade accounts receivable
10,806
13,918
(12,933)
Inventories
17,271
(57,436)
88,037
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(17,964)
(4,629)
(302)
Income tax receivable/payable
(7,110)
(38,686)
45,973
Other assets
(151)
Trade accounts payable
4,928
(26,879)
14,773
Accrued expenses
10,825
(10,735)
1,449
Other liabilities
(2,648)
(3,505)
1,585
Net cash provided by operating activities
281,477
46,504
209,456
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures
(26,748)
(42,355)
(41,627)
Proceeds from sale of assets
420,002
Payments for acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
(542,488)
(82,430)
(30,787)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(568,893)
(124,739)
347,588
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt
(78,375)
(700,000)
(650,110)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
300,000
1,000,000
-
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility
(520,000)
(645,000)
(170,000)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility
755,000
595,000
220,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net
-
-
Dividends paid
(121,874)
(123,669)
(124,524)
Payments for repurchase of common stock, net
-
(34,713)
(26,920)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
2,419
-
-
Payments of tax withholding on behalf of employees for net share settlement of share-based compensation
(69)
(905)
(1,833)
Payments of debt financing costs
(9,149)
(13,000)
-
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
327,952
77,713
(753,327)
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents
1,425
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
40,867
(333)
(194,858)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
11,315
11,648
206,506
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
$
52,182
$
11,315
$
11,648
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash interest payments
$
97,449
$
87,982
$
102,114
Cash income tax payments
$
9,812
$
47,506
$
4,669
Non-cash investing and financing transactions:
Dividends declared and not yet paid
$
30,520
$
30,421
$
31,178
Accruals related to purchases of property, plant and equipment
$
8,857
$
3,251
$
5,520
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities
$
1,475
$
-
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
- 66 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
(1)
Nature of Operations
Organization and Nature of Operations
B&G Foods, Inc. is a holding company whose principal assets are the shares of capital stock of its subsidiaries. Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this report to “B&G Foods,” “our company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to B&G Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Our financial statements are presented on a consolidated basis.
We operate in a single industry segment and manufacture, sell and distribute a diverse portfolio of high-quality shelf-stable and frozen foods across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Our products include frozen and canned vegetables, oatmeal and other hot cereals, fruit spreads, canned meats and beans, bagel chips, spices, seasonings, hot sauces, wine vinegar, maple syrup, molasses, salad dressings, pizza crusts, Mexican-style sauces, dry soups, taco shells and kits, salsas, pickles, peppers, tomato-based products, cookies and crackers, baking powder, baking soda, corn starch, nut clusters and other specialty products. Our products are marketed under many recognized brands, including Ac’cent, B&G, B&M, Back to Nature, Baker’s Joy, Bear Creek Country Kitchens, Brer Rabbit, Canoleo, Cary’s, Clabber Girl, Cream of Rice, Cream of Wheat, Crisco, Dash, Davis, Devonsheer, Don Pepino, Durkee, Emeril’s, Farmwise, Grandma’s Molasses, Green Giant, JJ Flats, Joan of Arc, Las Palmas, Le Sueur, MacDonald’s, Mama Mary’s, Maple Grove Farms of Vermont, McCann’s, Molly McButter, New York Flatbreads, New York Style, Old London, Ortega, Polaner, Red Devil, Regina, Rumford, Sa-són, Sclafani, SnackWell’s, Spice Islands, Spring Tree, Sugar Twin, Tone’s, Trappey’s, TrueNorth, Underwood, Vermont Maid, Victoria, Weber and Wright’s. We also sell and distribute Static Guard, a household product brand. We compete in the retail grocery, foodservice, specialty, private label, club and mass merchandiser channels of distribution. We sell and distribute our products directly and via a network of independent brokers and distributors to supermarket chains, foodservice outlets, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, non-food outlets and specialty distributors.
Sales of a number of our products tend to be seasonal and may be influenced by holidays, changes in seasons/weather or certain other annual events. In general, our sales are higher in the first and fourth quarter. We purchase most of the produce used to make our frozen and shelf-stable canned vegetables, pickles, relishes, peppers, tomatoes and other related specialty items during the months of June through October, and we generally purchase the majority of our maple syrup requirements during the months of April through August. Consequently, our liquidity needs are greatest during these periods.
Fiscal Year
We utilize a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to December 31. The fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 (fiscal 2020), contained 53 weeks and the fiscal years ended December 28, 2019 (fiscal 2019) and December 29, 2018 (fiscal 2018) contained 52 weeks each.
Business and Credit Concentrations
Our exposure to credit loss in the event of non-payment of accounts receivable by customers is estimated in the amount of the allowance for doubtful accounts. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of the financial condition of our customers. Our top ten customers accounted for approximately 62.6%, 59.1% and 56.9% of consolidated net sales in fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Our top ten customers accounted for approximately 62.5%, 62.3% and 55.8% of our consolidated trade accounts receivables as of the end of fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Other than Walmart, which accounted for approximately 26.5%, 25.6% and 24.1% of our consolidated net sales in fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, no single customer accounted for more than 10.0% of consolidated net sales in fiscal 2020, 2019 or 2018. Other than Walmart, which accounted for approximately 32.6%, 29.1% and 24.9% of our consolidated trade accounts receivables as of the end of fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, no single customer accounted for more than 10.0% of our consolidated trade accounts receivables as of the end of fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018. As of January 2, 2021, we do not believe we have any significant concentration of credit risk with respect to our consolidated trade accounts receivable with any single customer whose failure or nonperformance would materially affect our results other than as described above with respect to Walmart.
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
During fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, our sales to foreign countries represented approximately 7.8%, 7.7% and 7.3%, respectively, of net sales. Our foreign sales are primarily to customers in Canada.
(2)Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a)Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of B&G Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
(b)Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) requires our management to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions made by management involve revenue recognition as it relates to trade and consumer promotion expenses; pension benefits; acquisition accounting fair value allocations; the recoverability of goodwill, other intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and deferred tax assets; and the determination of the useful life of customer relationship and finite-lived trademark intangible assets. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions.
Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, including the current economic environment. We adjust such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Volatility in the credit and equity markets can increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions.
(c)Subsequent Events
We have evaluated subsequent events for disclosure through the date of issuance of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
(d)Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, all highly liquid instruments with maturities of three months or less when acquired are considered to be cash and cash equivalents.
(e)Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value and include direct material, direct labor, overhead, warehousing and product transfer costs. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out and average cost methods. Inventories have been reduced by an allowance for excess, obsolete and unsaleable inventories. The allowance is an estimate based on our management’s review of inventories on hand compared to estimated future usage and sales.
(f)Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation on plant and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, 10 to 30 years for buildings and improvements, 5 to 12 years for machinery and equipment, and 2 to 5 years for office furniture and vehicles. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset. Expenditures for maintenance, repairs and minor replacements are charged to current operations. Expenditures for major replacements and betterments are capitalized. We capitalize interest on qualifying assets based on our effective interest rate. During fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, we capitalized $0.7 million, $1.1 million and $1.1 million, respectively.
- 68 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
(g)Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets (trademarks) are tested for impairment at least annually and whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets might be impaired. We perform the annual impairment tests as of the last day of each fiscal year. The annual goodwill impairment testing is performed by comparing our company’s market capitalization with our company’s carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying value of our company exceeds our market capitalization, an impairment charge is recognized for the difference, not to exceed the amount of goodwill. We test our indefinite-lived intangible assets by comparing the fair value with the carrying value and recognize a loss for the difference. We estimate the fair value of our indefinite-lived intangible assets based on discounted cash flows that reflect certain third party market value indicators. Calculating our fair value for these purposes requires significant estimates and assumptions by management.
Customer relationships and finite-lived trademarks are presented at cost, net of accumulated amortization, and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of 10 to 20 years.
(h)Deferred Debt Financing Costs
Deferred debt financing costs are capitalized and amortized over the term of the related debt agreements and are included as a reduction of long-term debt, except for the revolving credit facility, for which the deferred debt financing costs are included in other assets. Amortization of deferred debt financing costs for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $4.7 million, $3.5 million and $5.3 million, respectively.
(i)Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets with estimated useful lives, are depreciated or amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future net cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Recoverability of assets held for sale is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to their fair value less estimated costs to sell. Estimating future cash flows and calculating the fair value of assets requires significant estimates and assumptions by management.
Assets to be disposed of are separately presented in the consolidated balance sheets and are no longer depreciated.
(j)Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated other comprehensive loss includes foreign currency translation adjustments relating to assets and liabilities located in our foreign subsidiaries and changes in our pension benefits due to the initial adoption and ongoing application of the authoritative accounting literature relating to pensions, net of tax.
(k)Revenue Recognition
Revenues are recognized when our performance obligation is satisfied. Our primary performance obligation is satisfied when products are shipped. We report all amounts billed to a customer in a sale transaction as revenue, including those amounts related to shipping and handling. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of goods sold. Consideration from a vendor to a retailer is presumed to be a reduction to the selling prices of the vendor’s products and, therefore, is characterized as a reduction of sales when recognized in the vendor’s income statement. As a result, coupon incentives, slotting and promotional expenses are recorded as a reduction of sales. Additionally, as a result of the recently adopted revenue recognition standard, certain payments to customers related to in-store display incentives, or marketing development funds, are also recorded as a reduction of sales.
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
(l)Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
We promote our products with advertising, consumer incentives and trade promotions. These programs include, but are not limited to, discounts, slotting fees, coupons, rebates, in-store display incentives and volume-based incentives. Consumer incentive and trade promotion activities are recorded as a reduction to revenues based on amounts estimated as being due to customers and consumers at the end of a period. We base these estimates principally on historical utilization and redemption rates. We expense our advertising costs either in the period the advertising first takes place or as incurred. Advertising expenses were approximately $10.6 million, $7.8 million and $15.9 million, for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(m)Pension Plans
We maintain four company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans covering approximately 34.9% of our employees. Our funding policy is to contribute annually the amount recommended by our actuaries. From time to time, however, we voluntarily contribute greater amounts based on pension asset performance, tax considerations and other relevant factors.
(n)Share-Based Compensation Expense
We provide compensation benefits in the form of performance share long-term incentive awards (LTIAs), restricted stock, common stock and stock options to employees and non-employee directors. The cost of share-based compensation is recorded at fair value at the date of grant and expensed in our consolidated statements of operations over the requisite service period, if any.
