News Release

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 16, 2021-- Tredegar Corporation (NYSE:TG, also the “Company” or “Tredegar”) today reported fourth quarter and full year financial results for the period ended December 31, 2020.

Fourth quarter 2020 net income from continuing operations was $6.5 million ($0.19 per diluted share) compared to net income from continuing operations of $1.0 million ($0.03 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2019. Net income from ongoing operations, which excludes special items and discontinued operations, was $9.7 million ($0.29 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2020 and $9.9 million ($0.30 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Full year 2020 net loss from continuing operations was $16.8 million ($0.51 per diluted share) compared to net income from continuing operations of $58.5 million ($1.76 per diluted share) in 2019. Net income from ongoing operations was $50.8 million ($1.51 per diluted share) in 2020 and $47.6 million ($1.42 per diluted share) in 2019. A reconciliation of net income (loss) from continuing operations, 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 and twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, is provided in Note (a) of the Notes to the Financial Tables in this press release.

Fourth Quarter Financial Results Highlights

• Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) from ongoing operations for Aluminum Extrusions of $13.6 million was $0.8 million lower than the fourth quarter of 2019
• EBITDA from ongoing operations for PE Films of $11.2 million was $0.5 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2019
• EBITDA from ongoing operations for Flexible Packaging Films of $8.1 million was $3.8 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2019

John Steitz, Tredegar’s president and chief executive officer, said, “Although 2020 was an extremely challenging year with COVID-19, we believe that it was one of our best. Bonnell Aluminum’s volume and EBITDA from ongoing operations suffered under COVID-19 conditions, yet data indicates that we outperformed the aluminum extrusions industry. Current bookings and backlog are at high levels. Surface Protection’s EBITDA from ongoing operations achieved a record high while facing the headwinds of a significant customer product transition. Surface Protection continues to make progress in generating contribution from sales of new products, applications and customers and implementing cost savings measures. Terphane had record EBITDA since being acquired in October of 2011, and its stellar performance has demonstrated the excellence of the Terphane leadership team.”

Mr. Steitz continued, “At the end of October, we sold the Personal Care business, which was at about the break-even level of EBITDA from ongoing operations, for cash proceeds of approximately $46 million. In December, we supplemented the cash from this sale and the cash that had built up on our balance sheet with borrowings under our revolving credit facility to pay a $200 million, or $5.97 per share, special dividend. In light of our history of strong cash generation, we believe that the related borrowings prudently use financial leverage in a low interest rate environment while also preserving available capital to meet the needs of our business units.”

Mr. Steitz concluded, “We are proud of our performance in 2020 despite COVID-19. But most of all, we are proud of our employees, who have demonstrated their dedication and strong work ethic during these unprecedented times to deliver exceptional performance.”

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19

Essential Business and Employee Considerations

The Company’s priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be to protect the health and safety of employees while keeping its manufacturing sites open due to the essential nature of many of its products. Within the limitations imposed by the health and safety procedures described below, the Company has continued to manufacture the full range of products at its facilities.

The Company’s protocols to protect the health and well-being of its employees from COVID-19 continue to develop as COVID-19 informed work practices evolve and the Company responds to recommended and mandated actions of government and health authorities. In addition, to facilitate a return to fully functional operations, the Company has undertaken an education campaign to provide employees with the most accurate and up-to-date information available, particularly from the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”), the Office of the Surgeon General and state and local health departments. The Company believes that these efforts will encourage employees to receive a vaccine when they are eligible.

The Company has educated employees about COVID-19, including how the virus is spread, COVID-19 symptoms and mitigation efforts to keep employees safe. Even in those facilities not bound by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Company has adopted COVID-19 related pay and sick leave policies and remote work policies that require employees to stay home if they feel ill or have been exposed to others with the illness, until they are cleared to return to work by our Human Resources team, who applies CDC and other state health department guidance to each case. The Company’s policies include: mandating employees self-monitor for symptoms; taking an employee’s temperature before entering production facilities; answering self-screening questions related to potential exposure and COVID-19 symptoms; mandating frequent handwashing; requiring social distancing; requiring face coverings on production floors at all times and in common areas and office settings where social distancing is difficult; streamlining onsite personnel to only those required for production and distribution; strongly encouraging and, where mandated, requiring remote work for all those who can work from home; limiting travel to essential business purposes; and regularly cleaning and disinfecting facilities. In the U.S., the Company has educated employees on COVID-19-related government benefits and has provided such benefits even in those facilities where the government benefits are not mandated.

