News Release

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2017-- Tredegar Corporation (NYSE:TG, also the “Company” or “Tredegar”) today reported first-quarter financial results for the period ended March 31, 2017.

First quarter 2017 net income was $3.7 million ($0.11 per share) compared with net income of $7.3 million ($0.22 per share) in the first quarter of 2016. Net income from ongoing operations, which excludes the special items shown in the table below, was $6.0 million ($0.18 per share) in the first quarter of 2017 compared with $7.5 million ($0.23 per share) in the first quarter of 2016. A reconciliation of net income, a financial measure calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), to net income from ongoing operations, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, is shown below:

Highlights for first quarter 2017 include:

• Operating profit from ongoing operations for Bonnell Aluminum of $9.8 million (including $0.9 million associated with Futura since it was acquired) was $2.3 million higher than the first quarter of 2016
• Operating profit from ongoing operations for PE Films of $9.0 million was $1.2 million lower than the first quarter of 2016
• Operating loss from ongoing operations for Flexible Packaging Films was $2.0 million, which was unfavorable by $4.0 million versus the operating profit generated in the first quarter of 2016

John D. Gottwald, Tredegar’s president and chief executive officer, said, “Earnings were down for the quarter compared to last year primarily due to continued volatile results for Terphane, which has been impacted by industry excess capacity and a poor economic environment in Brazil. In our personal care business unit, we’re encouraged that our product development efforts are delivering new materials that we believe will be value-enhancing for our customers. Our surface protection business unit beat prior year results. We remain focused on expanding our customer base.”

Mr. Gottwald further stated, “Our aluminum extrusions business had another quarter of significant profit growth. The acquisition of Futura brings product and geographic diversification as well as a strong management team. We’re excited about its prospects for adding to future profit growth.”

OPERATIONS REVIEW

PE Films

PE Films is comprised of personal care materials, surface protection films, polyethylene overwrap films and films for other markets. A summary of first-quarter operating results from ongoing operations for PE Films is provided below:

First-Quarter Results vs. Prior Year First Quarter Results

Net sales (sales less freight) in the first quarter of 2017 decreased by $2.1 million versus 2016 primarily due to:

• Volume reductions from the winding down of lost business ($3.8 million), which was substantially completed by the end of 2016;
• An increase in surface protection films revenue ($1.4 million) primarily due to a stronger LCD market and improved sales mix; and
• Higher net volume for other personal care materials ($0.3 million).

Operating profit from ongoing operations in the first quarter of 2017 decreased by $1.2 million versus the first quarter of 2016 primarily due to:

• Lower contribution to profits from known lost business and product transitions in personal care ($1.3 million), partially offset by higher contribution to profits from surface protection films ($0.5 million), primarily due to a favorable sales mix;
• The favorable lag in the pass-through of average resin costs of $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2017 versus the favorable lag of $0.7 million in 2016; and
• Realized cost savings of $0.4 million associated with the previously announced project to consolidate domestic manufacturing facilities in PE Films (“North American facility consolidation”), partially offset by production inefficiencies in personal care ($0.2 million).

The North American facility consolidation is expected to be completed in the second half of 2017. Once complete, annualized pretax cash cost savings are expected to be approximately $5-6 million. Total pretax cash expenditures for this multi-year project are expected to be approximately $17 million (which includes $11 million of capital expenditures), of which $14.1 million has been spent as of March 31, 2017.

The surface protection operating segment of the PE Films reporting segment supports manufacturers of optical and other specialty substrates used in flat panel display products. These films are primarily used by customers to protect components of displays in the manufacturing and transportation process and then discarded.

As previously discussed, the Company believes that over the next few years, there is an increased risk that a portion of its film used in surface protection applications will be made obsolete by possible future customer product transitions to less costly alternative processes or materials. The Company estimates on a preliminary basis that the annual adverse impact on ongoing operating profit from customer shifts to alternative processes or materials in surface protection is in the range of up to $5 to $10 million. Given the technological and commercial complexity involved in bringing these alternative processes or materials to market, the Company is very uncertain as to the timing and ultimate amount of the possible transitions. In response, the Company is aggressively pursuing new surface protection products, applications and customers.

