Glatfelter Reports Third Quarter 2016 Earnings

YORK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Glatfelter GLT today reported third quarter of 2016 net income of $19.6 million, or $0.44 per diluted share compared with $13.5 million, or $0.31 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2015. Adjusted earnings for the third quarter of 2016 were $24.0 million, or $0.54 per diluted share compared with $20.8 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for the same period a year ago. Adjusted earnings is a non-GAAP measure for which a reconciliation is provided within this release.

Consolidated net sales totaled $405.3 million and $420.0 million in the third quarters of 2016 and 2015, respectively. Lower selling prices unfavorably impacted the year-over-year comparison by $6.3 million and shipping volumes declined 2.1%.

"Our third quarter results reflect the continuation of challenging conditions in several of our markets," said Dante C. Parrini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "While Specialty Papers continued to improve its operating performance driving a 7% increase in operating profit, a soft demand environment in the broader uncoated freesheet market impacted shipping volume and limited the realization of price increases announced earlier this year. In Composite Fibers, shipping volumes fell short of our expectations as demand for wall cover products was softer than expected. The weakness in these businesses outweighed the steady performance of our Advanced Airlaid Materials business. Demand in our airlaid markets remains robust and our wipes volume was up significantly on both a year-over-year and sequential-quarter basis."

Mr. Parrini continued, "Given the weak global economic environment, we remain focused on aligning our cost structure to most efficiently meet our customers' needs, deploying new products, optimizing asset utilization and delivering on our operational excellence initiatives. We will continue to balance these initiatives with targeted investments to grow our business, such as expanding our Advanced Airlaid Materials business by building out our new Fort Smith, Arkansas facility, which we expect to be on-line in early 2018."

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income on a GAAP basis to adjusted earnings, a non-GAAP measure:

							Three months ended September 30
							2016											2015
			In thousands, except per share				Amount						Diluted EPS					Amount						Diluted EPS
			Net income				$	19,601					$	0.44				$	13,504					$	0.31
			Adjustments (pre-tax)
			Specialty Papers' environmental compliance					5,520											-
			Airlaid capacity expansion costs					1,051											-
			Fox River environmental matter					-											10,000
			Asset impairment charge					-											1,201
			Workforce efficiency charges					-											296
			Acquisition and integration related costs					-											18
			Total adjustments (pre-tax)					6,571											11,515
			Income taxes (1)					(2,193	)										(4,212	)
			Total after-tax adjustments					4,378						0.10					7,303						0.17
			Adjusted earnings				$	23,979					$	0.54				$	20,807					$	0.47

(1) Tax effect on adjustments calculated based on the tax rate of the jurisdiction in which each adjustment originated.

The sum of individual per share amounts set forth above may not agree to adjusted earnings per share due to rounding.

Third Quarter Business Unit Results

Composite Fibers

							Three months ended September 30
			Dollars in thousands				2016						2015						Change
			Tons shipped					39,068						38,868						200					0.5	%
			Net sales				$	131,678					$	133,946					$	(2,268	)				(1.7	)%
			Operating income					13,964						14,091						(127	)				(0.9	)%
			Operating margin					10.6	%					10.5	%

Composite Fibers' net sales decreased $2.3 million, or 1.7%, primarily due to $1.6 million from lower selling prices. Shipping volumes increased slightly in the comparison.

Composite Fibers' third quarter of 2016 operating income totaled $14.0 million, a decrease of $0.1 million compared to the year-ago period. Slightly higher shipping volumes, more efficient operations, net of market related downtime, and lower raw material and energy prices improved operating results by $3.0 million which more than offset the impact of lower selling prices. Foreign currency translation adversely impacted results by $1.5 million reflecting the less favorable impact from hedging activities in 2016 compared to 2015.

