Glatfelter Reports Earnings for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2012

Glatfelter Reports Earnings for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2012

- Full year adjusted EPS increased 24 percent -

- Fourth quarter results impacted by higher professional services costs, a higher tax rate and European weakness -

YORK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Glatfelter (NYS: GLT) today reported 2012 full year adjusted earnings per diluted share of $1.25 (GAAP $1.36) compared with $1.01 per diluted share in 2011 (GAAP $0.93). For the 2012 fourth quarter Glatfelter reported adjusted earnings of $11.2 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared with $14.2 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, in the 2011 fourth quarter. On a GAAP basis, fourth quarter 2012 net income totaled $7.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared with $9.7 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2011. The fourth quarter 2012 results were adversely impacted by costs related to strategic initiatives and a trial in December for the Fox River matter, a higher tax rate, and the impact of weaker economic conditions in Europe, each in nearly equal proportions.

Consolidated net sales in the fourth quarter of 2012 totaled $391.4 million compared with $391.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, however unfavorable foreign currency translation of $3.8 million adversely impacted the comparison. On a constant currency basis, net sales were slightly higher.

"While 2012 was another successful year for Glatfelter and our shareholders, fourth quarter earnings were weaker than we expected due to higher professional services costs and taxes, as well as sluggish European markets. In particular, the Composite Fibers business unit was impacted by the persistently soft economic environment in Europe and customer inventory reductions," said Dante C. Parrini, chairman and chief executive officer. "On a more positive note, we are very pleased with both the continued progress of our Advanced Airlaid Materials business, which grew quarterly operating profit by 30 percent, and by another solid quarter from Specialty Papers, where shipments increased nearly 7 percent and again outperformed the broader uncoated free sheet market."

Parrini continued, "During 2012, we saw substantial profit increases of 17 percent for Specialty Papers and 34 percent for Advanced Airlaid Materials, which, when combined with the benefits from our debt refinancing and share repurchase programs, drove a 24 percent increase in adjusted earnings per share. We also generated substantial free cash flow of $77 million. As we look out into 2013, we believe that customer inventory reduction programs have largely run their course, which should have a positive impact on our Composite Fibers business. Although there remains continuing economic uncertainty and potential volatility, we believe we are well positioned to again deliver improved earnings and healthy free cash flow."

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income 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.

Fourth Quarter Business Unit Results

Specialty Papers

On a year-over-year basis, Specialty Papers' net sales increased $11.7 million, or 5.5 percent, primarily due to a 6.6 percent increase in shipping volumes. Average selling prices were $0.4 million lower in the comparison to the fourth quarter of 2011. Specialty Papers grew shipments, again outperforming the broader uncoated free sheet market, which declined 2.9 percent.

Specialty Papers' 2012 fourth quarter operating income totaled $17.9 million, slightly lower than the same quarter of 2011. Operating income in the fourth quarter of 2012 benefited by $1.7 million of lower input costs and $1.4 million from a LIFO inventory valuation adjustment, but these factors were offset by higher maintenance and other cost inflation.

Composite Fibers

Composite Fibers' net sales decreased $14.2 million, or 11.9 percent, due to lower shipping volumes, which were driven by softer demand caused by customer inventory de-stocking and weak economic conditions in Europe. In addition, foreign currency translation and lower average selling prices adversely affected the comparison to the year-earlier quarter by $2.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

Fourth quarter 2012 operating income decreased $2.1 million, or 23.3 percent, primarily due to lower shipping volumes. Lower raw material and energy costs benefited results by $0.8 million. Unfavorable foreign currency translation impacted operating income by $0.4 million in the year-over-year comparison.

The Company's facility in Scäer, France incurred substantial downtime as a result of the previously reported fire at the mill in October. All customer orders were fulfilled by shipping products on hand or by utilizing assets at the business unit's other facilities. The total cost of the fire incurred in the fourth quarter was $3.9 million which was offset by expected insurance recoveries, net of deductibles, of which $0.8 million was received in 2012 and the remainder is expected to be received in 2013.

Advanced Airlaid Materials

On a year-over-year basis, Advanced Airlaid Materials' net sales increased $2.0 million, or 3.3 percent, primarily due to increased shipping volumes, partially offset by $1.4 million from the unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation on net sales and $0.8 million from lower average selling prices. Shipping volumes increased 6.5 percent in the comparison.

Fourth quarter 2012 operating income increased $1.2 million, or 30.4 percent, compared with the year-ago quarter primarily due to a $2.5 million benefit from lower raw material and energy costs partially offset by higher operating costs and a net $0.8 million unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation.

