The Tale of the Segments

The segment information from the 1998 annual report of the Kellogg Company follows:

The Company manufactures and markets ready to eat cereal and other grain based convenience food products, including toaster pastries, frozen waffles, cereal bars, and bagels, throughout the world. Principal markets for these products include the United States and Great Britain. Operations are managed via four major geographic areas North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America—which are the basis of the Company’s reportable operating segment information disclosed below. The measurement of operating segment results is generally consistent with the presentation of the Consolidated Statement of Earnings and Balance Sheet. Intercompany transactions between reportable operating segments were insignificant in all periods presented.

(millions)

1998

1997

1996

Net sales

North America

$4,175.9

$4,260.8

$4,086.3

Europe

1,698.5

1,702.0

1,749.6

Asia Pacific

377.0

411.9

433.2

Latin America

510.7

455.4

407.5

Consolidated

$6,762.1

$6,830.1

$6,676.6

Operating profit excluding non recurring charges

North America

$ 831.6

$ 884.8

$ 762.3

Europe

211.4

305.8

305.1

Asia Pacific

48.3

51.1

61.3

Latin America

107.2

111.8

94.2

Corporate and other

(232.9)

(160.3)

(127.9)

Consolidated (a)

$ 965.6

$1,193.2

$1,095.0

Depreciation and amortization

North America

$ 152.1

$ 153.7

$ 135.1

Europe

54.6

59.6

59.9

Asia Pacific

21.3

21.9

20.7

Latin America

14.2

12.5

10.2

Corporate and other

35.9

39.6

25.6

Consolidated

$ 278.1

$ 287.3

$ 251.5

(millions)

1998

1997

1996

Total assets

North America

$2,430.8

$2,519.2

$2,574.0

Europe

1,336.0

1,154.5

1,254.1

Asia Pacific

328.4

309.5

449.2

Latin America

380.9

361.4

285.6

Corporate and other

1,516.7

1,405.1

1,316.5

Elimination entries

(941.3)

(872.1)

(829.4)

Consolidated

$5,051.5

$4,877.6

$5,050.0

(millions)

1998

1997

1996

Additions to long lived assets

North America

$ 82.5

$ 166.5

$ 544.6

Europe

169.1

60.7

71.9

Asia Pacific

40.3

24.3

34.7

Latin America

41.7

43.3

17.7

Corporate and other

98.5

94.9

138.3

Consolidated

$ 432.1

$ 389.7

$ 807.2

(a) Reconciliation to operating profit as reported:

1998

1997

1996

Operating profit excluding nonrecurring charges

$ 965.6

$1,193.2

$1,095.0

Non recurring charges

(70.5)

(184.1)

(136.1)

Operating profit as reported

$ 895.1

$1,009.1

$ 958.9

Supplemental geographic information is provided below for revenues from external

customers and long lived assets:

(millions)

1998

1997

1996

Net sales

United States

$3,858.0

$3,922.2

$3,733.7

Great Britain

743.6

719.0

673.8

Other foreign countries

2,160.5

2,188.9

2,269.1

Consolidated

$6,762.1

$6,830.1

$6,676.6

Long lived assets

United States

$1,644.2

$1,707.1

$1,720.0

Great Britain

553.0

452.4

463.2

Other foreign countries

1,330.3

1,225.2

1,304.3

Consolidated

$3,527.5

$3,384.7

$3,487.5

Supplemental product information is provided below for revenues from external

customers:

(millions)

1998

1997

1996

Ready to eat cereal net sales

$5,265.4

$5,435.8

$5,543.8

Convenience foods net sales

1,496.7

1,394.3

1,132.8

Consolidated

$6,762.1

$6,830.1

$6,676.6

Required

a. 1. Prepare horizontal common size analysis for net sales by segment and consolidated total. Use 1996 as the base.

2. Prepare horizontal common size analysis for operating profit, excluding non recurring charges by segment and consolidated total. Use 1996 as the base. (Exclude corporate and other.)

3. Prepare horizontal common size analysis for total assets by segment and consolidated total. Use 1996 as the base. (Exclude corporate and other and elimination entries.)

b. Use the supplemental geographic information for revenues from external customers and long lived assets for the following:

1. Net sales—Prepare horizontal common size. Use 1996 as the base.

2. Long lived assets—Prepare horizontal common size. Use 1996 as the base.

c. Use the supplemental product information for revenues and external customers for the following:

1. Prepare horizontal common size. Use 1996 as the base.

2. Prepare vertical common size for 1996, 1997, and 1998. Use consolidated as the base.

d. Comment on possible significant insights from the analysis in parts (a) through (c).