The Company continues to anticipate a significant additional product transition in its personal care business after 2018 that could possibly have an adverse impact on ongoing operating profit, but the impact, if any, is uncertain at this time. The competitive dynamics in the personal care business require continuous development of new materials for customers, which include the leading global and regional personal care producers. The product development process for personal care materials, which spans from idea inception to product commercialization, is typically 24 to 48 months.

R&D spending in PE Films has increased significantly over the past several years, and was approximately $12 million in 2014, $16 million in 2015 and $19 million in 2016. R&D spending in 2017 is projected to be comparable to 2016.

Amounts estimated for the expected impact on future profits of lost business and product transitions are provided on a stand-alone basis and do not include any potential offsets such as sales growth, cost reductions or new product developments.

Capital Expenditures, Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures in PE Films were $4.3 million in the first three months of 2017 compared to $6.3 million in the first three months of 2016. PE Films currently estimates that total capital expenditures in 2017 will be $30 million, including approximately $10 million for routine capital expenditures required to support operations. Capital spending for strategic projects in 2017 includes capacity expansion for elastics and acquisition distribution layer materials, in addition to other growth and strategic projects. Depreciation expense was $3.5 million in the first three months of 2017 and $3.4 million in the first three months of 2016. Depreciation expense is projected to be $15 million in 2017.

Flexible Packaging Films

Flexible Packaging Films, which is also referred to as Terphane, produces polyester-based films for use in packaging applications that have specialized properties, such as heat resistance, strength, barrier protection and the ability to accept high-quality print graphics. A summary of first quarter operating results from ongoing operations for Terphane is provided below:

First-Quarter Results vs. Prior Year First Quarter Results

Sales volume improved by 6.8% in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the first quarter of 2016 primarily due to higher demand, primarily in its markets outside of Brazil. Net sales in the first quarter of 2017 increased 1.3% versus the first quarter of 2016 due to higher sales volume partially offset by lower prices in a competitive market and a less favorable sales mix.

Terphane had an operating loss from ongoing operations in the first quarter of 2017 of $2.0 million versus an operating profit from ongoing operations in the first quarter of 2016 of $2.0 million. The resulting unfavorable change of $4.0 million for the period was primarily due to:

• Lower margins from competitive pricing pressures that primarily relate to ongoing excess global capacity in the industry, particularly in Latin America, unfavorable economic conditions in Brazil, and inefficiencies from lower-than-planned production, partially offset by higher volume (net unfavorable impact of $1.0 million);
• Foreign currency transaction losses of $0.3 million in the first quarter of 2017 versus $1.7 million of losses in the first quarter of 2016, associated with U.S. dollar denominated export sales in Brazil;
• The unfavorable lag in the pass-through of raw material costs of $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2017 versus the favorable lag of $1.0 million in 2016; and
• Higher costs and expenses of $2.2 million primarily related to the adverse impact of high inflation in Brazil and the appreciation by approximately 24% of the average exchange rate for the Brazilian Real relative to the U.S. Dollar.

The Company expects Terphane’s future operating results to continue to be volatile until industry capacity utilization and the Brazilian business environment improve.

Capital Expenditures, Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures in Terphane were $0.5 million in the first three months of 2017 compared to $0.7 million in the first three months of 2016. Terphane currently estimates that total capital expenditures in 2017 will be approximately $4 million, including $3 million for routine capital expenditures required to support operations. Depreciation expense was $1.9 million in the first three months of 2017 and $1.5 million in the first three months of 2016. Depreciation expense is projected to be $7 million in 2017. Amortization expense was $0.7 million in the first three months of 2017 and $0.7 million in the first three months of 2016, and is projected to be $3 million in 2017.

Aluminum Extrusions

Aluminum Extrusions, which includes Bonnell Aluminum and its operating divisions, AACOA, Inc. and Futura Industries Corporation (“Futura”), produces high-quality, soft-alloy and medium-strength aluminum extrusions primarily for building and construction, automotive, consumer durables, machinery and equipment, electrical and distribution markets.