Performance share LTIAs granted to our executive officers and certain other members of senior management entitle each participant to earn shares of common stock upon the attainment of certain performance goals over the applicable performance period. The recognition of compensation expense for the performance share LTIAs is initially based on the probable outcome of the performance condition based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant and the anticipated number of shares to be awarded on a straight-line basis over the applicable performance period. The fair value of the awards on the date of grant is determined based upon the closing price of our common stock on the applicable measurement dates (i.e., the deemed grant dates for accounting purposes) reduced by the present value of expected dividends using the risk-free interest-rate as the award holders are not entitled to dividends or dividend equivalents during the vesting period. Our company’s performance against the defined performance goals are re-evaluated on a quarterly basis throughout the applicable performance period and the recognition of compensation expense is adjusted for subsequent changes in the estimated or actual outcome. The cumulative effect of a change in the estimated number of shares of common stock to be issued in respect of performance share awards is recognized as an adjustment to earnings in the period of the revision.
The fair value of stock option awards is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and is recognized in expense over the vesting period of the options using the straight-line method. The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires various assumptions, including the expected volatility of our stock, the expected term of the option, the risk-free interest rate and the expected dividend yield. Expected volatility is based on both historical and implied volatilities of our common stock over the estimated expected term of the award. The risk-free rate for the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. All stock option grants have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant and have a 10-year term. Employee stock options cliff vest three years after the date of grant and non-employee director stock options vest one year after the date of grant.
We recognize compensation expense for only that portion of share-based awards that are expected to vest. We utilize historical employee termination behavior to determine our estimated forfeiture rates. If the actual forfeitures differ from those estimated by management, adjustments to compensation expense will be made in future periods.
- 70 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
(o)Income Tax Expense Estimates and Policies
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities of our company are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operations in the period that includes the enactment date.
As part of the income tax provision process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes. This process involves estimating our current tax expenses together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. We then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent we believe the recovery is not likely, we establish a valuation allowance. Further, to the extent that we establish a valuation allowance or increase this allowance in a financial accounting period, we include such charge in our tax provision, or reduce our tax benefits in our consolidated statements of operations. We use our judgment to determine our provision or benefit for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against our deferred tax assets.
There are various factors that may cause these tax assumptions to change in the near term, and we may have to record a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets. We cannot predict whether future U.S. federal and state income tax laws and regulations might be passed that could have a material effect on our results of operations. See Note 10, “Income Taxes,” for a discussion of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in December 2017, which we refer to in this report as the “U.S. Tax Act,” as well as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act enacted in March 2020, which we refer to in this report as the “U.S. CARES Act.” We assess the impact of significant changes to the U.S. federal, state and international income tax laws and regulations on a regular basis and update the assumptions and estimates used to prepare our consolidated financial statements when new regulations and legislation are enacted. We recognize the benefit of an uncertain tax position that we have taken or expect to take on our income tax returns we file if it is “more likely than not” that such tax position will be sustained based on its technical merits.
(p)Dividends
Cash dividends, if any, are accrued as a liability on our consolidated balance sheets when declared and recorded as a decrease to additional paid-in capital, or as a decrease to retained earnings when additional paid-in capital has a zero balance.
(q)Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding plus all additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if potentially dilutive shares of common stock had been issued upon the exercise of stock options or in connection with performance share LTIAs that may be earned as of the beginning of the period using the treasury stock method.
- 71 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
Fiscal
Fiscal
Fiscal
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Net income
$
131,988
$
76,389
$
172,435
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic
64,162,682
65,013,406
66,144,703
Net effect of potentially dilutive share-based compensation awards(1)
393,829
25,373
109,851
Diluted
64,556,511
65,038,779
66,254,554
Earnings per share:
Basic
$
2.06
$
1.17
$
2.61
Diluted
$
2.04
$
1.17
$
2.60
(1) For fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, outstanding stock options of 739,976, 1,110,212 and 1,091,478, respectively, were excluded from diluted earnings per share as their effect was antidilutive.
(r)Accounting Standards Adopted in Fiscal 2020
In May 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a final rule that amends the financial statement requirements for acquisitions and dispositions of businesses. The amendments primarily relate to disclosures required by Rule 3-05 and Article 11 of Regulation S-X. Among other things, the final rule modifies the tests provided in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X used to determine whether a subsidiary or an acquired or disposed business is significant and modifies the number of years of audited financial statements required for acquisitions with significance levels greater than specified percentages. We early adopted the rule in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and we applied the rule to our financial statement disclosure requirements for the Crisco acquisition. See Note 3, “Acquisitions and Divestitures.”
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a new accounting standards update (ASU) which modifies the measurement of expected credit losses of certain financial instruments. This ASU replaces the incurred loss methodology for recognizing credit losses with a current expected credit losses model and applies to all financial assets, including trade accounts receivables. The amendments in this ASU should be applied on a modified retrospective basis to all periods presented. This guidance became effective during the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In January 2017, the FASB issued an amendment to the standards of goodwill impairment testing. The new guidance simplifies the test for goodwill impairment, by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. This guidance became effective during the first quarter of fiscal 2020 and was applied during our annual goodwill impairment testing for fiscal 2020. The adoption of this ASU did not have an impact to our consolidated financial statements.
In March 2020, the SEC adopted amendments to the financial disclosure requirements for guarantors and issuers of guaranteed securities registered or being registered in Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X, and affiliates whose securities collateralize securities registered or being registered in Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X (SEC Release No. 33- 10762). We adopted the amendments to the disclosure requirements during the third quarter of fiscal 2020. This amendment did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements as this amendment simplifies the financial disclosures required in our guarantor and non-guarantor financial information. The amendment replaces the requirement to present condensed consolidating financial statements, comprised of balance sheets and statements of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for all periods presented, with summarized financial information of the guarantor only for the most recently completed fiscal year and any subsequent interim period. See Part II, Item 7, “Management’s
- 72 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Supplemental Financial Information about B&G Foods and Guarantor Subsidiaries.”
In August 2018, the FASB issued a new ASU that aims to improve the overall usefulness of disclosures to financial statement users and reduce unnecessary costs to companies by changing disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other post-retirement plans. This guidance became effective during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and we updated our defined benefit pension plan disclosures accordingly. The adoption of this ASU did not have an impact to our consolidated financial statements as this ASU only modified disclosure requirements. See Note 12, “Pension Benefits.”
(s)Recently Issued Accounting Standards - Pending Adoption
In March 2020, the FASB issued a new ASU which provides optional guidance for a limited time to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates such as LIBOR. The update may be applied as of the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. We currently expect to adopt the standard during fiscal 2022. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU. LIBOR is used to determine interest under our revolving credit facility and our tranche B term loans due 2026. Currently, however, we do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued a new ASU that removes certain exceptions for recognizing deferred taxes for certain investments, performing intraperiod allocation and calculating income taxes in interim periods. The ASU also adds guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for goodwill and allocating taxes to members of a consolidated group. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. We currently expect to adopt the standard when it becomes effective in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU. Currently, we do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.
(3)
Acquisitions and Divestitures
Acquisitions
On December 1, 2020, pursuant to an agreement entered into on October 26, 2020, we completed the acquisition of the Crisco oils and shortening business from The J.M. Smucker Company and certain of its affiliates, for approximately $539.3 million in cash. We refer to this acquisition as the “Crisco acquisition” and the Crisco oils and shortening business as the “Crisco business.”
On February 19, 2020, we acquired Farmwise LLC, maker of Farmwise Veggie Fries, Farmwise Veggie Tots and Farmwise Veggie Rings, from its founders and certain other sellers. We refer to this acquisition as the “Farmwise acquisition.”
On May 15, 2019, we acquired Clabber Girl Corporation, a leader in baking products, including baking powder, baking soda and corn starch, from Hulman & Company for approximately $84.6 million in cash. In addition to Clabber Girl, the number one retail baking powder brand, Clabber Girl Corporation’s product offerings include the Rumford, Davis, Hearth Club and Royal brands of retail baking powder, baking soda and corn starch, and the Royal brand of foodservice dessert mixes. We refer to this acquisition as the “Clabber Girl acquisition.”
On July 16, 2018, we acquired the McCann’s brand of premium Irish oatmeal from TreeHouse Foods, Inc. for approximately $30.8 million in cash. We refer to this acquisition as the “McCann’s acquisition.”
We have accounted for each of these acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting and, accordingly, have included the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and results of operations in our consolidated financial statements from the respective date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired represents goodwill. Indefinite-lived trademarks are deemed to have an indefinite useful life and are not amortized. Customer relationships and finite-lived trademarks acquired are amortized over 10 to 20 years. Goodwill and
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
other intangible assets are deductible for income tax purposes. Inventory has been recorded at estimated selling price less costs of disposal and a reasonable selling profit and the property, plant and equipment and other intangible assets (including trademarks, customer relationships and other intangible assets) acquired have been recorded at fair value as determined by our management with the assistance of a third-party valuation specialist. See Note 6, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”
Crisco Acquisition
The following table sets forth the preliminary allocation of the Crisco acquisition purchase price to the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired at the date of acquisition. The preliminary purchase price allocation may be adjusted as a result of the finalization of our purchase price allocation procedures related to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We anticipate completing the purchase price allocation during fiscal 2021.
Allocation:
December 1, 2020
Inventories
$
37,137
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net
81,405
Operating lease right-of-use assets
1,597
Trademarks - indefinite-lived intangible assets
322,000
Customer relationships - finite-lived intangible assets
52,800
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
(596)
Long-term operating lease liabilities, net of current portion
(1,001)
Goodwill
45,806
Total purchase price (paid in cash)
$
539,261
Clabber Girl Acquisition
The following table sets forth the allocation of the Clabber Girl acquisition purchase price to the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired at the date of acquisition. During fiscal 2019, we recorded a purchase price adjustment to increase operating lease right-of-use assets by $1.4 million; trademarks - indefinite-lived intangible assets by $1.1 million; and customer relationships - finite-lived intangible assets by $1.0 million; and to decrease goodwill by $1.4 million; long-term operating lease liabilities, net of current portion, by $1.3 million; inventories by $0.7 million; and current portion of operating lease liabilities by $0.1 million.
Allocation:
May 15, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents
$
2,202
Trade accounts receivable, net
5,627
Inventories
10,641
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Income tax receivable
Property, plant and equipment, net
20,697
Operating lease right-of-use assets
7,841
Trademarks - indefinite-lived intangible assets
19,600
Customer relationships - finite-lived intangible assets
18,500
Trade accounts payable
(3,007)
Accrued expenses
(1,315)
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
(952)
Long-term operating lease liabilities, net of current portion
(7,319)
Goodwill
11,956
Total purchase price (paid in cash)
$
84,632
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
McCann’s Acquisition
The following table sets forth the allocation of the McCann’s acquisition purchase price to the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired at the date of acquisition. During the fourth quarter of 2018, we recorded a purchase price adjustment to increase accrued expenses and goodwill by $0.2 million.
