HOUSTON, April 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Kraton Corporation (NYSE: KRA), a leading global specialty chemicals company that manufactures styrenic block copolymers ("SBCs"), specialty polymers, and high-value performance products primarily derived from pine wood pulping co-products, announces financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.

FIRST QUARTER 2019 SUMMARY

• First quarter consolidated net income attributable to Kraton of $12.7 million, compared to $22.1 million in the first quarter of 2018.
• First quarter consolidated Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $89.4 million, up 0.9% compared to the first quarter of 2018.
• Polymer segment operating income of $9.3 million, down 71.8%, and Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $48.2 million, up 7.6% compared to $44.8 million in the first quarter of 2018.
• Adjusted EBITDA margin⁽²⁾ of 18.4%, up 290 basis points compared to the first quarter of 2018.
• Chemical segment operating income of $25.9 million, down 11.8%, and Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $41.3 million, down 5.9% compared to $43.9 million in the first quarter of 2018.
• Adjusted EBITDA margin⁽²⁾ of 21.1%, or 20.2% adjusting for lost revenues associated with the Hurricane Michael related outage at our Panama City, Florida site.

"First quarter 2019 consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $89.4 million reflects improved margins and profitability in our Polymer segment, compared to the first quarter 2018, and stable unit margins in our Chemical segment as we worked to return to full operational capability at our Panama City, Florida, site," said Kevin M. Fogarty, Kraton's President and Chief Executive Officer.  "Polymer segment Adjusted EBITDA of $48.2 million for the first quarter 2019 was up nearly 8% compared to the first quarter 2018, despite lower sales in our Specialty Polymer business associated with the impact of the previously disclosed inventory management program by a large lubricant additive customer and softer demand fundamentals in China and broader Asia.  While sales volume in our Performance Products business was unchanged relative to the first quarter 2018, we did see improved activity in non-core paving markets such as Australia, and favorable SBS sales in North America in advance of the typical second and third quarter paving season, which has seen a slow start given poor weather conditions in our core North American and European markets," Fogarty said.  "Continued growth in our differentiated Cariflex^TM business, with sales volume up 5% compared to the first quarter 2018, as well as improved plant utilization and overall operating metrics associated with higher production levels at our Mailiao, Paulina, and Berre facilities relative to the first quarter 2018 contributed to the improvement in overall segment profitability.  As a result, the Adjusted EBITDA margin for the Polymer segment was 18.4%, up 290 basis points compared to the year-ago quarter and up 220 basis points compared to the fourth quarter of 2018."

"First quarter 2019 Adjusted EBITDA for the Chemical segment was $41.3 million, down 5.9% compared to the year-ago quarter.  During the quarter we recognized a gain on insurance proceeds which served to offset the impact of lost revenue and associated margin at our Panama City site, given that full operational capability of our Crude Sulfate Turpentine refinery was not restored until late in the quarter.  The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA compared to the first quarter 2018 is largely attributable to lower sales of Tall Oil Rosin and related derivatives, which contributed to less favorable sales mix relative to the year-ago quarter," said Fogarty.  "Overall, first quarter 2019 market conditions for the Chemical segment reflected relative stability in our Adhesives business and continued favorable market fundamentals for TOFA and upgraded derivative products, which in combination with tightness in the Crude Tall Oil feedstock market supports the global price increase we implemented effective March 1^st," added Fogarty.

"As previously communicated, debt reduction remains a primary strategic focus in 2019.  While the first quarter of the year is not historically a period of cash generation for Kraton due to factors including a seasonal inventory build in advance of the paving season, given our current outlook for the year, we still expect to reduce consolidated net debt, excluding the effect of foreign currency, by $170 - $190 million in 2019," Fogarty said.  "With respect to the strategic review process for Cariflex, we are encouraged by the high level of indicated interest.  However, given the expected timeline for the formal review process, we do not anticipate providing further updates until later in the year."

Q1 2019 VERSUS Q1 2018 RESULTS

Revenue for the Polymer segment was $261.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to $289.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decrease was driven by lower volumes for Specialty Polymers and lower average sales prices in all product groups associated with lower average raw material costs. Sales volumes of 73.8 kilotons for the three months ended March 31, 2019 decreased 4.9% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decline is largely attributable to lower Specialty Polymers sales volumes due to a previously announced inventory management program by a significant lubricant additives customer, and to a lesser extent, lower sales into Asia. Our Cariflex volumes increased 5.0%, primarily from higher latex sales into surgical glove applications. The negative impact from changes in currency exchange rates between the periods was $15.3 million.

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Polymer segment generated Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) of $48.2 million compared to $44.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The 7.6% increase in Adjusted EBITDA is due to the improved operating performance, partially offset by lower sales volumes. The negative effect from changes in currency exchange rates between the periods was $1.4 million. See a reconciliation of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA below.

