News Details

SPOKANE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE:CLW) today reported financial results for the second quarter of 2011.

The company reported net earnings of $13.9 million, or $1.17 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2011, compared to net earnings of $20.6 million, or $1.75 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2010. The second quarter 2011 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, was $52.4 million, compared to $49.2 million in the second quarter of 2010. EBITDA in the second quarter of 2011 includes $9.1 million of Cellu Tissue integration-related expenses and tissue expansion costs related to Shelby.

Clearwater Paper acquired Cellu Tissue Holdings, Inc. on December 27, 2010. The second quarter of 2011 includes Cellu Tissue's results, which is the primary reason for many of the variances on a year-over-year basis.

"Second quarter results were solid after considering the significant cost pressures for many of our inputs," said Gordon Jones, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We continue to make good progress on integrating Cellu Tissue and on increasing the value we expect this acquisition to bring to Clearwater Paper. As a result, we are pleased to increase our estimated net annual synergies from $15-$20 million to $35-$40 million, expected to be achieved by the end of 2012.

"Additionally, we recently celebrated the grand opening of our converting and distribution facility at Shelby, North Carolina, with the start-up of the first two converting lines," added Jones.

The company also separately announced today a 2-for-1 stock split in the form of a stock dividend and the Board of Director's approval of a $30 million stock repurchase program.

SECOND QUARTER 2011 SEGMENT PERFORMANCE

Consumer Products

Net sales in the Consumer Products segment were $269.1 million for the second quarter of 2011, as compared to second quarter 2010 net sales of $145.4 million. The increase in net sales was primarily attributable to the inclusion of Cellu Tissue's operating results for the full quarter. Operating income for the second quarter of 2011 was $6.9 million, compared with operating income of $25.6 million for the second quarter of 2010. The decrease in operating income was primarily the result of increased operating costs, including $9.1 million of integration-related expenses and Shelby expansion costs, as well as $1.1 million in depreciation and amortization expense associated with acquisition accounting.

• Tissue volume increased to 128,762 tons in the second quarter of 2011, as compared to 55,486 tons in the second quarter of 2010, with the increase primarily attributable to the addition of Cellu Tissue volumes. Including Cellu Tissue in our second quarter 2010 results would have resulted in pro forma volume of 138,065 tons. The decrease in pro forma tons sold by the combined company was primarily due to converting more parent rolls into finished cases, which results in a yield loss associated with the process of manufacturing finished cases.
• Net selling prices decreased to $2,088 per ton in the second quarter of 2011 versus $2,620 in the second quarter of 2010, due primarily to the inclusion of Cellu Tissue products in the total product mix for the 2011 period. Cellu Tissue's operations had a broader range of products and tissue grades than the legacy Clearwater Paper facilities. On a pro forma basis, net selling prices were $2,026 in the second quarter of 2010.
• Operating costs were comparatively higher in all categories as a result of the inclusion of Cellu Tissue's operations in our results. Cost increases that had the biggest impact on the decline in operating income were salaries and wages associated with our Shelby expansion, relocation and severance costs associated with the acquisition of Cellu Tissue and retroactive pay related to labor contracts. In addition, we saw higher costs in packaging supplies, transportation due to higher oil prices, pulp, depreciation and amortization due to acquisition accounting and additional repair and maintenance expense associated with the Cellu Tissue facilities.

Pulp and Paperboard

Net sales of $225.5 million for the second quarter of 2011 were up 13.6%, compared to second quarter 2010 net sales of $198.5 million. Operating income for the quarter rose to $34.5 million, compared to $22.7 million for the second quarter of 2010.

• Higher net sales for the quarter were driven by a 10.4% increase in paperboard pricing and a 7.3% increase in paperboard volumes to 201,991 tons, compared to the second quarter of 2010.
• The increase in net sales was partially offset by an 8.4% decline in external pulp pricing to $718 per ton and a 16.3% decline in external pulp volumes to 11,140 tons, largely due to increased internal consumption of pulp.
• No major maintenance expense was included in either second quarter 2011 or 2010.

Taxes

The actual income tax rate for the second quarter of 2011 was 38.3%, compared to an actual rate of 38.0% for the second quarter of 2010. The estimated annual effective tax rate for 2011, without discrete items, is expected to be approximately 35.2%.

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In this press release, the company presents its results for the second quarter of 2011 and 2010, including EBITDA. The EBITDA amounts are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and accordingly a reconciliation of EBITDA to net earnings determined in accordance with GAAP is included at the end of this press release.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

A live audio webcast and conference call will be held today, Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 8 a.m. Pacific time (11 a.m. Eastern time). Investors may access the conference call by dialing 877-303-9241 (for U.S./Canada investors) or 760-666-3575 (for international investors). The audio webcast may be accessed on the company's website at http://ir.clearwaterpaper.com/events.cfm. An accompanying presentation including supplemental information will be available for downloading at the same site at 7 a.m. Pacific time (10:00 a.m. Eastern time). The webcast will be audio only. Investors are recommended to download the accompanying presentation prior to the call.

For those unable to participate in the call, an archived recording will be available through the Clearwater Paper Corporation website www.clearwaterpaper.com under "Investor Relations" following the conference call.

