XML 33 R15.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.20.4
Equity Method Investments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
Equity Method Investments
Note 7. Equity Method Investments

Equity method investments consist of our investments in entities in which we maintain an equity ownership interest and apply the equity method of accounting due to our ability to exert significant influence over decisions relating to their operating and financial affairs. Revenue and expenses of our equity method investees are not consolidated into our financial statements; rather, our proportionate share of the earnings of each investee is reflected as equity method investment net earnings. The carrying values of our equity method investments are also impacted by our proportionate share of items impacting the investee's accumulated other comprehensive income or losses and other items, such as our share of investee dividends.

Our equity method investments include, but are not limited to, our ownership interests in JDE Peet's (Euronext Amsterdam: "JDEP"), Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NASDAQ: "KDP"), Dong Suh Foods Corporation and Dong Suh Oil & Fats Co. Ltd. As of December 31, 2020, we owned 22.9%, 8.4%, 50.0% and 49.0%, respectively, of these companies' outstanding shares.

Our investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting totaled $6,036 million as of December 31, 2020 and $7,178 million as of December 31, 2019. We recorded equity earnings and cash dividends of $421 million and $246 million in 2020, equity earnings and cash dividends of $501 million and $250 million in 2019 and equity earnings and cash dividends of $484 million and $180 million in 2018.

Based on the quoted closing prices as of December 31, 2020, the combined fair value of our publicly-traded investments in JDEP and KDP was $8.9 billion, and for each investment, its fair value exceeded its carrying value.

JDE / Keurig Exchange:
On March 7, 2016, we exchanged a portion of our 43.5% JDE equity interest for a new equity interest in Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. ("Keurig"). Following the transaction, our JDE equity interest became 26.5% and our new Keurig equity interest was 24.2%. During 2016, we recorded the difference between the $2.0 billion fair value of Keurig and our basis in the exchanged JDE shares as a gain of $43 million. During 2019, we determined an adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive losses related to our JDE investment was required, which reduced our previously reported gain by $29 million. We recorded the adjustment as a loss on equity method transactions.

Keurig Dr Pepper Transactions:
On July 9, 2018, Keurig closed on its definitive merger agreement with Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., and formed KDP, a publicly traded company. Following the close of the transaction, our 24.2% investment in Keurig together with our shareholder loan receivable became a 13.8% investment in KDP. During 2018, we recorded a net pre-tax gain of $778 million (or $586 million after-tax). In connection with this transaction, we changed our accounting principle during the third quarter of 2018 to reflect our share of Keurig's historical and KDP's ongoing earnings on a one-quarter lag basis while we continue to record dividends when cash is received. We determined a lag was preferable as it enables us to continue to report our quarterly and annual results on a timely basis and to record our share of KDP’s ongoing results once KDP has publicly reported its results. The change was retrospectively applied to all prior periods presented.

During 2019, we recognized a pre-tax gain of $23 million (or $18 million after-tax) related to the impact of a KDP acquisition that decreased our ownership interest from 13.8% to 13.6%.

On March 4, 2020, we participated in a secondary offering of KDP shares and sold approximately 6.8 million shares, which reduced our ownership interest by 0.5% to 13.1% of the total outstanding shares. We received $185 million of proceeds and recorded a pre-tax gain of $71 million (or $54 million after-tax) during the first quarter of 2020.

On August 3, 2020, we sold approximately 14.1 million shares of KDP, which reduced our ownership interest by 1.0% to 12.1% of the total outstanding shares. We received $414 million of proceeds and recorded a pre-tax gain of $181 million (or $139 million after-tax) during the third quarter of 2020.

On September 9, 2020, we sold approximately 12.5 million shares of KDP, which reduced our ownership interest by 0.9% to 11.2% of the total outstanding shares. We received $363 million of proceeds and recorded a pre-tax gain of $154 million (or $119 million after-tax) during the third quarter of 2020.

On November 17, 2020, we participated in a secondary offering of KDP shares and sold approximately 40.0 million shares, which reduced our ownership interest by 2.8% to 8.4% of the total outstanding shares. We received
$1,132 million of proceeds and recorded a pre-tax gain of $459 million (or $350 million after-tax) during the fourth quarter of 2020.

We hold two director positions on the KDP board as well as additional governance rights. As we continue to have significant influence, we continue to account for our investment in KDP under the equity method, resulting in recognizing our share of their earnings within our earnings and our share of their dividends within our cash flows.

JDE Peet’s Transaction:
In May 2020, JDE Peet’s B.V. (renamed JDE Peet’s N.V. immediately prior to Settlement (as defined below), “JDE Peet’s”) consummated the offering, listing and trading of its ordinary shares on Euronext Amsterdam, a regulated market operated by Euronext Amsterdam N.V. (the “admission”). In connection with this transaction, JDE Peet’s and the selling shareholders, including us, agreed to sell at a price of €31.50 per ordinary share a total of approximately 82.1 million ordinary shares, including ordinary shares subject to an over-allotment option. The ordinary shares were listed and first traded on May 29, 2020, and payment for, and delivery of, the ordinary shares sold in the offering (excluding ordinary shares subject to the over-allotment option) took place on June 2, 2020 (“Settlement”).

