Clearwater Paper's Q1 net income swings to US$6.2M, from net loss of US$0.9M in year-ago period, including most recent quarter's US$7.7M expenses for directors' compensation, closure of two facilities; Q1 net sales up 5.2% year-over-year, to US$484.9M

Debra Garcia

SPOKANE, Washington , April 23, 2014 (press release) – Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE:CLW) today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2014.

The company reported net sales of $484.9 million for the first quarter of 2014, up 5% compared to net sales of $460.8 million for the first quarter of 2013. Net earnings determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for the first quarter of 2014 were $6.2 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of ($0.9) million, or ($0.04) per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2013. The 2014 first quarter GAAP net earnings include $1.8 million of after-tax expense associated with the mark-to-market impact of directors' equity-based compensation and $5.9 million of after-tax expense associated with the closure of the company's Thomaston, Georgia, and Long Island, New York, converting and distribution facilities. Excluding those items, first quarter 2014 adjusted net earnings were $13.9 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, compared to first quarter 2013 adjusted net earnings of $2.4 million, or $0.11 per diluted share.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, was $42.7 million for the first quarter of 2014. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $54.7 million, up 43.0% compared to first quarter 2013 Adjusted EBITDA of $38.3 million. The increase in EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA was due primarily to increased paperboard volumes and pricing and approximately $7 million of contribution from the company's through-air-dried, or TAD, expansion.

"The Pulp and Paperboard division delivered another solid quarter for Clearwater Paper," said president and chief executive officer Linda Massman. "With the Consumer Products division, we saw a highly-competitive tissue market and cold-weather related costs negatively impact the business. Moving forward, we are focused on continuing to build strong customer relationships and take important steps to bring efficiencies to every part of our operation."

On February 5, 2014, the company announced that the Board of Directors had approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of the company's common stock. Through April 22, the company repurchased 681,070 shares of common stock at an average price of $63.19 per share.

FIRST QUARTER 2014 SEGMENT PERFORMANCE

Consumer Products

Net sales in the Consumer Products segment were $286.5 million for the first quarter of 2014, slightly higher than first quarter 2013 net sales of $284.9 million. This increase was primarily driven by increased TAD sales and slightly higher non-retail sales. On a GAAP basis, the segment had an operating loss of ($0.5) million, compared to operating income of $10.1 million in the prior year period. Adjusted operating income of $8.7 million for the first quarter of 2014, after adjusting for $9.2 million and $0.2 million of costs related to the facility closures in the first quarters of 2014 and 2013, respectively, was down $1.6 million compared to the same period in 2013. The lower results were driven primarily by approximately $7 million in higher energy and transportation costs associated with the extremely cold weather in the Midwest and Northeast, as well as higher external pulp and packaging costs. These higher costs were mostly offset by approximately $7 million of TAD expansion benefit and the absence of TAD transition costs incurred in the first quarter of 2013.

Total tissue sales volumes of 127,758 tons in the first quarter of 2014 were down 3.6% compared to the first quarter of 2013. Converted product cases shipped were 13.4 million, down slightly compared to the first quarter of 2013.
Average tissue net selling prices increased 4.2% to $2,239 per ton in the first quarter of 2014, compared to the first quarter of 2013, due to improved mix from increased TAD sales.
Pulp and Paperboard

Net sales in the Pulp and Paperboard segment were $198.4 million for the first quarter of 2014, up 12.8% compared to first quarter 2013 net sales of $175.9 million. The increase was primarily due to record production volume and near record shipments supported by strong market backlogs and higher pricing in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013. Operating income for the quarter increased $19.2 million to $36.8 million, compared to $17.6 million for the first quarter of 2013, primarily due to improved paperboard volume and pricing coupled with lower maintenance and fiber costs, partially offset by higher energy and transportation costs.

Paperboard sales volumes increased 7.7% to 200,665 tons in the first quarter of 2014, compared to 186,350 tons in the first quarter of 2013.
Paperboard net selling prices increased 5.7% to $988 per ton compared to the first quarter of 2013 as a result of price increases implemented during the year and improved mix.
Taxes

The company's GAAP tax rate for the first quarter of 2014 was a provision of 36.4% compared to a benefit of 94.3% in the first quarter of 2013. The actual rate fluctuation in 2013 was a result of the net impact of reporting discrete items primarily related to conversions of Alternative Fuel Mixture Tax Credits and Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credits. On an adjusted basis, the first quarter 2013 tax rate was 36.2%. The company expects its annual GAAP and adjusted tax rates to be approximately 36% for 2014.

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In this press release, the company presents certain non-GAAP financial information for the first quarters of 2014 and 2013, including EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net earnings, adjusted net earnings per diluted share, and adjusted operating income. Because these amounts are not in accordance with GAAP, reconciliations to net earnings (loss) and net earnings (loss) per diluted share as determined in accordance with GAAP are included at the end of this press release. The company presents these non-GAAP amounts because management believes they assist investors and analysts in comparing the company's performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that the company does not believe are indicative of its core operating performance.

WEBCAST INFORMATION

Clearwater Paper Corporation will discuss these results during an earnings conference call that begins at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time today. A live webcast and accompanying supplemental information will be available on the company's website at http://ir.clearwaterpaper.com. A replay of today's conference call will be available on the website at http://ir.clearwaterpaper.com/results.cfm beginning at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time today.

ABOUT CLEARWATER PAPER

Clearwater Paper manufactures quality consumer tissue, away-from-home tissue, parent roll tissue, machine-glazed tissue, bleached paperboard and pulp at 13 manufacturing locations in the U.S. and Canada. The company is a premier supplier of private label tissue to major retailers and wholesale distributors. This includes grocery, drug, mass merchants and discount stores. The company also produces bleached paperboard used by quality-conscious printers and packaging converters. Clearwater Paper's employees build shareholder value by developing strong customer relationships through quality and service.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 as amended, including the company's customer relationships, operational efficiencies and expected tax rate for 2014. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections that are subject to change, and actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, customer acceptance and quantity and timing of purchases of the company's new TAD products; competitive pricing pressures for the company's products, including as a result of increased capacity as additional manufacturing facilities are operated by the company's competitors; difficulties with the optimization and realization of the benefits expected from the company's new TAD paper machine and converting lines in North Carolina; the loss of or changes in prices in regards to a significant customer; manufacturing or operating disruptions, including IT system failures, equipment malfunction and damage to the company's manufacturing facilities; changes in the cost and availability of wood fiber and wood pulp; changes in transportation costs and disruptions in transportation services; labor disruptions; changes in costs for and availability of packaging supplies, chemicals, energy and maintenance and repairs; changes in customer product preferences and competitors' product offerings; changes in expenses and required contributions associated with the company's pension plans; environmental liabilities or expenditures; changes in the U.S. and international economies and in general economic conditions in the regions and industries in which the company operates; increased supply and pricing pressures resulting from increasing Asian paper production capabilities; cyclical industry conditions; reliance on a limited number of third-party suppliers for raw materials; inability to successfully implement the company's expansion strategies; the company's qualification to retain, or ability to utilize, tax credits associated with alternative fuels or cellulosic biofuels and the tax treatment associated with receipt of such credits; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements based on new developments or changes in the company's expectations.

For additional information on Clearwater Paper, please visit the company’s website at www.clearwaterpaper.com.

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