Agricoltura
SWM ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2018 RESULTS
ALPHARETTA, GA, February 21, 2019 -- Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. ("SWM" or the "Company") (NYSE: SWM) reported earnings results for the three month and full year periods ended December 31, 2018.
Dr. Jeff Kramer, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Strong fourth quarter earnings drove full year 2018 adjusted EPS above our guided range, a significant achievement in light of rapid increases in raw materials and other input costs. Solid sales growth and a favorable tax rate were key factors. In addition to crossing the $1 billion total sales milestone, we continued to advance several strategic growth priorities. In AMS, we completed the Austin site closure during the fourth quarter, a key component of the Conwed synergy plan. In addition, we launched our first international film line in Europe for our transportation business, and recently approved capacity expansions across our global footprint to support additional growth in filtration and transportation. Lastly, we completed initial customer qualifications on our new filtration paper, a synergy between our paper production capabilities in EP and our AMS commercial team. We believe this offering enhances our already strong filtration market presence with an expanded product suite. Within our paper segment, we managed our controllable costs and improved our sales mix by gaining share in cigarette papers, scaling back low-margin printing volumes, and driving growth in more attractive product categories."
"AMS finished 2018 with 6% organic sales growth, with double digit gains in filtration led by nearly 20% growth in our RO water business. We also delivered another year of solid momentum in transportation films, as well as accelerated sales growth in medical products. While segment margins were pressured by anticipated inefficiencies related to the final stage of our site consolidation and higher resin costs, we have completed the facility closure and raised product prices. EP performed well in 2018 in light of considerable pressure from higher wood pulp and energy costs. Segment sales increased nearly 5% with improved mix as well as stability in our cigarette paper volumes despite continued industry attrition."
Dr. Kramer concluded, "Our 2019 Adjusted EPS guidance of $3.40 to $3.60 reflects a combination of expected growth in AMS, modest pressure in EP, and increased investments in IT systems to support our growth activities. Our outlook is also moderated by uncertainties related to global trade risks and growth in Asia. Within AMS, we expect continued sales momentum, more normalized resin costs, and an improved cost structure to more than offset higher freight expenses and growth-related investments. For EP, our 2019 outlook incorporates continued tobacco industry attrition offset with our continued focus on share gains, product mix improvements, innovation, and cost reductions. Consistent with our earnings guidance, we believe our business is well-positioned to deliver another year of more than $100 million of free cash flow. This strong cash generation, coupled with our recent refinancing activities, provide ample liquidity for further organic expansion activities and potential strategic acquisitions to drive sustainable long-term growth."
segment sales were $107.8 million, up 9%, with no acquisition benefit in the quarter. Double-digit growth in transportation due to high demand for paint protection films was the largest driver. Filtration sales, particularly for RO water applications, was also a key factor. GAAP operating profit was $10.0 million, up 32%. Adjusted operating profit was $15.4 million, up 16%, with margin expanding 90 basis points to 14.3%. Sales growth and reduced fixed costs from the Austin site closure more than offset certain temporary manufacturing inefficiencies associated with the transfer of volume to our remaining plants and higher resin costs.
egment sales were $140.9 million, up 3%, with 8% positive price/mix more than offsetting a volume decline of 4% due to shifting away from certain lower margin non-tobacco paper volumes. This, coupled with growth across the cigarette papers portfolio were key factors in sales performance. Currency was a 1% headwind. GAAP operating profit was flat at $27.1 million. Adjusted operating profit was also $27.1 million, down 12%, with adjusted operating profit margin contracting by 330 basis points to 19.2%, due primarily to higher pulp costs, other inflationary pressures, and reduced manufacturing efficiencies as a result of lower volume. Favorable currency movements resulted in a $1.6 million benefit to operating profit due to primarily lower local currency costs at certain sites.
GAAP and adjusted expenses were each $10.3 million, down 24%. Adjusted unallocated expenses were 4.1% of total sales, down 170 basis points, due primarily to lower professional service fees and lower deferred compensation, which decreased due to stock price volatility during the quarter.
sales were $248.7 million, up 6% (no acquisition benefit). GAAP operating profit was $26.8 million, up 27%, and GAAP operating profit margin was 10.8%. Adjusted operating profit was $32.2 million, up 6% and adjusted operating profit margin was 12.9%, flat with the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA was $41.8 million, up 3%, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 16.8%, down 40 basis points.
