Tredegar Reports Third Quarter 2022 Results

RICHMOND, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Tredegar Corporation (NYSE:TG, also the “Company” or “Tredegar”) today reported third quarter financial results for the period ended September 30, 2022.

Third quarter 2022 net income (loss) from continuing operations was $1.0 million (0.03 per diluted share) compared to net income (loss) from continuing operations of $6.2 million ($0.19 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2021. Net income (loss) from ongoing operations, which excludes special items, was $4.8 million ($0.14 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2022 compared with $7.2 million ($0.22 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2021. 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 nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, is provided in Note (a) to the Financial Tables in this press release.

Third Quarter Financial Results Highlights

• Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) from ongoing operations for Aluminum Extrusions of $12.1 million was consistent compared the third quarter of 2021
• EBITDA from ongoing operations for PE Films of $0.4 million was $4.4 million lower than the third quarter of 2021
• EBITDA from ongoing operations for Flexible Packaging Films of $7.8 million was $0.4 million higher than the third quarter of 2021

John Steitz, Tredegar’s president and chief executive officer, said, “Bonnell’s profitability and margins, excluding inventory adjustments, improved during the third quarter versus last year despite flat sales volume and inflationary cost pressures. The log of open orders, while about twice the size of pre-pandemic levels, declined during the quarter, with shipments and order cancellations exceeding new orders as customers focused on reducing high inventories. The outlook for demand beyond current open orders remains uncertain given recessionary concerns.”

Mr. Steitz continued, “PE Films EBITDA from ongoing operations declined during the third quarter to essentially a break-even level due to soft demand for products with flat panel displays and customer inventory corrections. Like Bonnell, the outlook for demand for PE Films’ products remains uncertain. On the bright side, Terphane, our flexible packaging films business headquartered in Brazil, had another quarter of solid performance.”

Mr. Steitz further stated, “Debt net of cash increased by $62 million during the first nine months of this year due to a $50 million contribution in February for the first step in the termination and settlement process of our frozen pension plan, which is expected to be completed in the middle of next year, and higher working capital. We continue to be very focused on net cash generation. Our financial leverage remains low under our $375 million credit facility, which has a remaining term of approximately five years.”

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: building and construction (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 results for Aluminum Extrusions is provided below:

Third Quarter 2022 Results vs. Third Quarter 2021 Results

Net sales (sales less freight) in the third quarter of 2022 increased 17.9% versus 2021 primarily due to an increase in average selling prices to cover higher operating costs, partially offset by the pass-through of lower metal costs. Sales volume in the third quarter of 2022 was flat versus 2021. Sales volume in the specialty market, which represented 34% of total volume in 2021, decreased 11.0% in the third quarter of 2022 versus 2021, primarily as a result of exiting lower-margin business. Sales volume in the automotive market, which represented 8% of total volume in 2021, increased 5.3% versus the third quarter of 2021. Nonresidential B&C sales volume, which represented 51% of 2021 volume, increased 8.5% in the third quarter of 2022 versus 2021. The Company has observed slowing order input and order cancellations as customers report high inventory levels. In addition, given the recent slowdown in orders, average labor shortage levels have been significantly diminished. Nonetheless, onboarding new employees has resulted in higher hiring and training costs and production inefficiencies in 2022 versus last year. With a reduced level of incoming orders in the third quarter of 2022, overall open orders at the end of the quarter were 59 million lbs. versus 86 million lbs. at the end of the second quarter of 2022.

EBITDA from ongoing operations in the third quarter of 2022 was flat versus the third quarter of 2021 primarily due to:

• Higher pricing ($19.6 million, net of the pass-through of aluminum raw material costs), partially offset by: higher labor and employee-related costs ($2.1 million) and lower labor productivity ($1.3 million); higher supply expense, including significant price increases in paint, chemicals, packaging and other supplies ($3.6 million); higher utility costs ($2.0 million); higher freight rates ($1.3 million); and increased selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses ($0.8 million); and
• The timing of the flow through under the first-in first-out method of aluminum raw material costs passed through to customers, previously acquired at higher prices in a quickly changing commodity pricing environment, resulted in a charge of $3.8 million in the third quarter of 2022 versus a benefit of $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2021. In addition, the Company recorded an out-of-period adjustment of $2.5 million related to inventory and accrued labor costs.

