KPT KP Tissue Inc

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 12, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - KP Tissue Inc. ("KPT") (TSX: KPT) reports the Q3 2014 Financial and Operational Results of KPT and Kruger Products L.P. (KPLP): 

• Revenue increased by 9.8% to $267.6 million in Q3 2014 compared to $243.8 million in Q3 2013
• EBITDA of $38.0 million in Q3 2014, up from $31.1 million in Q3 2013
• Maintained number one overall consumer market share in Canada
  
  

"We are pleased by our solid EBITDA performance of $38.0 million in the third quarter, an increase of over 22% compared to last year. The EBITDA increase primarily reflects higher sales volume in Canada and greater TAD Product contribution in the U.S.," said Mario Gosselin, CEO of KP Tissue and KPLP. 

"The recent Metro Paper acquisition also improved the results in the Away-from-Home (AFH) segment. TAD Products contributed $6.5 million during the third quarter and we have updated the expected EBITDA contribution for fiscal 2014 to between $23 million to $25 million, raising the bottom end of the range.

"Our EBITDA outlook for the fourth quarter is for year-over-year improvement. Compared to Q3 2014, we expect that Q4 EBITDA will be reduced due to seasonally higher advertising expenditures and plant maintenance costs," Mr. Gosselin concluded.

KP Tissue Inc.
KPT currently holds a 16.5% interest in KPLP. The highlights, discussion and analysis in this earnings release, unless identified specifically as representing the financial results of only KPT, relates entirely to the financial results of KPLP. 

KPLP Q3 2014 Financial Results
Revenue in Q3 2014 was $267.6 million, compared to $243.8 in Q3 2013, an increase of $23.8 million. Revenue increased across all segments and geographies and was primarily due to the acquisition of Metro Paper on June 3^rd in the AFH segment.  Revenue also increased as a result of higher sales volume in the Consumer segment in Canada, an increase in TAD Product sales in the U.S., and the favourable impact of foreign exchange on U.S. dollar sales.

Cost of sales in Q3 2014 was $219.9 million, compared to $200.7 million in Q3 2013 due to increases in commodity prices, particularly pulp fibre and natural gas, the unfavourable impact of foreign exchange, and an increase in freight expenses related primarily to higher sales volume. These cost increases were offset somewhat by the favourable mix of products sold, cost reduction initiatives and timing of maintenance spending. As a percentage of revenue, cost of sales were 82.2 percent in Q3 2014 compared to 82.4 percent in Q3 2013.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses in Q3 2014 were $17.7 million, compared to $19.7 million in Q3 2013 due to lower advertising and promotion expenses, partially offset by the impact of a realized loss on foreign exchange. 

EBITDA in Q3 2014 was $38.0 million compared to $31.1 million in Q3 2013, driven by favourable sales volume and mix resulting from increased sales in the Canadian Consumer business and in the U.S. for TAD Products and lower SG&A, as well as incremental EBITDA from the AFH Metro Paper acquisition. TAD Product EBITDA was $6.5 million in Q3 2014 compared to EBITDA of $1.8 million in Q3 2013.

Net income in Q3 2014 was $16.1 million, compared to $14.2 million in Q3 2013. The increase was primarily due to the increase in EBITDA of $6.9 million, partially offset by a change in the amortized cost of the Partnership unit liability of $1.1 million, an unrealized foreign exchange loss of $2.7 million and higher depreciation expense as a result of the TAD Project.

The cash balance as of September 28, 2014 was $36.3 million compared to $40.5 million as of June 29, 2014. Cash generated from operating activities resulting from EBITDA in Q3 2014 and a reduction in pension funding was more than offset by additional working capital requirements and interest and debt payments in the quarter.

KPT Q3 2014 Financial Results

• Net income of $0.6 million in Q3 2014
• Earnings per share of $0.08 in Q3 2014
  
  

Included in the net income of $0.6 million in Q3 2014 was $2.7 million representing KPT's share of KPLP's profit. The profit was offset somewhat by depreciation expense of $1.4 million related to adjustments to carrying amounts on acquisition, and income tax expense of $0.8 million. 

KPLP Distribution
KPLP will pay a distribution of $0.18 per KPLP unit to its partners on or prior to January 15, 2015.

Dividends on Common Shares
The Board of Directors of KP Tissue Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share to be paid on January 15, 2015 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 31, 2014.