McCann’s Acquisition (in thousands):
Allocation:
July 16, 2018
Property, plant and equipment
$
Inventories
Trademarks - indefinite-lived intangible assets
24,800
Customer relationships - finite-lived intangible assets
2,000
Accrued expenses
(292)
Goodwill
3,294
Total purchase price (paid in cash)
$
30,787
Unaudited Pro Forma Summary of Operations
The following pro forma summary of operations presents our operations as if the Crisco acquisition had occurred as of the beginning of fiscal 2019. In addition to including the results of operations of this acquisition, the pro forma information gives effect to the interest on additional borrowings and the amortization of trademark and customer relationship intangibles. On an actual basis, Crisco contributed $27.8 million of our aggregate $1,967.9 million of consolidated net sales for fiscal 2020. (dollars in thousands, except per share data):
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Net sales(1)
$
2,253,645
$
1,906,402
Net income(1)
$
182,169
$
105,433
Basic earnings per share(1)
$
2.84
$
1.62
Diluted earnings per share(1)
$
2.82
$
1.62
(1) The pro forma financial information presented above does not purport to be indicative of the results that actually would have been attained had the Crisco acquisition occurred as of the beginning of fiscal 2019, and is not intended to be a projection of future results.
None of the Farmwise, Clabber Girl and McCann’s acquisitions were material to our consolidated results of operations or financial position and, therefore, pro forma financial information is not presented for those acquisitions.
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
Pirate Brands Divestiture
On October 17, 2018, we sold Pirate Brands to The Hershey Company for a purchase price of $420.0 million in cash. Pirate Brands includes the Pirate’s Booty, Smart Puffs and Original Tings brands. We refer to this divestiture as the “Pirate Brands sale.” Net deferred tax liabilities associated with the Pirate Brands sale were $107.3 million. We recognized a pre-tax gain on the Pirate Brands sale of $176.4 million, as calculated below (in thousands):
October 17, 2018
Cash received
$
420,002
Assets sold:
Inventories
(6,688)
Property, plant and equipment
(404)
Customer relationships - finite-lived intangible assets
(8,408)
Trademarks - indefinite-lived intangible assets
(152,800)
Goodwill
(70,952)
Other
(77)
Total assets sold
(239,328)
Expenses
(4,288)
Gain on sale of assets
$
176,386
In December 2018, the compensation committee of our board of directors approved a special bonus pool of $6.0 million that was paid in fiscal 2019 to our executive officers and certain members of management to recognize their significant contributions to the successful operation of Pirate Brands during our company’s five years of ownership of Pirate Brands and to the successful completion of the Pirate Brands sale at a sale price more than double what our company paid for Pirate Brands in 2013.
(4)
Inventories
Inventories consist of the following, as of the dates indicated (in thousands):
January 2, 2021
December 28, 2019
Raw materials and packaging
$
87,843
$
65,673
Work-in-process
95,207
111,866
Finished goods
309,754
294,648
Inventories
$
492,804
$
472,187
(5)Property, Plant and Equipment, net
Property, plant and equipment, net, consists of the following as of the dates indicated (in thousands):
January 2, 2021
December 28, 2019
Land and improvements
$
25,015
$
13,097
Buildings and improvements
159,454
135,928
Machinery and equipment
393,583
339,318
Office furniture, vehicles and computer equipment
84,936
71,365
Construction-in-progress
23,225
15,680
Property, plant and equipment, cost
686,213
575,388
Less: accumulated depreciation
(314,359)
(270,454)
Property, plant and equipment, net
$
371,854
$
304,934
Depreciation expense was $44.6 million, $40.2 million and $35.3 million for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
(6)
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The carrying amounts of goodwill and other intangible assets, as of the dates indicated, consist of the following (in thousands):
January 2, 2021
December 28, 2019
Gross Carrying
Accumulated
Net Carrying
Gross Carrying
Accumulated
Net Carrying
Amount
Amortization
Amount
Amount
Amortization
Amount
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Trademarks
$
20,100
$
5,597
$
14,503
$
19,600
$
4,462
$
15,138
Customer relationships
406,901
147,378
259,523
354,090
129,402
224,688
Total finite-lived intangible assets
$
427,001
$
152,975
$
274,026
$
373,690
$
133,864
$
239,826
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
Goodwill
$
644,747
$
596,391
Trademarks
$
1,697,300
$
1,375,300
Amortization expense associated with finite-lived intangible assets was $19.1 million, $18.5 million and $18.3 million during fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and is recorded in operating expenses. We expect to recognize $21.6 million of amortization expense in each of the fiscal years 2021 and 2022, respectively, $21.5 million in fiscal 2023, and $21.4 million in each of the fiscal years 2024 and 2025, respectively. See Note 3, “Acquisitions and Divestitures.”
We completed our annual impairment tests for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 with no adjustments to the carrying values of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. If, however, operating results for any of our brands, including newly acquired brands, deteriorate, at rates in excess of our current projections, we may be required to record non-cash impairment charges to certain intangible assets. In addition, any significant decline in our market capitalization could put pressure on the carrying value of our goodwill. For a further discussion of our annual impairment testing of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets (trademarks), see Note 2(g), “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
(7)
Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consists of the following, as of the dates indicated (in thousands):
January 2, 2021
December 28, 2019
Revolving credit loans:
Outstanding principal
$
235,000
$
-
Revolving credit loans, net(1)
235,000
-
Tranche B term loans due 2026:
Outstanding principal
671,625
450,000
Unamortized deferred debt financing costs
(6,052)
(4,042)
Unamortized discount
(4,507)
(2,180)
Tranche B term loans due 2026, net
661,066
443,778
5.25% senior notes due 2025:
Outstanding principal
900,000
900,000
Unamortized deferred debt financing costs
(7,348)
(9,077)
Unamortized premium
2,292
2,832
5.25% senior notes due 2025, net
894,944
893,755
5.25% senior notes due 2027:
Outstanding principal
550,000
550,000
Unamortized deferred debt financing costs
(6,924)
(7,750)
5.25% senior notes due 2027, net
543,076
542,250
Total long-term debt, net of unamortized deferred debt financing costs and discount/premium
2,334,086
1,879,783
Current portion of long-term debt
-
(5,625)
Long-term debt, net of unamortized deferred debt financing costs and discount/premium and excluding current portion
$
2,334,086
$
1,874,158
(1) Unamortized deferred debt financing costs related to our revolving credit facility were $4.6 million and $2.2 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively. These amounts are included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Senior Secured Credit Agreement. Our senior secured credit agreement includes a term loan facility and a revolving credit facility.
On December 16, 2020, we amended our amended and restated credit agreement, dated as of October 2, 2015, and previously amended on March 30, 2017, November 20, 2017 and October 10, 2019. Among other things, the amendment provides for a $300.0 million add-on tranche B term loan facility, which closed and funded on December 16, 2020. The add-on tranche B term loan loans were issued at a price equal to 99.00% of their face value. The add-on term loans have the same terms as, and are fungible with, $371.6 million of tranche B term loans. We used the net proceeds of the add-on term loans to repay a portion of the revolving credit facility borrowings used to finance the Crisco acquisition. As of January 2, 2021, $671.6 million of tranche B term loans remained outstanding. The tranche B term loans mature on October 10, 2026.
Interest under the tranche B term loan facility is determined based on alternative rates that we may choose in accordance with our credit agreement, including a base rate per annum plus an applicable margin of 1.00%, and LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 2.50%.
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
The December 2020 amendment also increased the revolver capacity from $700.0 million to $800.0 million and extended the maturity date of our revolving credit facility from November 21, 2022 to December 16, 2025. As of January 2, 2021, the available borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility, net of outstanding letters of credit of $1.9 million, was $563.1 million. Proceeds of the revolving credit facility may be used for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions of targets in the same or a similar line of business as our company, subject to specified criteria. The revolving credit facility matures on December 16, 2025.
Interest under the revolving credit facility, including any outstanding letters of credit is determined based on alternative rates that we may choose in accordance with the credit agreement, including a base rate per annum plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.25% to 0.75%, and LIBOR plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.25% to 1.75%, in each case depending on our consolidated leverage ratio.
If we prepay all or any portion of the tranche B term loans prior to June 16, 2021 in connection with a financing that has a lower interest rate or weighted average yield than the tranche B term loans, we will owe a repayment fee equal to 1% of the amount prepaid. Otherwise, we are required to pay a commitment fee of 0.50% per annum on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. The maximum letter of credit capacity under the revolving credit facility is $50.0 million, with a fronting fee of 0.25% per annum for all outstanding letters of credit and a letter of credit fee equal to the applicable margin for revolving loans that are Eurodollar (LIBOR) loans.
We may prepay term loans or permanently reduce the revolving credit facility commitment under the credit agreement at any time without premium or penalty (other than customary “breakage” costs with respect to the early termination of LIBOR loans). Subject to certain exceptions, the credit agreement provides for mandatory prepayment upon certain asset dispositions or casualty events and issuances of indebtedness.
Our obligations under the credit agreement are jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by all of our existing and certain future domestic subsidiaries (other than a domestic subsidiary that is a holding company for one or more foreign subsidiaries). The credit agreement is secured by substantially all of our and our domestic subsidiaries’ assets except our and our domestic subsidiaries’ real property. The credit agreement contains customary restrictive covenants, subject to certain permitted amounts and exceptions, including covenants limiting our ability to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends and make other restricted payments, repurchase shares of our outstanding stock and create certain liens.
The credit agreement also contains certain financial maintenance covenants, which, among other things, specify a maximum consolidated leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio, each ratio as defined in the credit agreement. Our consolidated leverage ratio (defined as the ratio, determined on a pro forma basis, of our consolidated net debt, as of the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters to our adjusted EBITDA for such period) may not exceed 7.00 to 1.00. We are also required to maintain a consolidated interest coverage ratio (defined as the ratio, determined on a pro forma basis, of our adjusted EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters to our consolidated interest expense for such period payable in cash) of at least 1.75 to 1.00. As of January 2, 2021, we were in compliance with all of the covenants, including the financial covenants, in the credit agreement.
The credit agreement also provides for an incremental term loan and revolving loan facility, pursuant to which we may request that the lenders under the credit agreement, and potentially other lenders, provide unlimited additional amounts of term loans or revolving loans or both on terms substantially consistent with those provided under the credit agreement. Among other things, the utilization of the incremental facility is conditioned on our ability to meet a maximum senior secured leverage ratio of 4.00 to 1.00, and a sufficient number of lenders or new lenders agreeing to participate in the facility.
5.25% Senior Notes due 2025. On April 3, 2017, we issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% senior notes due 2025 at a price to the public of 100% of their face value. On November 20, 2017, we issued an additional $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% senior notes due 2025 at a price to the public 101% of their face value plus accrued interest from October 1, 2017. The notes issued in November 2017 were issued as additional notes under the same indenture as our 5.25% senior notes due 2025 that were issued in April 2017, and, as such, form a single series and trade interchangeably with the previously issued 5.25% senior notes due 2025.
