CCU Compania Cervecerias Unidas SA

CCU REPORTS CONSOLIDATED FOURTH QUARTER 2017 RESULTS ^{1 ;2}

Santiago, Chile, February 28, 2018 – CCU announced today its consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017:

·           Consolidated Volumes increased 2.5%. The volume growth per Operating segment was as follows:

o    Chile (2.1)%

o    International business 15.2%

o    Wine 3.5%

·           Net sales increased 6.3% as a result of the 2.5% volume increase, and 3.7% increase in average prices in CLP terms.

·           EBITDA increased 11.5%, with the growth per Operating segment as follows:

o    Chile 13.1%

o    International Business 33.5%

o    Wine (45.6)%

·           Net income reached a level of CLP 55,443 million.

·           Earnings per share reached a level of CLP 150.0 per share.

We are pleased to present strong performance for the fourth quarter of 2017, showing an EBITDA of CLP 117,562 million, representing an 11.5% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Our top-line increased 6.3%, as a result of 2.5% consolidated volume growth and 3.7% higher prices, in CLP terms. The consolidated Gross Margin improved 52 bps from 53.8% to 54.3%, due to our revenue management efforts and manufacturing costs efficiencies, which were partially offset by the higher cost of wine, and by the unfavorable exchange rate effect due to the devaluation of the ARS against the USD. All-in, our EBITDA margin improved 109 bps, from 22.0% to 23.0%. This ends 2017 with a consolidated volume of 26.0 million hectoliters, together with an EBITDA of CLP 327,094 million, representing growth of 15.1%, and an EBITDA margin improvement of 103 bps, from 18.2% to 19.3%. Net Income reached CLP 129,607 million, an increase of 9.4% compared to last year.

In the Chile Operating segment our top-line grew 3.4%, driven by the 5.7% higher average prices, which offset the 2.1% decrease in volumes. This volume decrease is the result of high comps with a slight decrease in market share in the non-alcoholic category. Our Gross Margin improved 268 bps due to strong revenue management efforts, along with the 4.9% appreciation of the CLP against the USD, reducing our USD denominated cost base, and additional efficiencies in production. All-in, we experienced an EBITDA growth of 13.1%, and an EBITDA margin improvement of 232 bps, from 25.0% to 27.3%.

In the International Business Operating segment, which consists of the operations in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, we reported top-line growth of 17.8%, driven by 15.2% higher volumes. Volume growth was driven mainly by growth of the beer industry in Argentina, while maintaining a stable market share compared to the previous quarter. Our Gross Margin was relatively stable at 59.6%, following our revenue management efforts, together with efficiencies and volume growth scale effects on fixed manufacturing costs, offset by the 13.3% devaluation of the ARS against the USD. Further efficiency gains have enabled us to achieve 237 bps improvement in our MSD&A as a percentage of Net sales. All-in, our EBITDA improved from CLP 23,635 million to CLP 31,562 million with an EBITDA margin improvement of 239 bps from 17.9% to 20.3%.

The Wine Operating segment reported a top-line decrease of 1.6%, as the 3.5% higher volumes were offset by 5.0% lower average prices, in CLP terms, due to the 4.9% appreciation of the CLP against the USD, affecting our export revenues. The lower average prices, together with the 7.6% higher cost of sales per hectoliter, following two consecutive weak harvests leading to a higher cost of wine, have resulted in a 756 bps Gross Margin contraction. All-in, our EBITDA decreased 45.6%, an EBITDA margin contraction of 891 bps. CCU has demonstrated its long-term commitment to the wine business by increasing its stake in Viña San Pedro Tarapacá S.A. through a tender offer, which was finalized by the end of January 2018 and allowed us to increase our stake from 67.22% to 83.01%.

In Colombia, where we operate through our Joint Venture with Postobón, we are planning to have our 3 million hectoliter plant ready for production during 2018. With the opening of the plant we will launch a mainstream beer brand and a malt-based beverage for the Colombian market, which will complement the current portfolio of imported premium brands that have reached a volume of 0.4 million hectoliters in 2017.

The excellent results of the full year 2017 demonstrate our ability to realize profitable growth under difficult macroeconomic conditions and an intense competitive environment, where we were able to increase our market share in all our Operating segments. We will build on this positive momentum to face upcoming challenges and opportunities in our different markets, focusing on brands preference along with additional revenue management and efficiencies efforts, in order to secure a sustainable long-term growth path.

