Kraton Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2021 Results

HOUSTON, July 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kraton Corporation (NYSE: KRA), a leading global sustainable producer of specialty polymers and high-value biobased products derived from pine wood pulping co-products, announces financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

SECOND QUARTER 2021 SUMMARY

• Consolidated net income of $38.4 million, compared to consolidated net loss of $7.1 million in the second quarter of 2020.
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $61.8 million, down $7.7 million or 11.1%, compared to the second quarter of 2020.
• The $7.7 million decline in Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ reflects $16.9 million of costs associated with a significant turnaround at the Berre, France, site.
• Polymer segment operating income of $42.0 million, compared to $16.8 million in the second quarter of 2020, and Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $26.3 million, down $27.5 million or 51.1% compared to $53.8 million in the second quarter of 2020.
• The $27.5 million decline in Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ reflects $16.9 million of costs associated with the aforementioned turnaround, higher raw materials costs, and the benefit of favorable raw material trends in the year ago quarter, partially offset by improved demand fundamentals and higher sales volumes.
• Chemical segment operating income of $22.0 million, compared to an operating loss of $3.9 million in the second quarter of 2020, and Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $35.5 million, up 126.2% compared to $15.7 million in the second quarter of 2020.
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ increase reflects factors including higher sales volumes associated with improved demand and continued favorable market fundamentals resulting in higher average selling prices, partially offset by higher costs for raw materials.
• Reduced consolidated debt during the quarter by $14.1 million and consolidated net debt⁽¹⁾ by $11.5 million, including the unfavorable effect of foreign currency⁽¹⁾ of $6.3 million.

"We are pleased with our financial results for the second quarter of 2021, which were in line with our overall expectations. On a consolidated basis, second quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $61.8 million, and while this was down $7.7 million compared to the second quarter of 2020, during the quarter, we incurred costs of $16.9 million associated with a significant statutory turnaround at our Berre, France, site, that occurs approximately every six years. Excluding the $16.9 million of turnaround costs, Adjusted EBITDA would have been up compared to the year ago quarter. During the second quarter of 2021, continued favorability in global demand contributed to a strong rebound in sales volume in both our Polymer and Chemical segments, compared to the second quarter of 2020, in which demand was adversely impacted by COVID-19. Thus far in 2021, we have successfully implemented price increases intended to address inflation in raw materials and transportation and logistics costs. While inflation in raw material costs continued to be a factor in the second quarter of 2021, partially offsetting the benefit of higher sales volume and higher average selling prices achieved thus far, we continue to actively address inflationary pressures through price increases, consistent with our Price Right strategy. As such, we expect further price realization and margin improvement in the second half of this year," said Kevin M. Fogarty, Kraton's President and Chief Executive Officer.

Second quarter 2021 Adjusted EBITDA for the Polymer segment was $26.3 million, down $27.5 million compared to the second quarter of 2020. While second quarter 2021 sales volume for the Polymer segment was up 11% compared to the second quarter of 2020, reflecting strong post-COVID demand recovery, it is important to appreciate there were three major, but transitory, drivers that contributed to the decline in quarterly segment financial performance that we believe will not significantly impact results for the second half of 2021. Firstly, and as previously noted, $16.9 million of the $27.5 million decline in Adjusted EBITDA is associated with costs of the significant statutory turnaround at the Berre, France, site. Secondly, and in contrast to a deflationary raw material environment that contributed to margin favorability in the second quarter of 2020, second quarter 2021 margins reflect continued inflation in raw material and transportation and logistics costs, which we are addressing through increases in selling prices. Lastly, second quarter 2020 Adjusted EBITDA benefitted from favorable fixed cost absorption associated with a strategic inventory build to leverage historically low raw materials costs in the quarter. Specialty Polymer sales volume increased 15%, compared to the second quarter of 2020, with higher sales volume in all regions, particularly into consumer durable and automotive applications in North America and Europe. Sales volume for Performance Products was up 13% compared to the second quarter of 2020, primarily due to higher sales into paving and roofing applications in North America and continued demand growth globally within adhesives applications.

Chemical segment Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2021 was $35.5 million, up $19.8 million compared to the second quarter of 2020. The significant increase in Adjusted EBITDA was driven by a 32% increase in sales volume, compared to the second quarter of 2020, reflecting a continued improvement of the Chemical segment's overall demand fundamentals, a healthy post-COVID demand recovery for TOFA and Rosin and Rosin derivatives and higher average selling prices, partially offset by higher raw materials and transportation and logistics costs. Performance Chemicals sales volume was up 37% compared to the second quarter of 2020, reflecting strong demand for TOFA and TOFA upgrades. Adhesive sales volume was up 17% compared to the second quarter of 2020 on strong global adhesive demand, and sales volume for Tires was up 108% compared to the year-ago quarter, in which sales of tread enhancement agents were significantly impacted as tire customers idled capacity due to COVID-19.

