KP Tissue Releases First Quarter 2018 Financial Results

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, May 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KP Tissue Inc. (KPT) (TSX:KPT) reports the Q1 2018 financial and operational results of KPT and Kruger Products L.P. (KPLP). Kruger Products is Canada's leading manufacturer of quality tissue products for the Consumer market (Cashmere, Purex, SpongeTowels, Scotties, and White Swan) and the Away-From-Home market, and continues to grow in the U.S. Consumer tissue business with the White Cloud® brand and premium private label products. KPT currently holds a 15.9% interest in KPLP.

KPLP Q1 2018 Business and Financial Highlights

• Revenue increased by 11.9% to $323.7 million in Q1 2018 compared to Q1 2017
• Adjusted EBITDA was $27.0 million in Q1 2018 compared to $33.8 million in Q1 2017
• Experienced continuing escalation in pulp and freight costs in the quarter
• Issued $125 million of senior unsecured notes on April 24, and used the net proceeds to reduce the outstanding balance of the existing credit facility, and the credit facility was reduced from $300 million to $200 million
• Declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share to be paid on July 16, 2018

“We continued to show revenue growth in the first quarter, driven by our leadership position in Canada, focused growth in the U.S., and last year’s selling price increase moving through the Canadian market.  Despite this strong revenue growth, we faced sustained market headwinds from rising pulp and freight costs,” said Dino Bianco, CEO of KP Tissue and KPLP.

“We remain committed to our long-term strategy of building our brands in Canada and growing our business in the United States, for both the Consumer and Away-from-Home segments. Looking forward, with industry forecasters expecting input costs to continue to remain high all year, we will take the necessary steps to mitigate the impact on our results including additional cost reduction programs, but expect second quarter Adjusted EBITDA to be lower than Q2 2017,” concluded Mr. Bianco.

KPLP Q1 2018 Financial Results
Revenue in Q1 2018 was $323.7 million, compared to $289.3 million in Q1 2017, an increase of $34.4 million or 11.9%. The increase in revenue was due to the combination of: an additional 6 days of sales in Q1 2018 compared to Q1 2017; the favourable impact of increased sales volume; and a Consumer selling price increase in Canada in Q4 2017; partially offset by the unfavourable impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on U.S. dollar sales.

Cost of sales in Q1 2018 increased to $287.4 million from $244.3 million in Q1 2017. Manufacturing costs increased primarily due to increased sales volume and significantly higher pulp costs, partially offset by the favourable impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on U.S. dollar denominated costs. Freight costs increased primarily due to increased sales volume and higher carrier rates. As a percentage of revenue, cost of sales were 88.8% in Q1 2018 compared to 84.4% in Q1 2017.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses in Q1 2018 were $22.9 million, compared to $23.2 million in Q1 2017. The decrease was primarily due to lower advertising and promotion expenses. As a percentage of revenue, SG&A expenses were 7.1% in Q1 2018, compared to 8.0% in Q1 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA in Q1 2018 was $27.0 million, compared to $33.8 million in Q1 2017, lower by $6.8 million or 20.1%, due to significantly higher pulp costs and increased freight costs. These were partially offset by increased sales volume, the Canadian Consumer selling price increase and the net favourable impact of foreign exchange fluctuations.  

Net income in Q1 2018 was $1.6 million, compared to $6.9 million in Q1 2017, primarily due to lower Adjusted EBITDA of $6.8 million, higher depreciation expense of $1.1 million, an increase in interest expense of $1.0 million, a decrease in foreign exchange gain of $0.4 million and the loss on sale of fixed assets of $0.4 million. These items were partially offset by a decrease in tax expense of $3.8 million and the change in fair value of derivatives of $0.6 million.

Total liquidity, representing cash and cash equivalents and availability under the credit line within covenant limitations, was $30.2 million as of April 1, 2018, compared to $53.3 million as of December 31, 2017.  With the issuance of the senior unsecured notes on April 24, 2018, total liquidity increased by $25 million.

KPT Q1 2018 Financial Results
KPT incurred a net loss of $0.8 million in Q1 2018. Included in the net loss was $0.3 million representing KPT’s share of KPLP’s income. The income was reduced by depreciation expense of $1.5 million related to adjustments to carrying amounts on acquisition, partially offset by an income tax recovery of $0.3 million.

Dividends on Common Shares                                                     
The Board of Directors of KPT declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share to be paid on July 16, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 29, 2018.

Additional Information
For additional information please refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) of KPT and KPLP for the first quarter ended April 1, 2018 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or our website at www.kptissueinc.com.

First Quarter Results Conference Call Information
KPT will hold its first quarter conference call on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Via telephone:  1-877-223-4471 or 647-788-4922

Via the internet at: www.kptissueinc.com

Presentation material referenced during the conference call will be available at www.kptissueinc.com.

A rebroadcast of the conference call will be available until midnight, May 17, 2018 by dialing 800-585-8367 or 416-621-4642 and entering passcode 8486799.

The replay of the webcast will remain available on the website until midnight, May 17, 2018.

About KP Tissue Inc. (KPT)
KPT was created to acquire, and its business is limited to holding, a limited partnership interest in KPLP, which is accounted for as an investment on the equity basis. KPT currently holds a 15.9% interest in KPLP. For more information visit www.kptissueinc.com.