·           Net sales increased 6.3% as a result of 2.5% higher volumes and 3.7% higher average prices in CLP terms. The volume growth was driven by the International Business and the Wine Operating segments, partially offset by a decrease in volumes in the Chile Operating segment. The 3.7% higher average prices in CLP terms was driven by revenue management activities in all Operating segments, partially offset by the negative impact of the appreciation of the CLP in the wine export business, while our export prices in USD increased 0.4%.

·           Cost of sales increased 5.1%, mostly caused by the 2.5% increase in volume, and a 2.5% increase in the Cost of sales per hectoliter. The Chile Operating segment showed a decrease of 0.3% in Cost of sales per hectoliter, due to the 4.9% appreciation of the CLP against the USD, manufacturing cost efficiencies, and lower cost of sugar, partially offset by higher cost of aluminum and fruit pulp. In the International Business Operating segment, the Cost of sales per hectoliter increased 2.8% due to the 13.3% devaluation of the ARS against the USD, affecting our USD denominated cost base, partially offset by efficiencies and scale effects on fixed manufacturing costs. In the Wine Operating segment, the increase of 7.6% in Cost of sales per hectoliter was due to the CLP 2,710 million higher cost of wine, following two consecutive weak harvests in Chile, and also weak international harvests in 2017.

·           Gross profit increased 7.3%, resulting in an improvement of our Gross margin of 52 bps.

·           MSD&A increased 6.4%, while MSD&A as a percentage of Net sales remained flat. In the Chile Operating segment our MSD&A as a percentage of Net sales increased 91 bps due to phasing of marketing expenses. In the International Business Operating segment scale benefits due to our strong volume growth and efficiencies have enabled us to achieve a 237 bps decrease in our MSD&A as a percentage of Net sales, despite high inflation levels in Argentina. In the Wine Operating segment our MSD&A as a percentage of Net sales increased 116 bps, due to increased marketing expenses in our export markets and phasing of marketing expenses in the domestic market. In absolute terms our MSD&A increased 6.4% mostly due to the 2.5% growth in volume, and also by inflation in Argentina.

·           EBIT increased 10.8%, as a result of the strong Gross profit increase.

·           EBITDA increased 11.5%, where the main drivers were the International Business and Chile Operating segments with an increase of 33.5% and 13.1%, respectively, partially offset by the 45.6% decrease in EBITDA of the Wine Operating segment. Our consolidated EBITDA margin improved 109 bps from 22.0% to 23.0%.

·           Non-operating result reached a level of a loss of CLP 8,176 million versus a loss of CLP 868 million last year, as a result of higher Net financial expenses, higher Foreign currency exchange rate differences due to the devaluation of the ARS versus the USD, and a loss on our forward contracts entered into in order to reduce the impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on taxes on our foreign currency denominated assets when compared to last year, as reported as part of Other gains/(losses).

·           Income tax increased 16.2% mostly due to the higher taxable income and the increase of the First Category Income tax rate in Chile from 24.0% to 25.5%. This was partially offset by the positive impact on taxes resulting from our foreign currency denominated assets.

·           Net income remained stable at CLP 55,443 million, as the higher taxable income and lower minority interest due to the lower results in our Wine Operating segment, partially offset by higher income taxes.

·           Net sales increased 8.9% as a result of 5.0% higher volumes, driven by volume growth in all Operating segments, together with 3.8% higher average prices in CLP terms.

·           Cost of sales increased 7.7%, caused by the 5.0% increase in volume, and an increase of 2.6% in the Cost of sales per hectoliter in CLP terms. The Chile Operating segment showed an increase of 1.4% in Cost of sales per hectoliter, as the 4.1% appreciation of the CLP against the USD was offset by higher raw material costs of aluminum and fruit pulp. In the International Business Operating segment, the Cost of sales per hectoliter increased 3.4% due to the 12.2% devaluation of the ARS against the USD and increased cost in several raw materials such as aluminum, partially offset by efficiencies and scale effects on fixed manufacturing costs. In the Wine Operating segment, the increase of 8.4% in Cost of sales per hectoliter was due to the CLP 10,819 million higher cost of wine, following two consecutive weak harvests in Chile, and also weak international harvests in 2017.

·           Gross profit increased 10.1%, resulting in an improvement of our Gross margin of 56 bps.