Advanced Airlaid Materials

							Three months ended September 30
			Dollars in thousands				2016						2015						Change
			Tons shipped					25,197						24,753						444					1.8	%
			Net sales				$	61,863					$	63,211					$	(1,348	)				(2.1	)%
			Operating income					6,382						6,770						(388	)				(5.7	)%
			Operating margin					10.3	%					10.7	%

Advanced Airlaid Materials' net sales decreased $1.3 million in the year-over-year comparison primarily due to $2.2 million of lower selling prices. Shipping volumes increased 1.8%, or 5.6% on a square meter basis, primarily due to higher shipments of wipes products.

Operating income for the third quarter of 2016, totaled $6.4 million, 5.7% lower than the comparable period a year ago. Operating income benefited by $2.3 million from lower raw material and energy prices partially offset by lower selling prices related to the impact of cost pass through arrangements. In addition, foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted the comparison by $0.7 million reflecting the less favorable impact from hedging activities in 2016 compared to 2015.

Specialty Papers

							Three months ended September 30
			Dollars in thousands				2016						2015						Change
			Tons shipped					197,260						203,611						(6,351	)				(3.1	)%
			Net sales				$	211,760					$	222,803					$	(11,043	)				(5.0	)%
			Energy and related sales, net					1,346						1,153						193					16.7	%
			Operating income					18,737						17,534						1,203					6.9	%
			Operating margin					8.8	%					7.9	%

Specialty Papers' net sales decreased $11.0 million, or 5.0%, due to a 3.1% decline in shipping volumes and a $2.5 million impact from lower selling prices.

Specialty Papers' operating income totaled $18.7 million in the third quarter of 2016, or an increase of $1.2 million compared with the same period a year ago. Lower raw material and energy costs essentially offset the adverse impact of lower selling prices while improved productivity more than offset the impact of higher incentive compensation in the third quarter of 2016.

Other Financial Information

Pension expense totaled $1.4 million and $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2016 and 2015, respectively. For 2016, full year pension expense is expected to be $5.5 million. Because the Company's qualified plan remains overfunded, a cash contribution is not expected for the foreseeable future.

The Company's effective tax rate was 6.7% and 14.5% for the third quarters of 2016 and 2015, respectively. On adjusted earnings, the effective tax rate was 13.0% in the third quarter of 2016 compared to 23.8% in the same quarter a year ago. The third quarter 2016 tax rate benefited by $2.4 million primarily from investment tax credits, release of reserves due to completion of tax audits and changes in statutory tax rates.

2016 Year-to-date Results

The Company reported net income of $37.7 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2016 compared with $30.3 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2015. Adjusted earnings totaled $43.0 million, or $0.98 per diluted share in 2016, compared with $36.0 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, in 2015. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of results determined on a GAAP basis to adjusted earnings:

							Nine months ended September 30
							2016											2015
			In thousands, except per share				Amount						Diluted EPS					Amount						Diluted EPS
			Net income				$	37,734					$	0.86				$	30,277					$	0.69
			Adjustments (pre-tax)
			Specialty Papers' environmental compliance					6,645											-
			Airlaid capacity expansion costs					1,308											-
			Fox River environmental matter					-											10,000
			Asset impairment charge					-											1,201
			Timberland sales and related costs					-											(2,705	)
			Workforce efficiency charges					88											2,249
			Acquisition and integration related costs					-											178
			Total adjustments (pre-tax)					8,041											10,923
			Income taxes (1) (2)					(2,736	)										(5,175	)
			Total after-tax adjustments					5,305						0.12					5,748						0.13
			Adjusted earnings				$	43,039					$	0.98				$	36,025					$	0.82

(1) Tax effect for adjustments calculated based on the tax rate of the jurisdiction in which each adjustment originated.

(2) Includes release of $1.4 million of tax reserves on timberland sales in 2015.

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

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $50.8 as of September 30, 2016, and net debt was $328.2 million compared with $255.4 million at the end of 2015. (Refer to the calculation of this measure provided in the tables at the end of this release.)