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
We used the net proceeds of the April 2017 offering to repay all of the then outstanding borrowings and amounts due under our revolving credit facility and tranche A term loans, to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. We used the net proceeds of the November 2017 offering to repay all of the then outstanding borrowings and amounts due under our revolving credit facility, to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes.
Interest on the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 is payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing October 1, 2017. The 5.25% senior notes due 2025 will mature on April 1, 2025, unless earlier retired or redeemed as described below.
We may redeem some or all of the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 at a redemption price of 103.9375% beginning April 1, 2020 and thereafter at prices declining annually to 100% on or after April 1, 2023, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. In addition, if we undergo a change of control or upon certain asset sales, we may be required to offer to repurchase the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 at the repurchase price set forth in the indenture plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase.
We may also, from time to time, seek to retire the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 through cash repurchases of the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 and/or exchanges of the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 for equity securities, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved may be material.
Our obligations under the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 are jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by all of our existing and certain future domestic subsidiaries. The 5.25% senior notes due 2025 and the subsidiary guarantees are our and the guarantors’ general unsecured obligations and are effectively junior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ secured indebtedness and to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of our non-guarantor subsidiaries; are pari passu in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future unsecured senior debt; and are senior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ future subordinated debt. Our foreign subsidiaries are not guarantors, and any future foreign or partially owned domestic subsidiaries will not be guarantors, of the 5.25% senior notes due 2025.
The indenture governing the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 contains covenants with respect to us and the guarantors and restricts the incurrence of additional indebtedness and the issuance of capital stock; the payment of dividends or distributions on, and redemption of, capital stock; a number of other restricted payments, including certain investments; creation of specified liens, certain sale-leaseback transactions and sales of certain specified assets; fundamental changes, including consolidation, mergers and transfers of all or substantially all of our assets; and specified transactions with affiliates. Each of the covenants is subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications. As of January 2, 2021, we were in compliance with all of the covenants in the indenture governing the 5.25% senior notes due 2025.
5.25% Senior Notes due 2027. On September 26, 2019, we issued $550.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% senior notes due 2027 at a price to the public of 100% of their face value.
We used the proceeds of the offering, together with the proceeds of incremental term loans made during the fourth quarter of 2019, to redeem all of our outstanding 4.625% senior notes due 2021, repay a portion of our borrowings under our revolving credit facility, pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes.
Interest on the 5.25% senior notes due 2027 is payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing March 15, 2020. The 5.25% senior notes due 2027 will mature on September 15, 2027, unless earlier retired or redeemed as described below.
We may redeem some or all of the 5.25% senior notes due 2027 at a redemption price of 103.938% beginning March 1, 2022 and thereafter at prices declining annually to 100% on or after March 1, 2025, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. We may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 5.25% senior notes due 2027 prior to March 1, 2022 with the net proceeds from certain equity offerings. We may also
- 80 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
redeem some or all of the 5.25% senior notes due 2027 at any time prior to March 1, 2022 at a redemption price equal to the make-whole amount set forth in the tenth supplemental indenture. In addition, if we undergo a change of control or upon certain asset sales, we may be required to offer to repurchase the 5.25% senior notes due 2027 at the repurchase price set forth in the indenture plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase.
We may also, from time to time, seek to retire the 5.25% senior notes due 2027 through cash repurchases of the 5.25% senior notes due 2027 and/or exchanges of the 5.25% senior notes due 2027 for equity securities, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved may be material.
Our obligations under the 5.25% senior notes due 2027 are jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by all of our existing and certain future domestic subsidiaries. The 5.25% senior notes due 2027 and the subsidiary guarantees are our and the guarantors’ general unsecured obligations and are effectively junior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ secured indebtedness and to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of our non-guarantor subsidiaries; are pari passu in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future unsecured senior debt; and are senior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ future subordinated debt. Our foreign subsidiaries are not guarantors, and any future foreign or partially owned domestic subsidiaries will not be guarantors, of the 5.25% senior notes due 2027.
The indenture governing the 5.25% senior notes due 2027 contains covenants with respect to us and the guarantors and restricts the incurrence of additional indebtedness and the issuance of capital stock; the payment of dividends or distributions on, and redemption of, capital stock; a number of other restricted payments, including certain investments; creation of specified liens, certain sale-leaseback transactions and sales of certain specified assets; fundamental changes, including consolidation, mergers and transfers of all or substantially all of our assets; and specified transactions with affiliates. Each of the covenants is subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications. As of January 2, 2021, we were in compliance with all of the covenants in the indenture governing the 5.25% senior notes due 2027.
Subsidiary Guarantees. We have no assets or operations independent of our direct and indirect subsidiaries. All of our present domestic subsidiaries jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guarantee our long-term debt. There are no significant restrictions on our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to obtain funds from our respective subsidiaries by dividend or loan. See Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Supplemental Financial Information about B&G Foods and Guarantor Subsidiaries.”
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt. There was no loss on extinguishment of debt for fiscal 2020. Loss on extinguishment of debt for fiscal 2019 includes the write-off of deferred debt financing costs of $1.2 million, relating to the repayment of all outstanding borrowings under the 4.625% senior notes due 2021. Loss on extinguishment of debt for fiscal 2018 includes the write-off of deferred debt financing costs and unamortized discount of $11.1 million and $2.0 million, respectively, relating to the repayment of all then outstanding borrowings under tranche B term loans.
Contractual Maturities. As of January 2, 2021, the aggregate contractual maturities of long-term debt were as follows (in thousands):
Aggregate Contractual Maturities
Fiscal year:
$
-
-
-
-
1,135,000
Thereafter
1,221,625
Total
$
2,356,625
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
Accrued Interest. At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, accrued interest of $20.9 million and $21.4 million, respectively, is included in accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
(8)
Fair Value Measurements
The authoritative accounting literature relating to fair value measurements defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). The accounting literature outlines a valuation framework and creates a fair value hierarchy in order to increase the consistency and comparability of fair value measurements and the related disclosures. Under GAAP, certain assets and liabilities must be measured at fair value, and the accounting literature details the disclosures that are required for items measured at fair value.
Financial assets and liabilities are measured using inputs from the three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the accounting literature. The three levels are as follows:
Level 1-Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2-Observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices, such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value driver is observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3-Unobservable inputs that reflect our assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
Cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, income tax receivable, trade accounts payable, accrued expenses, income tax payable and dividends payable are reflected in the consolidated balance sheets at carrying value, which approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.
The carrying values and fair values of our revolving credit loans, term loans and senior notes as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):
January 2, 2021
December 28, 2019
Carrying Value
Fair Value
Carrying Value
Fair Value
Revolving credit loans
$
235,000
$
235,000
(1)
$
-
$
-
Tranche B term loans due 2026
667,118
(2)
665,450
(3)
447,820
(2)
451,179
(3)
5.25% senior notes due 2025
902,292
(4)
931,616
(3)
902,832
(4)
929,917
(3)
5.25% senior notes due 2027
$
550,000
$
580,250
(3)
$
550,000
$
550,000
(3)
(1) Fair values are estimated based on Level 2 inputs, which were quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active.
(2) The carrying value of the tranche B term loans includes a discount. At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the face amount of the tranche B term loans was $671.6 million and $450.0 million, respectively.
(3) Fair values are estimated based on quoted market prices.
(4) The carrying value of the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 include a premium. At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the face amount of the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 was $900.0 million.
There was no Level 3 activity during fiscal 2020, 2019 or 2018.
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
(9)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive loss (AOCL) for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):
Amount Reclassified
From AOCL
Affected Line Item in the
Statement Where Net Income
Details about AOCL Components
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2018
(Loss) is Presented
Defined benefit pension plan items
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost
$
-
$
-
$
See (1) below
Amortization of unrecognized loss
1,288
See (1) below
Accumulated other comprehensive loss before tax
1,288
Total before tax
Tax expense
(334)
(211)
(174)
Income tax expense
Total reclassification
$
$
$
Net of tax
(1) These items are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 12, “Pension Benefits,” for additional information.
Changes in AOCL for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):
Foreign Currency
Defined Benefit
Translation
Pension Plan Items
Adjustments
Total
Balance at December 30, 2017
$
(12,985)
$
(7,771)
$
(20,756)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
(3,507)
(3,270)
Amounts reclassified from AOCL
-
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
(3,507)
(2,746)
Balance at December 29, 2018
(12,224)
(11,278)
(23,502)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications
(13,187)
4,145
(9,042)
Amounts reclassified from AOCL
-
Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income
(12,537)
4,145
(8,392)
Balance at December 28, 2019
(24,761)
(7,133)
(31,894)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications
(3,824)
(830)
(4,654)
Amounts reclassified from AOCL
-
Net current period other comprehensive loss
(2,870)
(830)
(3,700)
Balance at January 2, 2021
$
(27,631)
$
(7,963)
$
(35,594)
(10)
Income Taxes
The components of income before income tax expense consist of the following (in thousands):
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2018
U.S.
$
160,214
$
101,110
$
217,044
Foreign
17,148
4,582
5,233
Total
$
177,362
$
105,692
$
222,277
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
Income tax expense consists of the following (in thousands):
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2018
Current:
Federal
$
(2,763)
$
1,650
$
41,583
State
2,883
3,872
7,775
Foreign
2,641
3,366
1,978
Current income tax expense
2,761
8,888
51,336
Deferred:
Federal
35,209
19,541
3,508
State
4,582
3,005
(3,190)
Foreign
2,822
(2,131)
(1,812)
Deferred income taxes
42,613
20,415
(1,494)
Income tax expense
$
45,374
$
29,303
$
49,842
Income tax expense differs from the expected income tax expense (computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate of 21% for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, to income before income tax expense) as a result of the following:
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2018
Expected tax expense
21.0
%
21.0
%
21.0
%
Increase (decrease):
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit
3.2
5.2
2.9
Foreign income taxes
1.5
1.4
0.8
Permanent differences
1.3
0.3
0.1
Impact on deferred taxes from changes in state tax rates and prior year true-ups
0.7
0.6
(1.6)
Impact on deferred taxes from U.S. Tax Act
-
-
0.3
Impact of U.S. CARES Act
(1.4)
-
-
Foreign tax credit
(0.6)
(0.3)
(0.1)
Other
(0.1)
(0.5)
(1.0)
Total
25.6
%
27.7
%
22.4
%
In fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, changes in state apportionments, state filings or state tax laws impacted our deferred blended state rate, resulting in a deferred state tax expense in fiscal 2020 of $0.4 million, a state tax expense in fiscal 2019 of $0.8 million and state tax benefit in fiscal 2018 of $3.5 million. In fiscal 2020, permanent differences were impacted by non-deductible executive compensation in the amount of $3.5 million.
