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CCL Industries Reports Record Quarterly Results

T.CCL.A

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - May 07, 2015) - CCL Industries Inc. (TSX: CCL.A) (TSX: CCL.B)

First-Quarter Highlights

  • Record quarterly adjusted basic earnings per Class B share(3) of $1.99, up 27.6%,
    basic earnings per Class B share of $1.97, up 27.9%
  • Robust operating income(1) improvement in all Segments totaled 32.2%
  • Sales increased 15.8%, supported by organic sales growth of 5.5%
  • Board approves 2015 second quarter dividend of $0.375 per Class B share

CCL Industries Inc. ("CCL" or "the Company"), a world leader in specialty label and packaging solutions for global corporations, small businesses and consumers, today reported 2015 first quarter results.

Sales for the first quarter of 2015 increased 15.8% to $705.9 million, compared to $609.7 million for the first quarter of 2014, with 5.5% organic growth, 4.3% positive currency translation impact and 6.0% from the seven acquisitions completed over the previous fourteen months. 

Operating income(1) for the first quarter of 2015 was $117.1 million, an increase of 32.2% compared to $88.6 million for the comparable quarter of 2014. Excluding the impact of currency translation operating income improved 28.3%.

Restructuring and other items were $0.9 million for the first quarter of 2015, largely due to severance costs associated with the September 2014 acquisition of Bandfix A.G. The 2014 first quarter included restructuring and other items of $0.9 million primarily related to the Sancoa acquisition.

Net earnings improved 29.5% to $68.1 million for the 2015 first quarter compared to $52.6 million for the 2014 first quarter. Basic and adjusted basic earnings per Class B share(3) were a record $1.97 and $1.99, respectively, compared to basic and adjusted basic earnings per Class B share(3) of $1.54 and $1.56 in the prior year first quarter.

Geoffrey T. Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Performance for the first quarter of 2015 was stronger than expected, with all Segments delivering improved sales and profitability resulting in record quarterly earnings per share. The benefit from foreign currency translation totaled $0.08 per share with the stronger U.S. dollar somewhat offset by the weaker euro and real. Foreign currency transaction challenges continued in certain international markets but at reduced levels from the 2014 fourth quarter. Solid organic sales growth in all Segments, including Avery, totaled 5.5% globally."

Mr. Martin concluded, "We continued to execute our growth initiatives, acquiring pc/nametag and INT America as well as announcing a multi-million dollar greenfield expansion plan for CCL Design in Mexico this quarter and planning our first operation in Korea. Our balance sheet remains in outstanding condition with the Company's leverage ratio(4) coming in at 1.1 times EBITDA(2) and undrawn credit facilities at $250 million leaving considerable capacity to execute growth plans for 2015 and beyond. Given the Company's expectation of sustained strong free cash flow, the Board of Directors declared a continuation of the $0.375 per Class B non-voting share and $0.3625 per Class A voting share dividend, payable to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 16, 2015, to be paid on June 30, 2015."

2015 First Quarter Highlights

CCL Label

  • Sales increased 14.7% to $486.1 million, up 3.8% organically, 7.2% acquisitions, 3.7% currency translation.
  • Regional sales growth: high single digit in Europe, strong double digits in Latin America, low single digit in Asia Pacific partly offset by low single digit decline in North America.
  • Operating income margin(1) up 40 basis points to 16.8%. Gains in all regions except Asia (new plant start-up costs and currency transaction challenges); improving contributions from acquisitions.
  • Robust results in Food & Beverage and CCL Design globally, Healthcare & Specialty and Home & Personal Care steady compared to prior year in sluggish end markets.
  • Label joint ventures added $0.02 earnings per Class B share.

Avery

  • Sales increased 20.5% to $160.2 million with 10.1% organic growth, 4.4% acquisitions, 6.0% currency translation.
  • Sales in Q1 2015 benefited from the complete cessation of trade pre-buys in the U.S. in Q4 2014. Comparisons to a soft prior year were therefore easier. Canadian and international business declined low single digit.
  • Operating income(1) doubled on higher sales, new marketing and product initiatives plus restructuring, cost and productivity gains.
  • Acquisitions: Label Connections, Nilles and pc/nametag contributed as expected.

CCL Container

  • Sales increased 12.5% to $59.6 million with 6.8% organic growth on higher Mexican volume and North America wide mix/price, 5.7% currency translation. 
  • Strong U.S. dollar boosted export profits in Canada; impact on imported aluminum in Mexico offset by U.S. export sales and price increases.
  • Capacity consolidation project yielded cost reductions and productivity improvements contributing to a 45% increase in operating income(1).
  • Small start-up loss at Rheinfelden Americas aluminum slugs joint venture.