Capital expenditures during 2016 and 2015 are summarized below:

			Capital Expenditures				Three months ended September 30										Nine months ended September 30
			In thousands				2016					2015					2016					2015
			Specialty Papers' environmental compliance projects				$	15,757				$	7,238				$	52,544				$	18,988
			Airlaid capacity expansion					2,206					-					21,067					-
			Other capital expenditures					18,594					22,467					43,337					55,292
			Total capital expenditures				$	36,557				$	29,705				$	116,948				$	74,280

Capital expenditures are expected to total between $155 million and $170 million for 2016, including approximately $55 million to $60 million for Specialty Papers' environmental compliance projects and approximately $40 million to $45 million for the Airlaid capacity expansion project.

Adjusted free cash flow for the first nine months of 2016 was $11.8 million compared with $11.2 million in the same period of 2015. (Refer to the calculation of these measures provided in this release.)

Outlook

Composite Fibers' shipping volumes in the fourth quarter of 2016 are expected be approximately 5% lower than the third quarter driven by lower sales of metalized products. Selling prices and raw material and energy prices are expected to be in-line with the third quarter. The Company anticipates the impact of machine downtime to reduce inventory levels will be largely offset by cost reduction initiatives.

Advanced Airlaid Materials' shipping volumes are expected to decline slightly compared with the third quarter. Customer selling prices and raw material and energy prices are expected to be in-line with the third quarter.

For Specialty Papers, shipping volumes in the fourth quarter are expected to be in-line with the third quarter. Lower selling prices and mix changes are expected to reduce operating profit by approximately $5 million. The impact of machine downtime to reduce inventory levels is expected to be offset by lower maintenance costs. Raw material and energy prices are expected to increase moderately.

Conference Call

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

			What:				Glatfelter's 3rd Quarter 2016 Earnings Release Conference Call
			When:				Tuesday, November 1, 2016, 11:00 a.m. (ET)
			Number:				US dial 888.335.5539
							International dial 973.582.2857
			Conference ID:				3137533
			Webcast:				http://www.glatfelter.com/about_us/investor_relations/default.aspx
			Rebroadcast Dates:				November 1, 2016, 2:00 p.m. through November 15, 2016, 11:59 p.m.
			Rebroadcast Number:				Within US dial 855.859.2056
							International dial 404.537.3406
			Conference ID:				3137533

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 uses words such as "anticipates", "believes", "expects", "future", "intends", "plans", and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Any such statements are based on the Company'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 the Company does business, demand for or pricing of its products, changes in the cost to construct the new airlaid facility and the availability and costs of a qualified workforce, changes in tax legislation, governmental laws, regulations and policies, initiatives of regulatory authorities, technological changes and innovations, and market growth rates. 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

Glatfelter is a global supplier of specialty papers and fiber-based engineered materials, offering innovation, world-class service and over a century and a half of technical expertise. Headquartered in York, PA, the company employs over 4,300 people and serves customers in over 100 countries. U.S. operations include facilities in Pennsylvania and Ohio. International operations include facilities in Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the Philippines, and sales and distribution offices in China and Russia. Glatfelter's sales approximate $1.7 billion annually and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GLT. Additional information may be found at www.glatfelter.com.

P. H. Glatfelter Company and subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
				Three months ended September 30												Nine months ended September 30
In thousands, except per share				2016						2015						2016						2015
Net sales				$	405,301					$	419,960					$	1,213,932					$	1,248,232
Energy and related sales, net					1,346						1,153						4,013						3,936
Total revenues					406,647						421,113						1,217,945						1,252,168
Costs of products sold					345,477						361,205						1,056,209						1,107,319
Gross profit					61,170						59,908						161,736						144,849
Selling, general and administrative expenses					35,747						39,792						104,796						100,201
Losses (gains) on dispositions of plant, equipment and timberlands, net					5						(123	)					31						(2,888	)
Operating income					25,418						20,239						56,909						47,536
Non-operating income (expense)
Interest expense					(3,895	)					(4,317	)					(11,964	)					(13,177	)
Interest income					52						90						204						232
Other, net					(573	)					(220	)					(956	)					(192	)
Total other expense					(4,416	)					(4,447	)					(12,716	)					(13,137	)
Income before income taxes					21,002						15,792						44,193						34,399
Income tax provision					1,401						2,288						6,459						4,122
Net income				$	19,601					$	13,504					$	37,734					$	30,277
Earnings per share
Basic				$	0.45					$	0.31					$	0.87					$	0.70
Diluted					0.44						0.31						0.86						0.69
Cash dividends declared per common share				$	0.125					$	0.12					$	0.375					$	0.36
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic					43,576						43,457						43,552						43,363
Diluted					44,133						43,865						44,059						43,949