Prior to Settlement, we exchanged our 26.4% ownership interest in JDE for a 26.5% equity interest in JDE Peet’s. We did not invest new capital in connection with the transaction and the exchange was accounted for as a change in interest transaction. Upon Settlement, we sold approximately 9.7 million of our ordinary shares in JDE Peet’s in the offering for gross proceeds of €304 million ($343 million). We subsequently sold approximately 1.4 million additional shares and received gross proceeds of €46 million ($51 million) upon exercise of the over-allotment option. Following Settlement and the exercise of the over-allotment option, we held a 22.9% equity interest in JDE Peet’s. During the second quarter of 2020, we recorded a preliminary gain of $121 million, net of $33 million released from accumulated other comprehensive losses, and $48 million of transaction costs. During the third quarter of 2020, we increased our preliminary gain by $10 million to $131 million.

As was the case in our ownership interest in JDE, we have significant influence with respect to JDE Peet’s, and we will continue to account for our investment in JDE Peet’s under the equity method, resulting in recognizing our share of JDE Peet’s earnings within our earnings and our share of JDE Peet’s dividends within our cash flows. In the second quarter of 2020, in connection with this transaction, we changed our accounting principle to reflect our share of JDE’s historical and JDE Peet’s ongoing earnings on a one-quarter lag basis, although we continue to record dividends when cash is received. We determined a lag was preferable as it enables us to continue to report our quarterly and annual results on a timely basis, while recording our share of JDE Peet’s ongoing results after JDE Peet’s has publicly reported its results. This change in accounting principle was applied retrospectively to all periods.

The following tables show the primary line items on the consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive earnings and the consolidated balance sheet that changed as a result of the reporting lag for JDE Peet's. The consolidated statements of cash flow and equity were also updated to reflect these changes.
For the Years Ended
December 31, 2019December 31, 2018
As ReportedAs RecastAs ReportedAs Recast
(in millions, except per share data)
Statements of Earnings
Equity method investment net earnings$442 $501 $548 $484 
Net earnings3,885 3,944 3,395 3,331 
Net earnings attributable to
Mondelēz International
3,870 3,929 3,381 3,317 
Earnings per share attributable to
Mondelēz International:
Basic EPS$2.68 $2.72 $2.30 $2.25 
Diluted EPS$2.65 $2.69 $2.28 $2.23 
Statements of Other Comprehensive Earnings
Currency translation adjustment$299 $300 $(865)$(910)
Pension and other benefit plans116 133 284 331 
Derivative cash flow hedges(45)(45)(54)(54)
Total other comprehensive earnings/(losses)370 388 (635)(633)
Comprehensive earnings/(losses) attributable to
Mondelēz International
4,242 4,319 2,748 2,686 

As of December 31, 2019
As ReportedAs Recast
(in millions)
Balance Sheet
   Equity method investments$7,212 $7,178 
   Total assets64,549 64,515 
   Retained earnings26,653 26,615 
   Accumulated other comprehensive losses(10,258)(10,254)
   Total Mondelēz International shareholders' equity27,275 27,241 
   Total equity27,351 27,317 
Summary Financial Information for Equity Method Investments:
Summarized financial information related to our equity method investments is reflected below. The tables below reflect the adjustments noted above for the JDE and JDEP one-quarter lag.
 As of December 31,
 20202019
 (in millions)
Current assets$5,922 $5,523 
Noncurrent assets72,941 69,587 
Total assets$78,863 $75,110 
Current liabilities$11,784 $9,823 
Noncurrent liabilities27,752 28,193 
Total liabilities$39,536 $38,016 
Equity attributable to shareowners of investees$39,161 $37,058 
Equity attributable to noncontrolling interests166 36 
Total net equity of investees$39,327 $37,094 
Mondelēz International ownership interests
8-50%
13-50%
Equity method investments (1)
$6,036 $7,178 
 
 For the Years Ended December 31,
 202020192018
 (in millions)
Net revenues$20,112 $19,361 $14,419 
Gross profit9,856 9,781 5,989 
Income from continuing operations2,078 2,216 1,753 
Net income2,078 2,216 1,753 
Net income attributable to investees$2,070 $2,206 $1,742 
Mondelēz International ownership interests
8-50%
13-50%
13-50%
Mondelēz International share of investee net income$421 $501 $472 
Keurig shareholder loan interest income— — 12 
Equity method investment net earnings$421 $501 $484 

(1)Includes a basis difference of approximately $519 million as of December 31, 2020 and $333 million as of December 31, 2019 between the U.S. GAAP accounting basis for our equity method investments and the U.S. GAAP accounting basis of our investees’ equity.