On February 15, 2017, Bonnell Aluminum acquired Futura on a net debt-free basis for approximately $92 million. The amount actually funded in cash at the transaction date was approximately $87.0 million, which was net of preliminary closing adjustments for working capital and seller transaction-related obligations assumed and subsequently paid by Bonnell Aluminum. The Company may be refunded up to $5 million if Futura does not meet certain performance requirements for the 2017 fiscal year. The acquisition, which was funded using Tredegar’s secured revolving credit agreement, is being treated as an asset purchase for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Futura, headquartered in Clearfield, Utah, with a national sales presence and particular strength in the western U.S., designs and manufactures a wide range of extruded aluminum products, including branded flooring trims and TSLOTS^TM, as well as OEM (original equipment manufacturer) components for truck grills, solar panels, fitness equipment and other applications.

A summary of first-quarter results from ongoing operations for Aluminum Extrusions, including the results of Futura since its date of acquisition, is provided below:

First-Quarter Results vs. Prior Year First Quarter Results

Net sales in the first quarter of 2017 increased versus 2016 primarily due to the addition of Futura. Futura contributed net sales of $8.3 million in the first quarter of 2017 for the 40-day period included in Tredegar’s results. Excluding the impact of Futura, net sales were higher due to improved sales volume (up 2.2%) and an increase in average selling prices due to the pass-through to customers of higher market-driven raw material costs.

Higher volume on an organic basis, which had a positive impact on sales of $2.2 million, was primarily in the automotive market (reflecting continued growth in the use of aluminum in the automotive sector) and specialty markets. The Company believes lower sales volume experienced for aluminum extrusions used in the building and construction market was primarily due to downtime from upgrades made on a paint line that serves this market. Higher average net selling prices, primarily attributed to an increase in aluminum market prices, had a favorable impact on net sales of $4.4 million.

Operating profit from ongoing operations in the first quarter of 2017 increased by $2.3 million in comparison to the first quarter of 2016. Excluding the favorable profit impact of Futura ($0.9 million), operating profit from ongoing operations increased $1.4 million as a result of higher sales volume ($0.4 million) and operational efficiencies ($1.0 million).

Cast House Explosion

On June 29, 2016, the Bonnell Aluminum plant in Newnan, Georgia suffered an explosion in the casting department, resulting in injuries to five employees. The explosion caused significant damage to the cast house and related equipment. The Company is in the process of replacing the damaged casting equipment and expects the cast house to be back in production by the end of the second quarter of 2017. The Newnan plant is currently sourcing raw materials for its extrusion process from other Bonnell plants and from third party vendors. Bonnell Aluminum has various forms of insurance to cover losses associated with this type of event.

During the first quarter of 2017, Bonnell incurred $2.0 million of additional expenses associated with the explosion, and $1.6 million of this amount has been fully offset by anticipated insurance recoveries. Insurance recoveries for the remaining $0.4 million is not assured and are included in “Plant shutdowns, asset impairments, restructurings and other” in the Net Sales and Operating Profit by Segment and in “Cost of goods sold” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. As the insurance recovery process progresses, additional insurance recoveries are expected.

Capital Expenditures, Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures in Bonnell Aluminum were $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2017 (including $0.4 million associated with Futura since it was acquired), compared to $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2016. Capital expenditures are projected to total $23 million in 2017, including approximately $9 million to complete the extrusions capacity expansion project at the Niles, Michigan plant, expenditures to fix the damage caused by the cast house explosion net of related insurance recoveries (facility upgrades of approximately $2 million will not be covered by insurance reimbursements), $9 million for routine items required to support legacy operations, and $2 million to support the operations of Futura. Depreciation expense was $2.4 million in the first quarter of 2017, which included $0.3 million from the addition of Futura, compared to $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2016, and is projected to be $13 million in 2017. Amortization expense was $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2017, which included $0.2 million from the addition of Futura, and $0.3 million in the first quarter of 2016, and is projected to be $3 million in 2017.