Business Unit Financial Information (unaudited)
Three months ended September 30
Dollars in millions				Composite Fibers										Advanced Airlaid Materials										Specialty Papers										Other and Unallocated												Total
				2016					2015					2016					2015					2016					2015					2016						2015						2016						2015
Net sales				$	131.7				$	133.9				$	61.9				$	63.2				$	211.8				$	222.8				$	-					$	-					$	405.3					$	420.0
Energy and related sales, net					-					-					-					-					1.3					1.2					-						-						1.3						1.2
Total revenue					131.7					133.9					61.9					63.2					213.1					224.0					-						-						406.6						421.1
Costs of products sold					105.8					108.4					53.5					54.6					180.1					196.1					6.1						2.1						345.5						361.2
Gross profit (loss)					25.9					25.5					8.4					8.6					33.0					27.9					(6.1	)					(2.1	)					61.2						59.9
SG&A					11.9					11.5					2.0					1.8					14.3					10.4					7.5						16.2						35.7						39.8
Gains on dispositions of plant, equipment and timberlands, net					-					-					-					-					-					-					-						(0.1	)					-						(0.1	)
Total operating income (loss)					14.0					14.1					6.4					6.8					18.7					17.5					(13.6	)					(18.2	)					25.4						20.2
Non operating expense					-					-					-					-					-					-					(4.4	)					(4.4	)					(4.4	)					(4.4	)
Income (loss) before income taxes				$	14.0				$	14.1				$	6.4				$	6.8				$	18.7				$	17.5				$	(18.0	)				$	(22.6	)				$	21.0					$	15.8
Supplementary Data
Net tons sold (thousands)					39.1					38.9					25.2					24.8					197.3					203.6					-						-						261.5						267.2
Depreciation, depletion and amortization				$	6.9				$	6.7				$	2.4				$	2.2				$	6.4				$	6.4				$	0.6					$	0.5					$	16.3					$	15.8
Capital expenditures					5.1					5.8					4.3					1.8					26.7					22.1					0.5						-						36.6						29.7
Nine months ended September 30
Dollars in millions				Composite Fibers										Advanced Airlaid Materials										Specialty Papers										Other and Unallocated												Total
				2016					2015					2016					2015					2016					2015					2016						2015						2016						2015
Net sales				$	391.6				$	409.6				$	183.4				$	183.0				$	638.9				$	655.6				$	-					$	-					$	1,213.9					$	1,248.2
Energy and related sales, net					-					-					-					-					4.0					3.9					-						-						4.0						3.9
Total revenue					391.6					409.6					183.4					183.0					642.9					659.5					-						-						1,217.9						1,252.2
Costs of products sold					316.0					329.8					157.5					162.0					574.1					608.4					8.6						7.1						1,056.2						1,107.3
Gross profit (loss)					75.6					79.8					25.9					21.0					68.8					51.1					(8.6	)					(7.1	)					161.7						144.8
SG&A					35.1					34.4					6.2					5.8					40.9					34.2					22.6						25.7						104.8						100.2
Gains on dispositions of plant, equipment and timberlands, net					-					-					-					-					-					-					-						(2.9	)					-						(2.9	)
Total operating income (loss)					40.5					45.4					19.7					15.2					27.9					16.9					(31.2	)					(29.9	)					56.9						47.5
Non operating expense					-					-					-					-					-					-					(12.7	)					(13.1	)					(12.7	)					(13.1	)
Income (loss) before income taxes				$	40.5				$	45.4				$	19.7				$	15.2				$	27.9				$	16.9				$	(43.9	)				$	(43.0	)				$	44.2					$	34.4
Supplementary Data
Net tons sold (thousands)					116.7					116.2					74.1					71.4					597.7					593.6					-						-						788.5						781.2
Depreciation, depletion and amortization				$	21.2				$	20.1				$	7.0				$	6.5				$	19.7				$	19.3				$	1.8					$	1.5					$	49.7					$	47.4
Capital expenditures					13.7					17.3					25.0					4.6					77.4					51.0					0.8						1.4						116.9						74.3

The sum of individual amounts set forth above may not agree to the consolidated financial statements included herein due to rounding.

