Tredegar Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Results

RICHMOND, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Tredegar Corporation (NYSE:TG) today reported fourth quarter and full year financial results for the period ended December 31, 2022.

Fourth quarter 2022 net income (loss) from continuing operations was $(3.9) million ($(0.11) per diluted share) compared to $21.4 million ($0.63 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2021. Net income (loss) from ongoing operations, which excludes special items, was $0.5 million ($0.02 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to $6.2 million ($0.18 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Full year 2022 net income (loss) from continuing operations was $28.4 million ($0.84 per diluted share) compared to $57.9 million ($1.72 per diluted share) in 2021. Net income (loss) from ongoing operations was $39.4 million ($1.17 per diluted share) in 2022 compared to $39.6 million ($1.18 per diluted share) in 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 months and year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, is provided in Note (a) to the Financial Tables in this press release.

Fourth Quarter Financial Results Highlights

• Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) from ongoing operations for Aluminum Extrusions of $8.9 million was $2.0 million lower than the fourth quarter of 2021
• EBITDA from ongoing operations for PE Films of negative $2.6 million was $9.3 million lower than the fourth quarter of 2021
• EBITDA from ongoing operations for Flexible Packaging Films of $7.0 million was $0.6 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2021

John Steitz, Tredegar’s president and chief executive officer, said, “Tredegar had a pre-tax loss from ongoing operations during the fourth quarter of 2022 driven by lower sales volume in our Aluminum Extrusions and PE Films business segments, which we believe was mainly due to cyclical declines exacerbated by customer inventory corrections. We expect an overall return to profitability during the first quarter of 2023 with gradual improvement thereafter.”

Mr. Steitz continued, “While Bonnell had record profitability during 2022, performance in the first half of the year significantly outperformed the second half as customers focused on bringing down high inventory levels. The outlook for 2023 remains uncertain.”

Mr. Steitz added, “PE Films had negative EBITDA from ongoing operations during the second half of 2022 due to weak demand for products with flat panel displays and customer inventory corrections. We’re hopeful that a recovery will begin in the second quarter of 2023. Terphane, our flexible packaging films business headquartered in Brazil, had solid performance throughout 2022, but has experienced a downturn in demand during the first quarter of 2023.”

Mr. Steitz further stated, “Debt, net of cash, increased by $75 million during 2022. The primary factors for this increase included a $50 million contribution in February of 2022 for the first step in the termination and settlement process of our frozen pension plan, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2023, and higher working capital resulting from an abrupt slowdown in business in the second half of 2022. We continue to be very focused on reducing net working capital to normal operating levels.”

OPERATIONS REVIEW

Aluminum Extrusions

Aluminum Extrusions 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:

Fourth Quarter 2022 Results vs. Fourth Quarter 2021 Results

Net sales (sales less freight) in the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased 11.8% versus 2021 primarily due to lower sales volume and the pass-through of lower metal costs, partially offset by an increase in average selling prices to cover higher operating costs. Sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased 16.5% versus 2021. Non-residential B&C sales volume, which represented 52% of 2022 volume, declined 10.0% in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus the fourth quarter 2021. Sales volume in the specialty market, which represented 31% of total volume in 2022, decreased 32.1% in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus the fourth quarter of 2021. Sales volume in the automotive market, which represented 8% of total volume in 2022, increased 13.3% in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus the fourth quarter of 2021.

Overall open orders at the end of the fourth quarter of 2022 were 41 million pounds versus 59 million pounds at the end of the third quarter of 2022, but remain higher than the pre-COVID-19 range of 21 to 27 million pounds quarterly in 2019. The Company has continued to observe order cancellations as customers report high inventory levels and expects the confluence of orders, cancellations and shipments to drive open orders to pre-COVID-19, normalized levels during the first half of 2023. Given the slowdown in orders versus the first half of 2022, average labor shortage levels have been significantly diminished. Nonetheless, onboarding new employees resulted in higher hiring and training costs and production inefficiencies in 2022 versus 2021. The outlook for demand and shipments in 2023 remains uncertain given recessionary concerns.

