Winpak Reports 2016 Fourth Quarter Results

Winpak Ltd. (CNW Group/Winpak Ltd.)

WINNIPEG, Feb. 16, 2017 /CNW/ - Winpak Ltd. (WPK) today reports consolidated results in US dollars for the fourth quarter of 2016, which ended on December 25, 2016. 

	Quarter Ended				Year Ended
	December 25		December 27		December 25		December 27
	2016		2015		2016		2015
(thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts)
Revenue	215,550		205,746		822,532		797,169
Net income	29,611		28,377		108,201		101,803
Income tax expense	13,184		11,775		49,813		45,474
Net finance (income) expense	(142)		15		(217)		50
Depreciation and amortization	8,855		8,240		34,184		31,879
EBITDA (1)	51,508		48,407		191,981		179,206
Net income attributable to equity holders of the Company	28,578		27,635		104,344		99,248
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	1,033		742		3,857		2,555
Net income	29,611		28,377		108,201		101,803
Basic and diluted earnings per share (cents)	44		43		161		153

Winpak Ltd. manufactures and distributes high-quality packaging materials and related packaging machines. The Company's products are used primarily for the packaging of perishable foods, beverages and in healthcare applications.

¹ EBITDA is not a recognized measure under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).  Management believes that in addition to net income, this measure provides useful supplemental information to investors including an indication of cash available for distribution prior to debt service, capital expenditures and income taxes.  Investors should be cautioned, however, that this measure should not be construed as an alternative to net income, determined in accordance with IFRS, as an indicator of the Company's performance.  The Company's method of calculating this measure may differ from other companies and, accordingly, the results may not be comparable.

(presented in US dollars)

Forward-looking statements: Certain statements made in the following report contain forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company.  Forward-looking statements represent the Company's intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs, and are not guarantees of future performance.  Such forward-looking statements represent Winpak's current views based on information as at the date of this report. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and the Company's actual results could differ, which in some cases may be material, from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.  Unless otherwise required by applicable securities law, we disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise this information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements.

Financial Performance
Net income attributable to equity holders of the Company for the fourth quarter of 2016 amounted to $28.6 million or 44 cents in earnings per share (EPS), surpassing the 2015 corresponding result of $27.6 million or 43 cents per share by 3.4 percent.  This represented the highest earnings performance of any quarter in the Company's 40-year history.  Organic volume growth provided the impetus by advancing EPS by 3.0 cents and was aided by a further 3.0 cents for reduced operating expenses and 1.0 cent due to favorable foreign exchange impacts.  This was offset in part by a lower relative gross profit margin which reduced EPS by 4.5 cents while higher income taxes and a greater proportion of net income attributable to non-controlling interests subtracted 1.0 cent and 0.5 cents from EPS respectively.

For the year ended December 25, 2016, net income attributable to equity holders of the Company of $104.3 million or $1.61 per share eclipsed the prior year record net income of $99.2 million or $1.53 per share by a respectable 5.1 percent.  Organic volume growth propelled EPS forward by 11.0 cents while foreign exchange and reduced operating expenses added a further 5.0 cents and 2.5 cents respectively.  A reduced rate of growth in gross profit in relation to sales volumes negatively impacted EPS by 7.0 cents.  Furthermore, a larger proportion of net income attributable to non-controlling interests and higher income taxes reduced EPS by 2.0 cents and 1.5 cents correspondingly. 

Revenue
Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2016 of $215.6 million set new heights and exceeded the 2015 final quarter level of $205.7 million by 4.8 percent.  Volumes continued where they left off at the end of the first three quarters, advancing by 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter, when compared to the same period in 2015.  On a percentage basis, biaxially oriented nylon volumes led the way, accelerating by over 30 percent followed by packaging machinery and parts sales which rebounded from a slower third quarter of the year.  Specialty film shipments also recovered from their decline in the previous quarter by moving forward in low double-digit percentage terms as bottlenecks within the operation continued to be addressed.  Modified atmosphere packaging volumes ascended in the high single-digit percentage range as ongoing progress was made at securing additional business at major US protein customers.  After a particularly strong third quarter, rigid container and lidding volumes advanced by low single-digit percentage increases over the 2015 final quarter.  Custom container shipments, including specialty beverage, along with condiment packaging and trays for home meal replacements bolstered volume growth.  Lidding for yogurt applications provided further gains.  Selling price/mix changes had an unfavorable impact of 2.1 percent on 2016 fourth quarter revenues compared to the prior year corresponding period while the effect of foreign exchange on those revenues was negligible.