Selected Financial Information (unaudited)
				Nine months ended September 30
In thousands				2016						2015
Cash Flow Data
Cash provided (used) by:
Operating activities				$	59,437					$	70,523
Investing activities					(117,293	)					(72,923	)
Financing activities					2,974						(21,946	)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization					49,725						47,423
Capital expenditures					116,948						74,280
				September 30						December 31
				2016						2015
Balance Sheet Data
Cash and cash equivalents				$	50,752					$	105,304
Total assets					1,554,239						1,500,416
Total debt					378,981						360,662
Shareholders' equity					691,689						663,247

The amount set forth for Total debt as of December 31, 2015, has been restated to retroactively adopt Accounting Standards Number 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.

Reconciliation of GAAP Financial Information to Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release includes a discussion of earnings before the effects of certain specifically identified items, which is referred to as adjusted earnings, a non-GAAP measure. The Company uses non-GAAP adjusted earnings to supplement the understanding of its consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP adjusted earnings is meant to present the financial performance of the Company's core operations, which consists of the production and sale of specialty papers, composite fibers papers and airlaid non-woven materials. Management and the Company's Board of Directors use non-GAAP adjusted earnings to evaluate the performance of the Company's fundamental business in relation to prior periods. The performance of the Company's operations is evaluated based upon numerous items such as tons sold, average selling prices, gross margins and overhead, among others. Items of an unusual or non-routine nature, such as gains on the sale of timberlands, costs related to Specialty Papers' environmental compliance and Advanced Airlaid Materials capacity expansion projects, among others, are excluded from the Company's calculation of non-GAAP adjusted earnings because management believes each of these items is unique and not part of the Company's core business, and will only impact the Company's financial results for a limited period of time. Gains from timberland sales are distinct from revenues generated from product sales. Unlike items such as cost of raw materials and overhead costs, the environmental compliance and capacity expansion projects are unique items that do not represent direct ongoing costs incurred in the manufacture and sale of the Company's products.

Unlike net income determined in accordance with GAAP, non-GAAP adjusted earnings does not reflect all charges and gains recorded by the Company for the applicable period and, therefore, does not present a complete picture of the Company's results of operations for the respective period. However, non-GAAP adjusted earnings provides a measure of how the Company's core operations are performing, which management believes is useful to investors because it allows comparison of such operations from period to period. Non-GAAP adjusted earnings should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Calculation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow				Three months ended September 30												Nine months ended September 30
In thousands				2016						2015						2016						2015
Cash from operations				$	22,797					$	45,010					$	59,437					$	70,523
Less: Capital expenditures					(36,557	)					(29,705	)					(116,948	)					(74,280	)
Add back: Airlaid capacity expansion					2,206						-						21,067						-
Add back: Specialty Papers' environmental compliance projects					15,757						7,238						52,544						18,988
Exclude: Cellulosic biofuel/Alternative fuel mixture credits					-						1,282						(4,277	)					(4,065	)
Adjusted free cash flow				$	4,203					$	23,825					$	11,823					$	11,166
Net Debt																September 30						December 31
In thousands																2016						2015
Current portion of long-term debt																$	11,432					$	7,366
Long term debt																	367,549						353,296
Total																	378,981						360,662
Less: Cash																	(50,752	)					(105,304	)
Net Debt																$	328,229					$	255,358

The amounts set forth above as of December 31, 2015, have been restated to retroactively adopt Accounting Standards Number 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.

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