EBITDA from ongoing operations in the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased $2.0 million in comparison to the fourth quarter of 2021, primarily due to:

• Lower volume ($4.9 million), higher labor and employee-related costs ($1.2 million) and lower labor productivity ($1.0 million); higher supply expense, including significant price increases in paint, chemicals, packaging and other supplies ($5.2 million); higher utility costs ($0.4 million) and higher freight rates ($1.1 million), partially offset by higher pricing ($15.9 million) and lower selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses ($0.2 million); and
• Inventories accounted for under the last in, first out (“LIFO”) method resulted in a charge of $2.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus a benefit of $0.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. In addition, inventories accounted for under the first in, first out (“FIFO”) method resulted in a charge of $1.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus a benefit of $0.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, which related to the timing of the flow through of aluminum raw material costs passed through to customers previously acquired at higher prices in a quickly changing commodity pricing environment. Also, the Company recorded a favorable out-of-period adjustment of $1.8 million related to inventory and accounts payable in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Full Year 2022 Results vs. Full Year 2021 Results

Net sales in 2022 increased 18.3% versus 2021. The annual increase in net sales was primarily due to an increase in average selling prices to cover higher average aluminum raw material costs and higher operating costs, partially offset by lower sales volume. Sales volume in 2022 decreased 4.7% versus 2021, primarily due to lower shipments in the specialty and automotive segments which declined 14.3% and 4.2%, respectively. Shipments for non-residential B&C in 2022 increased by 1.6% versus 2021.

EBITDA from ongoing operations increased $10.9 million in 2022 versus 2021, primarily due to:

• Higher pricing ($69.6 million, net of the pass-through of aluminum raw materials costs), partially offset by: lower volume ($5.6 million); higher labor and employee-related costs ($7.2 million) and lower labor productivity ($5.6 million); higher supply expenses ($15.3 million), including significant price increases in paint, chemicals, packaging and other supplies; higher freight expenses ($6.3 million); higher utility rates ($3.1 million); higher maintenance expenses ($1.4 million); and higher SG&A ($3.0 million); and
• Inventories accounted for under the LIFO method resulted in a charge of $2.9 million in 2022 versus a benefit of $0.6 million in 2021. In addition, inventories accounted for under the FIFO method resulted in no charge or benefit in 2022 versus a benefit of $6.7 million in 2021, which related to the timing of the flow through of aluminum raw material costs passed through to customers previously acquired at higher prices in a quickly changing commodity pricing environment. Also, the Company recorded unfavorable net out-of-period adjustments totaling $0.6 million for charges related to inventory, accrued labor costs and accounts payable in 2022.

Aluminum Extrusions has secured supply sources to meet expected needs for aluminum raw materials in 2023. See discussion of Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk in Item 7a of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (“Form 10-K”) for additional information on aluminum price trends.

Projected Capital Expenditures and Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures for Bonnell Aluminum are projected to be $26 million in 2023, but could possibly be managed to lower levels under recessionary conditions. Budgeted amounts include $11 million for a 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 $2 million for other strategic projects. The ERP/MES project commenced in 2022 and is expected to cost a total of approximately $30 million over a two-year time span. In addition to strategic projects, approximately $7 million will be required to support continuity of current operations. Depreciation expense is projected to be $15 million in 2023. Amortization expense is projected to be $2 million in 2023.

PE Films

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

Fourth Quarter 2022 Results vs. Fourth Quarter 2021 Results

Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased 51.8% versus the fourth quarter of 2021. Sales volume decreased in both Surface Protection and overwrap films in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus the fourth quarter of 2021. Surface Protection sales volume declined 42% in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus the fourth quarter of 2021. Surface Protection sales have been adversely impacted by weak market demand and competitive pricing. Customer demand for electronics has continued to deteriorate since the third quarter of 2022, causing manufacturers in the supply chain to experience reduced capacity utilization and inventory corrections. In addition, these depressed market conditions, which are expected to continue for most of the first half of 2023, are adversely impacting mix through reduced sales to our highest value-added customers and products.

