³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø

YARDLEY, Pa., Feb. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2021.

Highlights

• Fourth quarter loss of $7.95 per share, including the impact of full UK pension settlement
• Adjusted earnings of $1.66 per share in the fourth quarter
• Global beverage can volumes grew 9% in the fourth quarter and for the full year
• Returned over $1 billion to shareholders in 2021
• Fully settled UK pension plan, significantly reducing future risk
• Net leverage ratio 3.2x at year-end 2021
• 2022 adjusted earnings guidance expected to be in a range of $8.00 to $8.20 per share

Fourth Quarter Results
Net sales in the fourth quarter were $3,054 million compared to $2,460 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, reflecting the pass through of higher material costs and increased beverage can and transit packaging sales unit volumes.

Income from operations was $303 million in the fourth quarter compared to $307 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Segment income was $357 million in the quarter compared to $358 million in the prior year fourth quarter as unfavorable currency translation and higher costs offset sales unit volume increases.

Commenting on the quarter, Timothy J. Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The Company had a solid fourth quarter performance to end an exceptional year in 2021. Global beverage can shipments for the year of more than 79 billion units grew 9% over 2020, with robust expansion in all regions, led by North America, Europe and Mexico. Full year adjusted earnings per share advanced 29%, more than offsetting the dilutive effects of the sale of the European Tinplate business. Segment income rose 21% for the year, with each of the Company's businesses improving results compared to the prior year despite the effects of the ongoing pandemic and significant inflation and supply chain disruptions.

"The ³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø team performed well during 2021, successfully navigating numerous challenges and meeting the needs of our customers. In addition to delivering strong financial results, the team commercialized significant new capacity positioning the Company for continued long-term growth. Unfortunately, in early December our newest beverage can plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky sustained significant tornado damage. Fortunately, all our associates and their families are safe and we recognize their efforts, along with those in the community at large, in the rebuilding and restoration efforts following the devastating effects of the storm. We expect the plant will resume operations late in the first quarter of this year.

"During 2021 the Company commercialized significant beverage can capacity at new plants in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Vung Tau, Vietnam, as well as adding new production lines to existing facilities in Olympia, Washington, Rio Verde, Brazil and Hanoi, Vietnam. Additionally, and as previously announced, the Company completed the sale of its European Tinplate businesses and fully settled its UK pension obligations, resulting in pension obligations being reduced by approximately $3 billion and eliminating future risk.

"As we look forward in 2022, the Company expects to have another outstanding year, with EBITDA estimated to grow more than 12% to approximately $2 billion. Beverage can demand remains in excess of supply and in 2022 the Company expects to commercialize new production capacity at new plants in Martinsville, Virginia, and Uberaba, Brazil, as well as with can line additions to plants in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Monterrey, Mexico.

"Segment income in our global beverage can businesses is expected to improve as a result of 9% anticipated volume increase, contractual pass through of inflation and more efficient operating performance. Demand remains strong in all regions and, while results in our European beverage business are expected to decline year over year, we are taking required actions to fully recover commodity and other cost increases.

"Following a strong performance in 2021, segment income in Transit Packaging is expected to improve as a result of continued volume growth, efficiency gains and cost improvements. Significant segment income growth is expected in the non-reportable segment as a result of increased food can volumes, increased beverage can equipment deliveries and contractual recovery of inflation. During 2021, the Company completed the construction of a two-piece food can plant in Dubuque, Iowa and the addition of a two-piece food can line to its Hanover, Pennsylvania plant. Additionally, the Company will add a third two-piece food can production line to its Owatonna, Minnesota plant. In addition to earnings growth, we expect to use the significant free cash flow generated by these businesses to again support beverage can capacity expansion and the return of more than $1 billion to shareholders in 2022."

In connection with the sale of its European Tinplate business, the Company entered into a previously announced transaction to irrevocably transfer its UK pension plan obligations to an insurer in November 2021, resulting in a pension settlement charge of $1.5 billion and elimination of the cash flow and earnings risk associated with the plan.

Interest expense was $50 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $70 million in 2020 primarily due to lower outstanding debt balances.

Net loss attributable to ³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø Holdings in the fourth quarter was $1,001 million compared to net income of $151 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Reported loss per share was $7.95 in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to income of $1.12 in 2020. Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased to $1.66 over the $1.50 in 2020.

A reconciliation from net income and diluted earnings per share to adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share is provided below.

Full Year Results
Net sales for the full year of 2021 increased to $11,394 million from $9,392 million in the full year of 2020, primarily due to the pass through of higher material costs and increased sales unit volumes.