About Kruger Products L.P. (KPLP)
KPLP is Canada's leading manufacturer of quality tissue products for household, industrial and commercial use. KPLP serves the Canadian consumer market with such well-known brands as Cashmere®, Purex®, SpongeTowels®, Scotties® and White Swan®. In the U.S., KPLP manufactures the White Cloud® brand, as well as many private label products. The Away-From-Home division manufactures and distributes high-quality, cost-effective product solutions to a wide range of commercial and public entities. KPLP has approximately 2,500 employees and operates eight FSC® COC-certified (FSC® C-104904) production facilities in North America.  For more information visit www.krugerproducts.ca.

Non-IFRS Measures
This press release uses certain non-IFRS financial measures which KPLP believes provide useful information to management of KPLP and the readers of the financial information in measuring the financial performance and financial condition of KPLP. These measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. An example of such a measure is Adjusted EBITDA. Beginning with Q4 2015 in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrators Staff Notice 52-306 (Revised), we reference Adjusted EBITDA as a non-IFRS financial measure. This term replaces the previously referenced non-IFRS financial measure EBITDA. Our definition of Adjusted EBITDA is unchanged from our former definition of EBITDA. Accordingly, this change in terminology has no impact on our reported financial results for prior periods. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of operating performance computed in accordance with IFRS and should not be considered as a substitute for operating income, net income or cash flows from operating activities computed in accordance with IFRS. “Adjusted EBITDA” is calculated by KPLP as net income (loss) before (i) interest expense, (ii) income taxes, (iii) depreciation, (iv) amortization, (v) impairment (gain on sale) of non-financial assets, (vi) loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment, (vii) foreign exchange loss (gain), (viii) costs related to restructuring activities, (ix) changes in amortized cost of Partnership units liability, and (x) one-time costs due to pension revaluations related to past service. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the relevant reported results can be found in the MD&A of KPT and KPLP for the first quarter ended April 1, 2018 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release about KPT's and KPLP's current and future plans, expectations and intentions, results, levels of activity, performance, goals or achievements or any other future events or developments constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, items such as: the potential installation of a second TAD paper machine; KPLP’s expansion efforts in U.S. premium private label; and KPLP’s future business strategy. The words "may", "will", "would", "should", "could", "expects", "plans", "intends", "trends", "indications", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "likely" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words or other comparable words or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by KPT or KPLP, including expectations and assumptions concerning: the impact of the TAD Project on Adjusted EBITDA; the expectation of continued growth in sales of TAD products in the U.S.; a successful ramp-up of the Crabtree paper machine; improved performance of the Away-From-Home business; and expanded distribution of White Cloud to select U.S. retailers. Although KPT and KPLP believe that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements since no assurance can be given that such expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct.

The outlook provided in respect of Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2018 is forward-looking information and is subject to the risk and uncertainties referred to below. The purpose of the outlook is to provide the reader with an indication of management’s expectations, at the date of this press release, regarding KPLP’s future financial performance. Readers are cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for other purposes.  

Many factors could cause KPLP’s actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments (which could in turn affect the economic benefits derived from the corporation’s economic interest in KPLP) to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the following factors, which are discussed in greater detail in the “Risk Factors – Risks Related to KPLP’s Business” section of the KPT Annual Information Form dated March 9, 2018 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com: Kruger Inc.’s influence over KPLP; KPLP’s reliance on Kruger Inc.; consequences of an event of insolvency relating to Kruger Inc.; risks associated with the Memphis TAD machine; operational risks; Gatineau Plant land lease; significant increases in input costs; reduction in supply of fibre; increased pricing pressure and intense competition; KPLP’s inability to innovate effectively; adverse economic conditions; dependence on key retail trade customers; damage to the reputation of KPLP or KPLP’s brands; KPLP’s sales being less than anticipated; KPLP’s failure to implement its business and operating strategies; KPLP’s obligation to make regular capital expenditures; KPLP’s entering into unsuccessful acquisitions; KPLP’s dependence on key personnel; KPLP’s inability to retain its existing customers or obtain new customers; KPLP’s loss of key suppliers; KPLP’s failure to adequately protect its intellectual property rights; KPLP’s reliance on third party intellectual property licenses; adverse litigation and other claims affecting KPLP; material expenditures due to comprehensive environmental regulation affecting KPLP’s cash flow; KPLP’s pension obligations are significant and can be materially higher than predicted if KPLP Management’s underlying assumptions are incorrect; labour disputes adversely affecting KPLP’s cost structure and KPLP’s ability to run its plants; exchange rate and U.S. competitors; KPLP’s inability to service all of its indebtedness; exposure to potential consumer product liability; covenant compliance; interest rate and refinancing risk; and risks relating to information technology, cyber-security, insurance, internal controls, and trade.

Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made herein. The forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of press release and KPT undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws.

INFORMATION:

Francois Paroyan
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
KP Tissue Inc.
Tel.: 905.812.6936
francois.paroyan@krugerproducts.ca

INVESTORS:

Mike Baldesarra
Director of Investor Relations
KP Tissue Inc.
Tel.: 905.812.6962
IR@KPTissueinc.com