ABOUT CLEARWATER PAPER

Clearwater Paper manufactures quality consumer tissue, away-from-home tissue, parent roll tissue, machine glazed tissue, bleached paperboard, pulp and wood products at 15 manufacturing locations in the U.S. and Canada. The company is a premier supplier of private label tissue to major retailers and wholesale distributors, which include grocery, drug, mass merchants and discount stores. The company also produces bleached paperboard used by quality-conscious printers and packaging converters. Clearwater Paper's more than 4,000 employees build shareholder value by developing strong customer partnerships 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 statements regarding the integration of Cellu Tissue, our estimated net annual synergies relating to the acquisition of Cellu Tissue, the stock split, the stock repurchase program, expected results and the company's estimated tax rate. 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, fluctuations and volatility in the company's stock price; risks and uncertainties arising from difficulties with the integration process or the realization of the benefits expected from the acquisition of Cellu Tissue; the company's ability to complete its new facilities; customers' product preferences; market acceptance of product price increases and competitive pricing pressure for the company's products; changes in the United States and international economies; changes in raw material and energy costs; cyclical industry conditions; loss of a large customer; changes in the Alternative Fuel Mixture Tax Credit or Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credit regulations and the company's eligibility for such tax credits; changes in transportation costs and disruptions in transportation services; unanticipated manufacturing disruptions; changes in general and industry-specific laws and regulations; unforeseen environmental liabilities or expenditures; labor disruptions; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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.

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Unaudited (Dollars in thousands - except per-share amounts)
					Three Months Ended																				Six Months Ended
					June 30,																				June 30,
						2011										2010										2011										2010
Net sales					$	494,627			100%						$	343,860			100%						$	960,457			100%						$	674,481			100%
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales						(433,358)			88%							(286,415)			83%							(848,278)			88%							(588,379)			87%
Selling, general and administrative expenses						(27,476)			6%							(20,145)			6%							(54,840)			6%							(38,238)			6%
Total operating costs and expenses						(460,834)			93%							(306,560)			89%							(903,118)			94%							(626,617)			93%
Income from operations						33,793			7%							37,300			11%							57,339			6%							47,864			7%
Interest expense, net						(10,992)			2%							(4,132)			1%							(22,325)			2%							(8,417)			1%
Other, net						(229)										-										(705)										-
Earnings before income taxes						22,572			5%							33,168			10%							34,309			4%							39,447			6%
Income tax provision						(8,649)			2%							(12,600)			4%							(14,782)			2%							(18,421)			3%
Net earnings					$	13,923			3%						$	20,568			6%						$	19,527			2%						$	21,026			3%
Net earnings per common share:
Basic					$	1.21									$	1.79									$	1.70									$	1.83
Diluted						1.17										1.75										1.65										1.78
Average shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic						11,519										11,478										11,516										11,468
Diluted						11,854										11,777										11,855										11,786

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited (Dollars in thousands)
					June 30,								December 31,
						2011								2010
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash					$	34,476							$	18,928
Restricted cash						1,656								3,637
Short-term investments						92,000								126,095
Receivables, net						182,002								153,335
Taxes receivable						12,157								10,354
Inventories						223,604								228,321
Deferred tax assets						40,915								37,374
Prepaid expenses						9,177								11,415
Total current assets						595,987								589,459
Property, plant and equipment, net						696,836								654,456
Goodwill						229,533								229,533
Intangible assets, net						53,000								56,400
Other assets						13,505								15,488
					$	1,588,861							$	1,545,336
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities					$	183,226							$	184,604
Current liability for pensions and other postretirement employee benefits						9,749								9,749
Current portion of long-term debt						15,215								760
Total current liabilities						208,190								195,113
Long-term debt, net of current portion						523,583								538,314
Liability for pensions and other postretirement employee benefits						180,405								187,116
Other long-term obligations						35,133								23,369
Accrued taxes						73,373								72,011
Deferred tax liabilities						75,454								61,064
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax						(94,806	)							(98,352	)
Stockholders' equity, excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax						587,529								566,701
					$	1,588,861							$	1,545,336

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Segment Information
Unaudited (Dollars in thousands)
						Three Months Ended																								Six Months Ended
						June 30,																								June 30,
							2011												2010 (1)												2011												2010 (1)
Segment net sales:
Consumer Products						$	269,118				54	%						$	145,373				42	%						$	538,370				56	%						$	283,196				42	%
Pulp and Paperboard							225,509				46	%							198,487				58	%							422,087				44	%							391,285				58	%
Total segment net sales						$	494,627				100	%						$	343,860				100	%						$	960,457				100	%						$	674,481				100	%
Operating income (loss):
Consumer Products						$	6,868				20	%						$	25,643				69	%						$	20,683				36	%						$	51,630				108	%
Pulp and Paperboard							34,456				102	%							22,660				61	%							50,104				87	%							14,743				31	%
							41,324												48,303												70,787												66,373
Corporate and eliminations							(7,531	)			-22	%							(11,003	)			-29	%							(13,448	)			-23	%							(18,509	)			-39	%
Income from operations						$	33,793				100	%						$	37,300				100	%						$	57,339				100	%						$	47,864				100	%
(1) Prior period net sales and segment operating income have been adjusted to reflect our change in accounting for intersegment pulp transfers. Commencing January 1, 2011, rather than recording the intersegment transfer of pulp through net sales, the costs of pulp are transferred from the Pulp and Paperboard segment to the Consumer Products segment.

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Reconciliation of Consolidated Net Earnings to EBITDA
Unaudited (Dollars in thousands)
							Three Months Ended														Six Months Ended
							June 30,														June 30,
								2011							2010							2011							2010
Net earnings							$	13,923						$	20,568						$	19,527						$	21,026
Add back:
Interest expense, net								10,992							4,132							22,325							8,417
Income tax provision								8,649							12,600							14,782							18,421
Depreciation and amortization								18,870							11,861							37,539							23,727
EBITDA							$	52,434						$	49,161						$	94,173						$	71,591

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Matt Van Vleet, 509-344-5912 (News media)
or
Linda Massman, 509-344-5905 (CFO)
or
(Investors)
Sean Butson, 509-344-5906 (IR Sense)

Source: Clearwater Paper Corporation

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