Corporate Expenses, Interest, Taxes & Other

Pension expense was $2.6 million in the first three months of 2017, a favorable change of $0.2 million from the first three months of 2016. The impact on earnings from pension expense is reflected in “Corporate expenses, net” in the Net Sales and Operating Profit by Segment table. Pension expense is projected to be $10.4 million in 2017. Corporate expenses, net, decreased in 2017 versus 2016 primarily due to lower pension expense and stock-based employee benefit costs.

Interest expense was $1.2 million in the first three months of 2017 in comparison to $1.1 million in the first three months of 2016. Interest expense in 2016 included the write off of $0.2 million in unamortized loan fees from the Company’s revolving credit agreement that was refinanced in the first quarter of 2016.

The effective tax rate used to compute income tax expense from continuing operations was 39.5% in the first three months of 2017, compared to 30.6% in the first three months of 2016. The effective tax rate from ongoing operations comparable to the earnings reconciliation table on page 1 was 39.2% for the first three months of 2017 versus 32.9% in 2016. An explanation of significant differences between the estimated effective tax rate for income from continuing operations and the U.S. federal statutory rate for 2017 and 2016 will be provided in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 (the “Form 10-Q”).

CAPITAL STRUCTURE

Total debt was $193.0 million at March 31, 2017, compared to $95.0 million at December 31, 2016. Net debt (debt in excess of cash and cash equivalents) was $164.1 million at March 31, 2017, compared to $65.5 million at December 31, 2016. The increase in debt was substantially due to the acquisition of Futura, which was funded using borrowings under the Company’s secured revolving credit agreement. Net debt is a financial measure that is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. See Note (d) in the Notes to the Financial Tables for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

FORWARD-LOOKING AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

Some of the information contained in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When we use the words “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “likely,” “may” and similar expressions, we do so to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on our then current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. It is possible that our actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in or implied by these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include, without limitation, the following: we have an underfunded defined benefit (pension) plan to which we will be required to make contributions; our performance is influenced by costs incurred by our operating companies, including, for example, the cost of raw materials and energy; our substantial international operations subject us to risks of doing business in countries outside the U.S., which could adversely affect our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows; we may not be able to successfully identify, complete or integrate strategic acquisitions; acquired businesses, including Futura, may not achieve the levels of revenue, profit, productivity, or otherwise perform as we expect; acquisitions, including Futura, involve special risks, including without limitation, diversion of management’s time and attention from our existing businesses, the potential assumption of unanticipated liabilities and contingencies and potential difficulties in integrating acquired businesses and achieving anticipated operational improvements; PE Films is highly dependent on sales associated with its top five customers, the largest of which is The Procter & Gamble Company, and the loss or significant reduction of sales associated with one or more of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our business; growth of PE Films depends on its ability to develop and deliver new products at competitive prices; the failure of PE Films’ customers, who are subject to cyclical downturns, to achieve success or maintain market share could adversely impact its sales and operating margins; uncertain economic conditions in Brazil could adversely impact the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Flexible Packaging Films; an impairment on our long-lived intangible assets, including goodwill, could have a material non-cash impact on our results of operations; and the other factors discussed in the reports Tredegar files with or furnishes to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“the SEC”) from time to time, including the risks and important factors set forth in additional detail in “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of Tredegar’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, filed with the SEC. Readers are urged to review and consider carefully the disclosures Tredegar makes in its filings with the SEC.

Tredegar does not undertake, and expressly disclaims any duty, to update any forward-looking statement made in this press release to reflect any change in management’s expectations or any change in conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which such statements are based, except as required by applicable law.

To the extent that the financial information portion of this press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, it also presents both the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and a quantitative reconciliation of the difference between any such non-GAAP measures and such comparable GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures are provided in the Notes to the Financial Tables included with this press release and can also be found within “Presentations” in the “Investors” section of our website, www.tredegar.com.

Tredegar uses its website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial information and other material information regarding Tredegar is posted on and assembled in the “Investors” section of its website.

Tredegar Corporation is a manufacturer of plastic films and aluminum extrusions. A global company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Tredegar had 2016 sales of $828 million. With approximately 3,200 employees, the company operates manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

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Source: Tredegar Corporation

Tredegar Corporation
Neill Bellamy, 804-330-1211
neill.bellamy@tredegar.com