Bonnell Aluminum is experiencing higher than normal absenteeism and hiring difficulties, which it attributes to COVID-19-related factors. Bonnell Aluminum attempts to match its direct labor with demand and is facing difficulty maintaining sufficient labor to meet desired shipment levels.

Financial Considerations

The 2020 annual plan for Bonnell Aluminum (pre-COVID-19) included sales volume of 201 million pounds and EBITDA from ongoing operations of $65 million, versus 2019 sales volume of 208 million pounds and EBITDA from ongoing operations of $65.7 million. Actual 2020 sales volume was 186 million pounds and EBITDA from ongoing operations was $55.1 million. Approximately 62% of Bonnell Aluminum’s sales volume in 2020 was related to building and construction (“B&C”) markets (non-residential B&C of 55% and residential B&C of 7%). Much of the 2020 sales volume associated with the B&C market was related to contracts that existed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the completion of many of these contracts, Bonnell began experiencing weakness in the B&C market during the fourth quarter of 2020. Overall, the Company believes that volume results for Bonnell Aluminum in 2020 have outperformed the industry, and performance to date during the COVID-19 environment has exceeded the Company's expectations, with current bookings and backlog at high levels. No significant issues have arisen to date on the collection of accounts receivable at Bonnell Aluminum.

Demand has remained strong under COVID-19 conditions for the Company’s flexible food packaging films produced by Terphane. The Surface Protection component of PE Films had record performance for EBITDA from ongoing operations in the second quarter and first half of 2020, but it experienced a slowdown in the third quarter, with a portion of the decline in volume related to a previously disclosed customer product transition and customer inventory corrections. The Company believes that while Surface Protection’s customer inventory corrections were largely resolved during the third quarter of 2020, it will experience a significant decline in volume and profitability in the first quarter of 2021 as a result of the customer product transition. See the PE Films section below for further discussion. No significant issues have arisen to date on the collection of accounts receivable at Terphane or Surface Protection.

Tredegar owns approximately 20% of kaleo, Inc. (“kaléo”), which makes and sells an epinephrine delivery device under the name AUVI-Q^®. The Company accounts for its investment in kaléo on a fair value basis. The Company’s estimate of the fair value of its interest in kaléo at December 31, 2020 was $34.6 million ($29.7 million after taxes), which represents an increase of $0.1 million ($0.1 million after taxes) and a decrease of $60.9 million ($47.6 million after taxes) since September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The decline in estimated fair value in 2020 was primarily due to: (i) current projections that assume ongoing pricing pressures, (ii) expected changes in market access as well as continued lower market demand for epinephrine delivery devices resulting from COVID-19-driven delays in in-person back-to-school schedules and social distancing guidelines, and (iii) a higher private company liquidity discount. kaléo’s stock is not publicly traded. The ultimate value of Tredegar’s ownership interest in kaléo could be materially different from the $34.6 million estimated fair value reflected in the Company’s financial statements at December 31, 2020.

Total debt was $134 million at December 31, 2020, compared to $42 million at December 31, 2019. Net debt (debt in excess of cash and cash equivalents), a non-GAAP financial measure, was $122.2 million at December 31, 2020, compared to $10.6 million at December 31, 2019. In December 2020, the Company paid a special dividend of $5.97 per share or $200 million, as a result of strong cash generation and overall net cash proceeds of approximately $46 million relating to the sale of Personal Care Films. The overall net cash proceeds resulted from net proceeds of $53 million received in the fourth quarter of 2020 less $7 million of expected expenditures during 2021, primarily related to information technology transition services and severance. The Company’s revolving credit agreement allows borrowings of up to $375 million and matures in June 2024. The Company believes that its most restrictive covenant (computed quarterly) is the leverage ratio, which permits maximum borrowings of up to 4x EBITDA, as defined under the revolving credit agreement for the trailing four quarters (“Credit EBITDA”). The Company had Credit EBITDA and a leverage ratio (calculated in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of the Company’s Annual Report on the period ended December 31, 2020 ("Form 10-K")) of $93.4 million and 1.43x, respectively, at December 31, 2020. The Company’s current stress testing under a COVID-19-driven recession indicates a low probability that a future leverage ratio will exceed 4.0x. See the Notes to the Financial Tables for a reconciliation of net debt to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

