Glatfelter Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

Glatfelter Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

- Adjusted EPS increases 57 percent -

YORK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Glatfelter (NYS: GLT) today reported 2012 third quarter adjusted earnings of $19.4 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, compared with $12.8 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, in the 2011 third quarter. On a GAAP basis, third quarter 2012 net income totaled $20.1 million, or $0.46 per share, compared with $13.0 million, or $0.28 per share, in the third quarter of 2011. Consolidated net sales in the third quarter of 2012 totaled $404.4 million, a 2.9 percent decrease from the third quarter of 2011 primarily due to unfavorable foreign currency translation. On a constant currency basis, net sales were slightly higher.

"Our third quarter results reflect solid performance from our Specialty Papers business which delivered top-line growth, again outperforming the broader uncoated freesheet market, and it significantly increased operating income," said Dante C. Parrini, chairman and chief executive officer. "Additionally, our Composite Fibers and Advanced Airlaid Materials businesses, although challenged by difficult economic conditions in Europe, each reported improved operating results, largely due to lower input costs and our ongoing focus on continuous improvement initiatives. We increased adjusted earnings per share by 57 percent and business unit operating income by 16 percent, reflecting the strength of our diversified business model and our North American market positions. Further, in early October 2012, we completed a $250 million offering of 5.375 percent notes, replacing our existing notes. Together with the 2011 refinancing of our revolving credit facility, this transaction significantly reduces our cost of capital and maintains our very strong financial position."

Adjusted earnings is a non-GAAP measure that excludes from the Company's GAAP-based results certain non-core business items. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of results determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America to non-GAAP adjusted earnings discussed herein:

The sum of individual per share amounts set forth above may not agree to adjusted earnings per share due to rounding.

Third Quarter Business Unit Results

Specialty Papers

On a year-over-year basis, Specialty Papers' net sales increased 3.2 percent as volumes shipped increased 2.5 percent and higher selling prices contributed $0.7 million.

Specialty Papers' 2012 third quarter operating income increased $4.4 million, or 26.2 percent compared with the 2011 third quarter due to a $3.5 million benefit from lower input costs, primarily purchased fiber and energy costs. These factors were partially offset by a $1.0 million decline in the net margin from energy and renewable energy credit sales.

Composite Fibers

Composite Fibers' net sales decreased $14.0 million, or 11.2 percent, primarily due to the translation of foreign currencies, which unfavorably impacted the comparison by $9.2 million, and slightly lower selling prices which adversely impacted the comparison by $0.5 million. Shipping volumes were 2.4 percent lower.

Composite Fibers' third quarter 2012 operating income increased by $0.2 million in the year-over-year comparison. Lower raw material and energy costs benefited results by $1.8 million. Unfavorable foreign currency translation impacted operating income by $1.0 million in the year-over-year comparison.

Advanced Airlaid Materials

On a year-over-year basis, Advanced Airlaid Materials' net sales decreased $5.3 million, or 8.1 percent, primarily due to a $4.4 million unfavorable impact from the translation of foreign currencies. Volumes shipped decreased 1.1 percent and lower average selling prices adversely impacted results $1.1 million in the comparison.

Third quarter 2012 operating income increased $0.4 million, or 10.5 percent, compared with the year-ago quarter primarily due to a $2.7 million benefit from lower raw material and energy costs partially offset by lower selling prices and $1.3 million from unfavorable foreign currency translations.

Other Financial Information

Pension expense totaled $2.9 million and $4.1 million for the third quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively, including a $2.0 million one-time settlement charge recorded in the third quarter of 2011. Since the Company's qualified plan remains overfunded, a cash contribution is not required to be made in 2012.

Interest expense declined $2.3 million to $4.2 million in the year-over-year comparison reflecting the redemption of $100.0 million of 7 1/8 percent bonds at the end of 2011.

The Company completed the sale of 979 acres of timberlands during the third quarter of 2012 and realized a $1.5 million pre-tax gain.

In the third quarter of 2012, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $6.4 million on adjusted pre-tax earnings resulting in an effective tax rate of 24.9 percent. In the comparable quarter a year ago, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $4.5 million resulting in an effective tax rate of 26.2 percent.

2012 Year-to-date Results

For the first nine months of 2012, adjusted earnings totaled $43.5 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, compared with $31.9 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, in the same period of 2011. On a GAAP basis, the Company reported net income of $52.4 million or $1.20 per diluted share, compared with $33.0 million or $0.71 per diluted share in the same period of 2011. The results of operations for both periods include the impact of significant unusual and non-recurring items. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of results determined on a GAAP basis to adjusted earnings:

The sum of individual per share amounts set forth above may not agree to adjusted earnings per share due to rounding.

Consolidated net sales for the first nine months of 2012 were $1,186.4 million, a 2.1 percent decrease compared with $1,211.2 million for the same period of 2011, primarily due to unfavorable foreign currency translations.