For 2016, revenue reached an all-time high of $822.5 million, up by 3.2 percent from the $797.2 million recorded in the previous year despite customer selling price-indexing and foreign exchange headwinds.  Volumes grew by a notable 6.8 percent with all major product groups progressing.  Consistent with the quarterly result, biaxially oriented nylon volumes had the highest percentage achievement versus the prior year.  Lidding shipments followed with high single-digit percentage gains due to new customers in foil rollstock applications along with sustained progress in die-cut lidding including retort products.  Rigid container along with specialty films and modified atmosphere packaging volumes all expanded in the mid single-digit percentage range as the areas of growth experienced in the fourth quarter were present throughout much of the year.  Although packaging machinery shipments were down from the prior year, spare part sales were robust in 2016.  Partially offsetting the positive impact of organic volume growth on annual revenues was a reduction of 3.1 percent due to selling price/mix changes as indexed selling prices fell in response to reduced raw material costs, with an approximate 90-day lag.  Likewise, the decline in the value of the Canadian dollar in comparison to its US counterpart was responsible for a decline in revenues of 0.5 percent. 

Gross profit margins
Gross profit margins of 32.2 percent of revenue in the fourth quarter of 2016 fell short of the 33.5 percent of the corresponding quarter of 2015.  This resulted in a decrease in EPS of 4.5 cents and was due to a combination of factors.  Rising raw material costs provided a squeeze on margins at non-indexed accounts as well as indexed accounts where the lag in selling prices responding to raw material cost changes resulted in a temporary contraction in gross profit.  In addition, gross profit margins were impacted by sales mix as well as elevated manufacturing variances resulting from ongoing challenges in the production of new products and certain capacity constraints.  There has been some recent progress in these areas although further improvement is required and anticipated.

For the current year, gross profit margins attained a level of 32.7 percent of revenue versus the 32.3 percent reached in 2015.  While volumes advanced by 6.8 percent in 2016, gross profit only grew by 4.5 percent from $257.8 million in 2015 to $269.3 million in the present year, resulting in a reduction in EPS of 7.0 cents.  The operational challenges mentioned previously were largely responsible for the curtailed gross profit performance.  

For reference, the following presents the weighted indexed purchased cost of Winpak's eight primary raw materials in the reported quarter and each of the preceding eight quarters, where base year 2001 = 100.  The index was rebalanced as of December 28, 2015 to reflect the mix of the eight primary raw materials purchased in 2015. 

Quarter and Year	4/16	3/16	2/16	1/16	4/15	3/15	2/15	1/15	4/14
Purchase Price Index	143.9	140.2	138.1	136.4	139.1	147.7	152.1	156.9	175.1

The purchase price index has been on the rise for the last three quarters, increasing by 2.6 percent in the final three months of 2016 compared to the third quarter and 3.5 percent higher than a year earlier.  The Company's most widely used resins all experienced escalations and with the recent ascent in the price of oil, the near-term trend is also upward. 

Expenses and Other
Despite an increase in sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2016 of 6.9 percent in comparison to the corresponding quarter of 2015, operating expenses actually declined in the current quarter.  This resulted in a 3.0 cent increment in EPS with lower employee incentive expenses, including share-based compensation, playing a large role in the favorable result.  Foreign exchange was responsible for an additional 1.0 cent in EPS, primarily due to the maturation, at more favorable rates, of foreign exchange forward contracts that are an integral part of the Company's foreign exchange policy.  In contrast, a higher effective income tax rate in the final three months of 2016 in comparison to the same period in the prior year generated a decline in EPS of 1.0 cent.  Lastly, a greater proportion of net income attributable to non-controlling interests resulted in a further reduction of 0.5 cents in EPS in relation to the final quarter of 2015. 

For the 2016 fiscal year, operating expenses, exclusive of foreign exchange impacts, increased by only 4.8 percent from the prior year in contrast to the expansion in sales volume of 6.8 percent, resulting in an addition to EPS of 2.5 cents.  With the moderate incline in the Company's share price during the current year versus the nearly 40 percent surge which occurred in the previous year, the result was a significant reduction in share-based incentive expenses.  This, when combined with a one-time $1,000 CAD 40th anniversary payment made to each of the Company's over 2,200 employees in the third quarter of 2015, was more than enough to offset increases in research, technical and pre-production costs primarily related to new products and processes.  Foreign exchange had a favorable impact of 5.0 cents on EPS due to a combination of a gain on conversion of the Company's net Canadian dollar expenses into US funds at a lower average exchange rate in 2016 versus 2015 as well as the maturation of foreign exchange forward contracts at more favorable rates than the prior year.  Partially offsetting these positive effects, a larger proportion of net income attributable to non-controlling interests and a higher average income tax rate subtracted 2.0 cents and 1.5 cents from EPS respectively. 