OPERATIONS REVIEW

Aluminum Extrusions

Aluminum Extrusions, which is also referred to as Bonnell Aluminum, produces high-quality, soft-alloy and medium-strength custom fabricated and finished aluminum extrusions primarily for the following markets: B&C, automotive, and specialty (which consists of consumer durables, machinery and equipment, electrical and renewable energy, and distribution end-use products). A summary of fourth quarter and full year results for Aluminum Extrusions is provided below:

Fourth Quarter 2020 Results vs. Fourth Quarter 2019 Results

Net sales (sales less freight) in the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased by 6.6% versus 2019 primarily due to lower sales volume, partially offset by an increase in average selling prices to cover higher operating costs. Metal costs were relatively flat versus the fourth quarter of 2019. Sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased by 7.4% versus 2019. Sales volume in the specialty market, which represented 31% of total volume in 2020, increased 9.5% in the fourth quarter of 2020 versus 2019, and sales volume in the automotive market, which represented 9% of total volume in 2020, was relatively flat versus the fourth quarter of 2019. Non-residential sales volume, which represented 55% of 2020 volume, declined 17.5% in the fourth quarter of 2020 versus 2019 primarily as a result of COVID-19-related lower demand. See “The Impact of COVID-19” section for more information on business conditions.

EBITDA from ongoing operations in the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased by $0.8 million in comparison to the fourth quarter of 2019. Lower volume ($2.9 million) and higher labor and employee-related costs ($2.3 million) were partially offset by higher pricing ($2.4 million) and other lower operating costs ($1.3 million). In addition, the timing of the flow through under the first-in first-out method of aluminum raw material costs, previously acquired at lower prices in a quickly rising commodity pricing environment, resulted in a benefit of $0.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 versus a charge of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Full Year 2020 Results vs. Full Year 2019 Results

Net sales in 2020 decreased by 14.0% versus 2019 primarily due to lower sales volume and the pass-through of lower metal costs, partially offset by an increase in average selling prices to cover higher operating costs. Sales volume in 2020 decreased by 10.5% versus 2019 with declines in all key markets, which the Company believes was mainly a result of COVID-19-related lower demand.

EBITDA from ongoing operations in 2020 decreased by $10.5 million in comparison to 2019 due to lower volume ($16.1 million) and higher labor and employee-related costs ($4.3 million), partially offset by higher pricing ($8.1 million), lower freight ($0.8 million) and lower travel and entertainment expenses as a result of COVID-19 ($0.9 million).

Projected Capital Expenditures and Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures for Bonnell Aluminum are projected to be $21 million in 2021, including $3 million for infrastructure upgrades at the Carthage, Tennessee and Newnan, Georgia facilities, $3 million for a roof replacement at the Elkhart, Indiana site and $4 million for strategic projects. In addition, approximately $11 million will be required to support continuity of current operations. Depreciation expense is projected to be $14 million in 2021. Amortization expense is projected to be $3 million in 2021.

PE Films

PE Films is composed of surface protection films, polyethylene overwrap films and films for other markets. All historical results for the Personal Care component, which was sold in the fourth quarter of 2020, have been presented as discontinued operations. The Surface Protection component of the PE Films segment now includes the packaging lines and operations located at the Pottsville, Pennsylvania manufacturing site (“Pottsville Packaging”), which was previously reported within the Personal Care component of PE Films. A summary of fourth quarter and full year results for PE Films is provided below:

Fourth Quarter 2020 Results vs. Fourth Quarter 2019 Results

Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased by 3.9% versus 2019 primarily due to favorable sales mix in Surface Protection.

