News Details

SPOKANE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE:CLW) today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2012.

The company reported net earnings of $3.7 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2012, compared to net earnings of $5.6 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2011. Excluding $6.7 million in discrete tax items mostly associated with converting gallons from the Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credits to Alternative Fuel Mixture Tax Credits, first quarter 2012 net earnings were $10.4 million, or $0.44 per diluted share. Excluding a net tax charge of $1.9 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, related to a number of discrete tax items, first quarter 2011 net earnings were $7.5 million, or $0.32 per diluted share.

First quarter 2012 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, was $45.2 million, compared to $41.7 million in the first quarter of 2011. EBITDA in the first quarter of 2012 included $1.1 million of operating income from the company's Shelby, North Carolina facility and an estimated $5.3 million in net cost savings from synergies associated with the acquisition of Cellu Tissue Holdings, Inc. First quarter 2012 EBITDA was also impacted by $15.5 million of scheduled major maintenance costs, compared to $11.4 million in the first quarter of 2011.

"We are pleased to report excellent first quarter results, driven by a resurgence in our Consumer Products segment operating income margin to 9.5%," said Gordon Jones, chairman and chief executive officer. "We remain excited about expanding our tissue business via our new TAD paper machine and additional converting lines in Shelby, and expect our new paper machine to be completed on budget and on time, with the paper machine start-up in the fourth quarter of 2012."

FIRST QUARTER 2012 SEGMENT PERFORMANCE

Consumer Products

Net sales in the Consumer Products segment were $277.8 million for first quarter 2012, compared to first quarter 2011 net sales of $269.3 million. The increase in net sales was primarily attributable to higher net selling prices. Operating income for the first quarter of 2012 nearly doubled to $26.3 million compared to first quarter 2011 operating income of $13.8 million, primarily due to higher net sales and lower pulp costs in first quarter 2012.

• Tissue volume decreased slightly to 128,768 tons in the first quarter of 2012 compared to first quarter 2011 volumes of 129,566 tons, primarily due to the conversion of more parent rolls into finished cases.
• Net selling prices increased 3.8% to $2,158 per ton in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $2,078 in the first quarter of 2011, due primarily to a retail price increase implemented in the fourth quarter of 2011 and first quarter of 2012.
• The company continues to anticipate achieving approximately $20 million of cost savings from synergies in 2012 from the Cellu Tissue acquisition, with an expected annual run rate of cost savings from synergies in the range of $35 to $40 million by the end of 2012.

Pulp and Paperboard

Net sales in the Pulp and Paperboard segment of $180.0 million for the first quarter of 2012 were down 8.4% compared to first quarter 2011 net sales of $196.6 million. The decrease in net sales was due to the sale of the company's sawmill in November 2011. Excluding residual lumber sales of $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2012 and full quarter lumber sales of $22.6 million in the first quarter of 2011, net sales were $177.0 million and $174.0 million for the first quarter 2012 and first quarter 2011, respectively. This increase in adjusted net sales for the quarter was primarily due to higher paperboard volumes, partially offset by lower pulp volumes and lower paperboard selling prices. Operating income for first quarter 2012 declined 25.5% to $11.7 million, compared to $15.6 million for first quarter 2011, primarily due to $15.5 million in scheduled major maintenance costs incurred during the first quarter of 2012, compared to $11.4 million in the first quarter of 2011.

• Paperboard net sales of $176.4 million increased 4.6% compared to the first quarter of 2011 due to a 6.2% increase in paperboard volumes to 182,198 tons, partially offset by a 1.5% decline in paperboard net selling price per ton to $968.
• Pulp net sales of $0.6 million declined from $5.3 million in the first quarter of 2011, consistent with the company's strategy to use substantially all of its pulp internally.

Corporate and Eliminations

First quarter 2012 corporate and eliminations were $12.3 million. The first quarter 2011 amount of $5.9 million included $2.6 million of one-time benefits related to eliminations. The remaining difference between first quarter 2011 and first quarter 2012 is primarily a result of the continued integration of Cellu Tissue administration, support functions and locations, increased burden rates and higher incentive compensation expense.

Taxes

The actual income tax rate for the first quarter of 2012 was 76.6%, compared to 52.3% in the first quarter of 2011. The actual rate includes the effect of converting a portion of the company's Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credits back to Alternative Fuel Mixture Tax Credits to preserve the tax benefits. Excluding discrete items, the effective tax rates in the first quarter of 2012 and 2011 were approximately 34.6% and 35.8%, respectively. The estimated annual effective tax rate for 2012, excluding discrete items, is expected to be approximately 34.6%.

