Verso reports Q2 net loss of US$24.3M from loss of US$44.3M in year-ago period, net sales down 0.6% year-over-year to US$398.8 with decreased sales volumes partially offset by increased product prices
Kendall Sinclair
MEMPHIS, Tennessee
,
August 11, 2011
(press release)
–
Verso Paper Corp. (NYSE: VRS) today reported financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011. Results for the periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 include:
Overview
Verso’s net sales for the second quarter of 2011 decreased $2.3 million, or 0.6%, compared to the second quarter of 2010 as a result of sales volume decreasing 12.2% while the average sales price for all of our products increased 13.2%. The improvement in our average sales price primarily reflects price increases that went into effect during 2010. We announced additional price increases for our core products of $40 per ton effective April 1, 2011. Verso’s gross margin was 15.1% for the second quarter of 2011 compared to 9.1% for the same period in 2010.
Verso reported a net loss of $24.3 million in the second quarter of 2011, or $0.46 per diluted share, which included $3.7 million of charges from special items, or $0.07 per diluted share. Verso had a net loss of $44.3 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2010, which included $1.5 million of charges from special items, or $0.03 per diluted share.
Verso reported a net loss of $68.9 million, or $1.31 per share, for the first six months of 2011, which included $30.2 million of charges from special items, or $0.57 per diluted share, primarily due to $26.1 million in pre-tax net losses related to our debt refinancing in the first quarter of 2011. Verso reported a net loss of $97.9 million, or $1.87 per share, for the first six months of 2010, which included $3.1 million of charges from special items, or $0.06 per diluted share, primarily due to costs associated with new product development.
“Our second quarter adjusted EBITDA results improved by $21 million year over year to $44 million for the second quarter of 2011. As mentioned on our last earnings call, we expected second quarter volumes to be down compared to a very strong 2010 and first quarter of 2011,” said Mike Jackson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Verso.
“Price realization for paper continued an upward trend, and we increased inventory levels in preparation for seasonally high orders in the third and fourth quarters. This planned inventory increase was well within our acceptable levels and better positions us for increasing fall order activity.
“Input prices continue to be a challenge. However, as we conclude our second quarter maintenance outages, we expect to see continued R-Gap savings to help offset these costs. We also expect strong results from our operations in the third quarter.”
Net Sales. Net sales for the second quarter of 2011 decreased 0.6% to $398.8 million from $401.1 million in the second quarter of 2010, as the average sales price for all of our products increased 13.2%, reflecting price increases implemented during 2010 and the beginning of second quarter 2011. This positive impact was largely offset as total sales volume decreased 12.2% in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the second quarter of 2010.
Net sales for our coated and supercalendered papers segment increased 1.2% in the second quarter of 2011 to $320.7 million from $316.8 million for the same period in 2010, as the average paper sales price per ton increased 15.3% and paper sales volume decreased 12.2% compared to the second quarter of 2010.
Net sales for our market pulp segment decreased 12.9% to $36.2 million in the second quarter of 2011 from $41.6 million for the same period in 2010. This decline reflects a 7.0% decrease in the average sales price per ton combined with a 6.4% drop in sales volume from the second quarter of 2010.
Net sales for our other segment decreased 1.8% in the second quarter of 2011 to $41.9 million from $42.7 million in the second quarter of 2010. The decline in net sales reflects an 18.9% decrease in sales volume while the average sales price per ton increased 21.1% compared to the second quarter of 2010, reflecting a change in the mix of products sold.
Cost of sales. Cost of sales, including depreciation, amortization, and depletion, was $370.1 million in the second quarter of 2011 compared to $397.2 million in 2010. Our gross margin, excluding depreciation, amortization, and depletion, improved to 15.1% for the second quarter of 2011 from 9.1% for the second quarter of 2010, reflecting higher average sales prices during the second quarter of 2011. Depreciation, amortization, and depletion expenses were $31.6 million in the second quarter of 2011 compared to $32.8 million in the second quarter of 2010.
Selling, general, and administrative. Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased to $21.7 million in the second quarter of 2011 from $16.6 million for the same period in 2010. This increase includes certain non-recurring costs including professional fees and severance.