EBITDA from ongoing operations in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased by $0.5 million versus the fourth quarter of 2019 primarily due to higher EBITDA from ongoing operations in Surface Protection, partially offset by higher fixed costs in Pottsville Packaging.

Full Year 2020 Results vs. Full Year 2019 Results

Net sales increased by 4.1% in 2020 versus 2019 primarily due to higher sales of products in Surface Protection unrelated to customer product transitions ($12.0 million), partially offset by lower sales associated with the customer product transitions this year ($6.8 million).

EBITDA from ongoing operations in 2020 increased by $4.0 million versus 2019 primarily due to:

• A $3.2 million increase from Surface Protection, primarily due to sales of products unrelated to the customer product transitions ($8.3 million), partially offset by lower sales associated with the customer product transitions ($4.5 million); and
• A $0.8 million increase from Pottsville Packaging primarily related to higher sales volume and favorable raw materials pricing.

Customer Product Transitions in Surface Protection

The Surface Protection component of PE Films 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 processes and then discarded.

The Company previously reported the risk that a portion of its film products used in surface protection applications will be made obsolete by possible future customer product transitions to less costly alternative processes or materials. These transitions principally relate to one customer. The Company believes that previously reported delays in this customer's transitions were recently resolved by the customer and much of the remaining transitions could occur by the end of 2021. Under this scenario, the Company estimates that the contribution to EBITDA from ongoing operations for PE Films could decline due to the remaining customer product transitions by $18 million in 2021 versus 2020 and $4 million in 2022 versus 2021. To offset the expected adverse impact, the Company is aggressively pursuing and making progress in generating contribution from sales from new surface protection products, applications and customers and implementing cost savings measures. Annual contribution to EBITDA from ongoing operations for PE Films on surface protection products unrelated to the customer product transitions has increased since 2018 by approximately $12 million.

Projected Capital Expenditures and Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures for PE Films are projected to be $5 million in 2021, including $2 million for productivity projects and $3 million for capital expenditures required to support continuity of current operations. Depreciation expense is projected to be $6 million in 2021. There is no amortization expense for PE Films.

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 fourth quarter and full year results for Flexible Packaging Films is provided below:

Fourth Quarter 2020 Results vs. Fourth Quarter 2019 Results

Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased 6.5% versus the fourth quarter of 2019 primarily due to higher sales volume and favorable product mix, partially offset by lower selling prices from the pass-through of lower resin costs.

Terphane’s EBITDA from ongoing operations in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased by $3.8 million versus the fourth quarter of 2019 primarily due to:

• Lower raw material costs, net of lower selling prices ($1.8 million), higher sales volume ($1.2 million), favorable product mix ($0.7 million) and lower variable costs ($1.1 million), partially offset by higher fixed costs ($0.4 million) and higher selling and general administration expenses ($0.4 million);
• Net favorable foreign currency translation of Real-denominated costs ($0.2 million); and
• Higher foreign currency transaction losses of $0.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the prior year.

Full Year 2020 Results vs. Full Year 2019 Results

Net sales in 2020 increased 0.5% versus 2019 while volume increased 7.4% versus 2019 primarily due to lower selling prices from lower raw material costs and changes in product mix.

Terphane’s EBITDA from ongoing operations in 2020 increased by $15.9 million versus 2019 due to:

• Lower raw material costs, net of lower selling prices ($8.9 million), higher sales volume ($3.3 million), favorable product mix ($2.2 million) and lower fixed costs ($1.0 million), partially offset by higher variable costs ($1.1 million) and higher selling and general administration expenses ($0.4 million);
• Net favorable foreign currency translation of Real-denominated costs ($1.5 million);
• Foreign currency transaction losses of $0.5 million in 2020 versus gains of $0.2 million in 2019; and
• A benefit of $1.2 million in 2020 resulting from the favorable settlement of a dispute related to value-added taxes.