Other Financial Information

On October 3, 2012, we completed an offering of $250.0 million of 5.375 percent Senior Notes due 2020. The net proceeds were used to tender and call $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 7.125 percent notes due November 2016, plus the payment of the applicable redemption premium and accrued interest, repay amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility, pay fees related to the offering and for general corporate purposes. We redeemed the 7.125 percent notes at 102.375 percent of par together with a $0.4 million consent fee related to tendering the notes. The total $5.1 million cost incurred to redeem the notes is reported under the caption "Non-operating income (expenses) - Other-net" in the accompanying 2012 consolidated statements of income.

The amount of net operating expenses included in adjusted earnings and not allocated to a business unit increased $2.7 million and totaled $9.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with $6.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. The increase was primarily due to $1.8 million of higher costs related certain strategic initiatives, $0.6 million of higher legal fees related to a December 2012 trial in the on-going Fox River environmental matter and $0.7 million of higher pension expense. Pension expense totaled $3.0 million and $2.3 million for the fourth quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively. Since the Company's qualified plan remains overfunded, a cash contribution is not expected to be made in 2013.

Interest expense totaled $6.1 million and $12.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 and 2011, respectively. As a result of the refinancing activity described above and the redemption of $100.0 million of 7.125 percent bonds at the end of 2011, reported interest expense for each quarter included the write-off of unamortized debt issuance fees of $1.9 million and $5.9 million, respectively.

The Company completed the sale of 506 acres of timberlands during the fourth quarter of 2012 for $1.5 million and realized a $1.3 million pre-tax gain.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $5.6 million on adjusted pre-tax earnings resulting in an effective tax rate of 33.4 percent. In the comparable quarter a year ago, the income tax provision totaled $4.9 million on adjusted earnings resulting in an effective tax rate of 25.8 percent. The effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2012 was adversely impacted by changes in the jurisdictions in which taxable earnings were generated and, to a lesser extent, a delay in passing tax legislation extending the research and development tax credit.

2012 Full Year Results

For the year ended December 31, 2012, adjusted earnings totaled $54.8 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, compared with $46.0 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, in 2011. On a GAAP basis, the Company reported net income of $59.4 million, or $1.36 per diluted share, compared with net income of $42.7 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, in 2011.

Highlights:

• Specialty Papers' operating profit improved 17 percent.

• Advanced Airlaid Materials' operating profit increased 34 percent.

• Adjusted earnings per share increased 24 percent including the benefits from debt refinancings and share repurchases.

• $77.3 million of free cash flow generated by improved earnings, effective working capital management and disciplined capital investments.

• 9.3 percent return on invested capital exceeded the Company's weighted average cost of capital.

• $250 million debt refinancing completed in October 2012 significantly reduced average borrowing rates.

The results of operations for both years include the impact of significant unusual items. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income 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.

Balance Sheet and Other Information

Capital expenditures totaled $58.8 million in 2012, including $16.5 million for the Composite Fibers capacity expansion project. For 2013, capital expenditures are estimated to be $90 million to $100 million, including approximately $33.5 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 $97.7 million as of December 31, 2012, and net debt was $152.3 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 was $77.3 million during 2012 compared with $58.0 million 2011. (Free cash flow is defined as 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. 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 December 31, 2012, 291,120 shares of common stock were repurchased under this program for approximately $4.5 million.

Outlook

For Specialty Papers, the Company expects shipping volumes and selling prices in the first quarter of 2013 to be in-line with the fourth quarter of 2012. Higher input costs and the absence of the fourth quarter favorable LIFO inventory valuation adjustment are expected to be offset by lower maintenance costs in the first quarter of 2013.

Composite Fibers' shipping volumes are anticipated to be approximately 5 percent higher in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012 while selling prices and input costs are expected to be generally in line with the fourth quarter of 2012. The Company will be taking a paper machine down in late February to complete the previously announced upgrade. The machine is expected to be started up in May 2013. The downtime associated with the upgrade is expected to negatively impact operating profit by approximately $1 million to $2 million ($0.02 to $0.03 per diluted share) in each of the first and second quarters of 2013.

Shipping volumes for the Advanced Airlaid Materials business unit in the first quarter of 2013 are expected to be approximately 5 percent higher than the fourth quarter of 2012. Average selling prices are expected to be slightly lower due to pricing provisions in certain customer contracts. Input costs are expected to be generally in line with the fourth quarter of 2012.

Corporate costs in the first quarter of 2013 are expected to be approximately $1 million lower than the fourth quarter of 2012. The Company expects pension expense in 2013 to increase to approximately $15.7 million compared with $11.6 million in 2012 primarily due to the impact of lower discount rates.

On January 2, 2013, the President signed legislation that retroactively extended the federal research and development tax credit for two years, from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013. As a result, the Company expects that its income tax provision for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 will include a tax benefit of $1.2 million which will reduce its effective tax rate to approximately 25 percent.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern) today to discuss its fourth-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 website 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 Scäer 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