EBITDA from ongoing operations in the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased $9.3 million versus the fourth quarter of 2021, primarily due to:

• A $7.4 million decrease from Surface Protection as a result of:
  • Lower contribution margin for: non-transitioning products associated with a market slowdown and customer inventory corrections ($5.6 million) and competitive pricing ($1.1 million); and previously disclosed customer product transitions ($1.9 million), partially offset by lower SG&A expenses ($0.6 million);
  • The pass-through lag associated with resin costs (a benefit of $0.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus a charge of $0.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2021); and
  • A provision for obsolete inventories which resulted in a charge of $0.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus a benefit of $0.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, partially offset by inventories accounted for under the LIFO method, which resulted in a charge of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus a charge of $0.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2021.
• A $1.9 million decrease from overwrap films primarily due to lower sales volume ($0.8 million). In addition, inventories accounted for under the LIFO method resulted in a charge of $0.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus a benefit of $0.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2021.

See discussion of Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk in Item 7a of the Form 10-K for additional information on resin price trends.

Full Year 2022 Results vs. Full Year 2021 Results

Net sales in 2022 decreased 18% versus 2021, primarily due to lower volume in Surface Protection and overwrap films. Sales volume and net sales declined 15% and 23%, respectively, in Surface Protection. Sales volume and net sales declined 19% and 4%, respectively, in overwrap films, with volume declines partially offset by the pricing impact associated with the pass-through of resin costs.

EBITDA from ongoing operations in 2022 decreased $15.7 million versus 2021 primarily due to:

• A $14.6 million decrease from Surface Protection as a result of:
  • Lower contribution for: non-transitioning products associated with a market slowdown and customer inventory corrections ($7.3 million), competitive pricing ($5.5 million), lower productivity ($0.6 million) and previously disclosed customer product transitions ($6.6 million), partially offset by lower SG&A and research and development expenses ($1.4 million);
  • The pass-through lag associated with resin costs (a benefit of $0.5 million in 2022 versus a charge of $2.2 million in 2021);
  • A foreign currency transaction gain of $0.8 million in 2022 versus a loss of $0.2 million in 2021; and
  • Inventories accounted for under the LIFO method resulted in a charge of $0.1 million in 2022 versus a charge of $0.6 million in 2021.
• A $1.1 million decrease from overwrap films primarily due to lower volume ($1.9 million). The pass-through lag associated with resin costs resulted in a benefit of $0.4 million in 2022 versus a charge of $1.3 million in 2021. In addition, inventories accounted for under the LIFO method resulted in a charge of $0.4 million in 2022 versus a benefit of $0.5 million in 2021.

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, which principally relate to one customer, to less costly alternative processes or materials. The Company estimates that these transitions, which were complete as of the second quarter of 2022, resulted in a total decline of $7 million in pre-tax income from continuing operations as reported under GAAP and EBITDA from ongoing operations during 2022 versus 2021.

The Surface Protection business is continuing to experience competitive pricing pressures, unrelated to the customer product transitions, that adversely impacted pre-tax income from continuing operations as reported under GAAP and EBITDA from ongoing operations by approximately $5.5 million in 2022 versus 2021. To offset the 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 $4 million in 2023, including $2 million for productivity projects and $2 million for capital expenditures required to support continuity of current operations. Depreciation expense is projected to be $7 million in 2023. There is no amortization expense for PE Films.

Flexible Packaging Films

Flexible Packaging Films 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:

Fourth Quarter 2022 Results vs. Fourth Quarter 2021 Results

Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2022 increased 7.0% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, primarily due to higher selling prices from the pass-through of higher resin costs and lower freight costs, partially offset by lower sales volume.

EBITDA from ongoing operations in the fourth quarter of 2022 increased by $0.6 million versus the fourth quarter of 2021, primarily due to:

• Higher selling prices from the pass-through of higher resin costs ($2.9 million), lower variable costs ($1.7 million) and favorable product mix ($0.4 million), partially offset by higher raw material costs ($2.0 million), lower sales volume ($0.6 million), higher fixed costs ($0.6 million) and higher SG&A expenses ($0.3 million);
• Net unfavorable foreign currency translation of Real-denominated operating costs ($0.8 million) in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus in the fourth quarter of 2021; and
• Foreign currency transaction gains ($0.1 million) in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to foreign currency transaction gains ($0.2 million) in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Full Year 2022 Results vs. Full Year 2021 Results

Net sales in 2022 increased 20.1% compared to 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 2022 decreased by $4.2 million versus 2021, primarily due to:

• Higher raw material costs ($17.9 million), higher fixed costs ($1.5 million), and higher SG&A expenses ($1.4 million), offset by higher selling prices from the pass-through of higher resin costs ($18.3 million), higher sales volume ($1.1 million), favorable product mix ($1.6 million), and lower variable costs ($0.1 million);
• Net unfavorable foreign currency translation of Real-denominated operating costs ($3.7 million) in 2022 versus 2021; and
• Foreign currency transaction losses ($0.2 million) in 2022 compared to foreign currency transaction gains ($0.7 million) in 2021.