First Nine Months of 2022 Results vs. First Nine Months of 2021 Results

Net sales in the first nine months of 2022 increased 29.3% versus 2021 primarily due to an increase in average selling prices to cover higher aluminum raw material costs and higher operating costs, partially offset by lower sales volume. Sales volume in the first nine months of 2022 decreased by 1.0% versus 2021.

EBITDA from ongoing operations in the first nine months of 2022 increased $12.8 million in comparison to the first nine months of 2021, primarily due to:

• Higher pricing ($53.7 million, net of the pass-through of aluminum raw material costs), partially offset by: lower volume ($0.7 million); higher labor and employee-related costs ($6.0 million) and lower labor productivity ($4.6 million); higher maintenance costs ($1.4 million); higher supply expense, including significant price increases in paint, chemicals, packaging and other supplies ($10.1 million); higher utilities ($2.7 million); higher freight rates ($5.2 million); and increased SG&A expenses ($3.2 million); and
• The timing of the flow through under the first-in first-out method of aluminum raw material costs passed through to customers, previously acquired at lower prices in a quickly changing commodity pricing environment, resulted in a benefit of $1.7 million in the first nine months of 2022 versus a benefit of $5.8 million in the first nine months of 2021. The benefit in the first nine months of 2022 was net of an adverse impact from the lag in pricing during the first half of 2022 ($0.3 million), in which products committed to customers at a specified price were shipped in a later period. In addition, the Company recorded an out-of-period adjustment of $2.5 million related to inventory and accrued labor costs.

Aluminum Extrusions has adequate supply agreements for aluminum raw materials in 2022 and continues to secure supply sources to meet expected needs in 2023. Refer to Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2022 (“Third Quarter Form 10-Q”) for additional information on aluminum price trends.

Projected Capital Expenditures and Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures for Bonnell Aluminum are projected to be $30 million in 2022, including $15 million for new enterprise resource planning and manufacturing execution systems (“ERP/MES”), $6 million for infrastructure upgrades at the facilities located in Niles, Michigan, Carthage, Tennessee and Newnan, Georgia and $3 million for other strategic projects. The ERP/MES project is expected to cost $28 million over a two-year time span. In addition to strategic projects, approximately $6 million will be required to support continuity of current operations. Depreciation expense is projected to be $15 million in 2022. Amortization expense is projected to be $2 million in 2022.

PE Films

PE Films produces surface protection films, polyethylene overwrap and polypropylene films for other markets. A summary of results for PE Films is provided below:

Third Quarter 2022 Results vs. Third Quarter 2021 Results

Net sales in the third quarter of 2022 decreased 29.6% compared to the third quarter of 2021. Sales volume decreased in both Surface Protection and overwrap films versus the third quarter of 2021. Surface Protection sales volume declined 26% versus the third quarter of 2021 and 37% versus the second quarter of 2022. Surface Protection sales have been adversely impacted by weak market demand and competitive pricing. Consumer demand for electronics has significantly softened, causing manufacturers in the supply chain to experience reduced capacity utilization and inventory corrections. In addition, these market conditions are adversely impacting mix through reduced sales to our highest value-added customers and products.

EBITDA from ongoing operations in the third quarter of 2022 decreased $4.4 million versus the third quarter of 2021, primarily due to:

• A $4.7 million decrease from Surface Protection:
  • Lower contribution margin for non-transitioning products associated with a market slowdown and customer inventory corrections ($4.0 million) and competitive pricing ($1.1 million); and for previously disclosed customer product transitions ($1.1 million), partially offset by lower SG&A expenses ($0.4 million);
  • A foreign currency transaction gain of $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2022 versus no gains or losses in the third quarter of 2021; and
  • The pass-through lag associated with resin costs (no benefit or charge in the third quarter of 2022 versus a charge of $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2021).
• A $0.3 million increase from overwrap films primarily due to a benefit from the pass-through lag associated with resin costs (no benefit or charge in the third quarter of 2022 versus a charge of $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2021), partially offset by lower sales volume ($0.1 million).