Interest expense. Interest expense for the second quarter of 2011 was $31.6 million compared to $31.9 million for the same period in 2010.
Net Sales. Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2011, increased 6.6% to $815.4 million from $764.7 million as the average sales price per ton for all of our products increased 13.1%, reflecting price increases implemented during 2010 and the beginning of second quarter 2011. This positive impact was partially offset by a 5.8% decline in total sales volume compared to last year.
Net sales for our coated and supercalendered papers segment increased 8.5% to $672.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, from $619.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. This improvement reflects a 14.1% increase in the average paper sales price per ton paper while paper sales volume for the six months ended June 30, 2011, decreased 4.9% compared to the same period last year.
Net sales for our market pulp segment decreased 8.9% to $71.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, from $79.0 million for the same period in 2010. This decrease was due to a 9.0% decrease in sales volume for the six months ended June 30, 2011, while the average sales price per ton remained relatively flat compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010.
Net sales for our other segment increased 7.5% to $71.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, from $66.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The improvement in 2011 is due to an 18.6% increase in the average sales price per ton. Partially offsetting this increase was a 9.4% decrease in sales volume compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010.
Cost of sales. Cost of sales, including depreciation, amortization, and depletion, decreased 1.6% to $754.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, compared to $766.1 million for the same period last year. Our gross margin, excluding depreciation, amortization, and depletion, improved to 15.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2011, from 8.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2010, reflecting higher average sales prices during 2011. Depreciation, amortization, and depletion expenses were $63.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, compared to $64.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
Selling, general, and administrative. Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased to $40.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, from $32.8 million for the same period in 2010. This increase includes certain non-recurring costs including professional fees and severance.
Interest expense. Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2011, was $64.0 million compared to $64.2 million for the same period in 2010.
Other, net. Other, net for the six months ended June 30, 2011, was a net loss of $26.1 million compared to a net gain of $0.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Included in the results for 2011 were $26.1 million in pre-tax net losses related to the early retirement of debt in connection with our debt refinancing.
Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA
The agreements governing our debt contain financial and other restrictive covenants that limit our ability to take certain actions, such as incurring additional debt or making acquisitions. Although we do not expect to violate any of the provisions in the agreements governing our outstanding indebtedness, these covenants can result in limiting our long-term growth prospects by hindering our ability to incur future indebtedness or grow through acquisitions.
EBITDA consists of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. EBITDA is a measure commonly used in our industry, and we present EBITDA to enhance your understanding of our operating performance. We use EBITDA as one criterion for evaluating our performance relative to that of our peers. We believe that EBITDA is an operating performance measure, and not a liquidity measure, that provides investors and analysts with a measure of operating results unaffected by differences in capital structures, capital investment cycles, and ages of related assets among otherwise comparable companies. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA further adjusted to exclude unusual items and other pro forma adjustments permitted in calculating covenant compliance in the indentures governing our notes to test the permissibility of certain types of transactions. Adjusted EBITDA is modified to reflect the amount of net cost savings projected to be realized as a result of specified activities taken during the preceding 12-month period. We believe that the inclusion of the supplemental adjustments applied in calculating Adjusted EBITDA are reasonable and appropriate in providing additional information to investors to demonstrate our compliance with our financial covenants. We also believe that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful liquidity measurement tool for assessing our ability to meet our future debt service, capital expenditures, and working capital requirements.
However, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of financial performance under U.S. GAAP, and our EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. You should not consider our EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA as an alternative to operating or net income, determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as an indicator of our operating performance, or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities, determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as an indicator of our cash flows or as a measure of liquidity.
About Verso
Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Verso Paper Corp. is a leading North American producer of coated papers, including coated groundwood and coated freesheet, and supercalendered and specialty products. Verso’s paper products are used primarily in media and marketing applications, including magazines, catalogs and commercial printing applications such as high-end advertising brochures, annual reports and direct-mail advertising. Additional information about Verso is available on the Company’s website at www.versopaper.com. References to “Verso” or the “Company” mean Verso Paper Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.
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