CCL will hold a conference call at 2:30 p.m. EDT on May 7, 2015, to discuss these results. The analyst presentation will be posted on the Company's website. 

To access this call, please dial:

416-340-2218- Local
1-866-223-7781 - Toll Free

Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (hereinafter collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements"), as defined under applicable securities laws, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are predictive in nature or depend on future events or conditions. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans" or similar expressions. Statements regarding the operations, business, financial condition, priorities, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook of the Company, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Specifically, this press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the anticipated growth in sales, income and profitability of the Company's segments; and the Company's expectations regarding general business and economic conditions.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties relating to future events and conditions including, but not limited to, the after-effects of the global financial crisis and its impact on the world economy and capital markets; the impact of competition; consumer confidence and spending preferences; general economic and geopolitical conditions; currency exchange rates; interest rates and credit availability; technological change; changes in government regulations; risks associated with operating and product hazards; and CCL's ability to attract and retain qualified employees. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements as the Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are also based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about the following: global economic recovery and higher consumer spending; improved customer demand for the Company's products; continued historical growth trends, market growth in specific sectors and entering into new sectors; the Company's ability to provide a wide range of products to multinational customers on a global basis; the benefits of the Company's focused strategies and operational approach; the achievement of the Company's plans for improved efficiency and lower costs, including stable aluminum costs; the availability of cash and credit; fluctuations of currency exchange rates; the Company's continued relations with its customers; general business and economic conditions. Should one or more risks materialize or should any assumptions prove incorrect, then actual results could vary materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Further details on key risks can be found in the 2014 Management's Discussion and Analysis, particularly under Section 4: "Risks and Uncertainties." CCL's annual and quarterly reports can be found online at www.cclind.com and www.sedar.com or are available upon request.

Except as otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements do not take into account the effect that transactions or non-recurring or other special items announced or occurring after the statements are made may have on CCL's business. Such statements do not, unless otherwise specified by the Company, reflect the impact of dispositions, sales of assets, monetizations, mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations or transactions, asset write-downs or other charges announced or occurring after forward-looking statements are made. The financial impact of these transactions and non-recurring and other special items can be complex and depends on the facts particular to each of them and therefore cannot be described in a meaningful way in advance of knowing specific facts. The forward-looking statements are provided as of the date of this press release and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

The financial information presented herein has been prepared on the basis of IFRS for financial statements and is expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

 
Financial Information
 
CCL Industries Inc.
Consolidated statements of financial position
Unaudited
 
In thousands of Canadian dollars
   As at
March 31
 As at
December 31
   2015  2014
           
Assets          
Current assets          
 Cash and cash equivalents  $ 205,993  $ 221,873
 Trade and other receivables    464,523    380,965
 Inventories    217,182    192,286
 Prepaid expenses    14,549    14,949
 Income taxes recoverable    5,441    11,810
Total current assets    907,688    821,883
Non-current assets          
 Property, plant and equipment    992,678    925,512
 Goodwill    616,859    563,730
 Intangible assets    240,439    226,567
 Deferred tax assets    4,621    4,183
 Equity accounted investments    59,709    54,652
 Other assets    23,011    21,848
Total non-current assets    1,937,317    1,796,492
Total assets  $ 2,845,005  $ 2,618,375
           
Liabilities          
Current liabilities          
 Trade and other payables  $ 537,206  $ 519,440
 Current portion of long-term debt    203,563    59,058
 Income taxes payable    27,076    21,419
 Derivative instruments    734    280
Total current liabilities    768,579    600,197
Non-current liabilities          
 Long-term debt    537,954    600,011
 Deferred tax liabilities    51,396    43,453
 Employee benefits    146,471    138,594
 Provisions and other long-term liabilities    20,745    19,413
 Derivative instruments    655    488
Total non-current liabilities    757,221    801,959
Total liabilities    1,525,800    1,402,156
           
Equity          
 Share capital    252,510    248,087
 Contributed surplus    27,792    26,241
 Retained earnings    993,723    938,526
 Accumulated other comprehensive income    45,180    3,365
Total equity attributable to shareholders of the Company    1,319,205    1,216,219
Total liabilities and equity  $ 2,845,005  $ 2,618,375
       
       
 
CCL Industries Inc.
Consolidated income statements
Unaudited
    
   Three months ended March 31
         
In thousands of Canadian dollars,
except per share information
 2015    2014
         
Sales  $ 705,870  $ 609,700
Cost of sales    507,648    448,743
Gross profit    198,222    160,957
Selling, general and administrative expenses    94,489    78,625
Restructuring and other items    940    946
Earnings in equity accounted investments    (518)    (69)
     103,311    81,455
Finance cost    6,706    6,874
Finance income    (396)    (151)
Net finance cost    6,310    6,723
Earnings before income tax    97,001    74,732
Income tax expense    28,855    22,170
Net earnings  $ 68,146  $ 52,562
Attributable to:          
 Shareholders of the Company  $ 68,146  $ 52,562
Net earnings  $ 68,146  $ 52,562
Earnings per share          
Basic earnings per Class B share  $ 1.97  $ 1.54
Diluted earnings per Class B share  $ 1.93  $ 1.51
           