First Nine Months of 2022 Results vs. First Nine Months of 2021 Results

Net sales in the first nine months of 2022 decreased 6% versus the first nine months of 2021 due to lower volume in Surface Protection and overwrap films. Sales volume and revenue declined 7% and 11%, respectively, in Surface Protection. Despite a decline of 11% in sales volume in overwrap films, revenue increased 9% as a result of the pricing impact associated with the pass-through of resin costs.

EBITDA from ongoing operations in the first nine months of 2022 decreased $6.5 million versus the first nine months of 2021, primarily due to:

• A $7.2 million decrease from Surface Protection:
  • Lower contribution margin related to previously disclosed customer product transitions ($4.8 million) and for non-transitioning products associated with a market slowdown and customer inventory corrections ($1.6 million) and competitive pricing pressures ($4.4 million), partially offset by lower SG&A expenses ($0.7 million);
  • A foreign currency transaction gain ($1.0 million) in the first nine months of 2022 versus a charge ($0.1 million) in the first nine months of 2021; and
  • The pass-through lag associated with resin costs (benefit of $0.3 million in the first nine months of 2022 versus a charge of $1.3 million in the first nine months of 2021).
• A $0.7 million increase from overwrap films primarily related to a benefit from the pass-through lag associated with resin costs (benefit of $0.2 million in the first nine months of 2022 versus a charge of $1.3 million in the first nine months of 2021), partially offset by lower sales volume and unfavorable mix ($0.6 million).

Refer to Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk in the Third Quarter Form 10-Q for additional information on resin price trends.

Customer Product Transitions and Other Factors 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 would be made obsolete by customer product transitions to less costly alternative processes or materials. The Company estimates that these transitions, which principally relate to one customer, adversely impacted pre-tax income from continuing operations as reported under GAAP and EBITDA from ongoing operations for PE Films by $14.8 million during 2021 versus 2020. The transitions, which were complete as of the second quarter of 2022, have resulted in a total decline of $7 million in pre-tax income from continuing operations as reported under GAAP and EBITDA from ongoing operations versus 2021.

The Surface Protection business is continuing to experience competitive pricing pressures, unrelated to the customer product transitions, that are expected to adversely impact pre-tax income from continuing operations as reported under GAAP and EBITDA from ongoing operations by approximately $5 million for full year 2022 versus 2021; these competitive pricing pressures are being exacerbated for the Company’s exports to Asia with the strengthening of the U.S. Dollar versus the local currencies of competitors in the region. In addition, the timing of a recovery in the consumer electronics market is highly uncertain. To offset the expected adverse impact of the customer transitions and pricing pressures, the Company is aggressively pursuing sales of new surface protection products, applications and customers and driving production efficiencies and cost savings.

Projected Capital Expenditures and Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures for PE Films are projected to be $3 million in 2022, including $2 million for productivity projects and $1 million for capital expenditures required to support continuity of current operations. Depreciation expense is projected to be $6 million in 2022. 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 results for Flexible Packaging Films is provided below:

Third Quarter 2022 Results vs. Third Quarter 2021 Results

Net sales in the third quarter of 2022 increased 28.9% compared to the third quarter of 2021, primarily due to higher selling prices from the pass-through of higher resin costs, higher sales volume and favorable product mix.

EBITDA from ongoing operations in the third quarter of 2022 increased by $0.4 million versus the third quarter of 2021, primarily due to:

• Higher selling prices ($6.9 million) from the pass-through of higher resin costs, higher sales volume ($0.9 million), favorable product mix ($0.5 million), and lower variable costs ($0.4 million), partially offset by higher raw material costs ($5.6 million), higher fixed costs ($0.6 million) and higher SG&A expenses ($0.4 million);
• Net unfavorable foreign currency translation of Real-denominated operating costs ($1.2 million); and
• Foreign currency transaction gains ($0.1 million) in the third quarter of 2022 compared to foreign currency transaction gains ($0.6 million) in the third quarter of 2021.