"As evidence of progress in continuing to promote responsible and sustainable business practices throughout our organization, we are proud to note that Kraton recently achieved a Platinum rating for our sustainability management system from EcoVadis. The Platinum rating is the highest distinction in the EcoVadis supplier sustainability rating structure, and the Platinum rating places Kraton in the top one percent of all companies evaluated in its sector," said Fogarty. "In terms of innovation-based products that are facilitating the circular economy, during the second quarter, we continued to see favorable customer response and positive momentum for our REvolution^TM and CirKular+^TM platforms that are addressing growing market needs for sustainable solutions. Moreover, Kraton's CirKular+ additives recently received Critical Guidance Recognition from the Association of Plastics Recyclers in recognition of Kraton's ongoing commitment to provide sustainable, high-performance solutions to address the plastics industry's needs for design recyclability," added Fogarty.

"Our expectations for the balance of 2021 remain positive. We currently expect demand trends to remain favorable, and with continued implementation of our Price Right strategy expected to address raw material and logistics price increases, we anticipate meaningful margin improvement over the course of the third and fourth quarters. As we have now successfully completed the Berre turnaround, with costs known, and with better visibility into activity levels in the important summer paving season as we move into the third quarter, we now expect Adjusted EBITDA for the full-year 2021 to fall within the range of $280 - $300 million," said Fogarty.

Polymer Segment

Q2 2021 VERSUS Q2 2020 RESULTS

Revenue for the Polymer segment was $278.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $203.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase was driven by higher average sales prices implemented in response to significantly higher raw material costs, as well as demand recovery versus the second quarter of 2020, which was impacted by COVID-19, driving higher sales volumes in our Specialty Polymers and Performance Products business lines. This was partially offset by a decrease in Isoprene Rubber sales volumes due to the timing of production, which will occur in the second half of 2021. The positive effect from changes in currency exchange rates between the periods was $14.0 million.

Sales volumes of 83.8 kilotons for the three months ended June 30, 2021 increased 10.9% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. Specialty Polymers sales volumes increased 14.6% driven by strong post-COVID-19 demand recovery across all regions, particularly in consumer durable and automotive applications in North America and Europe. Performance Products sales volumes increased 12.6%, primarily driven by improved sales into paving and roofing applications largely in North America, and higher sales into adhesive applications associated with continued demand strength.

For the three months ended June 30, 2021, the Polymer segment generated Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) of $26.3 million compared to $53.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The lower Adjusted EBITDA is a result of $16.9 million associated with a significant statutory turnaround at our Berre, France, location, lower relative fixed cost absorption compared to the second quarter of 2020 associated with a strategic inventory build, and timing associated with Isoprene Rubber production. The inflation in raw material and transportation costs, which we continue to address through increases in selling prices consistent with our Price Right strategy, is partially offset by the contribution from higher sales volumes. The negative effect from changes in currency exchange rates between the periods was $0.1 million. See a reconciliation of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA below.

Chemical Segment

Q2 2021 VERSUS Q2 2020 RESULTS

Revenue for the Chemical segment was $215.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $151.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in revenue was attributable to higher sales volume driven by the demand recovery from COVID-19 and higher average sales prices from continued favorable market fundamentals. The positive effect from changes in currency exchange rates between the periods was $9.6 million.

Sales volumes were 115.3 kilotons for the three months ended June 30, 2021, an increase of 28.1 kilotons, or 32.3%, related to higher TOFA and TOR and related derivatives sales, due to a significant recovery of demand across most end use markets compared to the second quarter of 2020, which was adversely affected by COVID-19, as well as increases in raw material sales volume.

For the three months ended June 30, 2021, the Chemical segment generated $35.5 million of Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) compared to $15.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily driven by the significant recovery in demand compared to the second quarter of 2020, which was adversely affected by COVID-19, and favorable market fundamentals, resulting in higher sales volumes and expanded unit margins across all product groups, partially offset by higher average raw material and logistics costs. The negative effect from changes in currency exchange rates between the periods was $0.1 million. See a reconciliation of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA below.

