The company also completed the acquisition of Automated Packaging Systems, a manufacturer of automated bagging systems
Image: Sealed Air has completed acquisition of Automated Packaging Systems. Photo: courtesy of rawpixel from Pixabay.
Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE: SEE) today announced financial results for the second quarter 2019.
“Our second quarter results demonstrate our significant progress in executing our Reinvent SEE strategy. In constant dollars, we delivered 12% Adjusted EBITDA growth on 4% higher sales. Adjusted EPS increased 25% compared to last year, as a result of profitable growth, lower tax expense and share repurchases,” said Ted Doheny, Sealed Air’s President and CEO.
In addition, the Company completed the acquisition of Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. (APS), a leading manufacturer of automated bagging systems (including the iconic Autobag® brand), for $510 million on a cash and debt free basis.
“We are excited that APS is now part of the Sealed Air family,” continued Doheny. “APS expands the breadth of our automated solutions and sustainable packaging offerings and aligns with our Reinvent SEE goal of doubling our innovation rate over the next five years.”
Unless otherwise stated, all results compare second quarter 2019 results to second quarter 2018 results from continuing operations. Year-over-year financial discussions present operating results from continuing operations as reported, on an organic basis and on a constant dollar basis. Organic refers to changes in unit volume and price performance and excludes acquisitions in the first year after closing, and divestiture activity and the impact of currency translation. Constant dollar refers to changes in unit volume, price performance and acquisitions and divestitures and excludes the impact of currency translation. Additionally, non-U.S. GAAP adjusted financial measures, such as Adjusted Earnings Before Interest Expense, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”), Adjusted Net Earnings, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (“Adjusted EPS”) and Adjusted Tax Rate, exclude the impact of specified items (“Special Items”), such as restructuring charges, restructuring associated costs, gains and losses related to acquisition and divestiture of businesses, special tax items (“Tax Special Items”) and certain other infrequent or one-time items. Please refer to the supplemental information included with this press release for a reconciliation of U.S. GAAP to Non-U.S. GAAP financial measures.
Business Highlights
Food Care net sales of $711 million decreased less than 1% as reported. Currency fluctuations had a negative impact on Food Care net sales of 4%, or $31 million. On a constant dollar basis, net sales increased 4%, primarily driven by volume growth and favorable price of more than 2% and 1%, respectively. Volume growth was led by 7%, 4% and 1% increases in South America, North America and EMEA, respectively, partially offset by a decline of 2% in APAC. Adjusted EBITDA increased 15% to $156 million, and margin expanded 290 basis points to 22%. Currency fluctuations had a $5 million unfavorable impact on Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA performance was driven by Reinvent SEE initiatives, including productivity improvements and restructuring savings, favorable price cost spread and volume growth, partially offset by unfavorable currency and higher operating costs, primarily labor inflation and non-material manufacturing costs.
Product Care net sales of $450 million increased 2% as reported. Currency fluctuations had a negative impact on Product Care net sales of 2%, or $10 million. On a constant dollar basis, net sales increased 4%, including 6%, or $26 million, from acquisitions and 1% on favorable pricing. Volume, excluding acquisitions, declined 3%, primarily due to 6% and 3% declines in APAC and EMEA, respectively. North America was down 1%. Despite lower volumes, Product Care increased Adjusted EBITDA to $84 million, up 7% from $79 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 19% increased 90 basis points due to the Company’s Reinvent SEE initiatives, partially offset by higher operating costs, primarily labor inflation and non-material manufacturing costs, lower volumes and unfavorable currency.
Completes APS Acquisition
Sealed Air completed the acquisition of APS on August 1, 2019 for a purchase price of $510 million on a cash and debt-free basis. Approximately $60 million of the $510 million purchase price will be paid to APS’s European employees over the next three years in accordance with the closure of an APS deferred incentive compensation plan.
The transaction includes expected cash tax benefits, with a net present value of approximately $70 million as the result of the structure of the transaction, which creates depreciable/amortizable “stepped-up” tax basis to fair market value in the acquired assets and liabilities. In 2018, APS generated $290 million in net sales and $40 million in Adjusted EBITDA. With the integration of APS, Sealed Air is expected to generate approximately $15 million annualized, run-rate productivity synergies by the end of 2021.
Second Quarter 2019 U.S. GAAP Summary
Net sales of $1.2 billion increased 1% on an as reported basis. Currency had a negative impact on total net sales of $41 million. Net earnings on an as reported basis was $26 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, which was unfavorably impacted by $100 million of Special Items, after tax. This compares to second quarter 2018 net earnings of $83 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, which was unfavorably impacted by $19 million of Special Items.