       
 
CCL Industries Inc.
Consolidated statements of cash flows
Unaudited
   Three Months ended March 31
       
In thousands of Canadian dollars  2015  2014
       
Cash provided by (used for)      
       
Operating activities      
           
Net earnings  $ 68,146  $ 52,562
           
Adjustments for:          
 Depreciation and amortization    39,405    35,507
 Earnings in equity accounted investments, net of dividends received    (518)    (69)
 Net finance costs    6,310    6,723
 Current income tax expense    22,440    20,265
 Deferred taxes    6,415    1,905
 Equity-settled share-based payment transactions    2,423    3,451
 (Gain) loss on sale of property, plant and equipment    (316)    150
      144,305    120,494
 Change in inventories    (20,807)    (15,889)
 Change in trade and other receivables    (78,972)    (41,466)
 Change in prepaid expenses    770    3
 Change in trade and other payables    12,780    (11,037)
 Change in income taxes receivable and payable    (737)    2,074
 Change in employee benefits    7,877    6,968
 Change in other assets and liabilities    1,500    (7,000)
     67,436    54,147
Net interest paid    (10,446)    (10,483)
Income taxes paid    (9,677)    (16,600)
Cash provided by operating activities    47,313    27,064
       
       
Financing activities          
           
Proceeds on issuance of long-term debt  $ 46,682  $ 98,261
Repayment of debt    (13,833)    (2,108)
Proceeds from issuance of shares    3,602    3,738
Dividends paid    (13,021)    (8,600)
Cash provided by financing activities    23,430    91,291
     
     
Investing activities      
           
Additions to property, plant and equipment    (56,665)    (59,878)
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment    611    5,414
Business acquisitions and other long-term investments    (38,812)    (86,924)
Cash used for investing activities    (94,866)    (141,388)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents    (24,123)    (23,033)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period    221,873    209,095
Translation adjustments on cash and cash equivalents    8,243    7,781
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period  $ 205,993  $ 193,843
       
 
CCL Industries Inc.
Segment Information
Unaudited
In thousands of Canadian dollars
    
   Three Months Ended March 31
   Sales  Operating income
   2015  2014  2015  2014
Label  $ 486,131  $ 423,740  $ 81,792  $ 69,387
Avery    160,190    132,923    26,560    13,143
Container    59,549    53,037    8,714    6,024
Total operations  $ 705,870  $ 609,700    117,066    88,554
             
Corporate expense          (13,333)    (6,222)
Restructuring and other items          (940)    (946)
Earnings in equity accounted investments          518    69
Finance cost          (6,706)    (6,874)
Finance income          396    151
Income tax expense          (28,855)    (22,170)
Net earnings        $ 68,146  $ 52,562
                     
            
   Total assets Total liabilities  Depreciation and amortization  Capital expenditures
                   
   March 31  December 31  March 31  December 31  Three Months Ended March 31  Three Months Ended March 31
   2015  2014  2015  2014  2015  2014  2015  2014
                         
Label  $ 1,809,763  $ 1,668,565  $ 461,804  $ 436,527  $ 32,084  $ 28,381  $ 48,110  $ 46,516
Avery    571,107    490,337    187,707    189,567    3,327    3,446    6,362    3,750
Container    172,294    162,460    59,551    54,701    3,749    3,474    2,193    9,612
Equity accounted investments    59,709    54,652    -    -    -    -    -    -
Corporate    232,132    242,361    816,738    721,361    245    206    -    -
Total  $ 2,845,005  $ 2,618,375  $ 1,525,800  $ 1,402,156  $ 39,405  $ 35,507  $ 56,665  $ 59,878
                                         
                         

Non-IFRS Measures

(1) Operating income and operating income margin are key non-IFRS financial measures used to assist in understanding the profitability of the Company's business units. Operating income is defined as earnings before corporate expenses, net finance cost, goodwill impairment loss, earnings in equity accounted investments, restructuring and other items, and taxes. Operating income margin is defined as operating income over sales.

