Graphic Packaging Holding Company Reports Second Quarter 2022 Results; Progress Toward Enhanced and Stronger Vision 2025 Goals Continues

Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), (the "Company"), a leading provider of sustainable, fiber-based consumer packaging solutions to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies, reported Net Income for second quarter 2022 of $66 million, or $0.21 per share, based upon 309.9 million weighted average diluted shares. This compares to second quarter 2021 Net Income of $38 million, or $0.13 per share, based upon 295.8 million weighted average diluted shares.

The second quarters of 2022 and 2021 were negatively impacted by a net $102 million and a net $38 million of special charges, respectively. Special charges in the second quarter of 2022 included a $92 million expense associated with the write down of two folding carton plants in Russia now classified as held for sale. Adjusted Net Income also includes adjustments for amortization related to purchased intangible assets, net of tax. The second quarters of 2022 and 2021 were impacted by $17 million and $11 million of amortization related to purchased intangibles, respectively. The charges are detailed in the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures table attached. When adjusting for both types of charges, Adjusted Net Income for the second quarter of 2022 was $185 million, or $0.60 per diluted share. This compares to second quarter 2021 Adjusted Net Income of $87 million, or $0.29 per diluted share.

Michael Doss, the Company's President and CEO said, "Our growing pipeline of innovative, fiber-based consumer packaging solutions is meeting demand for more sustainable packaging and driving organic growth globally in our business. This continued in the second quarter, with Net Organic Sales up 3%, matching our first quarter growth rate and exceeding our targeted range. This growth is indicative of the ongoing transition of our customers to more recyclable and circular fiber-based packaging solutions. Our integrated business model and global scale have been essential to procuring raw materials in today's challenging supply chain environment and ensuring supply to our customers. Furthermore, the strategic investments we have completed uniquely position us to expand in new market segments and deliver industry-leading quality at the lowest cost to produce, all while advancing our leadership in the industry."

Doss added, "The operating leverage we have driven in our financial model remains on full display this year. We are on track to deliver our recently enhanced and stronger Vision 2025 goals by meeting or exceeding 2022 milestones. We continue to execute multiple pricing and productivity initiatives focused on improving profit margins and capturing returns on strategic investments. Our upwardly revised Adjusted EBITDA range, with $1.55 billion at the midpoint, reflects a substantial step up of approximately $500 million of incremental EBITDA when compared to 2021. As committed, we are utilizing cash flow to reduce debt and continue to expect year-end leverage to be in the 3.0 to 3.5x range."

Operating Results
Net Sales
Net Sales increased 36% to $2,358 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $1,737 million in the prior year period. The $621 million increase was driven by $278 million of pricing and $379 million of improved volume/mix related to organic growth from conversions to fiber-based packaging solutions and acquisitions. Net sales were unfavorably impacted by $36 million of foreign exchange.

EBITDA
EBITDA for the second quarter of 2022 was $294 million, compared to $214 million in the prior year period. After adjusting both periods for business combinations and other special charges, Adjusted EBITDA was $396 million in the second quarter of 2022 versus $248 million in the second quarter of 2021. When comparing against the prior year quarter, Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter of 2022 was positively impacted by $278 million of price, $81 million of volume/mix and $16 million in net productivity. Adjusted EBITDA was unfavorably impacted by $185 million of commodity input cost inflation, $25 million of other inflation and $17 million of unfavorable foreign exchange.

Other Results
Total Debt (Long-Term, Short-Term and Current Portion) decreased $136 million during the second quarter of 2022 to $5,831 million compared to the first quarter of 2022. Total Net Debt (Total Debt, net of Cash and Cash Equivalents) decreased $133 million during the second quarter of 2022 to $5,723 million compared to the first quarter of 2022. The Company returned $30 million in capital to stockholders in the second quarter of 2022 through dividends and share repurchases. The Company's second quarter 2022 Net Leverage Ratio was 4.36 times Adjusted EBITDA compared to 5.36 times at the end of 2021.

At June 30, 2022, the Company had available liquidity of $1,194 million, including the undrawn availability under its global revolving credit facilities.

Net Interest Expense was $48 million in the second quarter of 2022 as compared to $29 million reported in the second quarter of 2021. Capital expenditures for the second quarter of 2022 were $138 million compared to $200 million in the second quarter of 2021. Second quarter 2022 Income Tax Expense was $39 million, compared to $26 million in the second quarter of 2021.