Graphic Packaging Holding Company Reports First Quarter 2016 Results

ATLANTA, April 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 

Highlights

• Q1 Earnings per Diluted Share increased to $0.18 versus $0.17 in the prior year period.
• Q1 Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share increased to $0.20 versus $0.17 in the prior year period.
• Q1 Adjusted EBITDA increased to $193.4 million versus $181.3 million in the prior year period.
• Q1 Adjusted EBITDA Margin increased to 18.7% versus 18.0% in the prior year period.
• Repurchased $45.0 million, or 3.7 million shares in Q1.

Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), (the "Company"), a leading provider of packaging solutions to food, beverage and consumer product companies, today reported Net Income for first quarter 2016 of $57.5 million, or $0.18 per share, based upon 324.2 million weighted average diluted shares.  This compares to first quarter 2015 Net Income of $55.1 million, or $0.17 per share, based on 331.9 million weighted average diluted shares.

Including the tax impact, first quarter 2016 Net Income was negatively impacted by $7.1 million from business combinations and other special charges. When adjusting for these charges, Adjusted Net Income for the first quarter of 2016 was $64.6 million, or $0.20 per diluted share. This compares to first quarter 2015 Adjusted Net Income of $56.7 million or $0.17 per diluted share.

"We delivered a very solid first quarter," said President and CEO Michael Doss. "Sales were up 2.6% driven by both acquisitions and modest volume growth in our core legacy business. Adjusted EBITDA Margin increased 70 basis points to 18.7%.  The increase was driven by $16.4 million of improved operating performance across the organization, as we remain firmly committed to our culture of continuous improvement and cost reduction."

"While we remain keenly focused on day to day execution, we had a busy quarter as we closed three strategic, tuck-under acquisitions and announced a fourth, which is expected to close in the second quarter.  These transactions represent a continuation of our strategy to grow in key end-markets and geographies."

Operating Results

Net Sales

Net Sales increased 2.6% to $1,034.0 million in the first quarter of 2016, compared to $1,008.2 million in the prior year period.  The $25.8 million increase was driven by $42.5 million of improved volume/mix, related to acquisitions and a modest improvement in core volumes.  The sales increase was partially offset by $8.7 million of unfavorable foreign exchange rates and $8.0 million of lower pricing.

Attached is supplemental data showing Net Tons Sold for the first quarter of 2016 and each quarter of 2015.

EBITDA

EBITDA for first quarter 2016 was $182.9 million, or $3.8 million higher than the first quarter of 2015.  After adjusting both periods for business combinations and other special charges, Adjusted EBITDA increased 6.7% to $193.4 million in the first quarter of 2016 from $181.3 million in the first quarter of 2015.  When comparing against the prior year quarter, Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2016 was positively impacted by $16.4 million of improved net operating performance, $4.2 million of favorable volume/mix and $0.2 million in commodity deflation, net of pricing. These benefits were partially offset by $5.1 million of other inflation (primarily labor and benefits) and $3.6 million of unfavorable foreign exchange.

Other Results

Total Net Debt increased $404.2 million during the first quarter of 2016 to $2,238.5 million.  At quarter end, the Company's Net Leverage Ratio increased to 2.93 times Adjusted EBITDA from 2.44 times Adjusted EBITDA at the end of 2015.  In addition to the first quarter seasonal growth in working capital, the increase in Net Debt and Net Leverage Ratio was driven by the funding of three acquisitions, share repurchases and the quarterly dividend payment.

At March 31, 2016, the Company had available global liquidity of $822.0 million, including the undrawn availability under its $1.25 billion U.S. revolving credit facility.

Net Interest Expense was $16.9 million in the first quarter of 2016, flat when compared to the $16.9 million reported in the first quarter of 2015.

Capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2016 were $99.0 million compared to $57.2 million in the first quarter of 2015.  The increase is primarily the result of investments made in the Company's paperboard mills, including the previously announced installation of a new press section and headbox on one of the paper machines in West Monroe, LA.

First quarter 2016 Income Tax Expense was $33.2 million compared to $33.6 million in the first quarter of 2015.  As of March 31, 2016, the Company had approximately $386 million 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 EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Net Income, Total Net Debt and Net Leverage Ratio is attached to this release.

Acquisitions

In the first quarter of 2016, the Company closed the acquisitions of G-Box, S.A. de C.V., Walter G. Anderson, Inc., and Metro Packaging & Imaging, Inc.  In addition, the Company announced its intent to acquire Colorpak (ASX: CKL), which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2016.

Earnings Call

The Company will host a conference call at 10:00 am eastern time today (April 26, 2016) to discuss the results of first quarter 2016.  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 # 86052237).  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 use of the Company's NOLs and the timing for closing the acquisition of Colorpak, 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, inflation of and volatility in raw material and energy costs, continuing pressure for lower cost products, the Company's ability to implement its business strategies, including productivity initiatives and cost reduction plans, the Company's debt level, currency movements and other risks of conducting business internationally, the impact of regulatory and litigation matters, including the continued availability of the Company's net operating loss offset to taxable income.  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, except as required by law.  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 Atlanta, Georgia, is committed to providing consumer packaging that makes a world of difference. The Company is a leading provider of paper-based packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to food, beverage and other consumer product companies. The Company operates on a global basis, is one of the largest producers of folding cartons in the United States, and holds leading market positions in coated unbleached kraft paperboard and coated-recycled paperboard.  The Company's customers include many of the world's most widely recognized companies and brands. 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, other special charges 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 International, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.graphicpkg.com