(2) EBITDA is a critical non-IFRS financial measures used extensively in the packaging industry and other industries to assist in understanding and measuring operating results. EBITDA is also considered as a proxy for cash flow and a facilitator for business valuations. This non-IFRS financial measure is defined as earnings before net finance cost, taxes, depreciation and amortization, goodwill impairment loss, earnings in equity accounted investments and restructuring and other items. Calculations are provided below to reconcile operating income to EBITDA. The Company believes that this is an important measure as it allows management to assess CCL's ongoing business without the impact of net finance cost, depreciation and amortization and income tax expenses, as well as non-operating factors and one-time items. As a proxy for cash flow, they are intended to indicate CCL's ability to incur or service debt and to invest in property, plant and equipment, and it allows management to compare CCL's business to those of CCL's peers and competitors who may have different capital or organizational structures. EBITDA is tracked by financial analysts and investors to evaluate financial performance and is a key metric in business valuations. EBITDA is considered an important measure by lenders to the Company and is included in the financial covenants of CCL's senior notes and bank lines of credit.

  
Reconciliation of operating income to EBITDA 
Unaudited 
(In millions of Canadian dollars)  
   Three months ended
March 31
st
 
Sales  2015   2014  
Label  $ 486.1   $ 423.8  
Avery    160.2     132.9  
Container    59.6     53.0  
Total sales  $ 705.9   $ 609.7  
Operating income           
Label  $ 81.8   $ 69.5  
Avery    26.6     13.1  
Container    8.7     6.0  
Total operating income    117.1     88.6  
Less: Corporate expenses    (13.4 )   (6.3 )
Add: Depreciation & amortization    39.4     35.5  
EBITDA  $ 143.1   $ 117.8  
Label operating margin   16.8 %  16.4 %
              
         

(3) Adjusted basic earnings per Class B Share is an important non-IFRS financial measure used to assist in understanding the ongoing earnings performance of the Company excluding items of a one-time or non-recurring nature. It is not considered a substitute for basic net earnings per Class B share but it does provide additional insight into the ongoing financial results of the Company. This non-IFRS financial measure is defined as basic net earnings per Class B share excluding gains on dispositions, goodwill impairment loss, restructuring and other items, and tax adjustments.

Reconciliation of Basic Earnings per Class B Share to
Adjusted Basic Earnings per Class B Share

       
Unaudited
     
(In millions of Canadian dollars)      
   Three months ended
March 31
st
       
   2015  2014
Basic earnings per Class B Share  $ 1.97  $ 1.54
Net loss from restructuring and other items    0.02    0.02
       
Adjusted Basic Earnings per Class B Share  $ 1.99  $ 1.56
           
       

(4) Leverage Ratio is a measure that indicates the financial leverage of the Company. It indicates the Company's ability to service its existing debt. Leverage ratio is calculated as net debt divided by EBITDA.

    
Unaudited   
(In millions of Canadian dollars)   
March 31, 2015
    
Current debt  $ 203.6  
Long-term debt    537.9  
Total debt    741.5  
Cash and cash equivalents    (206.0 )
Net debt  $ 535.5  
EBITDA for 12 months ending March 31, 2015 (see below)  $ 506.9  
Leverage Ratio    1.1  
        
        
EBITDA for 12 months ended December 31, 2014  $ 481.6  
 less: EBITDA for three months ended March 31, 2014    (117.8 )
 add: EBITDA for three months ended March 31, 2015    143.1  
EBITDA for 12 months ended March 31, 2015  $ 506.9  
     
     

Supplemental Financial Information

Sales Change Analysis
Revenue Growth Rates (%)

             
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
   Organic  Acquisition  FX   
   Growth  Growth  Translation  Total
             
Label  3.8  7.2  3.7  14.7
Avery  10.1  4.4  6.0  20.5
Container  6.8  0.0  5.7  12.5
CCL  5.5  6.0  4.3  15.8
             
             
         

Business Description

With headquarters in Toronto, Canada, CCL Industries now employs approximately 10,500 people and operates 102 production facilities in 29 countries on six continents with corporate offices in Toronto, Canada, and Framingham, Massachusetts. CCL Label is the world's largest converter of pressure sensitive and extruded film materials for a wide range of decorative, instructional and functional applications for large global customers in the consumer packaging, healthcare, automotive and consumer durables markets. Extruded & laminated plastic tubes, folded instructional leaflets, precision printed & die cut metal components with LED displays and other complementary products and services are sold in parallel to specific end-use markets. Avery is the world's largest supplier of labels, specialty converted media and software solutions to enable short run digital printing in businesses and homes alongside complementary office products sold through distributors and mass market retailers. CCL Container is a leading producer of impact extruded aluminum aerosol cans and bottles for consumer packaged goods customers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Audio replay service will be available from May 7, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. EDT until May 21, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

To access Conference Replay, please dial:

905-694-9451- Local
1-800-408-3053 - Toll Free
Access Code: 4424006

For more information on CCL, visit our website - Email contact or contact::

Sean Washchuk
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
416-756-8526



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