Neenah Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results Led by Organic Sales Growth and Accretive Acquisition

Second Quarter Highlights
- Net sales of $269.3 million were up 67 percent from prior year, with strong rebounds in each segment. Excluding the effects of the Itasa acquisition, net sales were 46 percent higher than prior year and up 4 percent from first quarter.
- Record net sales in Technical Products were led by organic growth in all product categories. Net sales were up 79 percent from prior year and 24 percent from first quarter, primarily from the Itasa acquisition. Excluding the acquisition, quarterly sales were up 1% from a strong first quarter.
- Net sales in Fine Paper and Packaging were up 48 percent from prior year and 10 percent higher than first quarter, the latter increase driven by growth in premium packaging and consumer products.
- Adjusted operating margins for both segments were impacted by higher input costs and lower value mix, partly offset by higher volumes and manufacturing efficiencies.
- Liquidity was strong at $196 million as of June 30, 2021 and consistent with March 31, 2021, in spite of higher working capital and capital expenditures.
- Our largest North American facility was one of 12 recipients of the 2021 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award from Focus on Energy®. The facility earned the award for its energy management systems and efforts to continuously improve energy performance.

"Neenah’s sales momentum continued in the second quarter, and demand for our products is strong, with improving conditions in our end-markets, share gains, and new product wins with key customers. Like most companies, we are facing pressures from rising input costs and supply chain disruptions, and we have taken pricing and other actions to address this challenging environment. We expect to offset these impacts over time, as we have demonstrated historically," said Julie Schertell, Chief Executive Officer. "We also took several strategic steps in the quarter to drive revenue growth and margins, including the successful acquisition of Itasa, announcement of $13 million of new capacity for the release liner business to support continued growth, restarting of an idled asset to support demand in Fine Paper and Packaging, and the closure of the Appleton facility from which we expect approximately $7-8 million per year profit improvement. Combined with early progress with the Neenah Operating System and our renewed innovation efforts, we are executing our strategy and positioning the business to achieve our goals of mid-single digit revenue growth and attractive mid-teen operating margins."

Quarterly Consolidated Results
Income Statement
Consolidated net sales of $269.3 million in the second quarter of 2021 increased 67 percent compared with $161.4 million in the second quarter of 2020. The increase includes strong volume growth in both segments, including net sales from the Itasa acquisition of $33.2 million. The impact from lower net selling prices was mostly offset by favorable currency effects. Excluding the Itasa acquisition, net sales grew 4% from the first quarter of 2021.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense of $27.5 million in the second quarter of 2021 increased $6.7 million compared with $20.8 million in the prior year. The majority of the increase was due to additional SG&A from the Itasa acquisition. Costs in 2020 were lower due to the significant actions taken to manage spending and temporarily reduce costs in areas such as marketing, travel and payroll.

Operating loss of $32.6 million in the second quarter of 2021 decreased compared to operating loss of $58.5 million in 2020. The operating loss of $32.6 million in 2021 resulted primarily from non-routine charges of $51.9 million, including asset restructuring costs resulting from the Appleton Mill closure, loss on debt extinguishment, acquisition and integration costs, pension settlement losses and other restructuring items as detailed in the GAAP reconciliation table. Operating loss of $58.5 million in 2020 resulted primarily from the $59.0 million of mostly non-cash costs for impairments and write-offs due to Appleton impairment and COVID-19 impacts. Excluding adjusting items in both years, adjusted operating income of $19.3 million increased $18.8 million from $0.5 million in the prior year. The increase was driven by strong sales volume growth in both segments, including the effects of the Itasa acquisition and higher manufacturing efficiencies, partly offset by higher input costs and lower value sales mix in Technical Products. Refer to the GAAP reconciliation table later in this release for details of adjusting items.

Net interest expense of $4.8 million in the second quarter of 2021 was higher than the $3.0 million in the second quarter of 2020, due to the higher borrowing under the upsized Term Loan B (as discussed below) and amortization of the associated deferred financing costs.

The effective income tax rate benefit applied to the pre-tax loss was (21) percent and (19) percent in the second quarter of 2021 and 2020, respectively. The tax benefit was reduced in 2021 by a $2.9 million charge resulting from the elimination of certain deferred tax assets due to the Appleton Mill closure. The 2020 tax rate reflected a $4.0 million charge to increase the valuation allowance against the deferred tax asset for state tax credits and net operating losses.

The GAAP loss per diluted common share of $(1.76) in 2021 compared to $(2.98) in 2020. On an adjusted basis, earnings per share of $0.65 in the 2021 quarter increased from $(0.08) in the prior year period, reflecting our sales recovery and the accretive benefits of the Itasa acquisition.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Items
Cash provided from operations of $2.7 million in the second quarter of 2021 decreased from $29.4 million in the second quarter of 2020. The decrease resulted from a $28.1 million change in working capital due to lower business activity in 2020, including the significant actions taken to reduce costs in areas such as marketing, travel and payroll.

Capital spending of $6.5 million in the second quarter of 2021 increased from $3.2 million in the prior year.

Cash dividends of $7.9 million and $8.0 million, or $0.47 per share, were paid in the second quarter of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2021 were $36.7 million, which was down from $41.0 million as of March 31, 2021. Debt as of June 30, 2021 of $443.1 million compared to $192.0 million as of March 31, 2021. In connection with the acquisition of Itasa, we upsized our Term Loan B from $200 million to $450 million, with more favorable terms, including a 150 basis point reduction in the interest rate. We also amended our Global Revolving Credit Facility to allow for the Itasa acquisition and update certain other terms. Liquidity of $196 million (cash plus availability under our Global Credit Facilities) as of June 30, 2021 was consistent with $197 million as of March 31, 2021.

