10 Questions for Management

Research evidence excerpt

10 Questions for Management

UpdateMexpected primarily from overhead productivity? D&A fell by €103m, or

approximately 16% year on year, mechanically equivalent to around 75bps of

H1 sales. How much represented a genuine margin benefit, and was it

included within the 84bps of overhead productivity disclosed for H1?

7. Acquired businesses: Taking Kate Farms, Huel, MADE and the Australian

dairy business together, what contribution do you expect to reported sales,

recurring operating margin, EPS and ROIC over the next two to three years?

Once each business enters the LFL perimeter, what standalone organic

growth should investors assume? Can you also explain the distinct strategic

portfolio gaps filled by each acquisition?

Long-term

8. Capital allocation: How will the group prioritize capital between organic

investment, the dividend, bolt-on M&A, transformational M&A and ad hoc

share buybacks? Where do you still see gaps in the portfolio, and what

leverage ceiling and ROIC hurdle would constrain a larger transaction?

9. Portfolio evolution: Over the next three to five years, how do you expect

Danone’s growth mix to shift between winning platforms such as high

protein and medical nutrition, emerging markets, and recovering businesses

such as North America EDP? What financial and competitive thresholds

determine where you accelerate investment, maintain support or rationalize

the portfolio?

10. Sustainable competitive advantage: As health-focused categories attract

more competition, what do you see as Danone’s most defensible moat:

science, brands, healthcare-professional relationships, manufacturing

capability or route-to-market? What measurable indicators should investors

track to assess whether Danone is building a structural share advantage