WestRock Reports Strong Finish to Fiscal 2017

NORCROSS, Ga., Nov. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WestRock Company (WestRock) (NYSE:WRK), a leading provider of differentiated paper and packaging solutions, today announced results for its fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

Fourth Quarter 2017 Highlights

Full Year 2017 and Other Highlights

Steve Voorhees, chief executive officer of WestRock, said, “I am pleased with the success the WestRock team achieved in fiscal 2017, with strong productivity and growth in cash flow. While we experienced a challenging cost environment, our team met the challenge and delivered on our objectives across the board, increasing value for customers, employees and stockholders. We are well positioned for a successful fiscal 2018.”

Consolidated Financial Results

The financial results below illustrate WestRock’s performance for the quarters ended September 30, 2017, and September 30, 2016 (in millions).

The $449 million increase in net sales was primarily attributable to $235 million of increased Corrugated Packaging segment sales and $245 million of increased Consumer Packaging segment sales. The increased Consumer Packaging segment sales were primarily due to the contribution from the MPS acquisition, and were partially offset by factors that included the absence of net sales from HH&B in the current year quarter due to the sale of HH&B. In addition, Land and Development segment sales declined $25 million.

The $18 million increase in segment income was primarily due to $37 million of increased Corrugated Packaging segment income. This increase was partially offset by $15 million of decreased Consumer Packaging segment income and $4 million of decreased Land and Development segment income. Within the Consumer Packaging segment, the sale of HH&B and the expensing of the MPS acquisition inventory step-up reduced segment income by $9 million and $12 million, respectively. The impact of hurricanes in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 reduced segment income by an estimated $15 million in the Corrugated Packaging segment and $12 million in the Consumer Packaging segment.

Additional information about the changes in segment sales and segment income is included in the segment discussions below.

Non-allocated expenses were $13 million lower than in the prior year quarter primarily due to lower stock-based compensation costs in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 and a loss on an equity investment in the prior year quarter.

Restructuring and Other Items

Restructuring and other items during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 included the following pre-tax costs and expenses:

Cash Provided From Operating, Financing and Investing Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $494 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to $382 million in the prior-year quarter. Total debt was $6.55 billion at September 30, 2017 and included $282 million for the fair-value of debt stepped-up in purchase accounting. Consistent with WestRock’s disciplined capital allocation strategy, during the fourth quarter, WestRock invested $242 million in capital expenditures, deployed $145 million to strategic acquisitions and paid $102 million in dividends to its stockholders.

Segment Results

Corrugated Packaging Segment

Operating Highlights for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2017:

Consumer Packaging Segment

Operating Highlights for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2017:                                    

• Segment sales increased $245 million primarily due to a $428 million increase from acquisitions, principally MPS, and an $8 million increase related to foreign exchange, which were partially offset by a $134 million decrease related to the sale of HH&B; $37 million of aggregate lower volume and unfavorable price/mix; and $20 million of lower segment sales due to the hurricanes in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017
• Segment income was reduced by an estimated $12 million for the impact of the hurricanes, $12 million for the expensing of MPS acquisition inventory step-up, and cost and wage inflation, largely offset by strong operational execution and productivity
• The MPS acquisition added $14 million to segment income, net of the acquisition inventory step-up noted above, which was partially offset by $9 million of HH&B income in the prior year quarter
• Shipments of paperboard and converted products increased 6%, driven primarily by MPS shipments

Land and Development Segment

Our previously disclosed monetization strategy is proceeding as planned. We recorded a pre-tax non-cash real estate impairment of $4.0 million during the quarter, which is not included in the segment loss. Due to the accelerated monetization strategy, we have excluded Land and Development’s results, as well as the impairment, from adjusted earnings per diluted share.

Conference Call

As previously announced, WestRock will host a conference call to discuss its results of operations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 and other topics that may be raised during the discussion at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time, on November 2, 2017. The conference call, which will be webcast live, an accompanying slide presentation, and this press release can be accessed at ir.westrock.com.

Investors who wish to participate in the webcast via teleconference should dial 833-287-0804 (inside the U.S.) or 647-689-4463 (outside the U.S.) at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call and enter the passcode 66409740. Replays of the call can be accessed at ir.westrock.com.

About WestRock

WestRock (NYSE:WRK) partners with our customers to provide differentiated paper and packaging solutions that help them win in the marketplace. WestRock’s 45,000 team members support customers around the world from more than 300 operating and business locations spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Learn more at www.westrock.com.

