Intertape Polymer posts Q4 net earnings of US$2.3M, versus net loss of US$38.5M a year ago driven by better pricing environment, cost savings; revenue up to US$183M, versus US$180M in 2010

Graziela Medina Shepnick

Graziela Medina Shepnick

MONTREAL and BRADENTON, Florida , March 7, 2012 (press release) – Adjusted EBITDA of $63.1 million increased 50.7% over last year

Intertape Polymer Group Inc. ("Intertape" or the "Company") today released results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011. All dollar amounts are US denominated unless otherwise indicated.

Fiscal Year 2011 Highlights:

-- Revenue increased 9.2% over last year to $786.7 million
-- Gross margin increased to 14.6% from 11.7% last year
-- Adjusted EBITDA increased 50.7% to $63.1 million
-- Cash flows from operating activities before changes in working capital increased 39.1% to $54.2 million
-- Total debt decreased by $25.4 million from year-end of 2010
-- Manufacturing cost reduction programs totalled approximately $17 million
-- Introduced 35 new products during the year

"Intertape generated improved results in 2011 despite continued sluggishness in the economy. Our progress was attributable to a better pricing environment, and also to several internal initiatives, including a greater contribution from higher-margin products in the sales mix, a significant reduction in manufacturing costs, and a continued focus on the pricing optimization process primarily with low-margin products," stated Intertape President and Chief Executive Officer, Greg Yull.

"Total revenue reached $786.7 million, up 9.2% over 2010. For the same period, adjusted EBITDA of $63.1 million represented an increase of 50.7%. Additionally, we achieved an important corporate goal by reducing Intertape's debt $25.4 million during the year. These positive accomplishments, encouraging as they are, should be seen as only the first stages of Intertape's return to profitable growth and a progressive return to higher gross margins. Throughout 2011, we laid the groundwork for further achievements and the creation of additional shareholder value," indicated Mr. Yull.

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $786.7 million, a 9.2% increase compared to $720.5 million in 2010. Sales volume decreased approximately 4% and selling prices, including the impact of product mix changes, increased approximately 13% compared to 2010. Sales volume was impacted by progress made toward reducing sales of low-margin products and the closure of the Brantford facility. Selling prices increased due to the combination of an improved pricing environment and internal initiatives to optimize product mix.

Gross profit totalled $114.5 million for the year, an increase of 35.8% from $84.3 million in 2010. Gross margin improved to 14.6% in 2011, up from 11.7% in 2010. The increase in gross profit and gross margin was primarily due to increased selling prices, improved product mix and manufacturing cost reductions, partially offset by lower volume. Manufacturing cost reduction programs, which included productivity improvements, waste reduction and energy conservation, were implemented during 2011 and totalled approximately $17 million.

Adjusted EBITDA for the year increased by $21.2 million to $63.1 million or 8.0% of revenue. The increase was primarily due to higher revenue and gross profit. It should also be noted that SG&A expenses decreased as a percentage of total revenue from 10.2% in 2010 to 9.8% in 2011.

Adjusted net earnings were $12.8 million, or $0.22 per share, in 2011 compared to an adjusted net loss of $41.4 million, or $0.70 per share, in 2010. The increase in earnings was due to the combination of higher revenue and gross profit as described above, and the negative impact from derecognition of $36.7 million of deferred tax assets in 2010.

Fourth quarter revenue increased 1.6% to $183.0 million, compared to $180.1 million in 2010 and was lower by 9.1% sequentially from $201.4 million for the third quarter of 2011, reflecting historical seasonality.

Sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2011 decreased approximately 12% compared to the fourth quarter of 2010 or approximately 8% after adjusting for the closure of the Brantford facility. The adjusted sales volume decrease over the fourth quarter of 2010 was primarily due to internal initiatives to reduce sales of low-margin products. Sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2011 decreased approximately 7% compared to the third quarter of 2011.

