Graphic Packaging Holding Company Reports First Quarter 2012 Results

MARIETTA, Ga., April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), (the "Company"), a leading provider of packaging solutions to food, beverage and other consumer products companies, today reported Net Income for first quarter 2012 of $17.2 million, or $0.04 per share, based upon 396.5 million weighted average diluted shares.  This compares to first quarter 2011 Net Income of $26.7 million, or $0.08 per share, based upon 349.8 million weighted average diluted shares.

When adjusted for $7.5 million of special charges, Adjusted Net Income for the first quarter of 2012 was $24.7 million, or $0.06 per diluted share.  When comparing to the prior year period, first quarter 2012 Adjusted Net Income was negatively impacted by $10.1 million, or $0.03 per share, from higher Income Tax Expense.  Due to a fourth quarter 2011 tax valuation allowance release, the Company now utilizes a more normalized tax rate.  If the Company had used a normalized tax rate of 38.5% in the first quarter of 2011, Adjusted Net Income would have been $18.3 million or $0.05 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2011.

"I'm pleased with our first quarter results, particularly the healthy top line increase, as our core folding carton volumes out- performed end-market trends," said CEO David Scheible.  "Although end-consumer demand remains sluggish, share gains in consumer products along with new product introductions drove increased sales.  We also benefited from approximately $17 million in improved performance during the quarter.  Mill production was significantly higher than a year ago and continuous improvement initiatives focused around energy, fixed costs and operating efficiencies continued to drive lower costs.  We are currently rolling out a number of these improvement initiatives to our new Pine Bluff, AR kraft paper mill as part of the integration of Mid-America Packaging and Delta Natural Kraft.  Although these synergies only minimally impacted the first quarter, savings are expected to ramp up in 2012 with the majority of the $20-$25 million to be realized in 2013."

Net Sales

Net Sales increased 6.7% to $1,067.2 million during first quarter 2012, compared to first quarter 2011 Net Sales of $1,000.6 million.  The $66.6 million increase resulted from $54.0 million of favorable volume/mix, $13.0 million of higher pricing and $0.4 million of unfavorable exchange rates.

On a segment basis, Paperboard Packaging sales, which comprised 82.8% of total first quarter Net Sales, increased 4.6% compared to the first quarter of 2011.  The increase reflected higher volumes primarily in food and consumer packaging and inflationary price recovery.  Net sales in the Flexible Packaging segment increased 17.8% compared to the first quarter of 2011.  The increase was primarily the result of the addition of Delta Natural Kraft and Mid-America Packaging on December 8, 2011 along with inflationary price recovery. 

Attached is supplemental data showing Net Tons Sold, Net Sales and Income (Loss) from Operations by business segment for the first quarter of 2012 and each quarter of 2011.   

EBITDA

EBITDA for first quarter 2012 was $137.6 million.  Excluding $12.4 million of special charges, Adjusted EBITDA was $150.0 million.  This compares to first quarter 2011 EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA of $142.7 million.

When comparing against the prior year quarter, Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2012 was positively impacted by $16.8 million of improved operating performance and cost reduction initiatives, $13.0 million of higher pricing and $8.4 million of favorable volume/mix.  These benefits were partially offset by $30.7 million of cost inflation.

Other Results

Taking cash and cash equivalents into account, Total Net Debt at the end of the first quarter 2012 was $2,122.3 million.  This represents a reduction of $348.6 million in Total Net Debt since March 31, 2011.  At the end of the first quarter 2012, the Company had available domestic liquidity of $512.3 million, including the undrawn availability under its $1 billion revolving credit facility. 

The Company generated $32.5 million of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities in the first quarter of 2012, compared to $6.1 million in the first quarter of 2011. Net Interest Expense was $32.1 million in first quarter 2012, compared to $39.3 million in first quarter 2011.  The decrease was due to both lower debt balances and lower effective interest rates.  Capital expenditures for first quarter 2012 were $41.7 million compared to $36.8 million in the first quarter of 2011.    

First quarter 2012 Income Tax Expense was $13.0 million, compared to $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2011.  The increase was primarily due to an increase in the Company's effective tax rate to a more normalized level as a result of the fourth quarter 2011 release of a tax valuation allowance.  The valuation allowance release was based on the Company's assessment that it is more likely than not that the Company's U.S. federal and a substantial portion of its state deferred tax assets will be realized.  The Company has approximately $1.1 billion of NOLs for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which may be used to offset future taxable income.

Please note that a tabular reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Total Net Debt is attached to this release.

Earnings Call

The Company will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. eastern time today (April 26, 2012) to discuss the results of first quarter 2012.  To access the conference call, listeners calling from within North America should dial 800-392-9489 at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the conference call (Conference ID # 66032769).  Listeners may also access the audio webcast, along with a slide presentation, at the Investor Relations section of the Graphic Packaging website: http://www.graphicpkg.com.  Replays of the call can be accessed for one week by dialing 855-859-2056.

Forward Looking Statements

Any statements of the Company's expectations in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, including but not limited to, assessments regarding the Company's deferred tax assets, further deleveraging of the Company and expected synergies from the combination with Delta Natural Kraft, LLC and Mid-America Packaging, LLC are based on currently available information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's present expectations.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's substantial amount of debt, inflation of and volatility in raw material and energy costs, cutbacks in consumer spending that could affect demand for the Company's products or actions taken by our customers in response to the difficult economic environment, continuing pressure for lower cost products, the Company's ability to implement its business strategies, including productivity initiatives and cost reduction plans, currency movements and other risks of conducting business internationally, volatility in the credit and securities markets and the impact of regulatory and litigation matters, including the continued availability of the Company's net operating loss offset to taxable income, and those that impact the Company's ability to protect and use its intellectual property.  Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, as such statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements.  Additional information regarding these and other risks is contained in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC.

About Graphic Packaging Holding Company

Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK), headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, is a leading provider of packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to food, beverage and other consumer products companies.  The Company is one of the largest producers of folding cartons and holds a leading market position in coated-unbleached kraft, coated-recycled boxboard multi-wall bag and specialty packaging. The Company's customers include some of the most widely recognized companies in the world. Additional information about Graphic Packaging, its business and its products, is available on the Company's web site at www.graphicpkg.com.

 

 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The tables below set forth the calculation of the Company's earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, equity income of unconsolidated entities, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"), Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Net Leverage Ratio and Total Net Debt. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income exclude charges associated with: the Company's business combinations; goodwill and asset impairments; and the modification or extinguishment of debt. The Company's management believes that the presentation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Net Leverage Ratio provides useful information to investors because these measures are regularly used by management in assessing the Company's performance. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Net Leverage Ratio are financial measures not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), and are not measures of net income, operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP.

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Net Leverage Ratio should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered substitutes for or superior to GAAP results. In addition, our EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Net Leverage Ratio may not be comparable to Adjusted EBITDA or similarly titled measures utilized by other companies since such other companies may not calculate such measures in the same manner as we do.

 

 

 

SOURCE Graphic Packaging Holding Company