Summary of Quarterly Results
			Thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts (US cents)
	Q4		Q3		Q2		Q1		Q4		Q3		Q2		Q1
	2016		2016		2016		2016		2015		2015		2015		2015
Revenue	215,550		204,699		204,129		198,154		205,746		193,726		198,257		199,440
Net income attributable to equity holders of the Company	28,578		24,036		25,166		26,564		27,635		22,305		26,845		22,463
EPS	44		37		39		41		43		34		41		35

Capital Resources, Cash Flow and Liquidity
The Company's cash and cash equivalents balance ended the current year at $211.2 million, an increase of $13.5 million from the end of the third quarter.  Winpak continued to generate strong and consistent cash flows from operating activities before changes in working capital of $50.0 million, surpassing the corresponding quarter of the prior year by $1.1 million.  Cash was utilized for net working capital additions of $3.9 million, of which $3.6 million pertained to reductions in trade payables and other liabilities as progress payments relating to capital expenditures incurred in the third quarter were paid in the current period.  Other uses of cash included $24.1 million in plant and equipment additions primarily related to the facility expansions in Sauk Village, Illinois and Senoia, Georgia; income tax payments of $6.7 million; dividends of $1.5 million; and other items totalling $0.3 million.  The Company's world-class 13-layer cast coextrusion line at its Winnipeg modified atmosphere packaging facility became commercialized in December 2016.

For the year, the cash and cash equivalents balance climbed by $46.2 million, led by the significant cash flow generation from operating activities before changes in working capital of $191.6 million.  Working capital additions utilized $20.1 million of cash primarily in trade  receivables and inventories.  In addition to the increase in these two assets that paralleled the growth of the business, trade receivables were further impacted by extended payment terms at certain customers as part of contract negotiations.  Inventories were also affected by the rise in raw material costs during the year.  Cash was further utilized for plant and equipment additions of $72.2 million, income tax payments of $44.5 million, dividends to equity holders of the Company of $5.9 million, and other items totaling $2.7 million.  The plant and equipment expenditures were at an all-time high for Winpak as the Company embarked on two significant building expansions in the year as well as a substantial investment in the latest extrusion and printing technology to support the continued advancement of organic volume growth, a consistent pillar of the corporate strategy for the past decade.  The Company remains debt-free and has unutilized operating lines of $38 million, which should be sufficient to meet all anticipated cash requirements for the foreseeable future, with the ability to increase borrowing capacity further should the need arise.

Looking Forward
Following a strong finish to 2016, the Company remains optimistic as it enters 2017 in terms of volume and earnings advancement.   Winpak continues its strategic focus on organic growth with opportunities in the sales pipeline progressing on the road to new revenue for the corporation.  In particular, additional business from North America's major food processors continue to bear fruit as these companies gain increased confidence in Winpak's capabilities and become entrenched in the outstanding customer service for which the Company has become known.  From a raw material standpoint, the prices of many of the Company's widely used resins have escalated as of late due to tightness in supply and the rise of world oil prices and while the future is uncertain, the near term trend is decidedly upward.  This should not have a significant impact on gross profit margins as nearly 70 percent of the Company's revenues are indexed to the price of raw materials, albeit with an approximate 90-day time lag.  As in 2016, the Company will remain focused on improving operational performance, particularly in those areas where capacity constraints have presented challenges and where new products and processes require more experience to optimize production.  Of note, the massive cast coextrusion line at the Company's modified atmosphere packaging plant in Winnipeg was declared commercial in the fourth quarter of the year and 2017 will see added refinements and enhancements to further improve its operation.  Capital spending for 2017 is expected to be diminished from the record-high level experienced in the current year to an amount of between $55 to $65 million, as the majority of the work on the building expansions at the Company's specialty film operations in Senoia, Georgia and its rigid container facility in Sauk Village, Illinois has been completed.   The Company will continue to invest in organic growth opportunities while pursuing acquisition prospects that fit strategically with Winpak's core competencies in sophisticated packaging for food, beverage and healthcare applications.  With Winpak's solid financial footing, it has the resources at its disposal to complete an acquisition when the proper strategic fit and price are present to provide long-term shareholder value.