·           MSD&A increased 7.9%, however MSD&A as a percentage of Net sales decreased 36 bps, from 39.7% to 39.4%. In the Chile Operating segment our MSD&A as a percentage of Net sales decreased 85 bps from 37.4% to 36.6%, as a result of the initiatives related to the ExCCelencia CCU program, in particular planning and logistics. In the International Business Operating segment scale benefits and efficiencies have enabled us to achieve a 277 bps decrease in our MSD&A as a percentage of Net sales, from 51.7% to 49.0%, despite high levels of inflation. In the Wine Operating segment our MSD&A as a percentage of Net sales slightly increased 56 bps, from 25.8% to 26.4%.

·           EBIT increased 17.1%, as a result of the strong Gross profit increase.

·           EBITDA increased 15.1%, where the main drivers of the increase were the International Business and Chile Operating segments with an increase of 85.8% and 14.5%, respectively, partially offset by the 27.7% decrease in EBITDA of the Wine Operating segment. Our EBITDA margin increased from 18.2% to 19.3%, a margin improvement of 103 bps.

·           Non-operating result reached a level of a loss of CLP 38,420 million versus a loss of CLP 30,323 million last year, mostly due higher Net financial expenses, higher Foreign currency exchange rate differences, due to the devaluation of the ARS versus the USD, and lower Joint venture and associated results. This was partially compensated by the smaller loss on our forward contracts entered into in order to reduce the impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on taxes on our foreign currency denominated assets when compared to last year, as reported as part of Other gains/(losses). In addition, we experienced lower negative results as per adjustment units for our UF denominated debt, following the lower inflation compared to last year, resulting in lower UF variation.

·           Income tax increased 59.9% mostly due to the higher consolidated taxable income and due to the increase of the First Category Income tax rate in Chile from 24.0% to 25.5%. Next to that, we also experienced a smaller monetary correction (price-level restatements) of the tax equity due to adjustments for inflation in Chile, as the inflation level is lower compared to last year.

·           Net income increased 9.4%, due to the higher taxable income, and lower minority interest due to the lower results in our Wine Operating segment, partially offset by higher income taxes.

In the Chile Operating segment our top-line grew 3.4%, driven by the 5.7% higher average prices, which offset the 2.1% decrease in volumes. This volume decrease is the result of high comps with a slight decrease in market share in the non-alcoholic category. Our Gross Margin improved 268 bps due to strong revenue management efforts, along with the 4.9% appreciation of the CLP against the USD, reducing our USD denominated cost base, and additional efficiencies in production. All-in, we experienced an EBITDA growth of 13.1%, and an EBITDA margin improvement of 232 bps, from 25.0% to 27.3%.

We have made important progress regarding our Environmental Vision 2020, where we aim to reduce in a decade (2010-2020) our water consumption by 33%, our carbon footprint by 20%, and reach a valorization of industrial waste of 100%; by December 2017, we have reduced our water consumption by 39.8%, our carbon footprint by 21.9%, and reached a valorization of industrial waste of 97.6%. This quarter, recognizing the reduction of our carbon footprint and our positive indicators of environmental performance, Pacto Global Chile has selected CCU as the company with best environmental practices. Also this quarter, CCU has entered the “Agreement regarding Clean Production”, where CCU, together with 24 other companies, cooperates with the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and other governmental bodies to reach the goal of sending no waste to landfill, by reducing the generation and searching for alternatives for the valorization of waste.

In the International Business Operating segment, which consists of the operations in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, we reported top-line growth of 17.8%, driven by 15.2% higher volumes. Volume growth was driven mainly by growth of the beer industry in Argentina, while maintaining a stable market share. Our Gross Margin was relatively stable at 59.6%, following our revenue management efforts, together with efficiencies and volume growth scale effects on fixed manufacturing costs, offset by the 13.3% devaluation of the ARS against the USD. Further efficiency gains have enabled us to achieve a 237 bps improvement in our MSD&A as a percentage of Net sales. All-in, our EBITDA improved from CLP 23,635 million to CLP 31,562 million with an EBITDA margin improvement of 239 bps from 17.9% to 20.3%.

In Argentina a Tax Reform was approved by the Congress, which, amongst other measures, increases the excise tax on several beverages, including beer from 8% to 14% on the producer price, and also gradually reduces, for the reporting year 2018, the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 25% (30% for the year 2018 and 2019, and 25% as of the year 2020). Additionally, on earnings distributed as dividends a retention will apply that will gradually increase from 0% to 13% (7% for the year 2018 and 2019, and 13% as the year 2020), applicable as of the reporting results 2018.