Selling prices, including the impact of product mix, increased approximately 13% in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the fourth quarter of 2010 after adjusting for the closure of the Brantford facility. Selling prices increased due to the combination of an improved pricing environment and internal initiatives to optimize product mix.

Gross profit for the fourth quarter totalled $27.6 million, compared to $21.2 million a year ago and $30.3 million for the third quarter of 2011. Fourth quarter gross margin was 15.1% compared to 11.8% for the prior year and 15.1% for the third quarter of 2011. As compared to the fourth quarter of 2010, gross profit and gross margin increased primarily due to increased selling prices, improved product mix and manufacturing cost reductions.

Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was $15.3 million compared to $12.2 million for 2010 and $17.5 million for the third quarter of 2011. The higher adjusted EBITDA when compared to the fourth quarter of 2010 reflects higher revenue and gross profit. The sequential decline in adjusted EBITDA is largely attributable to lower revenue associated with historical seasonality.

Adjusted net earnings were $2.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2011 as compared to an adjusted net loss of $32.1 million (which included the derecognition of $32.5 million of deferred tax assets) for the fourth quarter of 2010 and adjusted net earnings of $3.8 million in the third quarter of 2011. Adjusted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $0.05 compared with a loss per share of $0.54 for the same period last year and adjusted earnings per share of $0.06 for the third quarter of 2011.

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net earnings (loss) and adjusted earnings (loss) per share are not generally accepted accounting principle ("GAAP") measures. Whenever Intertape uses such non-GAAP measures, it will provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most closely applicable GAAP financial measure. Investors and other readers are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to their most closely applicable GAAP measure set forth below and should consider non-GAAP measures only as a supplement to, not as a substitute for or as a superior measure to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The Company generated cash flows from operating activities before changes in working capital items for the fourth quarter of $14.9 million compared to $9.8 million in the same period last year. The $5.1 million increase was primarily due to the increase in gross margin and a decrease in facility closure costs.

During the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company reduced total indebtedness by $21.8 million from the third quarter of 2011. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had cash and unused availability under its Asset-based loan facility ("ABL") totalling $58.0 million. As of March 6, 2012, the Company had cash and unused availability under its ABL exceeding $74 million.

As a result of the Company's structural, operational, management and reporting realignments during the third quarter of 2010, the Company no longer has operating divisions and now operates as a single segment. The Company is not required to present operating results at a divisional level; however, in the interest of historical reporting consistency, the results discussed below are as per the previously-defined divisions. The Company does not expect to continue reporting on previously-defined divisions in the future.

Tapes & Films ("T&F") Business Fourth Quarter Highlights

-- Revenue increased 4.7% over last year
-- Sales volume decreased approximately 8%
-- Selling prices, including the impact of product mix, increased approximately 13%
-- Gross margin increased to 15.8% compared to 14.0% last year
-- Adjusted EBITDA of $14.7 million increased 23.4% over last year

Outlook

"We expect that continued market acceptance of our new products will contribute significantly to our results, continuing the trend of 2011, when products introduced over the last three years accounted for over 10% of revenue. The sales growth of Intertape's portfolio of higher-margin products, which includes our new products, was three times faster than the Company's lower-margin legacy products when compared to 2010," said Mr. Yull.

"New products are a key focus area for us as innovation is a key component of our mission to increase shareholder value. We expect the growth in sales of our new products to assist Intertape in making further progress in 2012 toward its goal of a gross margin of 18% to 19%.

"The Company anticipates sequentially higher revenue and adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the fourth quarter of 2011. Gross margin for the first quarter of 2012 is expected to be similar to the fourth quarter of 2011. Cash flows from operations are expected to be lower in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the fourth quarter of 2011 primarily due to changes in working capital requirements," concluded Mr. Yull.