- 84 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are presented below (in thousands):
January 2,
December 28,
Deferred tax assets:
Accounts receivable, principally due to allowance
$
$
Inventories, principally due to additional costs capitalized for tax purposes
2,830
2,611
Operating lease liabilities
8,006
10,277
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
13,065
12,809
Net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards
5,196
4,927
Interest expense deductions limitation
7,427
Unrealized losses
-
Gross deferred tax assets
29,256
38,076
Valuation allowances
(2,703)
(1,702)
Deferred tax assets, net
26,553
36,374
Deferred tax liabilities:
Unrealized gains
-
(104)
Property, plant and equipment
(34,935)
(24,054)
Goodwill and other intangible assets
(261,512)
(239,627)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(11,589)
(9,939)
Operating lease right-of-use assets
(7,460)
(9,618)
Gross deferred tax liabilities
(315,496)
(283,342)
Net deferred tax liabilities
$
(288,943)
$
(246,968)
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income and reversal of deferred tax liabilities over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, a valuation allowance of $2.7 million, $1.7 million and $1.0 million was recorded during fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, to record only the portion of the deferred tax asset that management believes is more likely than not that we will realize the benefits of these deductible differences. The amount of the deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during future periods are reduced.
At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, we had $0.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of reserves for uncertain tax positions which represents an increase of $0.1 million in fiscal 2020 for additional interest and penalties. Our policy is to classify interest and penalties resulting from income tax uncertainties as income tax expense.
At January 2, 2021 we had intangible assets of $1,299.7 million for tax purposes, which are amortizable through 2035.
We operate in multiple taxing jurisdictions within the United States, Canada and Mexico and from time to time face audits from various tax authorities regarding the deductibility of certain expenses, state income tax nexus, intercompany transactions, transfer pricing and other matters. At the end of fiscal 2020 we were not undergoing any examinations by any tax authorities. In fiscal 2021 we were informed by New York State that it will conduct an examination of our 2018 and 2019 New York State income tax returns. We remain subject to examination in all of our tax jurisdictions until the applicable statutes of limitations expire. Fiscal 2015 and subsequent years remain open to examination. As of January 2, 2021, a summary of the tax years that remain subject to examination in our major tax jurisdictions are:
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
United States-Federal
2017 and forward
United States-States
2016 and forward
Canada
2016 and forward
Mexico
2015 and forward
U.S. Tax Act and U.S CARES Act. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which we refer to as the “U.S. Tax Act,” was signed into law. The U.S. Tax Act provides for significant changes in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The changes in the U.S. Tax Act are broad and complex and we continue to examine the impact the U.S. Tax Act may have on our business and financial results. The U.S. Tax Act contains provisions with separate effective dates but was generally effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.
Under FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, we are required to revalue any deferred tax assets or liabilities in the period of enactment of change in tax rates. Beginning on January 1, 2018, the U.S. Tax Act lowered the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% on our U.S. earnings from that date and beyond. The reduction in the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% was effective for our fiscal 2018 and subsequent years. Our consolidated effective tax rate was approximately 25.6%, 27.7% and 22.4% for fiscal 2020, fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018, respectively. We also expect to realize a cash tax benefit for future bonus depreciation on certain business additions, which, together with the reduced income tax rate, we expect to reduce our cash income tax payments.
The U.S. Tax Act also limits the deduction for net interest expense (including treatment of depreciation and other deductions in arriving at adjusted taxable income) incurred by a corporate taxpayer to 30% of the taxpayer’s adjusted taxable income. We were not impacted by this limitation in fiscal 2018 due to the gain on the Pirate Brands sale which increased our adjusted taxable income. However, in fiscal 2019 this limitation resulted in an increase to our taxable income of $30.2 million and we accordingly established a deferred tax asset of $7.4 million without a valuation allowance.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, which we refer to as the “U.S. CARES Act,” was signed into law. The U.S. CARES Act, among other things, includes provisions related to net operating loss carryback periods, modifications to the interest deduction limitation and technical corrections to tax depreciation for qualified improvement property. The U.S. CARES Act increased the adjusted taxable income limitation from 30% to 50% for business interest deductions for tax years beginning in 2019 and 2020 and the limitation will revert back to 30% in future periods. This modification increased the allowable interest expense deduction and resulted in a net operating loss (NOL) for the year 2019. We were able to carryback the 2019 NOL and receive a tax refund of $7.2 million in fiscal 2020. The NOL carryback to the 2014 and 2015 tax years generated a refund of previously paid income taxes at an approximate 35% federal tax rate. This resulted in a benefit related to tax rate differential of $2.6 million in fiscal 2020, $2.3 million of which was recorded as a discrete item in the first quarter of 2020. We were not subject to an interest expense deduction limitation in fiscal 2020.
The U.S. Treasury issued several regulations supplementing the U.S. Tax Act in 2018, including detailed guidance clarifying the calculation of the mandatory tax on previously unrepatriated earnings, application of the existing foreign tax credit rules to newly created categories and expanding details for application of the base erosion tax on affiliate payments. These regulations are to be applied retroactively and did not materially impact our 2018, 2019 or 2020 tax rates.
(11)
Capital Stock
Voting Rights. The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share with respect to each matter on which the holders of our common stock are entitled to vote. The holders of our common stock are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of our directors.
Dividends. The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as they may be lawfully declared from time to time by our board of directors, subject to any preferential rights of holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, common stockholders are entitled to share ratably in our assets available for distribution to the stockholders, subject to the prior
- 86 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
rights of holders of any outstanding preferred stock. See Note 18, “Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited),” for dividends declared for each quarter of fiscal 2020 and 2019.
Additional Issuance of Our Authorized Common Stock and Preferred Stock. Additional shares of our authorized common stock and preferred stock may be issued, as determined by our board of directors from time to time, without approval of holders of our common stock, except as may be required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. Our board of directors has the authority by resolution to determine and fix, with respect to each series of preferred stock prior to the issuance of any shares of the series to which such resolution relates, the designations, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of preferred stock of such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.
Stock Repurchases. On March 13, 2018, our board of directors authorized a stock repurchase program for the repurchase of up to $50.0 million of our company’s common stock through March 15, 2019. Under that authorization, we repurchased and retired 1,397,148 shares of common stock at an average price per share (excluding fees and commissions) of $26.41, or $36.9 million in the aggregate, including 694,749 shares of common stock at an average price per share (excluding fees and commissions) of $26.65, or $18.5 million in the aggregate, during the second quarter of 2018, 295,377 shares of common stock at an average price per share (excluding fees and commissions) of $28.39, or $8.4 million in the aggregate, during the fourth quarter of 2018 and 407,022 shares of common stock at an average price per share (excluding fees and commissions) of $24.55, or $10.0 million in the aggregate, during the first quarter of 2019.
On March 12, 2019, our board of directors authorized an extension of our stock repurchase program from March 15, 2019 to March 15, 2020. In extending the repurchase program, our board of directors also reset the repurchase authority to up to $50.0 million. Under the new authorization, we repurchased and retired 1,330,865 shares of common stock at an average price per share, excluding fees and commissions, of $18.55, or $24.7 million in the aggregate, during the third quarter of 2019.
On March 11, 2020, our board of directors authorized an extension of our stock repurchase program from March 15, 2020 to March 15, 2021. In extending the repurchase program, our board of directors also reset the repurchase authority to up to $50.0 million. We did not repurchase any shares of common stock during fiscal 2020. Therefore, as of January 2, 2021, we had $50.0 million available for future repurchases of common stock under the stock repurchase program.
Under the authorization, we may purchase shares of common stock from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.
The timing and amount of future stock repurchases, if any, under the program will be at the discretion of management, and will depend on a variety of factors, including price, available cash, general business and market conditions and other investment opportunities. Therefore, we cannot assure you as to the number or aggregate dollar amount of additional shares, if any, that will be repurchased under the program. We may discontinue the program at any time. Any shares repurchased pursuant to the program will be retired.
See Note 12, “Pension Benefits,” for disclosure relating to shares of our company’s common stock purchased by our defined benefit pension plans.
(12)
Pension Benefits
Company-Sponsored Defined Benefit Pension Plans. As of January 2, 2021, we had four company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans covering approximately 34.9% of our employees. Three of these defined benefit pension plans are for the benefit of certain of our union employees and one is for the benefit of salaried and certain hourly employees. The benefits in the salaried and hourly plan are based on years of service and the employee’s compensation, as defined. Effective January 1, 2020, newly hired salaried and hourly employees are no longer eligible to participate in that defined benefit pension plan.
- 87 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
The following table sets forth our defined benefit pension plans’ benefit obligation, fair value of plan assets and funded status recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. We used January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 measurement dates for fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively, to calculate end of year benefit obligations, fair value of plan assets and annual net periodic benefit cost (in thousands):
January 2,
December 28,
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year
$
175,364
$
138,152
Actuarial loss(1)
19,306
28,038
Service cost
8,622
7,140
Interest cost
5,345
5,734
Benefits paid
(4,395)
(3,700)
Projected benefit obligation at end of year
204,242
175,364
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
139,289
119,706
Actual return on plan assets
23,327
18,284
Employer contributions
11,000
5,000
Benefits paid
(4,395)
(3,701)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
169,221
139,289
Net amount recognized:
Other assets
Other long-term liabilities
(35,608)
(36,609)
Funded status at the end of the year
(35,021)
(36,075)
Amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss consists of:
Prior service cost
-
-
Actuarial loss
(40,308)
(36,430)
Deferred taxes
12,677
11,669
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
$
(27,631)
$
(24,761)
(1) Actuarial loss primarily reflects changes in discount rates.
The accumulated benefit obligations of these plans were $190.6 million and $161.4 million at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively. The following information presents a summary of pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation and a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets (in thousands):
January 2,
December 28,
Accumulated benefit obligation
$
184,278
$
155,794
Fair value of plan assets
162,267
133,191
Projected benefit obligation
197,875
169,800
Fair value of plan assets
$
162,267
$
133,191
The assumptions used in the measurement of our benefit obligation as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 are shown in the following table:
January 2,
December 28,
Discount rate
2.23 - 2.46
%
3.03 - 3.18
%
Rate of compensation increase
3.00
%
3.00
%
Expected long-term rate of return
6.50
%
6.50
%
- 88 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
The discount rate used to determine year-end fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 pension benefit obligations was derived by matching the plans’ expected future cash flows to the corresponding yields from the FTSE Pension Discount Curve (formerly known as the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve). This yield curve has been constructed to represent the available yields on high-quality fixed-income investments across a broad range of future maturities.
The overall expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption is based upon a building-block method, whereby the expected rate of return on each asset class is broken down into the following components: (1) inflation; (2) the real risk-free rate of return (i.e., the long-term estimate of future returns on default-free U.S. government securities); and (3) the risk premium for each asset class (i.e., the expected return in excess of the risk-free rate).