Chemical Segment

Q1 2019 VERSUS Q1 2018 RESULTS

Revenue for the Chemical segment was $195.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to $213.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decrease in Chemical segment revenue was primarily attributable to lower sales volumes due to Hurricane Michael and the sale of excess raw materials in the three months ended March 31, 2018, partially offset by higher average selling prices. Sales volumes were 103.6 kilotons for the three months ended March 31, 2019, a decrease of 12.3 kilotons or 10.6%, largely related to timing of raw material sales and lost CST and derivatives sales resulting from Hurricane Michael. As a result, Performance Chemicals and Adhesives sales volumes decreased 14.6% and 1.7%, respectively. The negative effect from changes in currency exchange rates between the periods was $9.0 million.

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Chemical segment generated $41.3 million of Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) compared to $43.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The 5.9% decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was due to lower rosin and rosin derivative sales volumes, which was partially offset by lower operating costs driven by the timing of planned maintenance activities. The negative effect from changes in currency exchange rates between the periods was $0.4 million. See a reconciliation of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA below.

CASH FLOW AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, consolidated net debt (total debt less cash) increased by $46.4 million compared to December 31, 2018.

Summary of principal amounts for indebtedness and a reconciliation of Kraton debt to Kraton net debt (non-GAAP) and consolidated net debt (non-GAAP):

OUTLOOK

At the time of our fourth quarter earnings release we highlighted a possible timing difference between lost sales and associated margin in the first quarter 2019 and the reimbursement by our insurance carriers in a subsequent quarter. However, during the first quarter 2019 we recognized a gain on insurance which offset the lost margin of $5.9 million, eliminating the previously anticipated timing difference. We continue to anticipate that 2019 Adjusted EBITDA will be in a range of $370 - $390 million.

Consistent with the aforementioned 2019 Adjusted EBITDA range, and excluding any activity under the previously announced share buyback program, we currently anticipate reducing consolidated net debt (excluding the effects of foreign currency) by $170 - $190 million in 2019.

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 costs and production downtime, as certain of these items are out of our control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. We have not reconciled consolidated net debt guidance to debt due to high variability and difficulty in making accurate forecasts and projections that are impacted by future decisions and actions. The actual amount of such reconciling items will have a significant impact if they were included in our Adjusted EBITDA and net debt. Accordingly, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure guidance to the corresponding U.S. GAAP measures 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 are EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share, Consolidated Net Debt Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Net Debt, and Net Debt. 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 the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") basis of accounting 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, 2018.

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 bases 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, 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 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. 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 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 Diluted Earnings Per Share: We prepare Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share by eliminating from Diluted Earnings (loss) 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 Net Debt: We define net debt for Kraton as total debt (excluding debt of KFPC) less cash and cash equivalents. We define consolidated net debt as Kraton net debt plus debt of KFPC less KFPC's cash and cash equivalents. Management uses 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 net debt is useful to investors in determining our leverage since we could choose to use cash and cash equivalents to retire debt. In addition, management believes that presenting Kraton's net debt excluding KFPC is useful because KFPC has its own capital structure.

Consolidated Net Debt Leverage Ratio: The consolidated net debt leverage ratio is defined as consolidated net debt as of the balance sheet date divided by Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months then ended. Our use of this term may vary from the use of similarly-titled measures by others in our industry due to the potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation and differences due to items subject to interpretation.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST INFORMATION

Kraton has scheduled a conference call on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss first quarter 2019 financial results. Kraton invites you to listen to the conference call, which will be broadcast live over the internet 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: Earnings Call." 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 April 25, 2019 through 1:59 a.m. (Eastern Time) on May 9, 2019. 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 800-455-0167 or 402-344-6834.

ABOUT KRATON CORPORATION

Kraton Corporation (NYSE: KRA) is a leading global specialty chemicals company that manufactures styrenic block copolymers, specialty polymers, and high-value performance products primarily 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 and tire markets, and it produces and sells a broad range of performance chemicals into markets that include fuel additives, oilfield chemicals, coatings, roads, construction, metalworking fluids and lubricants, inks, and mining. Kraton offers its products to a diverse customer base in numerous countries worldwide.

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

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release includes forward-looking statements 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," "expects," "projects," "may," "intends," "plans", "on track", or "anticipates," or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions, including, but not limited to, our expectations with respect to full-year 2019 Adjusted EBITDA results, 2019 consolidated net debt reduction, and our beliefs with respect to the impact of global market conditions.

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. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, including but not limited to "Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors" and "Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" therein, and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and include, but are not limited to, risks related to: Kraton's ability to repay its indebtedness and risk associated with incurring additional indebtedness; Kraton's reliance on third parties for the provision of significant operating and other services; conditions in, and risk associated with operating in, the global economy and capital markets; fluctuations in raw material costs; natural disasters and weather conditions; limitations in the availability of raw materials; competition in Kraton's end-use markets; and other factors of which we are currently unaware or deem immaterial. In addition, to the extent any inconsistency or conflict exists between the information included in this report and the information included in our prior reports and other filings with the SEC, the information contained in this report updates and supersede such information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we assume no obligation to update such information 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