Projected Capital Expenditures and Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures for Terphane are projected to be $9 million in 2021, including $5 million for new capacity for value-added products and productivity projects and $4 million for capital expenditures required to support continuity of current operations. Depreciation expense is projected to be $2 million in 2021. Amortization expense is projected to be $0.4 million in 2021.

Corporate Expenses, Investments, Interest and Taxes

Pension expense was $14.6 million in 2020, an unfavorable change of $5.1 million from 2019. The impact on earnings from pension expense is reflected in “Corporate expenses, net” in the net sales and EBITDA from ongoing operations by segment statements. Pension expense is projected to be $14.0 million in 2021, which is determined at the beginning of the year based on the funded status of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan and actuarial assumptions at that time. In addition to the higher pension expense in 2020 compared to 2019, corporate expenses, net, increased primarily due to higher professional fees ($3.4 million) related to business development activities and higher stock compensation expense ($1.0 million), partially offset by lower environmental expenses ($0.6 million) and lower other employee-related compensation ($1.3 million).

Interest expense was $2.6 million in 2020 in comparison to $4.1 million in 2019, primarily due to lower average debt levels.

The effective tax rate used to compute income taxes for continuing operations in 2020 was 32.8% compared to 18.8% in 2019. The effective tax rate from ongoing operations comparable to the earnings reconciliation table provided in Note (a) of the Notes to Financial Tables in this press release was 21.4% in 2020 and 21.5% in 2019 (see also Note (f) of the Notes to Financial Tables). An explanation of differences between the effective tax rate for income from continuing operations and the U.S. federal statutory rate for 2020 and 2019 will be provided in the Form 10-K.

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 the Company uses the words “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “appear to,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “likely,” “may” and similar expressions, it does so to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the Company's 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 the Company's 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. In addition, the Company's current projections for its businesses could be materially affected by the highly uncertain impact of COVID-19. As a consequence, the Company's results could differ significantly from its projections, depending on, among other things, the duration of "shelter in place" orders and the ultimate impact of the pandemic on employees, supply chains, customers and the U.S. and world economies. 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:

• loss or gain of sales to significant customers on which the Company's business is highly dependent;
• inability to achieve sales to new customers to replace lost business;
• inability to develop, efficiently manufacture and deliver new products at competitive prices;
• failure of the Company's customers to achieve success or maintain market share;
• failure to protect our intellectual property rights;
• risks of doing business in countries outside the U.S. that affect our international operations;
• political, economic, and regulatory factors concerning the Company's products;
• uncertain economic conditions in countries in which the Company does business;
• competition from other manufacturers, including manufacturers in lower-cost countries and manufacturers benefiting from government subsidies;
• impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates;
• a change in the amount of the Company's underfunded defined benefit pension plan liability;
• an increase in the operating costs incurred by the Company's business units, including, for example, the cost of raw materials and energy;
• inability to successfully identify, complete or integrate strategic acquisitions; failure to realize the expected benefits of such acquisitions and assumption of unanticipated risks in such acquisitions;
• disruption to the Company's manufacturing facilities;
• the impact of public health epidemics on employees, production and the global economy, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) currently impacting the global economy;
• an information technology system failure or breach;
• volatility and uncertainty of the valuation of the Company's investment in kaléo;
• the impact of the imposition of tariffs and sanctions on imported aluminum ingot used by Bonnell Aluminum;
• the impact of new tariffs, duties or other trade restrictions imposed as a result of rising trade tensions between the U.S. and other countries;
• the termination of anti-dumping duties on products imported to Brazil that compete with products produced by Flexible Packaging;
• failure to establish and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting;

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” Part I, Item 1A of the Form 10-K. 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 an industrial manufacturer with three primary businesses: custom aluminum extrusions for the North American building & construction, automotive and specialty end-use markets; surface protection films for high-technology applications in the global electronics industry; and specialized polyester films primarily for the Latin American flexible packaging market. Tredegar had 2020 sales from continuing operations of $755 million. With approximately 2,400 employees, the Company operates manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, and Asia.

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

Source: Tredegar Corporation