All three components are based primarily on historical data, with modest adjustments to take into account additional relevant information that is currently available. For the inflation and risk-free return components, the most significant additional information is that provided by the market for nominal and inflation-indexed U.S. Treasury securities. That market provides implied forecasts of both the inflation rate and risk-free rate for the period over which currently available securities mature. The historical data on risk premiums for each asset class is adjusted to reflect any systemic changes that have occurred in the relevant markets; e.g., the higher current valuations for equities, as a multiple of earnings, relative to the longer-term average for such valuations.
Net periodic pension cost includes the following components (in thousands):
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2018
Service cost-benefits earned during the period
$
8,622
$
7,140
$
7,710
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
5,345
5,734
5,064
Expected return on plan assets
(9,187)
(7,750)
(8,134)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost
-
-
Amortization of unrecognized loss
1,288
Net periodic pension cost
$
6,068
$
5,985
$
5,338
The following table sets forth the changes in amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively (in thousands):
Changes in amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income:
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2018
Net (loss)/gain
$
(5,167)
$
(17,504)
$
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost
-
-
Amortization of unrecognized loss
1,288
Total recorded in other comprehensive income
$
(3,879)
$
(16,643)
$
1,015
In fiscal 2018, as a result of adopting the ASU issued by the FASB in March 2017, which improved the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit costs, we reclassified net periodic pension cost, excluding service cost, out of selling, general and administrative expenses and into other income on our consolidated statements of operations in the amount of $2.4 million for fiscal 2018. The non-service portion of net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit costs included in other income was $2.6 million and $1.2 million for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, respectively.
Our pension plan assets are managed by outside investment managers; assets are rebalanced at the end of each quarter. Our investment strategy with respect to pension assets is to maximize return while protecting principal. The investment manager has the flexibility to adjust the asset allocation and move funds to the asset class that offers the most opportunity for investment returns.
- 89 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
The asset allocation for our pension plans at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, and the target allocation for fiscal 2020, by asset category, follows:
Percentage of Plan
Assets at Year End
Target
January 2,
December 28,
Asset Category
Allocation
Equity securities
%
%
%
Fixed income securities
%
%
%
Other
-
%
%
%
Total
%
%
%
The general investment objective of each of the pension plans is to grow the plan assets in relation to the plan liabilities while prudently managing the risk of a decrease in the plan’s assets relative to those liabilities. To meet this objective, our management has adopted the above target allocations that it reconsiders from time to time as circumstances change. The actual plan asset allocations may be within a range around these targets. The actual asset allocations are reviewed and rebalanced on a periodic basis.
The fair values of our pension plan assets at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, utilizing the fair value hierarchy discussed in Note 8, “Fair Value Measurements” follow (in thousands):
January 2, 2021
December 28, 2019
Level 1
Levels 2 & 3
Level 1
Levels 2 & 3
Asset Category
Cash
$
6,847
$
-
$
5,487
$
-
Equity securities:
U.S. mutual funds
60,630
-
57,390
-
Foreign mutual funds
15,328
-
13,048
-
U.S. common stocks
33,349
-
19,284
-
Foreign common stocks
1,231
-
1,442
-
Fixed income securities:
U.S. mutual funds
51,836
-
42,638
-
Total fair value of pension plan assets
$
169,221
$
-
$
139,289
$
-
The investment portfolio contains a diversified blend of common stocks, bonds, cash equivalents and other investments, which may reflect varying rates of return. The investments are further diversified within each asset classification. The portfolio diversification provides protection against a single security or class of securities having a disproportionate impact on aggregate performance. Of the $33.3 million of U.S. common stocks in the investment portfolio at January 2, 2021, $11.0 million was invested in B&G Foods’ common stock. Of the $19.3 million of U.S. common stocks in the investment portfolio at December 28, 2019, $7.2 million was invested in B&G Foods’ common stock.
As of January 2, 2021, pension plan benefit payments were expected to be as follows (in thousands):
Pension Plan Benefit Payments
Fiscal year:
$
4,711
5,166
5,552
5,996
6,500
2026 to 2030
$
41,604
- 90 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
We expect to make $5.5 million of contributions to our company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans during fiscal 2021.
We also sponsor defined contribution plans covering substantially all of our employees. Employees may contribute to these plans and these contributions are matched by us at varying amounts. Contributions for the matching component of these plans amounted to $2.8 million, $1.9 million and $1.7 million for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
During the second quarter of 2018, our defined benefit pension plans purchased 227,667 shares of our company’s common stock at an average price per share (excluding fees and commissions) of $28.27, or $6.4 million in the aggregate.
Multi-Employer Defined Benefit Pension Plan. We also contribute to the Bakery and Confectionery Union and Industry International Pension Fund (EIN 52-6118572, Plan No. 001), a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan, sponsored by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) on behalf of certain employees at our Portland, Maine facility. The plan provides multiple plan benefits with corresponding contribution rates that are collectively bargained between participating employers and their affiliated BCTGM local unions.
We were notified that for the plan year beginning January 1, 2012, the plan was in critical status and classified in the Red Zone, and for the plan year beginning January 1, 2018, the plan was in critical and declining status. As of the date of the accompanying audited consolidated financial statements, the plan remains in critical and declining status. The law requires that all contributing employers pay to the plan a surcharge to help correct the plan’s financial situation. The amount of the surcharge is equal to a percentage of the amount an employer is otherwise required to contribute to the plan under the applicable collective bargaining agreement. During the second quarter of 2015, we agreed to a collective bargaining agreement that, among other things, implemented a rehabilitation plan. As a result, our contributions to the plan had been increasing by at least 5.0% per year, assuming consistent hours are worked. Effective December 31, 2020, the annual 5% contribution rate increases have been suspended.
B&G Foods made contributions to the plan of $1.0 million, $0.9 million and $0.8 million in fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In fiscal 2020 we paid less than $0.4 million in surcharges and in each of fiscal 2019 and 2018, we paid less than $0.3 million in surcharges. In fiscal 2021 we expect to make approximately $1.1 million of contributions and we expect to pay surcharges of less than $0.5 million in assuming consistent hours are worked. These contributions represented less than five percent of total contributions made to the plan.
In the event that we withdraw from participation in the plan or substantially reduce our participation in this plan (such as due to a workforce reduction), or if a mass withdrawal were to occur, applicable law could require us to make withdrawal liability payments to the plan, and we would have to reflect that liability on our balance sheet. The amount of our withdrawal liability would depend on the extent of this plan’s funding of vested benefits at the time of our withdrawal. As discussed above, the plan is severely underfunded. Furthermore, our withdrawal liability could increase as the number of employers participating in this plan decreases.
- 91 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
(13)
Leases
Operating Leases. We adopted Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 842 at the beginning of the first quarter of 2019 and recognized an operating right-of-use (ROU) asset of $39.6 million and operating lease liabilities of $42.6 million at inception. As a result of the Crisco acquisition, we recognized $1.6 million of operating lease right-of-use assets and $1.6 million of lease liabilities as of the date of acquisition of December 1, 2020. As a result of the Clabber Girl acquisition, we recognized $7.9 million of operating lease right-of-use assets and $8.3 million of lease liabilities as of the date of acquisition on May 15, 2019. Operating leases are included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet in the following line items as of January 2, 2021:
January 2,
December 28,
Right-of-use assets:
Operating lease right-of-use assets
$
32,216
$
38,698
Operating lease liabilities:
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
$
11,034
$
9,813
Long-term operating lease liabilities, net of current portion
23,959
31,997
Total operating lease liabilities
$
34,993
$
41,810
We determine whether an arrangement is a lease at inception. We have operating leases for certain of our manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, warehouse and storage facilities, machinery and equipment, and office equipment. Our leases have remaining lease terms of one year to seven years, some of which include options to extend the lease term for up to five years, and some of which include options to terminate the lease within one year. We consider these options in determining the lease term used to establish our right-of use assets and lease liabilities.
The following table shows supplemental information related to leases:
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Operating cash flow information:
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities
$
12,420
$
11,670
The components of lease costs were as follows:
Cost of goods sold
$
4,055
$
3,508
Selling, general and administrative expenses
7,904
7,888
Total lease costs
$
11,959
$
11,396
Total rent expense was $14.9 million, including the operating lease costs of $12.0 million stated above, for fiscal 2020. Total rent expense was $13.4 million, including the operating lease costs of $11.4 million stated above, for fiscal 2019. Total rent expense was $13.1 million for fiscal 2018.
Because our operating leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. We have lease agreements that contain both lease and non-lease components. With the exception of our real estate leases, we account for our leases as a single lease component.
The following table shows the weighted average lease term and weighted average discount rate for our ROU assets as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019:
January 2,
December 28,
Weighted average remaining lease term (years)
4.8
5.4
Weighted average discount rate
3.94%
4.07%
- 92 -
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
As of January 2, 2021, the maturities of operating lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):
Maturities of Operating Lease Liabilities
Fiscal year:
$
12,169
6,415
6,146
5,198
4,621
Thereafter
3,939
Total undiscounted future minimum lease payments
38,488
Less: Imputed interest
(3,495)
Total present value of future operating lease liabilities
$
34,993
(14)
Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings. We are from time to time involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings involving product liability claims, product labeling claims, worker’s compensation and other employee claims, and tort and other general liability claims, as well as trademark, copyright, patent infringement and related claims and legal actions. While we cannot predict with certainty the results of these claims and legal actions in which we are currently or in the future may be involved, we do not expect that the ultimate disposition of any currently pending claims or actions will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
Environmental. We are subject to environmental laws and regulations in the normal course of business. We did not make any material expenditures during fiscal 2020, 2019 or 2018 in order to comply with environmental laws and regulations. Based on our experience to date, management believes that the future cost of compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations (and liability for any known environmental conditions) will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity. However, we cannot predict what environmental or health and safety legislation or regulations will be enacted in the future or how existing or future laws or regulations will be enforced, administered or interpreted, nor can we predict the amount of future expenditures that may be required in order to comply with such environmental or health and safety laws or regulations or to respond to such environmental claims.
Collective Bargaining Agreements. As of January 2, 2021, 2,117 of our 3,207 employees, or approximately 66.0%, were covered by collective bargaining agreements.
Two of our collective bargaining agreements expire in the next twelve months. The collective bargaining agreement covering our Stoughton facility, which covers 174 employees, is scheduled to expire on March 27, 2021, and the collective bargaining agreement covering our Terre Haute facility, which covers 109 employees, is also scheduled to expire on March 27, 2021.
