AptarGroup’s Strong Operating Results Drive Record Quarterly Earnings Per Share

July 28, 2015 | By Business Wire News

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill.

AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR) today announced record quarterly earnings per share on both a reported basis and also after excluding the effect of a change in inventory valuation methods.

Second Quarter 2015 Summary

Improved operating margins across each segment drove record earnings per share
Reported earnings per share rose to a record $0.90 compared to $0.79 reported in the prior year
Second quarter pre-tax earnings included a positive impact of approximately $7.4 million (approximately $0.08 per share after-tax) related to a change in accounting for certain inventories from the last in, first out (LIFO) method to the first in, first out (FIFO) method
Excluding the effects of the change to the FIFO inventory valuation method, earnings per share were $0.82 compared to prior year currency-adjusted earnings per share of $0.68
Excluding currency translation effects, core sales increased approximately 2% (reported sales decreased 11%)

SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

For the quarter ended June 30, 2015, reported sales decreased 11% to $594 million from $671 million a year ago. Excluding the negative impact from changes in currency exchange rates, core sales increased by approximately 2%.


Second Quarter Segment Sales Analysis
(Change Over Prior Year)

	Beauty +				Food +		Total
	Home		Pharma		Beverage		AptarGroup
Sales Growth Before Currency Effects (Core Sales)	(4	%)	9	%	9	%	2	%
Currency Effects ⁽¹⁾	(13	%)	(15	%)	(7	%)	(13	%)
Total Reported Sales Growth	(17	%)	(6	%)	2	%	(11	%)

(1) – Currency effects are approximated by translating last year’s amounts at this year’s foreign exchange rates.

Commenting on the quarter, Stephen Hagge, President and CEO, said, “This was a strong quarter that once again reflected our ability to successfully execute our strategy. We offer a broad portfolio of dispensing solutions to a variety of end markets. Increases in demand across multiple markets drove volumes higher in our Pharma and Food + Beverage segments. This offset some weakness in certain markets served by our Beauty + Home segment. In addition, currency headwinds affected each business segment.”

Hagge continued, “I’m pleased that each of our segments reported improved operating margins compared to the prior year and that we achieved our highest level of quarterly earnings per share. We continue to successfully implement new customer projects while we maintain our focus on cost containment across all three of our business segments. This focus along with volume increases drove the strong operating margins in our Pharma and Food + Beverage segments. Our Beauty + Home segment did a terrific job of remaining responsive to our customers’ needs as we navigated through soft market conditions while pulling the right levers to improve the operating margin.”

During the second quarter of 2015, AptarGroup changed the method of valuing inventories at two U.S. locations that used the last in, first out (“LIFO”) method to the first in, first out (“FIFO”) method. With this change, all inventories are now valued using the FIFO method which more closely reflects current costs. The impact of the change resulted in pre-tax income in the second quarter of approximately $7.4 million, or approximately $0.08 per diluted share.

AptarGroup reported earnings per share of $0.90 compared to $0.79 per share a year ago. Excluding the effect of the inventory valuation method change, earnings per share were $0.82. Assuming a comparable foreign currency exchange rate environment, comparable earnings per share for the prior year were approximately $0.68.

YEAR-TO-DATE RESULTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2015, reported sales decreased 12% to approximately $1.18 billion from approximately $1.35 billion a year ago. Excluding the negative impact from changes in currency exchange rates, core sales were approximately equal to the prior year.

Six Months Year-to-Date Segment Sales Analysis
(Change Over Prior Year)

	Beauty +				Food +		Total
	Home		Pharma		Beverage		AptarGroup
Sales Growth Before Currency Effects (Core Sales)	(4	%)	8	%	2	%	—
Currency Effects ⁽¹⁾	(12	%)	(15	%)	(6	%)	(12	%)
Total Reported Sales Growth	(16	%)	(7	%)	(4	%)	(12	%)

(1) – Currency effects are approximated by translating last year’s amounts at this year’s foreign exchange rates.

Hagge commented on the year-to-date results, “Our reported figures through the first half of the year include significant negative translation effects stemming from the strong U.S. dollar relative to a year ago. When we exclude currency translation effects, our core sales were approximately equal to the prior year. Certain markets served by our Beauty + Home business remained soft through the first half but this was offset by the continued strong performance of our Pharma segment and the improvement in sales in our Food + Beverage segment.”

AptarGroup reported earnings per share of $1.59 compared to $1.49 per share a year ago. Excluding the effect of the inventory valuation method change made in the second quarter, earnings per share were $1.51. Assuming a comparable foreign currency exchange rate environment, comparable earnings per share for the prior year were approximately $1.27.

OUTLOOK

Commenting on AptarGroup’s outlook, Hagge said, “We are looking forward to building upon the progress we’ve made thus far this year. We are committed to investing in research and development and in the capital projects necessary to support our long-term growth. Certain macro-economic conditions could remain challenging in the near-term, including the stagnation affecting certain markets in Latin America and the global foreign exchange environment. However, we will stay focused and execute our strategy and in doing so, continue to help our customers grow their businesses with our innovative dispensing solutions.”

AptarGroup expects earnings per share for the third quarter to be in the range of $0.77 to $0.82 compared to $0.73 per share reported in the prior year. Assuming a comparable foreign currency exchange rate environment, comparable earnings per share for the prior year were approximately $0.65.

CASH DIVIDEND

As previously reported, the Board declared on July 16, 2015, a quarterly dividend of $0.28 per share, payable August 19, 2015 to shareholders of record as of July 29, 2015.

