Mario Gabelli Comments on Mondelez International Inc

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Jul 25, 2014

Mondelez International Inc. (MDLZ) (1.3%) (MDLZ - $37.61 - NASDAQ), headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, is the new name of Kraft Foods Inc. following the tax-free spinoff to shareholders of the North American grocery company, Kraft Foods Group Inc. (KRFT). On October 1, 2012, shareholders received one share of MondelÄ“z and one- third share of Kraft Foods Group for every share of Kraft Foods Inc. owned. Post spinoff, approximately 75% of MondelÄ“z’s revenue is generated from the snacking business, which includes leading brands such as Oreo, LU and Ritz biscuits, Trident gum, and Cadbury and Milka chocolates, while the remaining 25% consists of the international packaged food business, primarily coffee and powdered beverages. In May 2014, MondelÄ“z announced that it is combining its coffee business with D.E Master Blenders 1753 to form a new coffee company, Jacobs Douwe Egberts, in return for $5 billion of net proceeds and a 49% stake. This narrows the company’s product focus, as only 15% of revenue will be outside snacks, primarily Tang beverages and other products such as Philadelphia cream cheese, which management may look to divest in the future as it executes on its plan to accelerate growth in the faster growing snack business, building upon its international scale and improving margins.

From Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio)’s The Gabelli Equity Income Fund Second Quarter 2014 Shareholder Commentary.