While we believe that our relations with our union employees are in general good, we cannot assure you that we will be able to negotiate new collective bargaining agreements for our Stoughton and Terre Haute facilities on terms satisfactory to us, or at all, and without production interruptions, including labor stoppages. At this time, however, management does not expect that the outcome of these negotiations will have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Severance and Change of Control Agreements. We have employment agreements with each of our executive officers, except for our interim president and chief executive officer. The agreements generally continue until terminated by the executive or by us, and provide for severance payments under certain circumstances, including termination by us without cause (as defined in the agreements) or as a result of the employee’s death or disability, or termination by us or a deemed termination upon a change of control (as defined in the agreements). Severance benefits generally include
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
payments for salary continuation, continuation of health care and insurance benefits, present value of additional pension credits and, in certain cases, accelerated vesting under compensation plans. See Note 17, “Workforce Reduction, Retirement and Separation Expenses.”
(15)
Incentive Plans
Annual Bonus Plan. Annually, our board of directors establishes a bonus plan that provides for cash awards to be made to our executive officers and other senior managers upon our company’s attainment of pre-set annual financial objectives and individual performance. Awards are normally paid in cash in a lump sum following the close of each plan year. At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets include an accrual for the annual bonus of $14.8 million and $5.2 million respectively.
Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan. Upon the recommendation of our compensation committee, our board of directors on March 10, 2008 adopted (subject to stockholder approval) the B&G Foods, Inc. 2008 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, which we refer to as the Omnibus Plan. Our stockholders approved the Omnibus Plan at our annual meeting on May 6, 2008. Our stockholders reapproved the material terms of the performance goals in our Omnibus Plan at our annual meeting on May 16, 2013. Upon the recommendation of our compensation committee, our board of directors in March 2017 approved (subject to stockholder approval) the amendment and restatement of the Omnibus Plan, renamed the Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan. Our stockholders approved the amended and restated Omnibus Plan, including the materials terms of the performance goals, at our annual meeting on May 23, 2017.
The Omnibus Plan authorizes the grant of performance share awards, restricted stock, options, stock appreciation rights, deferred stock, stock units and cash-based awards to employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The total number of shares available for issuance under the Omnibus Plan is 4,500,000, of which 1,922,470 were available for future issuance as of January 2, 2021. Some of those shares are subject to outstanding performance share LTIAs and stock options as described in the table below.
Performance Share Awards. Beginning in fiscal 2008, our compensation committee has made annual grants of performance share LTIAs to our executive officers and certain other members of senior management under the Omnibus Plan. The performance share LTIAs entitle the participants to earn shares of common stock upon the attainment of certain performance goals over the applicable performance period. The performance period is typically three years.
Each performance share LTIA has a threshold, target and maximum payout. The awards are settled based upon our performance over the applicable performance period. For the performance share LTIAs granted to date, the applicable performance metric is and has been “excess cash” (as defined in the award agreements). If our performance fails to meet the performance threshold, then the awards will not vest and no shares will be issued pursuant to the awards. If our performance meets or exceeds the performance threshold, then a varying amount of shares from the threshold amount (50% of the target number of shares) up to the maximum amount (200% of the target number of shares) may be earned.
Subject to the performance goal for the applicable performance period being certified in writing by our compensation committee as having been achieved, shares of common stock are issued prior to March 15 following the completion of the performance period.
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
The following table details the activity in our performance share LTIAs for fiscal 2020:
Weighted Average
Number of
Grant Date Fair Value
Performance Shares (1)
(per share)(2)
Beginning of fiscal 2020
661,305
$
22.37
Granted
463,434
$
10.84
Vested
-
$
-
Forfeited
(138,516)
$
32.27
End of fiscal 2020
986,223
$
15.56
(1) Solely for purposes of this table, the number of performance shares is based on the participants earning the maximum number of performance shares (i.e., 200% of the target number of performance shares).
(2) The fair value of the awards was determined based upon the closing price of our common stock on the applicable measurement dates (i.e., the deemed grant dates for accounting purposes) reduced by the present value of expected dividends using the risk-free interest-rate as the award holders are not entitled to dividends or dividend equivalents during the vesting period.
Stock Options.
The following table details our stock option activity for fiscal 2020 (dollars in thousands, except per share data):
Weighted
Weighted Average
Average
Contractual Life
Aggregate
Options
Exercise Price
Remaining (Years)
Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at beginning of fiscal 2020
1,110,212
$
31.20
6.42
-
Granted
22,193
$
24.17
Exercised
(88,291)
$
27.39
Forfeited
(10,293)
$
27.20
Cancelled
(3,154)
$
34.10
Outstanding at end of fiscal 2020
1,030,667
$
31.41
5.50
$
Exercisable at end of fiscal 2020
840,488
$
32.53
5.06
$
The fair value of the options was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model utilizing the following assumptions. Expected volatility was based on both historical and implied volatilities of our common stock over the estimated expected term of the award. The expected term of the options granted represents the period of time that options were expected to be outstanding and is based on the “simplified method” in accordance with accounting guidance. We utilized the simplified method to determine the expected term of the options as we do not have sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate expected term. The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury implied yield at the date of grant. The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model during fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 were as follows:
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Weighted average grant date fair value
$
4.51
$
2.44
Expected volatility
45.4%
31.3%
Expected term
5.5 years
5.5 years
Risk-free interest rate
0.4%
1.9%
Dividend yield
7.9%
8.4%
Non-Employee Director Grants. Each of our non-employee directors receives an annual grant of common stock as part of his or her non-employee director compensation. These shares fully vest when issued. In addition, each of our non-employee directors is given the option to receive all or a portion of his or her annual board service fee in cash or an equivalent amount of stock options. Such stock options are reflected in the information provided above under “Stock Options.”
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
The following table details the net number of shares of common stock issued by our company during fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 upon the vesting of performance share long-term incentive awards and for non-employee director annual equity grants and other share-based compensation:
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2018
Number of performance shares vested
-
102,893
150,255
Shares withheld for tax withholding
-
(36,965)
(57,298)
Shares of common stock issued for performance share LTIAs
-
65,928
92,957
Shares of common stock issued upon the exercise of stock options
88,291
-
1,787
Shares of common stock issued to non-employee directors for annual equity grants
47,292
45,848
35,039
Shares of restricted common stock issued to employees
76,440
32,059
-
Shares of restricted stock cancelled for tax withholding upon vesting
(3,813)
-
-
Net shares of common stock issued
208,210
143,835
129,783
The following table sets forth the compensation expense recognized for share-based payments (performance share LTIAs, stock options, non-employee director stock grants, restricted stock and other share-based payments) during the last three fiscal years and where that expense is reflected in our consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
Consolidated Statements of Operations Location
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2018
Compensation expense included in cost of goods sold
$
2,165
$
$
1,236
Compensation expense included in selling, general and administrative expenses
8,453
2,287
1,789
Total compensation expense for share-based payments
$
10,618
$
2,594
$
3,025
During fiscal 2019, we extended the time period for two non-employee directors to exercise 48,727 vested options under existing option agreements following retirement, disability or death or any other separation from the board other than for cause from the existing 180 days and 90 days to the earlier of three years after the applicable separation date and the then current expiration date of the options. During fiscal 2019, we also extended the time period for 578,149‬ vested options and 31,384 unvested options held by three retired executive officers and one retiring executive officer from the existing 180 days to the earlier of three years after the applicable retirement date and the then current expiration date of the options. In connection with the option extensions, we recognized an additional $0.7 million of pre-tax share-based compensation expense in the second quarter of 2019, and less than $0.1 million of pre-tax share-based compensation expense in the first quarter of 2020, which is reflected in the table above.
As of January 2, 2021, there was $4.7 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to performance share LTIAs, which is expected to be recognized over the next two fiscal years and $0.1 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options, which is expected to be recognized in fiscal 2021.
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
(16)
Net Sales by Brand
The following table sets forth net sales by brand (in thousands):
Fiscal 2020
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2018
Brand(1):
Green Giant - frozen(2)
$
412,132
$
363,240
$
372,696
Spices & Seasonings(3)
261,495
249,374
255,965
Green Giant - shelf stable(4)
175,679
124,706
107,476
Ortega
158,267
140,444
141,265
Clabber Girl(5)
97,508
53,638
-
Maple Grove Farms of Vermont
76,665
70,557
68,048
Cream of Wheat
72,824
59,893
62,520
Dash
72,244
58,781
58,676
Back to Nature
53,391
60,947
69,704
Pirate Brands(6)
-
-
74,853
All other brands(7)
587,704
478,834
489,561
Total
$
1,967,909
$
1,660,414
$
1,700,764
(1) Table includes net sales for each of our brands whose fiscal 2020 or fiscal 2019 net sales equaled or exceeded 3% of our total fiscal 2020 or total fiscal 2019 net sales and for all other brands in the aggregate. Net sales for each brand includes branded net sales and, if applicable, any private label and foodservice net sales attributable to the brand.
(2) For fiscal 2020, includes net sales of the Farmwise brand. We completed the Farmwise acquisition on February 19, 2020.
(3) Includes net sales for multiple brands acquired as part of the spices & seasonings acquisition that we completed on November 21, 2016. Does not include net sales for Dash and our other legacy spices & seasonings brands.
(4) Does not include net sales of the Le Sueur brand. Net sales of the Le Sueur brand are included below in “All other brands.”
(5) Includes net sales for multiple brands acquired as part of the Clabber Girl acquisition that we completed on May 15, 2019, including, among others, the Clabber Girl, Rumford, Davis, Hearth Club and Royal brands of retail baking powder, baking soda and corn starch, and the Royal brand of foodservice dessert mixes. See Note 3, “Acquisitions and Divestitures.”
(6) We completed the Pirate Brands sale on October 17, 2018. See Note 3, “Acquisitions and Divestitures.”
(7) For fiscal 2020, net sales of the Crisco brand are included in “all other brands.” The Crisco acquisition was completed on December 1, 2020. See Note 3, “Acquisitions and Divestitures.”
(17)
Workforce Reduction, Retirement and Separation Expenses
Workforce Reduction Expenses. During fiscal 2019, we implemented a reduction in workforce. During fiscal 2019, we recorded charges of approximately $2.4 million related to the workforce reduction. Substantially all of these charges have resulted or will result in cash payments, of which approximately $1.5 million were made during fiscal 2019 and approximately $0.8 million were made during fiscal 2020. Approximately $0.1 million of cash payments will be made during fiscal 2021.
Retirement Expenses. We entered into retirement agreements with two of our former executive vice presidents during the first quarter of 2019. The retirement and other benefits payable under the agreements are included in the estimated charges set forth above.
Separation of Former President and Chief Executive Officer. During the fourth quarter of 2020, we recorded separation costs of $4.2 million for severance and other benefits payable pursuant to the terms of a separation agreement entered into in November 2020 with our former president and chief executive officer. Of this amount, approximately $1.7 million will result in cash payments, most of which will be paid in fiscal 2021. The remaining $2.5 million of separation costs relate to share-based compensation expense for shares that have vested in fiscal 2021 or may vest at the end of fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2022 if certain company performance goals are achieved.