GAAP income was $7.2 million, versus a loss of $27.3 million; this equated to GAAP EPS of $0.23. Adjusted income was $27.1 million, up 39%; this equated to Adjusted EPS of $0.90. Interest expense was $8.1 million, up $1.2 million, reflecting higher effective interest rates as a result of the bond issuance during the third quarter of 2018 offset by lower debt balances. The Company reported a tax rate of 1.6% during the fourth quarter to reflect the Company's full year tax rate of 9.2% (additional details in full year results section below).
The Company's Chinese JVs generated a $0.35 loss for GAAP EPS due to a $0.50 per share non-cash impairment of the Company's stake in an RTL joint venture in China (one of the company's two JVs). The staged investment was made between 2011 and 2014, and while operations were profitable in 2018, this JV has performed below the original long-term financial projections due to market dynamics unique to the Chinese tobacco industry. Excluding the impairment, the Company's Chinese JVs generated $0.14 in Adjusted EPS, up from $0.07 in the prior year period.
Net currency movements had a 1% negative impact on sales but a $1.6 million positive impact on operating profits; the translation impact of net currency movements was negative $0.02 to both GAAP EPS and Adjusted EPS.
reflect items included in GAAP operating profit, income, and EPS, but excluded from adjusted operating profit, income, and EPS. The largest item was the $0.50 per share non-cash impairment expense related to the Company's RTL joint venture in China. Purchase accounting expenses were $0.18 per share (purchase accounting expenses reflect the ongoing non-cash intangible asset amortization, as well as any non-cash one-time inventory step-up charges, associated with AMS acquisitions). Certain favorable one-time tax items were $0.02 per share and other (non-JV) restructuring and impairment expenses were $0.01 per share.
segment sales were $467.9 million, up 8%, including the 3-week partial period benefit from the Conwed acquisition in early 2017. Pro forma (assuming SWM had owned Conwed for the full first quarter of 2017) organic growth was 6%. Strong sales increases in filtration, transportation films, and medical products were key drivers. GAAP operating profit was $49.5 million, up 2%. Adjusted operating profit was $71.7 million, down 5%, with margin contracting 220 basis points to 15.3%. Anticipated manufacturing inefficiencies related to the final stage of the Austin site closure and transition of volume to other sites and higher resin costs were the primary negative factors.
segment sales were $573.4 million, up 4%, with favorable currency movements of 3%. Overall volume decreased 3%, driven by lower RTL and exiting certain low-margin non-tobacco papers, while cigarette papers were up slightly. Price and mix combined for a 5% sales increase (% changes of volume/price/mix/currency do not sum to sales growth due to rounding). GAAP operating profit was $121.8 million, up 2%. Adjusted operating profit was $122.0 million, down 2%, and adjusted operating profit margin declined 150 basis points to 21.3%. The decrease was primarily driven by higher pulp costs and other inflationary pressures. Favorable currency movements resulted in a $7.9 million benefit to operating profit due to higher average Euro rates compared to 2017 and lower local currency costs at certain sites.
GAAP and adjusted expenses were each $36.3 million, down 9%. Adjusted unallocated expenses were 3.5% of total sales, down 60 basis points, due primarily to lower professional service fees and lower deferred compensation, which decreased due to stock price volatility at the end of 2018.
sales were $1,041.3 million, up 6%, and 5% on an organic basis (assuming SWM had owned Conwed for the full first quarter of 2017). GAAP operating profit was $135.0 million, up 5%. Adjusted operating profit was $157.4 million, down 2%, and adjusted operating profit margin was 15.1%, down 130 basis points. Adjusted EBITDA was $196.9 million, down 1%, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 18.9%, down 130 basis points.
GAAP income was $94.8 million, up from $34.4 million; this equated to GAAP EPS of $3.07. Adjusted income was $107.2 million, up 10%; this equated to Adjusted EPS of $3.48. Interest expense was $28.2 million, up $1.3 million, reflecting higher effective interest rates as a result of the bond issuance during the third quarter of 2018, offset by lower debt balances. Other income was $10.0 million, up from $0.1 million, and included a $10.2 million gain from the revaluation of a contingent consideration liability related to the Conwed acquisition. The Company reported a full year tax rate of 9.2%, driven mainly by a $13.0 million favorable adjustment related to the 2017 Tax Act in the U.S.; adjusting for this and other favorable net one-time items of $0.6 million, the tax rate was 20.9%, down from 29.6%.