Conference Call Information
KPT will hold its third quarter conference call on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Details of conference call:
Via telephone:  1-888-231-8191 or 647-427-7450
Via the internet at: www.kptissueinc.com

Presentation material referenced during the conference call will be available at www.kptissueinc.com.

Conference Call Rebroadcast
A rebroadcast of the conference call will be available until midnight, December 12, 2014 by dialing 1-855-859-2056 or 416-849-0833 and entering passcode 2719340.

The replay of the webcast will remain available on the web site until midnight, December 12, 2014.

About KP Tissue Inc. (KPT)
KPT was created to acquire, and its business is limited to holding, a limited partnership interest in KPLP, which is accounted for as an investment on the equity basis. KPT currently holds a 16.5% interest in KPLP. For more information visit www.kptissueinc.com. 

About Kruger Products L.P. (KPLP)
KPLP is Canada's leading manufacturer of quality tissue products for household, industrial and commercial use. KPLP serves the Canadian consumer market with such well-known brands as Cashmere®, Purex®, SpongeTowels®, Scotties®' and White Swan®. In the U.S., KPLP manufactures the White Cloud® brand, as well as many private label products. The Away-From-Home division manufactures and distributes high-quality, cost-effective product solutions to a wide range of commercial and public entities. KPLP has approximately 2,500 employees across North America and operates five FSC® CoC- certified mills (FSC® C104904), four of which are located in Canada and one in the US. For more information visit www.krugerproducts.ca.

Non-IFRS Measures
This press release uses certain non-IFRS financial measures and ratios which KPLP believes provide useful information to both management of KPLP and the readers of the financial information in measuring the financial performance and financial condition of KPLP. These measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. An example of such measures is EBITDA. EBITDA is not a measurement of operating performance computed in accordance with IFRS and should not be considered as a substitute for operating income, net income or cash flows from operating activities computed in accordance with IFRS. "EBITDA" is calculated by KPLP as net income (loss) before (i) interest expense, (ii) income taxes, (iii) depreciation, (iv) amortization, (v) impairment of non-financial assets, (vi) loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment, (vii) unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain), (viii) one-time costs related to restructuring activities, and (ix) change in the amortized cost of the Partnership unit liability. A reconciliation of EBITDA to the relevant reported results can be found in the Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") of KPT and KPLP for the third quarter ended September 28, 2014 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release about KPT's and KPLP's current and future plans, expectations and intentions, results, levels of activity, performance, goals or achievements or any other future events or developments constitute forward-looking statements. The words "may", "will", "would", "should", "could", "expects", "plans", "intends", "trends", "indications", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "likely" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words or other comparable words or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by KPT, including expectations and assumptions concerning the impact of the TAD Project on EBITDA. Although KPT believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information since no assurance can be given that such expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct.

Many factors could cause KPLP's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments (which could in turn affect the economic benefits derived from the Corporation's economic interest in KPLP) to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the following factors, which are discussed in greater detail in the "Risk Factors - Risks Related to KPLP's Business" section of the KPT Annual Information Form dated March 19, 2014 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com: Kruger Inc.'s influence over KPLP; KPLP's reliance on Kruger Inc.; consequences of an event of insolvency relating to Kruger Inc.; risks associated with the TAD Project; operational risks; Gatineau Plant land lease; significant increases in prices; reduction in supply of fibre; increased pricing pressure and intense competition; KPLP's inability to innovate effectively; adverse economic conditions; dependence on key retail trade customers; damage to the reputation of KPLP or KPLP's brands; KPLP's sales being less than anticipated; KPLP's failure to implement its business and operating strategies; KPLP's obligation to make regular capital expenditures; KPLP's entering into unsuccessful acquisitions; KPLP's dependence on key personnel; KPLP's inability to retain its existing customers or obtain new customers; KPLP's loss of key suppliers; KPLP's failure to adequately protect its intellectual property rights; KPLP's reliance on third party intellectual property licenses; adverse litigation and other claims affecting KPLP; material expenditures due to comprehensive environmental regulation affecting KPLP's cash flow; KPLP's pension obligations are significant and can be materially higher than predicted if KPLP Management's underlying assumptions are incorrect; labour disputes adversely affecting KPLP's cost structure and KPLP's ability to run its plants; exchange rate and U.S. competitors; KPLP's inability to service all of its indebtedness; exposure to potential consumer product liability, restrictive covenants; interest rate and refinancing risk; information technology and innovation; insurance; and internal controls.

Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made herein. The forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of press release and KPT undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE KP Tissue Inc.