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B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
(18)
Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)
The following table shows a summary of our quarterly financial information for each of the four quarters of 2020 and 2019:
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Quarter
Quarter
Quarter
Quarter
(In thousands, expect per share data)
Net sales
$
449,370
$
512,539
$
495,759
$
510,241
$
412,734
$
371,197
$
406,311
$
470,172
Gross profit
$
104,916
$
134,101
$
136,026
$
106,697
$
88,079
$
91,867
$
108,781
$
94,397
Net income
$
28,092
$
44,911
$
46,813
$
12,172
$
16,791
$
18,251
$
31,088
$
10,259
Basic earnings per share(1)
$
0.44
$
0.70
$
0.73
$
0.19
$
0.26
$
0.28
$
0.48
$
0.16
Diluted earnings per share(1)
$
0.44
$
0.70
$
0.72
$
0.19
$
0.26
$
0.28
$
0.48
$
0.16
Cash dividends declared per share
$
0.475
$
0.475
$
0.475
$
0.475
$
0.475
$
0.475
$
0.475
$
0.475
(1) Earnings per share were computed individually for each of the quarters presented using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each quarterly period, while earnings per share for the full year were computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the full year; therefore, the sum of the earnings per share amounts for the quarters may not equal the total for the full year.
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Schedule II
B&G FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(In thousands)
Column A
Column B
Column C
Column D
Column E
Additions
Balance at
Charged to
Charged to
beginning of
costs and
other accounts-
Deductions-
Balance at
Description
year
expenses
describe
describe
end of year
Fiscal year ended December 29, 2018:
Allowance for doubtful accounts and discounts
$
1,824
$
-
$
(a)
$
1,851
Fiscal year ended December 28, 2019:
Allowance for doubtful accounts and discounts
$
1,851
$
-
$
(a)
$
1,794
Fiscal year ended January 2, 2021:
Allowance for doubtful accounts and discounts
$
1,794
$
-
$
(a)
$
1,739
(a) Represents bad-debt write-offs.
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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreement with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.

---

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, our management, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. As defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that we use that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our management, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, conducted an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
Based on our evaluation under the framework of Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013), our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective at January 2, 2021. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021 was audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report.
Our internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation and may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
We completed the Crisco acquisition on December 1, 2020 and we have excluded the Crisco business from our evaluation of internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021 because we acquired the business during 2020. The total assets and total net sales of the Crisco business represent approximately 14.4% and 1.4%, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for fiscal 2020.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
As required by Rule 13a-15(d) under the Exchange Act, our management, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, also conducted an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any change in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the last quarter of fiscal 2020 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer concluded that there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the last quarter of fiscal 2020 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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We transitioned the spices & seasonings business that we acquired in late 2016 to a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system during the third quarter of 2017. Implementation, integration and transition efforts for the remainder of our business (other than our Mexican operations) continued thereafter and was substantially completed during the second quarter of 2019. We continued to implement additional modules and transition recently acquired businesses to the ERP system during fiscal 2020. In connection with the implementation, integration and transition, and resulting business process changes, we continue to review and enhance the design and documentation of our internal control over financial reporting processes to maintain effective controls over our financial reporting following the completion of the implementation, integration and transition. To date, the implementation, integration and transition have not materially affected our internal control over financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls.
Our company’s management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

---

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
PART III

---

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
With the exception of the information relating to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that is presented in Part I, Item 1 of this report under the heading “Available Information,” the information required by this Item will appear in the sections entitled “Corporate Governance,” “Proposal 1-Election of Directors,” “Our Management” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” included in our definitive proxy statement to be filed on or before May 3, 2021, relating to the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The information required by this item will appear in the section entitled “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Report of the Compensation Committee” included in our definitive proxy statement to be filed on or before May 3, 2021, relating to the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans. The following table summarizes information, as of January 2, 2021, relating to the Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, which was approved by our stockholders and under which restricted stock, options, stock appreciation rights, deferred stock, stock units and cash-based awards to employees, non-employee directors and consultants may be granted from time to time.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
Number of securities to
Weighted-average
equity compensation
be issued upon exercise
exercise price of
plans (excluding
of outstanding options,
outstanding options,
securities reflected in
warrants and rights
warrants and rights
column (a))
Plan Category
(a)
(b)
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
2,016,890
(1)
$
31.41
(2)
(94,420)
(1)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
-
-
-
Total
2,016,890
(1)
$
31.41
(2)
(94,420)
(1)
(1) Includes 1,030,667 stock options and 986,223 performance share LTIAs (for the 2018 to 2020, 2019 to 2021 and 2020 to 2022 performance periods) outstanding as of January 2, 2021, under the Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan. For purposes of this table, performance share LTIAs include the maximum number of shares (i.e., 200% of the target number of shares) of common stock that, as of January 2, 2021, may be issued under the Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan in respect of the performance share LTIAs, subject to the achievement of specified performance goals. There is, however, no guarantee that all or any part of these performance-based awards will actually be earned and that shares of common stock will be issued upon completion of the performance cycles. In addition, if performance goals are achieved for the performance share LTIAs, plan participants are required to have shares withheld by our company to satisfy tax withholding requirements. Shares not issued due to withholding and shares not issued due to failure to satisfy performance goals do not count against the maximum number of remaining authorized shares under the plan. As a result, columns (a) and (c) overstate the expected dilution.
(2) Reflects the weighted average exercise price of 1,030,667 stock options outstanding as of January 2, 2021 under the Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan. The 986,223 performance share LTIAs do not have an exercise price and are not included in calculation of the weighted average exercise price set forth in column (b).
The remaining information required by this item will appear in the section entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” included in our definitive proxy statement to be filed on or before May 3, 2021 relating to the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required by this item will appear in the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Corporate Governance” included in our definitive proxy statement to be filed on or before May 3, 2021, relating to the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
The information required by this item will appear in the section entitled “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees” included in our definitive proxy statement to be filed on or before May 3, 2021, relating to the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
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PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(1) Consolidated Financial Statements: The following consolidated financial statements are included in Part II, Item 8 of this report:
Page
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2) Financial Statement Schedule. The following financial statement schedule is included in Part II, Item 8 of this report:
Schedule II-Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(3) Exhibits
- 103 -
EXHIBIT
NO.
DESCRIPTION
2.1
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2020, among The J. M. Smucker Company, B&G Foods North America, Inc., and B&G Foods Canada, ULC (Filed as Exhibit 2.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 27, 2020, and incorporated by reference herein)
3.1
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 13, 2010, and incorporated by reference herein)
3.2
Bylaws of B&G Foods, Inc., as amended and restated through February 27, 2013 (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 4, 2013, and incorporated by reference herein)
4.1
Description of the securities of B&G Foods, Inc. registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to B&G Foods’ Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 26, 2020, and incorporated by reference herein)
4.2
Form of stock certificate for common stock (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 13, 2010, and incorporated by reference herein)
4.3
Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2013, between B&G Foods, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 4, 2013, and incorporated by reference herein)
4.4
Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 3, 2017, among B&G Foods, Inc., the Guarantors (as defined therein), and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, relating to the 5.25% senior notes due 2025 (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 4, 2017, and incorporated by reference herein)
4.5
Form of 5.25% Senior Note due 2025 (Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein)
4.6
Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2019, among B&G Foods, Inc., the Guarantors (as defined therein), and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, relating to the 5.25% senior notes due 2027 (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein)
4.7
Form of 5.25% Senior Note due 2027 (Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.1
Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement and First Amendment to Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2020, to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2015, as amended, and the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of June 5, 2014, among B&G Foods, Inc., as borrower, the subsidiaries of B&G Foods, Inc. from time to time party thereto as guarantors, the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time party thereto as lenders and Barclays Bank PLC, as administrative agent for the lenders and as collateral agent for the secured parties (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 16, 2020, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.2
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of June 5, 2014, among B&G Foods, Inc., B&G Foods North America, Inc., B&G Foods Snacks, Inc., BCCK Holdings, Inc., Bear Creek Country Kitchens, LLC, Pirate Brands, LLC, Rickland Orchards LLC, Specialty Brands of America, Inc. and William Underwood Company, and each other subsidiary of B&G Foods, Inc. party thereto from time to time, and Credit Suisse AG, as collateral agent (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 9, 2014, and incorporated by reference herein)
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EXHIBIT
NO.
DESCRIPTION
10.3
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Scott E. Lerner and B&G Foods, Inc., dated as of December 31, 2008 (Filed as Exhibit 10.5 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 6, 2009, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.4
First Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated March 10, 2020, between B&G Foods, Inc. and Scott E. Lerner (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 11, 2020, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.5
Employment Agreement, dated as of January 4, 2016, between Eric H. Hart and B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 10.9 to B&G Foods’ Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 2, 2016, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.6
Employment Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2017, between Bruce C. Wacha and B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to B&G Foods Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 3, 2017, and incorporated herein by reference)
10.7
First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated as of November 6, 2017, between, Bruce C. Wacha and B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 7, 2017, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.8
Offer Letter, dated as of October 19, 2018, between Michael D. Adasczik and B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 16, 2018, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.9
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2019, between Kenneth G. Romanzi and B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 29, 2019 and amended on March 1, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.10
Separation Agreement and General Release, dated as of November 15, 2020, between Kenneth G. Romanzi and B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 16, 2020, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.11
Consulting Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2019, between Robert C. Cantwell and B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 1, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.12
Employment Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2019, between Erich A. Fritz and B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 1, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.13
Employment Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2019, between Jordan E. Greenberg and B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 1, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.14
Employment Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2019, between Ellen M. Schum and B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 10.4 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 1, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.15
Retirement Agreement and General Release, dated as of March 18, 2019, between William F. Herbes and B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 18, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein)
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EXHIBIT
NO.
DESCRIPTION
10.16
Offer Letter, dated as of November 15, 2020, between David L. Wenner and B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 16, 2020, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.17
B&G Foods, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated on May 23, 2017 (Filed as Annex A to B&G Foods’ Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on April 6, 2017, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.18
Form of B&G Foods, Inc. Performance Share Long-Term Incentive Award Agreement (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to B&G Foods’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 7, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.19
Form of B&G Foods, Inc. Stock Option Agreement (Non-Qualified Stock Option) (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to B&G Foods’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 7, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.20
Form of B&G Foods, Inc. Non-Employee Director Stock Option Agreement (Non-Qualified Stock Option) (Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to B&G Foods’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 7, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein)
10.21
Form of B&G Foods, Inc. Restricted Stock Award Agreement (Filed as Exhibit 10.4 to B&G Foods’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 7, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein)
21.1
Subsidiaries of B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 21.1 to B&G Foods’ Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 26, 2020, and incorporated by reference herein)
23.1
Consent of KPMG LLP
31.1
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the Chief Executive Officer
31.2
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the Chief Financial Officer
32.1
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
The following financial information from B&G Foods’ Annual Report for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021, formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and (vii) document and entity information
The cover page from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 2, 2021, formatted in iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101