Income from operations was $1,363 million in 2021 compared to $1,048 million in 2020. Segment income in 2021 was $1,500 million versus $1,240 million in the prior year primarily due to increased sales unit volumes.

Interest expense was $253 million in 2021 compared to $290 million in 2020 primarily due to lower outstanding debt balances.

Net loss attributable to ³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø Holdings in 2021 was $560 million compared to net income of $579 million in 2020. Reported loss per share was $4.30 compared to income of $4.30 in 2020. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $7.66 compared to $5.92 in 2020.

Outlook
The Company currently expects first quarter 2022 adjusted earnings in the range of $1.80 to $1.90 per share, and full year 2022 adjusted earnings in the range of $8.00 to $8.20 per share.

The adjusted effective income tax rate for 2022 is expected to be between 24% and 25%.

Adjusted free cash flow, as defined below, is currently expected to be approximately $400 million for 2022 with approximately $1 billion in capital spending.

Non-GAAP Measures
Segment income, adjusted free cash flow, adjusted net leverage ratio, adjusted net income, the adjusted effective tax rate, adjusted diluted earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA are not defined terms under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP measures). Non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for income from operations, net income, diluted earnings per share, effective tax rates, cash flow or leverage ratio data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to calculations of similarly titled measures by other companies.

The Company views segment income as the principal measure of the performance of its operations and adjusted free cash flow and adjusted net leverage ratio as the principal measure of its liquidity. The Company considers all of these measures in the allocation of resources. Adjusted free cash flow has certain limitations, however, including that it does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures since other non-discretionary expenditures, such as mandatory debt service requirements, are not deducted from the measure. The amount of mandatory versus discretionary expenditures can vary significantly between periods. Reconciliations of estimated adjusted diluted earnings per share for the first quarter and full year of 2022 to estimated diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis are not provided in this release due to the unavailability of estimates of the following, the timing and magnitude of which the Company is unable to reliably forecast without unreasonable efforts, which are excluded from estimated adjusted diluted earnings per share and could have a significant impact on earnings per share on a GAAP basis: gains or losses on the sale of businesses or other assets, restructuring and other costs, asset impairment charges, asbestos-related charges, losses from early extinguishment of debt, pension settlement and curtailment charges, the tax and noncontrolling interest impact of the items above, and the impact of tax law changes or other tax matters. The Company believes that adjusted net income, the adjusted effective tax rate and adjusted diluted earnings per share are useful in evaluating the Company's operations as these measures are adjusted for items that affect comparability between periods. The Company believes that adjusted free cash flow and adjusted net leverage ratio provide meaningful measures of liquidity and a useful basis for assessing the Company's ability to fund its activities, including the financing of acquisitions, debt repayments, share repurchases or dividends. Segment income, adjusted free cash flow, adjusted net leverage ratio, the adjusted effective tax rate, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA are derived from the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations and Cash Flows and Consolidated Balance Sheets, as applicable, and reconciliations to segment income, adjusted free cash flow, net leverage ratio, the adjusted effective tax rate, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA can be found within this release.

Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call tomorrow, February 9, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) to discuss this news release. Forward-looking and other material information may be discussed on the conference call. The dial-in numbers for the conference call are 630-395-0194 or toll-free 888-324-8108 and the access password is "packaging." A live webcast of the call will be made available to the public on the internet at the Company's website, . A replay of the conference call will be available for a one-week period ending at midnight on February 16. The telephone numbers for the replay are 203-369-3289 or toll free 800-568-3652.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, all other information in this press release consists of forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the future impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Company's operations, including the Company's ability to continue to operate its plants, distribute its products, and maintain its supply chain; the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on demand for the Company's products; the future impact of currency translation; the Company's ability to successfully recover commodity and other cost increases and improve operating efficiencies; the continuation of performance and market trends in 2022, including consumer preference for beverage cans, increasing global beverage can demand, and volume growth in Transit Packaging and food cans; and the Company's ability to successfully complete its previously announced capacity expansion projects and begin production within expected timelines, including any delays related to the pandemic, that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause the statements made in this press release or the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ are discussed under the caption "Forward Looking Statements" in the Company's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2020 and in subsequent filings made prior to or after the date hereof. The Company does not intend to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement in light of future events.

³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading global supplier of rigid packaging products to consumer marketing companies, as well as transit and protective packaging products, equipment and services to a broad range of end markets. World headquarters are located in Yardley, Pennsylvania.

For more information, contact:
Kevin C. Clothier, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, (215) 698-5281
Thomas T. Fischer, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs, (215) 552-3720

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations, Balance Sheets, Statements of Cash Flows, Segment Information and Supplemental Data follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

View original content:

SOURCE ³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø Holdings, Inc.