Projected Capital Expenditures and Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures for Terphane are projected to be $8 million in 2023, including $2 million for new capacity for value-added products and productivity projects and $6 million for capital expenditures required to support continuity of current operations. Depreciation expense is projected to be $3 million in 2023. Amortization expense is projected to be $0.1 million in 2023.

Corporate Expenses, Interest, Taxes and Other

Corporate expenses, net in 2022 decreased by $0.6 million compared 2021, primarily due to lower professional fees associated with business development activities ($1.1 million), employee-related compensation ($0.9 million) and stock-based compensation ($0.6 million), partially offset by increased professional fees associated with the internal and external audits of the Company ($2.2 million).

Interest expense was $5.0 million in 2022 in comparison to $3.4 million in 2021, primarily due to higher interest rates.

The effective tax rate used to compute income taxes (benefit) for continuing operations in 2022 was 13.4% compared to 13.8% in 2021. The decrease in the effective tax rate for continuing operations is primarily due to a discrete tax 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 (“IRS”) 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 discrete benefit was partially offset by an increase to the effective tax rate as the result of the Brazilian income tax no longer being creditable in the U.S. for the foreseeable future. Lastly, the effective tax rate changed due to foreign rate differences pertaining to the Company’s foreign operations and the benefit from tax incentives in Brazil. The effective tax rate from ongoing operations comparable to the earnings reconciliation table provided in Note (a) to Financial Tables in this press release was 23.8% in 2022 and 21.9% in 2021 (see also Note (e) to Financial Tables). For an explanation of differences between the effective tax rate for income from continuing operations and the U.S. federal statutory rate for 2022 and 2021, see Note 12 “Income Taxes” to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 15 “Exhibits and Financial Statements Schedules” (“Item 15”) of the Form 10-K.

Pension expense under GAAP was $14.4 million in 2022, an unfavorable change of $0.5 million from 2021. In February 2022, Tredegar announced the initiation of a process to terminate and settle its frozen defined benefit pension plan. 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 settlement process has been delayed because of longer-than-expected review times with the IRS. The Company does not expect issues with receiving approval from the IRS and is hopeful that the entire process will be completed by the end of 2023. The Company realized income tax benefits on the Special Contribution of $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 (also estimated settlement basis) by $28 million at December 31, 2022, comprised of investments at fair value of $218 million and a projected benefit obligation (“PBO”) of $246 million. The ultimate underfunded amount at settlement may differ from amounts existing at the end of 2022, depending on changes in market factors, including 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 expects there will be no required minimum cash contributions until final settlement. Pension expense under GAAP is projected to be approximately $14 million in 2023, 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 $137.0 million at December 31, 2022, compared to $73.0 million at December 31, 2021. Net debt (debt in excess of cash and cash equivalents), a non-GAAP financial measure but a key measure used to compute the net leverage ratio under the Company’s revolving credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”), was $117.8 million at December 31, 2022, compared to $42.5 million at December 31, 2021. The increase in net debt during 2022 of $75.3 million was primarily due to the Special Contribution of $50 million and higher net working capital, resulting from a slowdown in business greater than anticipated in the second half of 2022, which the Company believes was mainly due to customer inventory corrections driven by recessionary concerns. The Company is very focused on reducing net working capital to normal operating levels.

The Credit Agreement is a five-year, revolving, secured credit facility that permits aggregate borrowings of $375 million and matures on June 29, 2027. 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 leverage ratio (calculated in the Liquidity and Capital Resources in Item 7 of the Form 10-K) of $84.4 million and 1.39x, respectively, at December 31, 2022. See Note (f) to the Financial Tables for a reconciliation of net debt to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure

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 2022 sales from continuing operations of $939 million. With approximately 2,300 employees, the Company operates manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, and Asia.