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In this press release, the company presents its results for the first quarter of 2012 and 2011, 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, Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at 2 p.m. Pacific time (5 p.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 1:00 p.m. Pacific time (4:00 p.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 and pulp 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. 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 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 expected delivery and budgeted costs relating to the company's new paper machine and converting lines in Shelby, North Carolina, expected future cost savings from synergies relating to the company's Cellu Tissue acquisition, tax rates and the company's strategic goals. 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, significant delays in the delivery of the company's new paper machine, paper machine components or converting equipment; significant delays in the completion of the new Shelby facility; mechanical or other difficulties affecting the start-up of operations at the new Shelby facility; the company's ability to successfully implement its expansion strategies; difficulties with the integration process or the realization of the benefits expected from the company's acquisition of Cellu Tissue; changes in raw material and energy costs, including changes in the cost and availability of wood fiber and wood; competition from larger producers; changes in transportation costs and disruptions in transportation services; customers' product preferences; changes in the U.S. and international economies; changes in raw material and energy costs; cyclical industry conditions; competitive pricing pressure for the company's products; 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.

For additional information on Clearwater Paper, please visit our website at www.clearwaterpaper.com.

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Unaudited (Dollars in thousands - except per-share amounts)
							Three Months Ended
							March 31,
								2012												2011
Net sales							$	457,798					100	%					$	465,830					100	%
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales								(403,076	)				88	%						(414,920	)				89	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses								(29,074	)				6	%						(27,364	)				6	%
Total operating costs and expenses								(432,150	)				94	%						(442,284	)				95	%
Income from operations								25,648					6	%						23,546					5	%
Interest expense, net								(9,728	)				2	%						(11,333	)				2	%
Other, net								-					-							(476	)				-
Earnings before income taxes								15,920					3	%						11,737					3	%
Income tax provision								(12,194	)				3	%						(6,133	)				1	%
Net earnings							$	3,726					1	%					$	5,604					1	%
Net earnings per common share:
Basic							$	0.16											$	0.25
Diluted								0.16												0.24
Average shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic								23,079												23,026
Diluted								23,417												23,678
All common share and per share amounts have been adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend distributed on August 26, 2011.

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited (Dollars in thousands)
					March 31,							December 31,
					2012							2011
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash					$	24,544						$	8,439
Restricted cash						770							769
Short-term investments						25,000							55,001
Receivables, net						179,583							176,189
Taxes receivable						14,508							10,000
Inventories						244,722							244,071
Deferred tax assets						27,573							39,466
Prepaid expenses						10,718							11,396
Total current assets						527,418							545,331
Property, plant and equipment, net						768,339							735,566
Goodwill						229,533							229,533
Intangible assets, net						48,117							49,748
Other assets, net						10,560							11,140
TOTAL ASSETS					$	1,583,967						$	1,571,318
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities					$	173,806						$	144,631
Current liability for pensions and other postretirement employee benefits						9,861							9,861
Total current liabilities						183,667							154,492
Long-term debt						523,752							523,694
Liability for pensions and other postretirement employee benefits						200,246							215,932
Other long-term obligations						47,560							48,474
Accrued taxes						78,107							74,464
Deferred tax liabilities						69,341							69,358
Stockholders' equity, excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax						594,757							600,169
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax						(113,463	)						(115,265	)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY					$	1,583,967						$	1,571,318

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Segment Information
Unaudited (Dollars in thousands)
											Three Months Ended
											March 31,
													2012														2011
Segment net sales:
Consumer Products											$		277,830					61		%					$		269,252					58		%
Pulp and Paperboard													179,968					39		%							196,578					42		%
Total segment net sales											$		457,798					100		%					$		465,830					100		%
Operating income:
Consumer Products											$		26,271					102		%					$		13,815					59		%
Pulp and Paperboard													11,658					45		%							15,648					66		%
													37,929														29,463
Corporate and eliminations													(12,281	)				48		%							(5,917	)				25		%
Income from operations											$		25,648					100		%					$		23,546					100		%

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Reconciliation of Consolidated Net Earnings to EBITDA
Unaudited (Dollars in thousands)
							Three Months Ended
							March 31,
								2012							2011
Net earnings							$	3,726						$	5,604
Add back:
Interest expense, net								9,728							11,333
Income tax provision								12,194							6,133
Depreciation and amortization expense								19,548							18,669
EBITDA							$	45,196						$	41,739

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Unaudited (Dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)
				Three Months Ended
				March 31,
					2012								2011
GAAP net earnings				$	3,726							$	5,604
Special items, after-tax:
Discrete tax items					6,691								1,913
Net earnings, excluding special items				$	10,417							$	7,517
GAAP net earnings per diluted share				$	0.16							$	0.24
Special items, after-tax:
Discrete tax items					0.28								0.08
Net earnings per diluted share, excluding special items				$	0.44							$	0.32
All common share and per share amounts have been adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend distributed on August 26, 2011.

Clearwater Paper Corporation
News media:
Matt Van Vleet, 509-344-5912
or
John Hunter, 509-344-5947
Interim CFO
or
Investors:
IR Sense
Sean Butson, 509-344-5906

Source: Clearwater Paper Corporation

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