Cautionary Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, beliefs, plans or forecasts and are typically identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "would," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "target," "prospects," "potential" and "forecast," and other words, terms and phrases of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, expectations, projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions, risks and uncertainties. WestRock cautions readers that a forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statement. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that we are well positioned for a successful fiscal 2018. With respect to these statements, WestRock has made assumptions regarding, among other things, the results and impacts of the strategic combination of Rock-Tenn Company and MeadWestvaco Corporation’s respective businesses; the acquisitions of MPS and U.S. Corrugated Holdings, Inc.; economic, competitive and market conditions generally; volumes and price levels of purchases by customers; and competitive conditions in WestRock's businesses and possible adverse actions of their customers, competitors and suppliers. Further, WestRock's businesses are subject to a number of general risks that would affect any such forward-looking statements including, among others, decreases in demand for their products; increases in energy, raw materials, shipping and capital equipment costs; reduced supply of raw materials; fluctuations in selling prices and volumes; intense competition; the potential loss of certain customers; the scope, costs, timing and impact of any restructuring of our operations and corporate and tax structure; the occurrence of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, winter or tropical storm, earthquake, tornado, flood, fire, or other unanticipated problems such as labor difficulties, equipment failure or unscheduled maintenance and repair , which could result in operational disruptions; our desire or ability to continue to repurchase company stock; and adverse changes in general market and industry conditions. Such risks and other factors that may impact management's assumptions are more particularly described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 and Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2017. The information contained herein speaks as of the date hereof and WestRock does not have or undertake any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations

WestRock reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). However, management believes certain non-GAAP financial measures provide investors and other users with additional meaningful financial information that should be considered when assessing our ongoing performance. Management also uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions, and in evaluating WestRock’s performance. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, WestRock’s GAAP results. The non-GAAP financial measures we present may differ from similarly captioned measures presented by other companies. We discuss below details of the non-GAAP financial measures presented by us and provide reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. 

Adjusted Segment EBITDA

WestRock uses “Adjusted Segment EBITDA”, along with other factors, to evaluate our segment performance against our peers. Management believes this measure is also useful to investors to evaluate WestRock’s performance relative to its peers. The consolidated financial results and segment tables include a reconciliation of “Adjusted Segment EBITDA” to “Segment EBITDA”.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow

WestRock uses the non-GAAP financial measure “Adjusted Free Cash Flow”. Management believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides WestRock’s board of directors, investors, potential investors, securities analysts and others with useful information to evaluate its performance relative to other periods because it excludes certain cash restructuring and other costs, net of tax that management believes are not indicative of the ongoing operating results of the business. WestRock believes that the most directly comparable GAAP measure is “Net cash provided by operating activities”. Set forth below is a reconciliation of “Adjusted Free Cash Flow” to Net cash provided by operating activities for the three and twelve months ended September 30, 2017 (in millions).

Adjusted Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

WestRock uses the non-GAAP financial measure “Adjusted Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities”. Management believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides WestRock’s board of directors, investors, potential investors, securities analysts and others with useful information to evaluate its performance relative to other periods because it excludes certain cash restructuring and other costs, net of tax that management believes are not indicative of the ongoing operating results of the business. While somewhat similar to Adjusted Free Cash Flow, it provides greater comparability across years when capital expenditures are changing as it excludes an adjustment for capital expenditures. WestRock believes that the most directly comparable GAAP measure is “Net cash provided by operating activities”. Set forth below is a reconciliation of “Adjusted Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities” to Net cash provided by operating activities for the three and twelve months ended September 30, 2017 (in millions).

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share

WestRock uses the non-GAAP financial measures “adjusted net income” and “adjusted earnings per diluted share”. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide WestRock’s board of directors, investors, potential investors, securities analysts and others with useful information to evaluate its performance because they exclude restructuring and other costs, net, and other specific items that management believes are not indicative of the ongoing operating results of the business. WestRock and its board of directors use these measures to evaluate its performance relative to other periods. WestRock believes that the most directly comparable GAAP measures are Net income attributable to common stockholders, represented in the table below as the GAAP Results for Income from continuing operations (i.e. Net of Tax) plus Noncontrolling interests, and Earnings per diluted share, respectively. This press release includes a reconciliation of Earnings per diluted share to Adjusted earnings per diluted share. Set forth below is a reconciliation of Adjusted net income to Net income attributable to common stockholders (in millions). 

Adjusted Tax Rate

WestRock uses the non-GAAP financial measure “Adjusted Tax Rate”. Management believes this non-GAAP financial measure is useful because it adjusts our effective tax rate to exclude the impact of restructuring and other costs, net, and other specific items that management believes are not indicative of the ongoing operating results of the business. “Adjusted Tax Rate” is calculated as “Adjusted Tax Expense” divided by “Adjusted Pre-Tax Income”. WestRock believes that the most directly comparable GAAP measure is “Income tax expense”. Set forth in the table above is a reconciliation of “Adjusted Tax Expense” to “Income tax expense” for the three and twelve months ended September 30, 2017. The results of which, are included in the table below to compute the “Adjusted Tax Rate” (in millions).

Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share

Set forth below is a reconciliation Earnings per diluted share to Adjusted earnings per diluted share.

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