ATLANTA, Oct. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Highlights

• Q3 Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share were $0.20 compared to $0.17 in the prior year period.
• Q3 Adjusted EBITDA was $197.1 million compared to $190.6 million in the prior year period.
• Definitive agreement signed to purchase G-Box, S.A. de C.V., a Mexico-based operator of two folding carton facilities

Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), (the "Company"), a leading provider of paper-based packaging solutions to food, beverage and other consumer products companies, today reported Net Income for third quarter 2015 of $60.2 million, or $0.18 per share, based upon 330.4 million weighted average diluted shares.  This compares to third quarter 2014 Net Income of $53.0 million, or $0.16 per share, based on 330.6 million weighted average diluted shares.

Third quarter 2015 Net Income was negatively impacted by $5.8 million of special charges after taxes (primarily Charges Associated with Business Combinations). When adjusting for these charges, Adjusted Net Income for the third quarter of 2015 was $66.0 million, or $0.20 per diluted share. This compares to third quarter 2014 Adjusted Net Income of $57.5 million or $0.17 per diluted share.

"We delivered another solid quarter of performance, producing and selling more tons than a year ago and improving our Adjusted EBITDA margin by 20 basis points to 18.4%," said Chairman and CEO David Scheible.  The increases were driven by our ongoing asset optimization strategies, acquisition integration and strong operating performance.  We have generated nearly $60 million in productivity benefits through the first three quarters of the year, which puts us on track to deliver full-year performance benefits at the upper end of our range of $60-$80 million."

"In line with our strategy to grow profitably through reinvestments back into the business and acquisitions, I am pleased to announce our definitive agreement to purchase G-Box, S.A. de C.V. (G-Box), a Mexico-based operator of two folding carton facilities. G-Box, along with the October 1, 2015 announced acquisition of the assets of Carded Graphics, expands Graphic Packaging's geographic footprint, manufacturing scope, customer base and range of products. G-Box increases Graphic's presence in Mexico by adding two folding carton facilities located in Monterrey and Tijuana, while Carded Graphics allows us to better service new and existing customers on the east coast, specifically in the fast growing craft beer markets."

Net Sales

Net Sales increased 1.9%, or $20 million, to $1,070.0 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to $1,050.0 million in the prior year period.  The $20.0 million increase was driven by $56.5 million of improved volume/mix, primarily related to acquisitions.  The sales increase was partially offset by $30.2 million of unfavorable foreign exchange rates and $6.3 million of lower pricing.

Attached is supplemental data showing Net Tons Sold, Net Sales and Income (Loss) from Operations for the first three quarters of 2015 and each quarter of 2014.

EBITDA

EBITDA increased 3.7%, or $6.8 million, to $189.1 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to $182.3 million in the third quarter of 2014.  After adjusting both periods for special charges, Adjusted EBITDA increased 3.4% to $197.1 million in the third quarter of 2015 from $190.6 million in the third quarter of 2014.  When comparing against the prior year quarter, Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter of 2015 was positively impacted by $18.9 million of improved net operating performance and $6.3 million of favorable volume/mix. These benefits were partially offset by $7.3 million in higher costs (primarily for labor and benefits), $7.3 million of unfavorable foreign exchange rates and $4.1 million of lower price, net of commodity deflation.

Other Results

Total Net Debt declined $84.9 million during the third quarter 2015 to $1,912.7 million.  At quarter end, the Company's Net Leverage Ratio was 2.58 times Adjusted EBITDA compared to 2.90 times Adjusted EBITDA at the end of the third quarter of 2014.  As of September 30, 2015, the Company had available domestic liquidity of $1,034.8 million, including the undrawn availability under its $1.25 billion domestic revolving credit facility.

Net Interest Expense was $16.5 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to $20.4 million in the third quarter of 2014. The decrease was due to both lower debt balances and lower overall interest rates.

Capital expenditures for third quarter 2015 were $54.7 million, compared to $42.5 million in the third quarter of 2014.  The increase is primarily the result of additional investments being made in the Company's mills, including the previously announced cogen installation at the West Monroe, LA mill.

Income Tax Expense was $33.6 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to $39.3 million in the third quarter of 2014.  As of September 30, 2015, the Company had approximately $455 million of NOLs for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which may be used to offset future taxable income.

Please note that a tabular reconciliation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Sales, Total Net Debt and Net Leverage Ratio is attached to this release.

Acquisitions

Today, the Company announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Graphic Packaging International, Inc., has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase G-Box, S.A. de C.V.  The acquisition includes two folding carton converting facilities located in Monterrey, Mexico and Tijuana, Mexico. The purchase allows Graphic Packaging to expand its manufacturing scope in Mexico, broaden its customer base and offer its current customers a wider range of products. The acquisition is subject to standard closing requirements, regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2015.

As previously announced, Graphic Packaging International, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired the converting assets of Carded Graphics, LLC. on October 1, 2015  Based in Staunton, VA, Carded Graphics' state-of-the-art converting facility produces award winning printed folding cartons and has a strong regional position in the food, craft beer and other consumer product markets.

Earnings Call

The Company will host a conference call at 10:00 am eastern time today (October 22, 2015) to discuss the results of third quarter 2015.  To access the conference call, listeners calling from within North America should dial 800-392-9489 at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the conference call (Conference ID #50875829).  Listeners may also access the audio webcast, along with a slide presentation, in the Investors section of the Graphic Packaging website: http://www.graphicpkg.com.  Replays of the call can be accessed for one week by dialing 855-859-2056.

Forward Looking Statements

Any statements of the Company's expectations in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, including but not limited to, those regarding full-year performance benefits, assessments regarding the use of the Company's NOLs and the expected timing of the closing of the G-Box acquisition are based on currently available information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's present expectations.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, inflation of and volatility in raw material and energy costs, continuing pressure for lower cost products, the Company's ability to implement its business strategies, including productivity initiatives and cost reduction plans, the Company's debt level, currency movements and other risks of conducting business internationally, the impact of regulatory and litigation matters, including the continued availability of the Company's net operating loss offset to taxable income.  Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, as such statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements.  Additional information regarding these and other risks is contained in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC.

About Graphic Packaging Holding Company

Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a leading provider of packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to food, beverage and other consumer products companies.  The Company is one of the largest producers of folding cartons and holds a leading market position in coated-unbleached kraft and coated-recycled boxboard. The Company's customers include some of the most widely recognized companies in the world. Additional information about Graphic Packaging, its business and its products, is available at www.graphicpkg.com.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure

The tables below set forth the calculation of the Company's earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, equity income of unconsolidated entities, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"), Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Net Leverage Ratio and Total Net Debt. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income exclude charges associated with: the Company's business combinations, sale or shutdown of assets, other special charges and the modification or extinguishment of debt. The Company's management believes that the presentation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Net Leverage Ratio provides useful information to investors because these measures are regularly used by management in assessing the Company's performance. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Net Leverage Ratio are financial measures not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), and are not measures of net income, operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP.

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Net Leverage Ratio should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered substitutes for or superior to GAAP results. In addition, our EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Net Leverage Ratio may not be comparable to Adjusted EBITDA or similarly titled measures utilized by other companies since such other companies may not calculate such measures in the same manner as we do.

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SOURCE Graphic Packaging Holding Company