Danone Stock Price, News & Analysis

Danone announced the addition of two senior leaders, Gilbert Ghostine, CEO of Firmenich, and Lise Kingo, former CEO of the UN Global Compact, to its Board of Directors. Gilbert will join on October 15 and Lise on December 1, succeeding Guido Barilla and Cécile Cabanis. Their appointments align with Danone's strategy for board renewal and aim to enhance expertise in consumer goods, health, nutrition, and sustainability.

Danone's efforts reflect its commitment to rejuvenate its governance to support the Renew Danone strategy.

Danone has released information regarding its total number of shares and voting rights as of July 31, 2022. The company has 675,787,600 shares, with a total theoretical voting rights count of 701,239,377 and exercisable voting rights amounting to 665,004,127. These figures comply with French Commercial Code regulations and are provided for transparency to shareholders and the public.

Danone has successfully issued a €600 million bond with a 10-year maturity and a 3.071% coupon as of August 31, 2022. This move is part of the company’s liquidity management strategy, aimed at enhancing funding flexibility and extending debt maturity. The bond issue, expected to settle on September 7, 2022, attracted diverse investors, showcasing confidence in Danone's business model. Danone holds a BBB+ rating from Standard & Poor’s and Baa1 from Moody’s, reflecting a stable outlook.

Danone announced the availability of its interim financial report for the six-month period ending June 30, 2022, which is accessible online. The report reflects Danone's commitment to transparency and aims to communicate its financial performance. The company, recognized for its health-focused products, generated €24.2 billion in sales in 2021 and operates in over 120 markets. It continues to pursue its Renew strategy for growth and sustainability, with an ambition to achieve global B Corp™ certification by 2025.

Danone reported strong H1 2022 results with net sales of €13.3 billion, a 7.4% increase on a like-for-like basis and a 12.6% reported increase. Q2 sales rose by 7.7% driven by a 6.8% price increase and a 0.9% volume/mix rise. Recurring EPS reached €1.63, up 7.2% year-on-year. The recurring operating margin was 12.1%, slightly down from the previous year due to input-cost inflation. Danone updated its 2022 guidance, anticipating a 5-6% increase in like-for-like sales growth and confirmed its margin expectations. Free cash flow stood at €674 million, down 33.2% from the previous year.

DANONE provides an update on its voting rights and shares as of June 30, 2022. The total number of shares amounts to 675,787,600, with 700,431,019 theoretical voting rights. Notably, the number of exercisable voting rights stands at 664,004,443. This report complies with the French Commercial Code and AMF regulations, ensuring transparency in shareholding thresholds. The difference between theoretical and exercisable rights highlights shares with suspended voting rights, keeping shareholders informed of their rights.

Danone has announced the total number of shares and voting rights as of May 31, 2022. The total number of shares stands at 675,787,600, with a total number of theoretical voting rights reaching 700,463,107. The exercisable voting rights are 664,036,531. This disclosure complies with Article L. 233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and Article 223-16 of the AMF regulations, ensuring transparency in shareholder rights and corporate governance.

Danone has agreed to sell its 25% stake in Yashili and 20% stake in Inner Mongolia Dairy Joint Venture to Mengniu. Concurrently, Danone will acquire 100% of Dumex Baby Food Co Ltd, enhancing its footprint in the infant milk formula market in China. These transactions signal the end of Danone's partnership with Mengniu after previously selling a 9.8% stake in 2021. The proceeds from the sale will be used for deleveraging, reinforcing Danone's commitment to strengthening its operations in the strategically important Chinese market.