Special Items included a charge of $59 million ($44 million, net of taxes) recorded in connection with a settlement agreement with Novipax Holdings LLC, pursuant to which the Company would make a one-time cash payment as well as enter into a supply agreement under which it would continue to purchase materials from Novipax for a specified period. The settlement is related to a claim filed over Novipax’s 2015 purchase of Sealed Air Food Care’s North America foam trays and absorbent pads business. Special Items recorded during the quarter also included $51 million ($36 million, net of taxes) of restructuring charges and associated costs.
The effective tax rate in the second quarter 2019 was 32.5%, compared to 28.7% in the second quarter 2018.
Second Quarter 2019 Non-U.S. GAAP Summary
Net sales increased 4% in constant dollars reflecting a favorable price impact of 1%, an increase in volume of 50 basis points and contribution from acquisitions of 2.5%. On a constant dollar basis, sales increased 4% in North America, 1% in Asia Pacific and 30% in South America. South America growth was driven by USD-based indexed pricing combined with a 5% increase in volume. EMEA constant dollar sales were relatively flat.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 9% to $237 million, or 20% of net sales, compared to $218 million, or 19% in 2018. Currency fluctuations had an unfavorable $7 million, or 3%, impact on Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter 2019. On a constant dollar basis, Adjusted EBITDA increased 12%. The improvement in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to the Company’s Reinvent SEE initiatives, including productivity improvements and restructuring savings, and favorable price cost spread, partially offset by higher operating costs primarily labor inflation and non-material manufacturing costs.
Adjusted earnings per diluted share was $0.80 for the second quarter 2019 compared to $0.64 in the second quarter 2018.
The Adjusted Tax Rate was 19.4% in the second quarter 2019, compared to 22.6% in the second quarter 2018 primarily due to the release of a valuation allowance in South America, related to improved profitability in the region from Reinvent SEE initiatives.
Cash Flow and Net Debt
Cash flow provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was an inflow of $169 million, compared to an inflow of $37 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018.
Capital expenditures were $94 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 versus $74 million in the six months ended June 30, 2018. Free Cash Flow, defined as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, was an inflow of $75 million in the six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to an outflow of $5 million, excluding $33 million in payments related to the sale of Diversey, in the six months ended June 30, 2018.
During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company used cash in financing activities of $98 million, which includes share repurchases of $67 million, or approximately 1,560,000 shares, and cash dividends paid of $50 million. In the same period, Sealed Air used cash in investing activities of $23 million to fund targeted acquisition activity related to food packaging.
Net Debt, defined as total debt less cash and cash equivalents, increased to $3.4 billion as of June 30, 2019 from $3.2 billion as of December 31, 2018.
Updated Outlook for Full Year 2019
For the full year 2019, the Company’s outlook includes a five-month contribution from the APS acquisition.
The Company now expects net sales of approximately $4.85 billion, an increase of approximately 2% as reported and 5% in constant dollar. This compares to the previously provided sales guidance of $4.8 billion. Acquisitions are now expected to account for $190 million, or 4% growth, of which APS will contribute approximately $120 million. The Company continues to expect currency to have an unfavorable impact of approximately $130 million on net sales.
Adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be in the range of $950 to $960 million, including a $10 to $12 million contribution from APS, which includes an estimated one-time non-cash inventory step-up charge of $6 million associated with the acquisition. The Company continues to expect currency to have an unfavorable impact of approximately $25 million on Adjusted EBITDA. This compares to the previously provided guidance for Adjusted EBITDA of $925 to $945 million.
The Company now expects Adjusted EPS of $2.70 to $2.80. This outlook includes $0.07 dilution from the APS acquisition, which is net of an estimated $0.09 in charges related to the non-cash purchase accounting items of acquired intangible amortization and the one-time inventory charge. This compares to the previously provided guidance for Adjusted EPS of $2.65 to $2.75.
The Company expects 155 million diluted average shares outstanding and an anticipated Adjusted Tax Rate of 26% for the full year 2019.
The Company now expects Free Cash Flow to be approximately $180 million compared to the previously provided guidance of $250 million. This revision accounts for the cash payments related to the Novipax settlement of approximately $59 million and a deferred incentive compensation plan payment to APS’s European employees of $20 million. The Company expects capital expenditures of $210 million, including $10 million from APS, and cash restructuring and other related payments of $115 million.
Source: Company Press Release