The Wine Operating segment reported a top-line decrease of 1.6%, as the 3.5% higher volumes were offset by 5.0% lower average prices, in CLP terms, due to the 4.9% appreciation of the CLP against the USD, affecting our export revenues. The lower average prices, together with the 7.6% higher cost of sales per hectoliter, following two consecutive weak harvests leading to a higher cost of wine, have resulted in a 756 bps Gross Margin contraction. All-in, our EBITDA decreased 45.6%, an EBITDA margin contraction of 891 bps. CCU has demonstrated its long-term commitment to the wine business by increasing its participation in Viña San Pedro Tarapacá S.A. through a tender offer, which was completed by the end of January 2018 and allowed us to increase our participation from 67.22% to 83.01%.

ABOUT CCU

CCU is a diversified beverage company operating in Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay. CCU is the largest Chilean brewer, the second-largest Chilean carbonated soft drinks producer, the largest Chilean water and nectar producer, and the largest pisco producer. It is the second-largest Argentine brewer, and participates in the beer, water and soft drinks industries in Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia, and in the beer industry in Colombia. It is one of the largest Chilean wine producers, and the second-largest Chilean wine exporter. The Company´s principal licensing, distribution and / or joint venture agreements include Heineken Brouwerijen B.V., Anheuser-Busch Incorporated, PepsiCo Inc., Seven-up International, Schweppes Holdings Limited, Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Pernod Ricard Chile S.A., Watt´s S.A., and Coors Brewing Company.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

Statements made in this press release that relate to CCU’s future performance or financial results are forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to materially differ. We undertake no obligation to update any of these statements. Persons reading this press release are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements should be taken in conjunction with the additional information about risk and uncertainties set forth in CCU’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and in the annual report submitted to the CMF (Chilean Market Regulator) and available on our web page.

GLOSSARY

Operating segments

The Operating segments are defined with respect to its revenues in the geographic areas of commercial activity:

·          Chile : This segment commercializes Beer, Non Alcoholic Beverages and Spirits in the Chilean market, and also includes the results of Transportes CCU Limitada, Comercial CCU S.A., CRECCU S.A. and Fábrica de Envases Plásticos S.A.

·          International Business : This segment commercializes Beer, Cider, Non Alcoholic Beverages and Spirits in the Argentinean, Uruguayan and Paraguayan market.

·          Wine : This segment commercializes Wine, mainly in the export market reaching over 80 countries.

·          Other/Eliminations: It considers the non-allocated corporate overhead expenses and eliminations of transactions between segments.

ARS

Argentine Peso.

CLP

Chilean Peso.

Cost of sales

Formerly referred to as Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), Cost of Sales includes direct costs and manufacturing costs.

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

Net profit divided by the weighted average number of shares during the year.

EBIT

Stands for Earnings Before Interest and Taxes, and for management purposes it is defined, as Net Income before other gains (losses), net financial expenses, equity and income of joint ventures, foreign currency exchange differences, results as per adjustment units and income taxes. EBIT is equivalent to Adjusted Operating Result used in the 20-F Form.

EBITDA

EBITDA represents EBIT plus depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not an accounting measure under IFRS. When analyzing the operating performance, investors should use EBITDA in addition to, not as an alternative for Net income, as this item is defined by IFRS. Investors should also note that CCU’s presentation of EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled indicators used by other companies. EBITDA is equivalent to ORBDA (Adjusted Operating Result Before Depreciation and Amortization), used in the 20-F Form.

Exceptional Items (EI)

Formerly referred to as Non recurring items (NRI), Exceptional items are either income or expenses which do not occur regularly as part of the normal activities of the Company. They are presented separately because they are important for the understanding of the underlying sustainable performance of the Company due to their size or nature.

Gross margin

Gross profit as a percentage of Net sales.

Gross profit

Gross profit represents the difference between Net sales and Cost of sales.

Liquidity ratio

Total current assets / Total current liabilities

Marketing, Sales, Distribution and Administrative expenses (MSD&A)

MSD&A include marketing, sales, distribution and administrative expenses.

Net Financial Debt

Total Financial Debt minus cash & cash equivalents.

Net Financial Debt / EBITDA

The ratio is based on a twelve month rolling calculation for EBITDA.

Net Income

Net income attributable to the equity holders of the parent.

UF

The UF is a monetary unit indexed to the Consumer Price Index variation in Chile.

USD

United States Dollar.