~ Unprecedented energy prices in Europe and global input cost inflation significantly impacted Q4 results ~

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glatfelter Corporation (NYSE: GLT), a leading global supplier of engineered materials, today reported a loss from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2021 of $11.2 million, or $0.25 per share, compared with net income of $9.1 million, or $0.20 per share, in the same period a year ago. The 2021 results prospectively include the acquisitions of Georgia-Pacific’s U.S. nonwovens business (“Mount Holly”) and Jacob Holm ("Spunlace") as of May 13, 2021 and October 29, 2021, respectively.

Adjusted earnings from continuing operations for the fourth quarters of 2021 and 2020, were $1.6 million, or $0.04 per share, compared with adjusted earnings of $9.6 million, or $0.22 per share, respectively. Adjusted earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure for which a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP-based measure is provided within this release. Consolidated net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2021, totaled $334.5 million, compared with $235.3 million for the same period in 2020. On a constant currency basis, net sales for Composite Fibers and Airlaid Materials (including Mount Holly) increased by 1.3% and 47.5%, respectively. The Spunlace segment, formed in connection with the Jacob Holm transaction, had net sales of approximately $58 million prospectively from the October 29, 2021, acquisition date.

“As we entered the fourth quarter, we expected our price increases announced during the year would sufficiently offset ongoing input cost inflation. However, these extraordinary headwinds intensified in the fourth quarter. Most notable were energy prices in Europe which dramatically increased since our previous guidance. When combined with rising raw material and logistics costs, these events significantly depressed margins in several product categories of the Composite Fibers and Spunlace segments and negatively impacted the overall profitability of Glatfelter,” said Dante C. Parrini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Parrini continued, “In Airlaid Materials, our contractual cost pass-through arrangements were effective in combating rising raw material costs during the quarter, but not sufficient to offset energy inflation. Volumes in Composite Fibers were below expectations primarily due to price-sensitive wallcover customers who altered their buying patterns as we implemented additional pricing actions. And, the Spunlace segment shipped lower than anticipated wipes volumes due to raw material availability and customer-driven inventory management.”

Mr. Parrini added, “Our commercial team is actively engaging with long-standing strategic customers to effectively implement much-needed pricing actions while managing volume implications. In November, we introduced an energy surcharge across all three segments to specifically target the cost penalty we are facing from sharply escalating prices in natural gas and electricity.”

Mr. Parrini concluded, “The successful integrations of Mount Holly and Spunlace and realization of their synergies remain key imperatives for Glatfelter. We are confident these new acquisitions will deliver long-term value to our customers and shareholders through portfolio diversification, technology expansion, accelerated innovation and enhanced scale. Despite the prevailing global challenges with inflation, supply chain constraints and pandemic-driven disruptions, we believe these acquisitions position Glatfelter favorably and bolster our leading position in the broader nonwovens sector. While we are in the initial phase of the integrations, we continue to build on Glatfelter’s proven track record of operational excellence, cost optimization and strong cash flow generation.”

Fourth Quarter Results

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

Composite Fibers

Composite Fibers’ net sales decreased $2.0 million or 1.4% in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to the year-ago quarter, driven by lower shipments and unfavorable currency translation of $3.7 million. Overall, shipments were 11.2% lower primarily due to wallcover products. Wallcover had a strong rebound in demand in the second half of 2020 after volume dropped sharply in Q2 2020 due to the pandemic, making the year-over-year comparison challenging.

Composite Fibers’ operating income for the fourth quarter of 2021 totaled $4.5 million compared with $15.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Higher energy and raw material inflation of $16.6 million was partially offset by $9.2 million in higher selling prices, reducing earnings by a net $7.4 million. Lower shipments negatively impacted results by $2.0 million. The impact of currency and related hedging negatively impacted earnings by $0.9 million mainly due to more favorable hedging gains on our underlying positions last year.

Airlaid Materials

Airlaid Materials’ net sales increased $43.5 million in the year-over-year comparison, driven by sales from Mount Holly as well as higher selling prices from cost pass-through arrangements with customers. Shipments were 23.3% higher driven primarily by Mount Holly. Stronger shipments of legacy tabletop products were nearly offset by lower shipments of hygiene and wipes products. Currency translation was $2.8 million unfavorable.

Airlaid Materials’ fourth quarter of 2021 operating income of $11.9 million was $2.8 million higher when compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. Higher shipments positively impacted results by $6.9 million. Selling price increases of $17.1 million, primarily due to raw material cost pass-through provisions and a recently implemented energy surcharge, fully offset higher raw material prices. However, the energy surcharge fell short of fully recovering energy price increases, thereby reducing earnings by a net $1.2 million. Operations were unfavorable $1.7 million as a result of higher spending and inflationary pressures. The impact of currency and related hedging negatively impacted earnings by $1.2 million.

Spunlace

Spunlace shipments for the fourth quarter under Glatfelter ownership (from date of acquisition of October 29, 2021 to December 31, 2021) were approximately 4% lower than our original expectations of 13,000 metric tons and the operating loss of $1.3 million was approximately $2.3 million below our expectations. Lower shipments were mainly in the wipes category as one of our larger wipes customers recalibrated orders for the quarter to manage year-end inventory, in addition to production delays that were impacted by raw material availability. These factors, combined with unfavorable mix, negatively impacted profitability by approximately $0.7 million. In addition, raw material inflation, particularly on synthetic fibers, coupled with higher than anticipated energy costs, lowered profits by approximately $1.5 million. Operations further negatively impacted results by $1.4 million from lower production, higher than anticipated waste rates and COVID-related labor challenges. The preliminary purchase price allocation resulted in depreciation and amortization of approximately $1.7 million after including the acquisition step-up to fixed and intangible assets.