The Chinese JVs generated a $0.37 loss for GAAP EPS due to the $0.50 per share non-cash impairment. Excluding the impairment, the JVs contributed $0.12 to Adjusted EPS, up from $0.08 in the prior year period.
Net currency movements had a 2% positive impact on sales and a $9.0 million positive impact on operating profits; the translation impact of net currency movements was positive $0.04 to both GAAP EPS and Adjusted EPS.
reflect items included in GAAP operating profit, income, and EPS, but excluded from adjusted operating profit, income, and EPS. The largest items were the $0.50 per share non-cash impairment expense related to the Company's RTL joint venture in China, a $0.43 per share non-cash benefit from a favorable tax adjustment to the Company's initial estimated impact of the 2017 Tax Act in the U.S., and a $0.25 per share non-cash gain related to the revaluation of a contingent consideration liability related to the 2017 acquisition of Conwed. Other significant items included purchase accounting expenses of $0.57 per share, (purchase accounting expenses reflect the ongoing non-cash intangible asset amortization, as well as any non-cash one-time inventory step-up charges, associated with AMS acquisitions). Other (non-JV) restructuring and impairment expenses were $0.04 per share and certain favorable one-time tax items were $0.02 per share.
Full year 2018 cash provided by operating activities increased to $138.9 million, from $130.9 million. The Company's working capital-related cash outflows were $20.6 million, compared to $11.9 million in 2017, due mainly to higher receivables from sales growth. Capital spending and capitalized software totaled $29.7 million, down $11.0 million, due mainly to timing of capital projects. Free cash flow increased to $109.2 million, from $90.2 million, due to higher operating cash flow and lower capital spending. Year-to-date, the Company has paid dividends to stockholders totaling $53.2 million.
Total debt was $622.1 million on December 31, 2018, down $62.1 million from year end 2017; net debt was $528.3 million on December 31, 2018, down $49.0 million from year end 2017. At the end of the third quarter, the Company issued $350 million of senior unsecured notes and refinanced and extended its credit facility. Pursuant to the debt covenants, the Company's net debt to adjusted EBITDA was approximately 2.5x as of December 31, 2018, down from 3.0x at year-end 2017.
The Company announced a quarterly cash dividend per share to $0.44 per share. The dividend will be payable on March 22, 2019 to stockholders of record as of March 4, 2019.
The Company issued 2019 Adjusted EPS guidance of $3.40 to $3.60. This equates to $2.83 to $3.03 of GAAP EPS based on estimates of $0.56 per share of non-cash purchase accounting expenses related to AMS segment acquisitions and $0.01 per share of restructuring expenses that are excluded from Adjusted EPS.
The Company expects 2019 capital expenditures and capitalized software spending of approximately $35 million to $40 million.
SWM will hold a conference call to review fourth quarter 2018 results with investors and analysts at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, February 22, 2019. The earnings conference call will be simultaneously broadcast over the Internet at www.swmintl.com. To listen to the call, please go to the Company's Web site at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register and to download and install any necessary audio software. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available on the Company's Web site shortly after the call.
SWM will use a presentation in conjunction with its conference call. The presentation can be found on the Company's Web site under the Investor Relations section in advance of the earnings conference call. The presentation can also be accessed via the earnings conference call webcast.
SWM is a leading global provider of highly engineered papers, films, nets, and non-wovens for a variety of applications and industries. As experts in manufacturing materials made from fibers, resins, and polymers, we provide our customers critical components that enhance the performance of their end products. The Advanced Materials & Structures segment focuses on resin-based rolled goods for the filtration, transportation, infrastructure & construction, medical, and industrial end-markets. This segment was established in 2013 as part of a strategic transformation intended to diversify SWM's historical concentration in the tobacco industry and reposition the Company for long-term growth. The Company currently generates approximately half of its total sales outside the tobacco industry. The Engineered Papers segment remains primarily focused on supplying major cigarette manufacturers with a variety of specialty papers. SWM and its subsidiaries conduct business in over 90 countries and employ approximately 3,500 people worldwide. For further information, please visit SWM's Web site at www.swmintl.com .