OPEN CONFERENCE CALL

There will be a conference call on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 7:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss AptarGroup’s second quarter results for 2015. The call will last approximately one hour. Interested parties are invited to listen to a live webcast by visiting the Investor Relations page at www.aptar.com. Replay of the conference call can also be accessed on the Investor Relations page of the website.

AptarGroup, Inc. is a leading global supplier of a broad range of innovative dispensing solutions for the beauty, personal care, home care, prescription drug, consumer health care, injectables, food, and beverage markets. AptarGroup is headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois, with manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, Asia and South America. For more information, visit www.aptar.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would” and “could” are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are based on management’s beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Accordingly, AptarGroup’s actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements due to known or unknown risks and uncertainties that exist including, but not limited to, economic conditions worldwide as well as potential deflationary conditions in regions we rely on for growth; political conditions worldwide; significant fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; changes in customer and/or consumer spending levels; financial conditions of customers and suppliers; consolidations within our customer or supplier bases; fluctuations in the cost of raw materials, components and other input costs; the availability of raw materials and components; our ability to increase prices, contain costs and improve productivity; changes in capital availability or cost, including interest rate fluctuations; volatility of global credit markets; cybersecurity threats that could impact our networks and reporting systems; fiscal and monetary policies and other regulations, including changes in tax rates; direct or indirect consequences of acts of war or terrorism; work stoppages due to labor disputes; and competition, including technological advances.For additional information on these and other risks and uncertainties, please see AptarGroup’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K’s and Form 10-Q’s. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.AptarGroup undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


APTARGROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2015			2014			2015			2014

Net Sales	$	594,275		$	670,631		$	1,184,086		$	1,346,682
Cost of Sales (exclusive of depreciation
shown below)		375,278			451,051			761,257			904,462
Selling, Research & Development and
Administrative		89,312			96,486			185,499			203,160
Depreciation and Amortization		34,165			38,466			68,225			75,713
Operating Income		95,520			84,628			169,105			163,347
Other Income/(Expense):
Interest Expense		(9,195	)		(5,246	)		(16,498	)		(10,127	)
Interest Income		1,105			1,047			2,836			2,063
Equity in results of affiliates		(407	)		(198	)		(526	)		(1,744	)
Miscellaneous, net		(1,268	)		(525	)		(1,467	)		(153	)
Income before Income Taxes		85,755			79,706			153,450			153,386
Provision for Income Taxes		28,214			26,622			50,810			51,894
Net Income	$	57,541		$	53,084		$	102,640		$	101,492

Net (Income)/Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		(2	)		(8	)		70			(27	)
Net Income Attributable to AptarGroup, Inc.	$	57,539		$	53,076		$	102,710		$	101,465
Net Income Attributable to AptarGroup, Inc. Per Common Share:
Basic	$	0.92		$	0.81		$	1.64		$	1.55
Diluted	$	0.90		$	0.79		$	1.59		$	1.49

Average Numbers of Shares Outstanding:
Basic		62,697			65,328			62,496			65,397
Diluted		64,276			67,438			64,603			68,042

APTARGROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(continued)
(In Thousands)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	June 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
ASSETS

Cash and Equivalents	$	391,810	$	399,762
Short-term Investments		66,897		–
Total Cash and Equivalents, and Short-term Investments		458,707		399,762
Receivables, net		435,448		406,976
Inventories		315,178		311,072
Other Current Assets		102,258		96,128
Total Current Assets		1,311,591		1,213,938
Net Property, Plant and Equipment		776,636		811,655
Goodwill, net		316,480		329,741
Other Assets		73,099		81,856
Total Assets	$	2,477,806	$	2,437,190

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Short-Term Obligations	$	23,888	$	251,976
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities		377,569		352,762
Total Current Liabilities		401,457		604,738
Long-Term Obligations		813,007		588,892
Deferred Liabilities		135,652		139,644
Total Liabilities		1,350,116		1,333,274

AptarGroup, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity		1,127,399		1,103,407
Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries		291		509
Total Equity		1,127,690		1,103,916

Total Liabilities and Equity	$	2,477,806	$	2,437,190

APTARGROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(continued)
(In Thousands)
SEGMENT INFORMATION

	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,

	2015			2014			2015			2014
NET SALES
Beauty + Home	$	319,124		$	385,226		$	648,539		$	776,462
Pharma		183,300			195,690			361,969			390,039
Food + Beverage		91,851			89,715			173,578			180,181
Total Net Sales	$	594,275		$	670,631		$	1,184,086		$	1,346,682

SEGMENT INCOME (1)
Beauty + Home	$	27,193		$	27,198		$	50,569		$	54,979
Pharma		55,462			52,793			107,463			105,275
Food + Beverage		14,991			12,416			24,041			21,496
Corporate and Other		(3,801	)		(8,502	)		(14,961	)		(20,300	)
Total Income Before Interest and Taxes	$	93,845		$	83,905		$	167,112		$	161,450
Interest Expense, Net		(8,090	)		(4,199	)		(13,662	)		(8,064	)
Income before Income Taxes	$	85,755		$	79,706		$	153,450		$	153,386

SEGMENT INCOME AS % OF NET SALES
Beauty + Home		8.5	%		7.1	%		7.8	%		7.1	%
Pharma		30.3	%		27.0	%		29.7	%		27.0	%
Food + Beverage		16.3	%		13.8	%		13.9	%		11.9	%

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:
(1) – The Company evaluates performance of its business units and allocates resources based upon segment income defined as earnings before net interest expense, certain corporate expenses, restructuring initiatives and income taxes.