Corn Products International Reports 2009 Third Quarter Results of $0.70 Per Share

Corn Products International, Inc. (NYSE: CPO), a leading global provider of agriculturally derived ingredients for diversified markets, today reported net income of $53 million, or $0.70 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2009, versus the record-setting net income and earnings per diluted common share of $88 million and $1.15, respectively, for the same period last year.

Third-quarter 2009 results were negatively impacted by higher net corn costs, unfavorable foreign currency translations and softer volumes. The estimated change in earnings per diluted share from lower co-product prices (corn oil, feed, and meal) was a negative $0.21; lower price/margins was negative $0.11; lower other income was a negative $0.09; and weaker foreign currencies and lower volumes were a negative $0.06 and $0.04 respectively. A lower effective tax rate added $0.04, while a change in non-controlling interest and fewer shares outstanding each added $0.01.

Net sales of $971 million in the third quarter of 2009 decreased 10 percent versus $1.08 billion in the prior-year period. The three primary contributors to changes in net sales in the third quarter were a negative $50 million from foreign currency translations; a negative $38 million from price/mix attributable to co-products; and a negative $26 million from lower volumes.

Gross profit of $153 million in the third quarter of 2009 declined 25 percent versus $204 million a year ago. The gross margin of 15.8 percent compared with 18.8 percent last year. The decline in gross profit is mainly attributable to the higher net corn costs and lower volumes in the North American business. Total Company gross corn costs per ton decreased 5 percent; however, net corn costs per ton increased 12 percent, primarily due to lower corn oil prices. Energy costs decreased 5 percent versus a year ago.

Operating expenses in the third quarter were $66 million or 6.8 percent of net sales, versus $67 million, or 6.2 percent of net sales, last year. Other income in the third quarter of 2009 was less than $1 million compared to $11 million last year. Last year’s other income included a $4 million insurance recovery and a $3 million gain from a land sale.

Operating income for the third quarter of 2009 was $88 million compared to $148 million last year.

Net financing costs in the third quarter of 2009 were $9 million versus $10 million last year, as lower net interest expense more than offset an unfavorable foreign currency swing of $3 million. The third quarter effective tax rate of 31.2 percent was down from 34.9 percent last year, and included an approximately $2 million benefit from discrete items this quarter. Excluding the impact of the discrete items, the Company estimates that the effective annual tax rate would have been approximately 34 percent.

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding in the third quarter of 2009 declined 1 percent to 75.7 million from 76.3 million in the same quarter last year.

"This quarter’s diluted earnings per common share of $0.70 was our fourth-best quarter ever, trailing only the first three quarters of last year. We are pleased with the overall results and the improving trend line in certain parts of the world. South America volumes rebounded nicely, and we saw not only 2009 quarter-over-quarter sequential growth, but growth over third quarter 2008 volumes. In North America and Asia/Africa, we saw 2009 sequential volume improvement in the third quarter,” said Ilene Gordon, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Regional Business Segment Performance

Regional results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 were as follows:

North America

Net sales of $599 million decreased 9 percent from $660 million in 2008. The decline was due to lower volumes of $38 million, negative price/mix of $18 million, and weaker foreign currencies of $5 million. The decline in price/mix was due to co-products, which declined by $34 million compared to the same quarter last year. Operating income of $61 million fell 42 percent from $105 million last year, primarily due to higher net corn costs and lower volumes. Gross corn costs per ton increased 8 percent versus last year, while net corn costs per ton increased 46 percent, with the latter reflecting the dramatic decline in the price of co-products, principally corn oil. Corn oil in the third quarter of last year averaged 62 cents a pound versus 36 cents a pound in the third quarter of this year, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

South America

Net sales of $271 million declined 11 percent compared with $305 million a year ago, primarily due to the impact of unfavorable foreign currency translations of $33 million, and unfavorable price/mix of $14 million ($5 million of which was due to lower co-product prices), partially offset by improved volumes of $13 million. Operating income declined 15 percent to $37 million compared with $44 million in the prior year. Net corn costs were favorable versus last year, helping to mitigate the impact of weaker currencies and lower price/mix on operating income.

Asia/Africa

Net sales of $101 million fell 15 percent versus $119 million last year, primarily due to the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translations of $12 million and lower price/mix of $6 million. Higher co-product prices were positive $2 million versus the same quarter last year. Gross and net corn costs per ton decreased 12 percent and 15 percent, respectively. Operating income of $4 million declined $6 million versus a year ago. The decline in operating income reflects the weak pricing environment in South Korea and Southeast Asia and weaker demand in Pakistan, China and Kenya.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

The Company maintained a healthy balance sheet and solid liquidity as of September 30, 2009. At the end of the third quarter, total debt and cash and cash equivalents were $695 million and $161 million, respectively, versus $866 million and $107 million at year-end 2008.

Cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of 2009 was $368 million, reflecting a $154 million improvement in working capital. The Company fulfilled contracts for firm-price business and recovered $121 million from our margin accounts. Capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2009 were $98 million, while dividends paid were $34 million.

2009 Outlook

"Given how the business performed in the third quarter, we are narrowing our full-year earnings guidance to a range between $1.80 - $2.00 per diluted common share, excluding the after tax impact of impairment and restructuring charges of $1.47 per diluted common share taken in the second quarter of 2009, versus the previous range of $1.70 to $2.10,” said Ilene Gordon. "The revised range reflects expectations of continued volume weakness in the North American business, weaker demand and pricing pressure in Asia, as well as anticipated favorable trends in currencies and better prices for co-products. We remain confident in our estimate that cash flow from operations for 2009 will be in the range of $425 million to $525 million, and we expect 2009 capital expenditures to be approximately $150 million.”

"While the global economy is adversely affecting our earnings this year, we are successfully managing through the uncertainty and volatility. Our business model held up well with strong cash flow generation. We were able to maintain a strong balance sheet and pay down $180 million of debt. We held the dividend rate constant and were still able to provide funding for the capital investment program,” Gordon said.

Conference Call and Webcast

Corn Products International will conduct a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (7:30 a.m. Central Time) to be hosted by Ilene Gordon, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Cheryl Beebe, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

The call will be broadcast in a real-time webcast. The broadcast will consist of the call and a visual presentation accessible through the Corn Products International web site at www.cornproducts.com. The "listen-and-view-only” presentation will be available to download approximately 60 minutes prior to the start of the call. A replay of the webcast will be available at www.cornproducts.com.

Individuals without Internet access may listen to the live conference call by dialing 719.325.4845. A replay of the audio call will be available through Tuesday, November 10, by calling 719.457.0820 and using passcode 6446801.

About the Company

Corn Products International is one of the world's largest corn refiners and a major supplier of high-quality food ingredients and industrial products derived from the wet milling and processing of corn and other starch-based materials. The Company, headquartered in Westchester, Ill., is a leading worldwide producer of dextrose and a major regional producer of starch, high fructose corn syrup and glucose. In 2008, Corn Products International reported net sales and diluted earnings per common share of $3.94 billion and $3.52, respectively, with operations in 15 countries at 33 plants, including wholly owned businesses, affiliates and alliances. For more information, visit www.cornproducts.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains or may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for such statements. These statements include, among other things, any predictions regarding the Company’s prospects or future financial condition, earnings, revenues, expenses or other financial items, any statements concerning the Company’s prospects or future operations, including management’s plans or strategies and objectives therefor and any assumptions, expectations or beliefs underlying the foregoing. These statements can sometimes be identified by the use of forward looking words such as "may,” "will,” "should,” "anticipate,” "believe,” "plan,” "project,” "estimate,” "expect,” "intend,” "continue,” "pro forma,” "forecast” or other similar expressions or the negative thereof. All statements other than statements of historical facts in this release or referred to in this release are "forward-looking statements.” These statements are based on current expectations, but are subject to certain inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are beyond our control. Although we believe our expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, stockholders are cautioned that no assurance can be given that our expectations will prove correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in or implied by these statements, based on various factors, including the effects of the global economic recession and its impact on our sales volumes and pricing of our products, our ability to collect our receivables from customers and our ability to raise funds at reasonable rates; fluctuations in worldwide markets for corn and other commodities, and the associated risks of hedging against such fluctuations; fluctuations in the markets and prices for our co-products, particularly corn oil; fluctuations in aggregate industry supply and market demand; the behavior of financial markets, including foreign currency fluctuations and fluctuations in interest and exchange rates; continued volatility and turmoil in the capital markets; the commercial and consumer credit environment; general political, economic, business, market and weather conditions in the various geographic regions and countries in which we manufacture and/or sell our products; future financial performance of major industries which we serve, including, without limitation, the food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, paper, corrugated, textile and brewing industries; energy costs and availability, freight and shipping costs, and changes in regulatory controls regarding quotas, tariffs, duties, taxes and income tax rates; operating difficulties; boiler reliability; our ability to effectively integrate acquired businesses; labor disputes; genetic and biotechnology issues; changing consumption preferences and trends; increased competitive and/or customer pressure in the corn-refining industry; and the outbreak or continuation of serious communicable disease or hostilities including acts of terrorism. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. If we do update or correct one or more of these statements, investors and others should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections. For a further description of these and other risks, see "Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q or 8-K.