Winpak Ltd.
Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Fourth Quarter Ended: December 25, 2016

These interim condensed consolidated financial statements have not been audited or reviewed by the Company's independent external auditors, KPMG LLP.  For a complete set of notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements, refer to www.sedar.com or the Company's website, www.winpak.com.

Winpak Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(thousands of US dollars) (unaudited)
		December 25		December 27
		2016		2015
Assets
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	211,225		165,027
	Trade and other receivables	124,148		107,805
	Income taxes receivable	564		2,050
	Inventories	103,516		96,498
	Prepaid expenses	3,024		3,411
	Derivative financial instruments	308		40
		442,785		374,831
Non-current assets:
	Property, plant and equipment	409,147		369,436
	Intangible assets	14,501		14,745
	Employee benefit plan assets	6,721		5,723
	Deferred tax assets	1,060		1,408
		431,429		391,312
Total assets		874,214		766,143
Equity and Liabilities
Current liabilities:
	Trade payables and other liabilities	71,448		68,534
	Income taxes payable	6,226		10,569
	Derivative financial instruments	348		1,683
		78,022		80,786
Non-current liabilities:
	Employee benefit plan liabilities	9,253		8,885
	Deferred income	15,424		14,071
	Provisions	760		760
	Deferred tax liabilities	43,486		38,250
		68,923		61,966
Total liabilities		146,945		142,752
Equity:
	Share capital	29,195		29,195
	Reserves	(29)		(1,208)
	Retained earnings	676,478		576,359
Total equity attributable to equity holders of the Company		705,644		604,346
Non-controlling interests		21,625		19,045
Total equity		727,269		623,391
Total equity and liabilities		874,214		766,143

Winpak Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
		Quarter Ended				Year Ended
		December 25		December 27		December 25		December 27
		2016		2015		2016		2015
Revenue		215,550		205,746		822,532		797,169
Cost of sales		(146,100)		(136,803)		(553,233)		(539,347)
Gross profit		69,450		68,943		269,299		257,822
Sales, marketing and distribution expenses		(16,262)		(15,101)		(63,247)		(59,823)
General and administrative expenses		(5,924)		(8,445)		(27,979)		(32,236)
Research and technical expenses		(4,244)		(3,856)		(17,168)		(15,362)
Pre-production expenses		(301)		(368)		(1,439)		(1,158)
Other expenses		(66)		(1,006)		(1,669)		(1,916)
Income from operations		42,653		40,167		157,797		147,327
Finance income		236		69		670		342
Finance expense		(94)		(84)		(453)		(392)
Income before income taxes		42,795		40,152		158,014		147,277
Income tax expense		(13,184)		(11,775)		(49,813)		(45,474)
Net income for the period		29,611		28,377		108,201		101,803
Attributable to:
	Equity holders of the Company	28,578		27,635		104,344		99,248
	Non-controlling interests	1,033		742		3,857		2,555
		29,611		28,377		108,201		101,803
Basic and diluted earnings per share - cents		44		43		161		153
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(thousands of US dollars) (unaudited)
		Quarter Ended				Year Ended
		December 25		December 27		December 25		December 27
		2016		2015		2016		2015
Net income for the period		29,611		28,377		108,201		101,803
Items that will not be reclassified to the statements of income:
Cash flow hedge losses recognized		-		(162)		(3)		(652)
Cash flow hedge losses transferred to property, plant and equipment		-		-		19		4
Employee benefit plan remeasurements		2,516		1,743		2,516		1,743
Income tax effect		(847)		(470)		(847)		(470)
		1,669		1,111		1,685		625
Items that are or may be reclassified subsequently to the statements of income:
Cash flow hedge (losses) gains recognized		(668)		(818)		961		(3,728)
Cash flow hedge (gains) losses transferred to the statements of income		(178)		1,109		626		2,976
Income tax effect		226		(78)		(424)		201
		(620)		213		1,163		(551)
Other comprehensive income for the period  - net of income tax		1,049		1,324		2,848		74
Comprehensive income for the period		30,660		29,701		111,049		101,877
Attributable to:
	Equity holders of the Company	29,627		28,959		107,192		99,322
	Non-controlling interests	1,033		742		3,857		2,555
		30,660		29,701		111,049		101,877