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws that are subject to the safe harbor created by such laws and other legal protections. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those regarding 2019 guidance and future performance, 2019 capital expenditures, future market and EPS trends, sales and volume trends, growth prospects, capital spending, currency rates and trends and impact on EPS, future cash flows, the Tax Act, effective tax rates, diversification efforts of our AMS segment, future results of AMS operations, future growth of non-tobacco sales, and other statements generally identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "guidance," "plan," "forecast," "potential," "anticipate," "confident," "project," "appear," "future," "should," "likely," "could," "may," "typically," "will," and similar words. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and certain risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the Company's control) and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations as of the date of this release. These risks include, among other things, those set forth in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018, and September 30, 2018,and other reports filed with the SEC, which can be found at the SEC's website www.sec.gov, as well as the following factors:
All forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this document, and we do not undertake any obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking or cautionary statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of events, unanticipated or otherwise, or changes in future operating results over time or otherwise.
Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.
For additional factors and further discussion of these factors, please see SWM's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2017, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018, and September 30, 2018, and other reports we file from time to time, which can be found at the SEC's website www.sec.gov. The discussion of these risks is specifically incorporated by reference into this release. The financial results reported in this release are unaudited.
Certain financial measures and comments contained in this press release exclude restructuring expenses, certain purchase accounting adjustments related to AMS segment acquisitions, interest expense, income tax provision, capital spending, capitalized software, and depreciation and amortization. This press release also provides certain information regarding the Company's financial results excluding currency impacts. This information estimates the impact of changes in foreign currency rates on the translation of the Company's current financial results as compared to the applicable comparable period and is derived by translating the current local currency results into U.S. Dollars based upon the foreign currency exchange rates for the applicable comparable period. Financial measures which exclude or include these items have not been determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) and are therefore "non-GAAP" financial measures. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most closely analogous measure determined in accordance with GAAP are included in the financial schedules attached to this release.
The Company believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures in addition to the related GAAP measures provides investors with greater transparency to the information used by the Company's management in its financial and operational decision-making. Management also believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide additional insight for analysts and investors in evaluating the Company's financial and operational performance in the same way that management evaluates the Company's financial performance. Management believes that providing this information enables investors to better understand the Company's operating performance and financial condition. These non-GAAP financial measures are not calculated or presented in accordance with, and are not intended to be considered in isolation or as alternatives or substitutes for, or superior to, financial measures prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, and should be read only in conjunction with the Company's financial measures prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures used in this release may be different from the measures used by other companies.
(Tables to Follow)
SOURCE SWM:
CONTACT
Andrew Wamser
Chief Financial Officer
+1-770-569-4271
Or
Mark Chekanow
Director of Investor Relations
+1-770-569-4229
Web site: http://www.swmintl.com
* Adjusted Operating Profit (Loss), a non-GAAP financial measure, is calculated by adding Restructuring & Impairment Expenses and Purchase Accounting Adjustments to Operating Profit.
* 4Q:2018 tax impact of purchase accounting adjustments reflects a fourth quarter adjustment related to the tax treatment of one of the Company's international legal entities. As a result of this adjustment, the fourth quarter adjusted income and adjusted EPS reflect a $0.05 per share tax benefit. Had this tax treatment been reflected throughout 2018, first through third quarters adjusted EPS would increase by $0.01 each and fourth quarter adjusted EPS would decrease by 0.03. In 2019, when quarterly results are reported, the prior year (2018) adjusted EPS will be re-presented to reflect these adjustments for comparability purposes. This change will have no impact on full year 2019 comparisons of adjusted EPS to full year 2018 adjusted EPS.
* Excluded from the above reconciliation are potential transaction costs associated with future acquisitions.
N.M. - Not Meaningful
N.M. - Not Meaningful
Note: In connection with the Company's acquisition of Conwed Plastics, LLC during the first quarter of 2017, the Company recorded $106.2 million of Goodwill and $134.4 million of intangible assets (included in Other noncurrent assets), of which $127.3 million will be amortized over approximately 15 years, and an increase of $2.9 million to inventory to record it at purchase price fair value.
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