Quarterly Segment Results
Technical Products quarterly net sales of $179.6 million in 2021 increased 79 percent from $100.6 million in the prior year. The revenue increase was primarily driven by a rebound in all product categories compared to the lowest point of the pandemic in the second quarter of 2020, the acquisition of Itasa, and favorable currency effects from a stronger euro. These increases were partly offset by lower value sales mix in 2021. Net sales also continued to grow sequentially from the first quarter of 2021 and were 1% higher, excluding net sales of $33.2 million from the Itasa acquisition.

Operating loss decreased $17.9 million from the prior year to $28.3 million. Excluding adjusting items discussed above and shown on the reconciliation table, adjusted operating income increased $8.9 million from $5.8 million to $14.7 million, primarily as a result of increased volume and manufacturing efficiencies, including the acquisition of Itasa, and favorable foreign currency, partly offset by lower value sales mix and higher input costs.

Fine Paper and Packaging quarterly net sales of $89.7 million in 2021 increased 48 percent from $60.8 million in the prior year. The increase also reflects a continued rebound in all product categories, especially in commercial print. In addition, net selling prices were higher in 2021 due to a higher priced mix and input cost recoveries. Net sales also continued to grow sequentially and were 10% higher than the first quarter of 2021, driven by growth in premium packaging and consumer products.

Operating income increased $15.1 million from the prior year period to $9.9 million. Excluding unfavorable adjusting items in 2021 and 2020 of $0.1 million and $4.6 million, respectively, adjusted operating income of $10.0 million in 2021 increased $10.6 million from a loss of $0.6 million in the prior year primarily as a result of higher sales and production volume and more favorable sales mix, partly offset by higher input costs. The prior year period also had $4.5 million of higher costs related to impairment and asset restructuring costs, and other restructuring and non-routine costs.

Unallocated Corporate costs in the second quarter of 2021 of $14.2 million increased $7.1 million from the prior year. Excluding unfavorable adjustments in 2021 and 2020 of $8.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively, adjusted unallocated corporate expenses of $5.4 million increased $0.7 million from prior year due to timing of certain expenses. The adjustments for both years related primarily to loss on debt extinguishment.

Year-to-Date
Consolidated net sales of $496.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased $101.3 million (26%) from the prior year period. Strong organic volume growth was realized in both segments, coupled with net sales from the Itasa acquisition of $33.2 million and favorable currency effects. The increase was partly offset by lower net selling prices, driven by lower value mix. Excluding the Itasa acquisition, net sales grew 17% from prior year.

Consolidated operating loss decreased $15.9 million from the prior year period loss of $34.9 million to a loss of $19.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. Excluding adjusting items noted below, operating income increased $17.8 million to $45.4 million due primarily to higher sales and related manufacturing cost efficiencies. The impact of higher volumes, including the acquisition of Itasa, was only partly offset by lower value sales mix in Technical Products and higher input costs. In addition, as presented on the reconciliation table on the GAAP reconciliation table, we recorded $64.4 million of impairment and asset restructuring costs of the Appleton Mill closure, acquisition and integration costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, pension settlement losses, other restructuring and non-routine costs, and incremental costs of responding to COVID-19. Adjusting items of $62.5 million in 2020 included non-cash impairment and asset restructuring costs for long-lived assets, loss on extinguishment of debt, incremental costs of responding to COVID-19, other restructuring and non-routine costs, and acquisition and due diligence costs.

The year-to-date net loss decreased $12.3 million to a loss of $21.4 million compared with a loss of $33.7 million in 2020. After excluding 2021 and 2020 after-tax adjustments of $50.1 million and $51.4 million, respectively, the increase in adjusted net income of $11.0 million was due to higher adjusted operating income as both segments rebounded.

The year-to-date loss per diluted common share of $(1.27) in 2021 improved from $(2.01) in 2020. After excluding $2.96 per share of adjustments in 2021 and $3.05 per share of adjustments in 2020 discussed above, year-to-date adjusted earnings per share in 2021 of $1.69 increased from $1.04 in 2020, driven by the sales recovery and the accretive benefits of the acquisition.

Cash provided by operating activities of $23.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $20.2 million lower than $43.6 million in the prior year period. The decrease resulted from higher working capital due to higher sales and production volumes, and to a lesser extent from higher payments for pensions. The significant increases in accounts receivable, accounts payable and inventory during the six months ended June 30, 2021 resulted from the robust growth in business activity.

Capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2021 were $11.3 million compared to $8.0 million in the prior year period. We expect aggregate annual capital expenditures to return to a range of approximately 2 to 4 percent of net sales. We believe that this level of capital spending can be funded from cash provided from operating activities and allows us to maintain the efficiency and cost effectiveness of our assets while also investing in expanded capabilities to successfully pursue strategic initiatives and deliver attractive returns.

Debt as of June 30, 2021 of $443.1 million was $248.7 million higher compared with $194.4 million as of December 31, 2020, due to upsizing our Term Loan B from $200 million to $450 million. Cash and cash equivalents of $36.7 million as of June 30, 2021 compared with cash and cash equivalents of $37.1 million as of December 31, 2020.