Winpak Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(thousands of US dollars) (unaudited)
			Attributable to equity holders of the Company
							Non-
			Share		Retained		controlling
			capital	Reserves	earnings	Total	interests	Total equity
Balance at December 29, 2014			29,195	(641)	555,697	584,251	17,136	601,387
	Comprehensive (loss) income for the period
		Cash flow hedge losses, net of tax	-	(2,752)	(632)	(3,384)	-	(3,384)
		Cash flow hedge losses transferred to the statements of income, net of tax	-	2,181	-	2,181	-	2,181
		Cash flow hedge losses transferred to property, plant and equipment	-	4	-	4	-	4
		Employee benefit plan remeasurements, net of tax	-	-	1,273	1,273	-	1,273
	Other comprehensive (loss) income		-	(567)	641	74	-	74
	Net income for the period		-	-	99,248	99,248	2,555	101,803
	Comprehensive (loss) income for the period		-	(567)	99,889	99,322	2,555	101,877
	Dividends		-	-	(79,227)	(79,227)	(646)	(79,873)
Balance at December 27, 2015			29,195	(1,208)	576,359	604,346	19,045	623,391
Balance at December 28, 2015			29,195	(1,208)	576,359	604,346	19,045	623,391
	Comprehensive income for the period
		Cash flow hedge gains, net of tax	-	745	-	745	-	745
		Cash flow hedge losses transferred to the statements of income, net of tax	-	415	-	415	-	415
		Cash flow hedge losses transferred to property, plant and equipment	-	19	-	19	-	19
		Employee benefit plan remeasurements, net of tax	-	-	1,669	1,669	-	1,669
	Other comprehensive income		-	1,179	1,669	2,848	-	2,848
	Net income for the period		-	-	104,344	104,344	3,857	108,201
	Comprehensive income for the period		-	1,179	106,013	107,192	3,857	111,049
	Dividends		-	-	(5,894)	(5,894)	(1,277)	(7,171)
Balance at December 25, 2016			29,195	(29)	676,478	705,644	21,625	727,269

Winpak Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(thousands of US dollars) (unaudited)
				Quarter Ended				Year Ended
				December 25		December 27		December 25		December 27
				2016		2015		2016		2015
Cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities:
	Net income for the period			29,611		28,377		108,201		101,803
	Items not involving cash:
		Depreciation		9,059		8,452		35,054		32,836
		Amortization - deferred income		(372)		(366)		(1,536)		(1,559)
		Amortization - intangible assets		168		154		666		602
		Employee defined benefit plan expenses		604		696		3,219		3,190
		Multiemployer defined benefit pension plan withdrawal liability settlement gain		-		-		-		(1,815)
		Net finance (income) expense		(142)		15		(217)		50
		Income tax expense		13,184		11,775		49,813		45,474
		Other		(2,075)		(120)		(3,552)		(1,565)
			Cash flow from operating activities before the following	50,037		48,983		191,648		179,016
	Change in working capital:
		Trade and other receivables		(3,026)		(537)		(16,343)		4,649
		Inventories		1,787		1,135		(7,018)		4,088
		Prepaid expenses		953		1,472		387		933
		Trade payables and other liabilities		(3,582)		2,860		2,874		(294)
	Provisions			-		-		-		(4,467)
	Employee defined benefit plan contributions			(394)		(427)		(1,532)		(1,681)
	Income tax paid			(6,654)		(6,675)		(44,491)		(26,456)
	Interest received			203		46		549		253
	Interest paid			(3)		(5)		(67)		(21)
			Net cash from operating activities	39,321		46,852		126,007		156,020
Investing activities:
	Acquisition of plant and equipment - net			(24,077)		(16,859)		(72,240)		(53,678)
	Acquisition of intangible assets			(259)		(77)		(430)		(303)
				(24,336)		(16,936)		(72,670)		(53,981)
Financing activities:
	Dividends paid			(1,481)		(75,318)		(5,862)		(80,127)
	Dividend paid to non-controlling interests in subsidiary			-		-		(1,277)		(646)
				(1,481)		(75,318)		(7,139)		(80,773)
Change in cash and cash equivalents				13,504		(45,402)		46,198		21,266
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period				197,721		210,429		165,027		143,761
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period				211,225		165,027		211,225		165,027

SOURCE Winpak Ltd.

K.P. Kuchma, Vice President and CFO, [phone]; B.J. Berry, President and CEO, [phone]

Related Links

www.winpak.com