Tredegar Reports Third Quarter 2022 Results

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. The Company expects to realize income tax cash benefits on the Special Contribution of approximately $11 million in 2022. Administrative costs for the pension plan through the settlement process are estimated at $4 to $5 million.

Tredegar’s frozen defined benefit pension plan was underfunded on a GAAP basis by $69 million at December 31, 2021, comprised of investments at fair value of $245 million and a projected benefit obligation (“PBO”) of $314 million. GAAP accounting requires adjustment for changes in values of assets and the PBO only at the end of each year, even though these values change daily. The Company estimates that the Special Contribution and changes to the values of pension plan assets and liabilities resulted in a decrease in the underfunding on a GAAP basis from $69 million at December 31, 2021 to approximately $10 million at September 30, 2022. The ultimate settlement benefit obligation may differ from the PBO, depending on market factors for buyers of pension obligations at the time of settlement.

Prior to the Special Contribution, GAAP pension expense was a reasonable proxy for the Company’s required minimum cash contribution to the pension plan. The Company estimates that, with the Special Contribution, there will be no required minimum cash contributions until final settlement. Pension expense under GAAP is projected to be approximately $14 million in 2022, which is mainly comprised of non-cash amortization of deferred net actuarial losses reflected in the Company’s shareholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive losses. Beginning in 2022, and consistent with no expected required minimum cash contributions, no pension expense is included in calculating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization as defined in the Company’s revolving credit agreement (“Credit EBITDA”), which is used to compute certain borrowing ratios and a significant consideration for computing non-GAAP net income (loss) from ongoing operations.

The impact on earnings from pension expense is reflected in “Corporate expenses, net” in the accompanying net sales and EBITDA from ongoing operations by segment tables. However, beginning in 2022 and consistent with excluding GAAP pension expense from Credit EBITDA as described above, GAAP pension expense has been presented separately and removed from net income (loss) from continuing operations and diluted earnings (loss) per share as reported under GAAP for purposes of determining Tredegar’s non-GAAP presentation of net income (loss) and diluted earnings (loss) per share from ongoing operations (see related reconciliation in Note (a) to the Financial Tables in this press release for more information).

Total debt was $124.0 million at September 30, 2022 compared to total debt of $73.0 million at December 31, 2021. Net debt (debt in excess of cash and cash equivalents), a non-GAAP financial measure, was $104.7 million at September 30, 2022 compared to $42.5 million at December 31, 2021. Tredegar has five-year, revolving, secured credit facility that permits aggregate borrowings of $375 million and matures on June 29, 2027 ("the Credit Agreement"). The Company believes that its most restrictive covenant under the Credit Agreement (computed quarterly) is the Total Net Leverage Ratio, which permits maximum borrowings of up to 4x Credit EBITDA for the trailing four quarters. The Company had Credit EBITDA and a Total Net Leverage Ratio (calculated in the "Liquidity and Capital Resources" section of the Third Quarter Form 10-Q) of $95.5 million and 1.1x, respectively, at September 30, 2022. See Note (h) to the Financial Tables in this press release for a reconciliation of net debt 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 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. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially 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, including continued high inflation and the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine;
• competition from other manufacturers, including manufacturers in lower-cost countries and manufacturers benefiting from government subsidies;
• impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates;
• movement of pension plan assets and liabilities up through initiating hedging activities to fix underfunding amounts and assumptions thereafter relating to differences between the ultimate settlement benefit obligation and the projected benefit obligation, census data, administrative costs, the effectiveness of hedging activities and discounts required to liquidate non-public securities held by the plan;
• 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;
• disruptions to the Company’s manufacturing facilities, including those resulting from labor shortages;
• failure to continue to attract, develop and retain certain key officers or employees;
• the impact of public health epidemics on employees, production and the global economy, such as the COVID-19 pandemic;
• an information technology system failure or breach;
• 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 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 Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and in Part II, Item 1A of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2022. 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 2021 sales from continuing operations of $826 million. With approximately 2,300 employees, the Company operates manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, and Asia.

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