Balance Sheet and Other Information

Capital expenditures totaled $45.0 million in the first nine months of 2012, including $10.8 million for the Composite Fibers capacity expansion project. For the full year 2012, capital expenditures are estimated to be approximately $85 million, including approximately $25 million to $30 million of the $50 million investment to expand Composite Fibers' capacity scheduled to be completed in the second quarter of 2013.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $28.3 million as of September 30, 2012, and net debt was $190.7 million, compared with $188.7 million at the end of 2011. (Refer to the calculation of this measure provided in this release.)

Free cash flow (cash provided by operations less capital expenditures and adjusted to exclude Composite Fibers' capacity expansion project and the cash impact from alternative fuel mixture and cellulosic biofuel credits) was $23.6 million for the first nine months of 2012 compared with $18.7 million for the first nine months of 2011. (Refer to the calculation of these measures provided in this release.)

In May 2012, the Company announced a two-year, $25 million share buyback program authorized by its Board of Directors. Through September 30, 2012, the Company repurchased 187,975 shares of common stock for approximately $2.9 million.

On October 3, 2012, the Company completed a private placement offering of $250.0 million of 5.375% Senior Notes due 2020. The net proceeds from this offering totaled approximately $246.3 million, after deducting the commissions relating to the offering. The net proceeds were used to redeem $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of outstanding 7.125% notes due November 2016, plus the payment of the applicable redemption premium and accrued interest. The remaining net proceeds were used to repay amounts outstanding under the Company's revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes.

Outlook

"I expect the challenging economic conditions will persist throughout the fourth quarter, particularly in Europe, and will therefore continue to impact Composite Fibers' and, to a lesser extent, Advanced Airlaid Materials' results. We also expect to see normal seasonality in our business which will adversely impact our results compared to the third quarter," said Mr. Parrini.

For Specialty Papers, the Company expects shipping volumes to decline slightly in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with the third quarter of 2012, due to normal seasonality. Selling prices are expected to be slightly lower and input costs are expected to be in line with the third quarter.

The Company anticipates Composite Fibers' shipping volumes to be approximately 5 percent lower in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter due to normal seasonality and soft economic conditions in Europe, while selling prices and input costs are expected to be generally in line with the third quarter of 2012. As a result of the October 2012 fire sustained at its Scaer, France facility, the Company expects to incur costs approximating $4 million to $6 million related to repairs, cleaning and downtime due to the incident. Although the fire is expected to be covered by insurance, the timing of recording costs versus recognition of the insurance recovery is likely to be different under applicable accounting standards.

Shipping volumes for the Advanced Airlaid Materials business unit in the fourth quarter of 2012 are expected to be slightly lower than the third quarter of 2012. Average selling prices are expected to be slightly lower driven by lower input costs in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter.

In addition, the Company expects to take its normal seasonal downtime in the fourth quarter of 2012.

In connection with the previously announced refinancing of $200.0 million of its 7.125 percent senior notes, the Company expects to record a charge totaling approximately $5.0 million, after-tax, related to an early redemption premium and the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs. The Company replaced these notes with the issuance of $250 million of 5.375 percent senior notes due October 2020.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern) today to discuss its third quarter results. The Company's earnings release and an accompanying financial supplement, which includes significant financial information to be discussed on the conference call, will be available on Glatfelter's Investor Relations web site at the address indicated below. Information related to the conference call is as follows:

Interested persons who wish to hear the live webcast should go to the website prior to the starting time to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements included in this press release which pertain to future financial and business matters are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company use words such as "anticipates", "believes", "expects", "future", "intends" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Any such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable or uncontrollable factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to: changes in industry, business, market, political and economic conditions in the U.S. and other countries in which it does business, demand for or pricing of its products, changes in tax legislation, governmental laws, regulations and policies, initiatives of regulatory authorities, technological changes and innovations, market growth rates, cost reduction initiatives, the cost, and successful design and construction, of the Composite Fibers capacity expansion project, the incurrence of unforeseen costs associated with the repair of equipment and clean-up due to the fire at the Scaer facility, our ability to supply this facility's customers, and the coverage provided by insurance for this incident and other factors. In light of these risks, uncertainties and other factors, the forward-looking matters discussed in this press release may not occur and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Glatfelter undertakes no obligation, and does not intend, to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release. More information about these factors is contained in Glatfelter's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.glatfelter.com.

About Glatfelter

Headquartered in York, PA, Glatfelter is a global manufacturer of specialty papers and fiber-based engineered materials, offering over a century of experience, technical expertise and world-class service. U.S. operations include facilities in Spring Grove, PA and Chillicothe and Fremont, OH. International operations include facilities in Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the Philippines, a representative office in China and a sales and distribution office in Russia. Glatfelter's sales approximate $1.6 billion annually and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GLT. Additional information may be found at www.glatfelter.com.