CASH FLOW AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE

During the second quarter of 2021, we reduced consolidated debt by $14.1 million and consolidated net debt by $11.5 million, including the unfavorable effect of foreign currency of $6.3 million. For the first half of 2021, we reduced our consolidated debt by $21.1 million and increased our consolidated net debt by $6.6 million, including the favorable effect of foreign currency of $13.9 million. The first half of 2021 increase in our consolidated net debt was driven primarily by increases in working capital, including the seasonal inventory build for the paving and roofing season and the impacts of higher raw material costs. Further, we had approximately $291.2 million of available liquidity, comprised of $58.1 million of cash on hand and a remaining available borrowing base of $233.1 million on our ABL Facility as of June 30, 2021.

Summary of principal amounts for indebtedness and a reconciliation of Kraton debt to consolidated net debt (non-GAAP) and consolidated net debt, excluding the effect of foreign currency (non-GAAP):

OUTLOOK

During the second quarter of 2021, we saw a continuation of favorable global demand fundamentals across the majority of our end markets. While we remain mindful of the potential for COVID-19 to adversely impact global demand in the second half of 2021, we currently expect demand trends to remain positive. We expect further realization of price increases over the course of the third and fourth quarters, and therefore, we expect these price increases to contribute to unit margin improvement for both our Polymer and Chemical segments, compared to the first half of 2021.

As a result of the successful completion of the significant statutory turnaround at our Berre, France, site, during the second quarter, with costs known, and given our current expectations for the 2021 paving and roofing season, as well as for overall demand trends as we move into the third quarter of the year, we now expect Adjusted EBITDA for the full year to fall in the range of $280 - $300 million, inclusive of the $19.7 million of full year costs associated with the Berre, France, turnaround.

We have not reconciled Adjusted EBITDA guidance to net income (loss) because we do not provide guidance for net income (loss) or for items that we do not consider indicative of our on-going performance, including, but not limited to, transaction and restructuring costs, costs associated with extinguishment of debt, and the spread between FIFO and ECRC, as certain of these items are out of our control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. Accordingly, a reconciliation of the Adjusted EBITDA guidance to the corresponding U.S. GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable effort.

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release includes the use of both GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures used are EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share, Consolidated Net Debt (including as adjusted to exclude the effect of foreign currency), Adjusted Gross Profit, and Adjusted Gross Profit Per Ton. Tables included in this earnings release reconcile each of these non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure. For additional information on the impact of the spread between first-in-first-out ("FIFO") and Estimated Current Replacement Cost ("ECRC"), see Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

We consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be important supplemental measures of our performance and believe they are frequently used by investors, securities analysts, and other interested parties in the evaluation of our performance including period-to-period comparisons and/or that of other companies in our industry. Further, management uses these measures to evaluate operating performance, and our incentive compensation plan based incentive compensation payments on our Adjusted EBITDA performance and attainment of net debt reduction, along with other factors. These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and in some cases can vary substantially from other measures of our performance. You should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results under U.S. GAAP in the United States.

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA excluding Cariflex, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin: For our consolidated results, EBITDA represents net income (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. For each reporting segment, EBITDA represents operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, and earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures. Among other limitations EBITDA does not: reflect the significant interest expense on our debt or reflect the significant depreciation and amortization expense associated with our long-lived assets; and EBITDA included herein should not be used for purposes of assessing compliance or non-compliance with financial covenants under our debt agreements, which can vary from the terms used herein. The calculation of EBITDA in our debt agreements includes adjustments, such as extraordinary, non-recurring or one-time charges, proforma cost savings, certain non-cash items, turnaround costs, and other items included in the definition of EBITDA in the debt agreements. Other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure. As an analytical tool, Adjusted EBITDA is subject to all the limitations applicable to EBITDA. We prepare Adjusted EBITDA by eliminating from EBITDA the impact of a number of items we do not consider indicative of our on-going performance, including the spread between FIFO and ECRC, but you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in this presentation. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. In addition, due to volatility in raw material prices, Adjusted EBITDA may, and often does, vary substantially from EBITDA and other performance measures, including net income calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We prepare Adjusted EBITDA excluding Cariflex by eliminating from Adjusted EBITDA Cariflex sales, cost of sales, and direct specific fixed costs incurred from January 1, 2020 through March 6, 2020. We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue (for each reporting segment or on a consolidated basis, if applicable). Because of these and other limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business.

Adjusted Gross Profit, Adjusted Gross Profit Per Ton, and Adjusted Gross Profit Per Ton, excluding the Berre turnaround: We define Adjusted Gross Profit Per Ton as Adjusted Gross Profit divided by total sales volume (for each reporting segment or on a consolidated basis, as applicable). We further calculate Adjusted Gross Profit Per Ton, excluding the Berre turnaround, by deducting out of gross profit costs associated with the Berre turnaround. We define Adjusted Gross Profit as gross profit excluding certain charges and expenses. Adjusted Gross Profit is limited because it often varies substantially from gross profit calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP due to volatility in raw material prices.

Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share: We prepare Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share by eliminating from Diluted Earnings per Share the impact of a number of non-recurring items we do not consider indicative of our on-going performance, including the spread between FIFO and ECRC.

Consolidated Net Debt and Consolidated Net Debt, excluding the effect of foreign currency: We define Consolidated Net Debt as total consolidated debt (including debt of KFPC) less consolidated cash and cash equivalents. Management uses Consolidated Net Debt to determine our outstanding debt obligations that would not readily be satisfied by its cash and cash equivalents on hand. Management believes that using Consolidated Net Debt is useful to investors in determining our leverage since we could choose to use cash and cash equivalents to retire debt. We also present Consolidated Net Debt, as adjusted for foreign exchange impact accounts for the foreign exchange effect on our foreign currency denominated debt agreements.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST INFORMATION

Kraton has scheduled a conference call on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss second quarter 2021 financial results. Kraton invites you to listen to the conference call, which will be broadcast live over the internet and will be available at www.kraton.com, by selecting the "Investor Relations" link at the top of the home page and then selecting "Events" from the Investor Relations menu on the Investor Relations page.

You may also listen to the conference call by telephone by contacting the conference call operator 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and asking for the Kraton Conference Call – Passcode: 8680118. U.S./Canada dial-in 800-857-6511. International dial-in #: 210-839-8886.

For those unable to listen to the live call, a replay will be available beginning at approximately 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on July 29, 2021 through 1:59 a.m. (Eastern Time) on August 12, 2021. To hear a replay of the call over the Internet, access Kraton's Website at www.kraton.com by selecting the "Investor Relations" link at the top of the home page and then selecting "Events" from the Investor Relations menu on the Investor Relations page. To hear a telephonic replay of the call, dial 800-391-9846 (toll free).

ABOUT KRATON CORPORATION

Kraton Corporation (NYSE: KRA) is a leading global sustainable producer of specialty polymers and high-value biobased products derived from pine wood pulping co-products. Kraton's polymers are used in a wide range of applications, including adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants and lubricants, and medical, packaging, automotive, paving and roofing applications. As the largest global provider in the pine chemicals industry, the company's pine-based specialty products are sold into adhesives, roads and construction, and tire markets, and it produces and sells a broad range of performance chemicals into markets that include fuel additives, oilfield chemicals, coatings, metalworking fluids and lubricants, inks, flavors and fragrances, and mining. Kraton offers its products to a diverse customer base in numerous countries worldwide.

Kraton, the Kraton logo and design, REvolution, and CirKular+ are all trademarks of Kraton Polymers LLC or its affiliates.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect our plans, beliefs, expectations, and current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "target," "estimates," "reflect," "remain," "expects," "projects," "may," "intends," "plans," "on track", "forsees", "future," or "anticipates," or by discussions of strategy, plans, or intentions. The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our expectations as to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (including governmental and regulatory actions) on demand for our products, on the national and global economy and on our customers, suppliers, employees, business and results of operations, our expectations for our business demand, margin improvements, and growth in 2021, market factors and transportation and logistics trends, our 2021 Adjusted EBITDA, the timing of the incurrence of costs associated with our Berre, France, turnaround, the impact of our diversified portfolio and broad geographic exposure, the impact of and expected realization of announced and future price increases, continued momentum for our REvolution and CirKular+ platforms, and the information and the matters described under the caption "Outlook," are forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are made based on management's current expectations and estimates, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements is contained in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in other filings made by us with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and include, but are not limited to, risks related to: our ability to repay or re-finance indebtedness and risk associated with incurring additional indebtedness; our reliance on third parties for the provision of significant operating and other services; the impact of extraordinary events, including health epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19 (including governmental and regulatory actions relating thereto), natural disasters and other weather conditions and terrorist attacks; conditions in the global economy and capital markets; fluctuations in raw material costs; limitations in the availability of raw materials; competition in our end-use markets; fluctuations in global tariffs and energy, transportation, and logistics costs; the potential for charges related to our goodwill or other assets; and other factors of which we are currently unaware or deem immaterial. Many of these risks and uncertainties are currently amplified by and will continue to be amplified by, or in the future may be amplified by, the COVID-19 pandemic. To the extent any inconsistency or conflict exists between the information included in this press release and the information included in our prior reports and other filings with the SEC, the information contained in this press release updates and supersede such information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this press release, and we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise such forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events.

For further information:
H. Gene Shiels
Director of Investor Relations
281 504-4886

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SOURCE Kraton Corporation