EBITDA

A reconciliation of the Company's EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to GAAP net earnings (loss) is set out in the EBITDA reconciliation table below. EBITDA should not be construed as earnings (loss) before income taxes, net earnings (loss) or cash flows from operating activities as determined by GAAP. The Company defines EBITDA as net earnings (loss) before (i) income taxes (recovery); (ii) interest and other (income) expense; (iii) refinancing expense, net of amortization; (iv) amortization of debt issue expenses; (v) amortization of intangible assets and deferred charges; and (vi) depreciation of property, plant and equipment. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA before (i) manufacturing facility closures, restructuring and other charges; (ii) impairment of goodwill; (iii) impairment of long-lived assets and other assets; (iv) write-down on assets classified as held-for-sale; and (v) other items as disclosed. The terms "EBITDA" and "adjusted EBITDA" do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by GAAP and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to cash flows from operating activities or as alternatives to net earnings (loss) as indicators of the Company's operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. The Company has included these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes that it permits investors to make a more meaningful comparison of the Company's performance between periods presented. In addition, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are used by Management and the Company's lenders in evaluating the Company's performance.

Adjusted Net Earnings (Loss)

A reconciliation of the Company's adjusted net earnings (loss), a non-GAAP financial measure, to GAAP net earnings (loss) is set out in the adjusted net earnings (loss) reconciliation table below. Adjusted net earnings (loss) should not be construed as net earnings (loss) as determined by GAAP. The Company defines adjusted net earnings (loss) as net earnings (loss) before (i) manufacturing facility closures, restructuring, and other charges; and (ii) other items as disclosed. The term "adjusted net earnings (loss)" does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Adjusted net earnings (loss) is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net earnings (loss) as an indicator of the Company's operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. The Company has included this non-GAAP financial measure because it believes that it permits investors to make a more meaningful comparison of the Company's performance between periods presented. In addition, adjusted net earnings (loss) is used by Management in evaluating the Company's performance because it believes it provides a more accurate indicator of the Company's performance.

Adjusted earnings (loss) per share is also presented in the following table. Adjusted earnings (loss) per share is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted earnings (loss) per share should not be construed as earnings (loss) per share as determined by GAAP. The Company defines adjusted earnings (loss) per share as adjusted net earnings (loss) divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, both basic and diluted. The term "adjusted earnings (loss) per share" does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Adjusted earnings (loss) per share is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to earnings (loss) per share as an indicator of the Company's operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. The Company has included this non-GAAP financial measure because it believes that it permits investors to make a more meaningful comparison of the Company's performance between periods presented. In addition, adjusted earnings (loss) per share is used by Management in evaluating the Company's performance because it believes it provides a more accurate indicator of the Company's performance.

IFRS Conversion

The Company has adopted International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, as of January 1, 2011 and, as such, the consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2011 are prepared under IFRS and include corresponding comparative financial information for 2010. The Company previously prepared its Consolidated Financial Statements under Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. In accordance with IFRS 1, First-Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards, the Company's IFRS transition date was January 1, 2010 and the Company prepared its opening IFRS balance sheet as of that date.

Conference Call

A conference call to discuss Intertape's 2011 fourth quarter and annual results will be held March 7, 2012, at 10 A.M. Eastern Time. Participants may dial 800-734-8592 (U.S. and Canada) and 212-231-2911 (International).

You may access a replay of the call by dialing 800-633-8284 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-402-977-9140 (International) and entering the Access Code 21580828. The recording will be available from March 7th at 12:00 P.M. until April 7th at 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time.

About Intertape Polymer Group Inc.

Intertape Polymer Group Inc. is a recognized leader in the development, manufacture and sale of a variety of paper and film based pressure sensitive and water activated tapes, specialized polyolefin films, woven fabrics and complementary packaging systems for industrial use and retail applications. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec and Bradenton, Florida, the Company employs approximately 1,800 employees with operations in 19 locations, including 11 manufacturing facilities in North America and one in Europe.

Download Intertape Polymer Group's 2011 Q4 and annual results report

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