First Nine Months of 2022 Results vs. First Nine Months of 2021 Results

Net sales in the first nine months of 2022 increased 24.9% compared to the first nine months of 2021, primarily due to higher selling prices from the pass-through of higher resin costs, favorable product mix and higher sales volume.

EBITDA from ongoing operations in the first nine months of 2022 decreased by $4.8 million versus the first nine months of 2021, primarily due to:

• Higher raw material costs ($16.3 million), higher fixed ($0.7 million) and variable costs ($1.5 million), and higher SG&A expenses ($1.0 million), partially offset by higher selling prices ($15.5 million) from the pass-through of higher resin costs, higher sales volume ($1.9 million) and favorable product mix ($1.3 million);
• Net unfavorable foreign currency translation of Real-denominated operating costs ($3.1 million); and
• Foreign currency transaction losses ($0.3 million) in the first nine months of 2022 compared to foreign currency transaction gains ($0.6 million) in the first nine months of 2021.

Refer to Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk in the Third Quarter Form 10-Q for additional information on polyester fiber and component price trends.

Projected Capital Expenditures and Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures for Flexible Packaging Films are projected to be $8 million in 2022, including $4 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 2022. Amortization expense is projected to be $0.4 million in 2022.

Corporate Expenses, Interest, Taxes & Other

Corporate expenses, net in the first nine months of 2022 decreased $0.3 million compared to the first nine months of 2021 primarily due to lower professional fees associated with business development activities ($1.6 million) and lower stock-based compensation ($1.2 million), offset by higher professional fees associated with remediation activities related to the Company’s previously disclosed material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting ($2.3 million).

Interest expense of $3.2 million in the first nine months of 2022 increased $0.6 million compared to the first nine months of 2021 due to higher average interest rates during the first nine months of 2022, partially offset by lower average debt levels.

The effective tax rate used to compute income tax expense (benefit) for continuing operations in the first nine months of 2022 was 18.8%, compared to 22.7% in the first nine months of 2021. The decrease in the effective tax rate for continuing operations is primarily due to a discrete benefit recorded in the first quarter of 2022 resulting from the implementation of new U.S. tax regulations associated with foreign tax credits published by the U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service on January 4, 2022. These regulations overhaul various components of the foreign tax credit regime, including the determination of creditable foreign taxes, and limit the amount of foreign taxes that are creditable against U.S. income taxes. This one-time discrete benefit is expected to reduce the effective tax rate for the remainder of 2022, which will be offset by an expected increase to the effective tax rate as the result of Brazilian income tax no longer being creditable in the U.S. for the foreseeable future. The effective tax rate from ongoing operations comparable to the earnings reconciliation table provided in Note (a) to the Financial Tables in this press release was 26.6% for the first nine months of 2022 versus 22.7% for the first nine months of 2021 (see also Note (e) to the Financial Tables). Refer to Note 9 to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in the Third Quarter Form 10-Q for an explanation of differences between the effective tax rate for income (loss) from continuing operations and the U.S. federal statutory rate for 2022 and 2021.

Pension expense under GAAP of $10.4 million in the first nine months of 2022 remained consistent with the first nine months of 2021. On February 10, 2022, Tredegar announced the initiation of a process to terminate and settle its frozen defined benefit pension plan, which could take up to 24 months to complete. In connection therewith, the Company borrowed funds under its revolving credit agreement and made a $50 million contribution to the pension plan (the “Special Contribution”) to reduce its underfunding and as part of a program within the pension plan to hedge or fix the expected future contributions that will be needed by the Company through the settlement process.

Contacts

Tredegar Corporation

Neill Bellamy, 804-330-1211

[email protected]

Read full story here