Other Financial Information

The amount of operating expense not allocated to a reporting segment in the Segment Financial Information totaled $26.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared with $10.4 million in the same period a year ago. Excluding the items identified to present “adjusted earnings,” unallocated expenses for the fourth quarter of 2021 decreased $0.6 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.

In the fourth quarter of 2021, our loss from continuing operations totaled $19.0 million and we recorded an income tax benefit of $7.8 million. On adjusted pre-tax income of $0.4 million, income tax benefit was $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. The comparable amounts in the same quarter of 2020 were adjusted pre-tax income of $14.7 million and income tax expense of $5.0 million, respectively. The Company reduced its deferred tax valuation allowance reflecting the ability to realize previously unrecognized U.S. deferred tax assets primarily as a result of completing the recent Spunlace acquisition. The effective tax rate on adjusted earnings for the full year of 2021 was 32.2%.

Year-to-Date Results

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

A description of each of the adjustments presented above is included later in this release.

Balance Sheet and Other Information

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $138.4 million as of December 31, 2021, and net debt was $648.9 million compared with $213.9 million at the end of 2020. Net leverage increased to 4.6 times at December 31, 2021 versus 1.7 times at December 31, 2020. (Refer to the calculation of this measure provided in the tables at the end of this release).

Capital expenditures during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 totaled $30.0 million and $28.1 million, respectively. Adjusted free cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $69.9 million compared with $80.3 million in the same period of 2020. (Refer to the calculation of this measure provided in the tables at the end of this release).

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call today at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern) to discuss its fourth quarter results. The Company will make available on its Investor Relations website this quarter’s earnings release and an accompanying financial presentation that includes additional financial information to be discussed on the conference call including the Company’s outlook pertaining to financial performance. Information related to the conference call is as follows:

Interested persons who wish to hear the live webcast should go to the website prior to the starting time to register and ensure any necessary audio software is installed.

Glatfelter Corporation and subsidiariesConsolidated Statements of Income(unaudited)

Segment Financial Information(unaudited)

Selected Financial Information(unaudited)

Reconciliation of GAAP Financial Information to Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release includes a measure 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 consist of the production and sale of engineered 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 and established business plans. For purposes of determining adjusted earnings, the following items are excluded:

• Strategic initiatives. These adjustments primarily reflect professional and legal fees incurred directly related to evaluating and executing certain strategic initiatives including costs associated with acquisitions, related integrations and charges incurred to step-up acquired inventory to fair-value.
• Corporate headquarters relocation. These adjustments reflect costs incurred in connection with the strategic relocation of the Company’s corporate headquarters to Charlotte, NC. The costs are primarily related to employee relocation costs and exit costs at the former corporate headquarters.
• Restructuring charge – Metallized operations. This adjustment represents charges incurred in 2020 in connection with the decision to restructure a portion of the Composite Fibers segment, primarily consisting of the consolidation of our metallizing operation from Gernsbach, Germany to Caerphilly, UK.
• Cost optimization actions. These adjustments reflect charges incurred in connection with initiatives to optimize the cost structure of the Company, including costs related to the organizational change to a functional operating model. The costs are primarily related to executive separations, other headcount reductions, professional fees, asset write-offs and certain contract termination costs. These adjustments, which have occurred at various times in the past, are irregular in timing and relate to specific identified programs to reduce or optimize the cost structure of a particular operating segment or the corporate function.
• COVID-19 incremental costs. This adjustment represents incremental cash costs incurred directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic such as mill employee incentive payments, enhanced hygiene protocols, safety and supplies, and professional fees primarily associated with the CARES Act benefit.
• Asset Impairment Charge. This adjustment represents a non-cash charge recorded to reduce the carrying amount of a tradename intangible asset of the Dresden wallcover business due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the underlying forecasted revenue stream.
• Pension settlement expenses, net. This adjustment reflects professional fees recorded in connection with the Company’s termination of its qualified pension plan and the related actions to settle all obligations to the plan’s participants. Since the pension plan was fully funded, the settlement of pension obligations did not require the use of the Company’s cash, but instead was accomplished with plan assets.
• Timberland sales and related costs. These adjustments exclude gains from the sales of timberlands as these items are not considered to be part of our core business, ongoing results of operations or cash flows. These adjustments are irregular in timing and amount and may benefit our operating results.
• Other tax adjustments. In 2021, these adjustments primarily reflect the tax impact related to the reversal of permanent reinvestment assertion for certain foreign jurisdictions and a foreign tax benefit related to the establishment of a center of excellence. In 2020, a tax benefit was recorded in connection with passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES”) related to provisions that modified the “net operating loss” provisions of previous law to allow certain losses to be carried back five years.

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 provide 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.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements  

Any statements included in this press release that 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”, “targets”, 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. The risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable or uncontrollable factors are described in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in the Risk Factors section and under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. 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 the Company 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.

About Glatfelter

Glatfelter is a leading global supplier of engineered materials with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability. The Company’s high quality, technology-driven, innovative, and customizable nonwovens solutions can be found in products that are Enhancing Everyday Life®. These include personal care and hygiene products, food and beverage filtration, critical cleaning products, medical and personal protection, packaging products, as well as home improvement and industrial applications. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, the Company’s annualized net sales approximate $1.4 billion with over 3,300 employees worldwide. Glatfelter’s operations utilize a variety of manufacturing technologies including airlaid, wetlaid and spunlace with sixteen manufacturing sites located in the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and the Philippines. The Company has sales offices in all major geographies serving customers under the Glatfelter and Sontara brands. Additional information about Glatfelter may be found at www.glatfelter.com.