SEE Reports Q3 2022 Results

Leading in Automation, Digital, and Sustainable Packaging Solutions

Net sales of $1.4 billion, flat as reported; up 5% constant currency

Net earnings of $133 million, up 23%

Adjusted EBITDA of $293 million, up 8% as reported; up 12% constant currency

Earnings per share (Diluted) of $0.91, up 28%

Adjusted Earnings per share (Diluted) of $0.98, up 14% as reported; up 19% constant currency

Cash flow from operations (year to date) of $321 million, down 15%

Accelerating growth investments - CapEx of $184 million, up 19%, in 2022

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 2022-- SEE (NYSE: SEE) announced financial results for Q3 2022.

“We delivered an 8% increase in Adjusted EBITDA in the quarter, despite continued cost inflation, foreign currency headwinds and slowing demand. Our SEE Operating Engine is powering through these challenging times.

We are creating value for our customers through Automation, Digital and Sustainable solutions. We are making bold investments in people, technology and our business, as we accelerate SEE's journey to world-class performance," said Ted Doheny, SEE’s President and CEO.

Unless otherwise stated, all results compare third quarter 2022 to third quarter 2021 results from continuing operations. Year-over-year financial discussions present operating results from continuing operations as reported. Year-over-year comparisons are also made on an organic basis and constant dollar basis, which are non-U.S. GAAP measures. Organic refers to changes in unit volume and price performance and excludes acquisitions in the first year after closing, divestiture activity and the impact of currency translation. Constant dollar refers to changes in net sales and earnings, excluding the impact of currency translation. Additionally, non-U.S. GAAP adjusted financial measures, such as Adjusted Earnings Before Interest Expense, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"), Adjusted Net Earnings, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share ("Adjusted EPS") and Adjusted Tax Rate, exclude the impact of specified items ("Special Items"), such as restructuring charges, restructuring associated costs, adjustments in the valuation of our "SEE Ventures" portfolio (which may include debt, equity method, or equity investments), gains and losses related to acquisition and divestiture of businesses, special tax items ("Tax Special Items") and certain infrequent or one-time items. Please refer to the supplemental information included with this press release for a reconciliation of U.S. GAAP to Non-U.S. GAAP financial measures.

Business Segment Highlights

Third quarter net sales in Food were $830 million, an increase of 4% as reported. Currency fluctuations had an unfavorable impact of $42 million, or 5%. On a constant dollar basis, net sales increased $74 million, or 9%. Price realization had a favorable impact of 13%, with increases across all regions in response to the current inflationary environment. Volumes decreased by 4%, driven by food retail market declines across the Americas and EMEA regions and the adverse impact from prior supply disruptions. Adjusted EBITDA of $185 million, or 22.3% of net sales, increased 9% from $169 million, or 21.2% of net sales. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributable to favorable net price realization and productivity improvements, partially offset by lower volumes.

Third quarter net sales in Protective were $571 million, a decrease of 6% as reported. Currency fluctuations had an unfavorable impact of $29 million, or 5%, while the divestiture of Reflectix, Inc. had an unfavorable impact of $12 million, or 2%. On an organic basis, net sales increased $2 million, with price realization having a favorable impact of $76 million, or 12%, with increases realized across all regions in response to the current inflationary environment. Volumes decreased $74 million, or 12%, resulting from recessionary pressures in the industrial and fulfillment markets. Adjusted EBITDA increased 7% to $109 million, or 19.2% of net sales, as compared to $103 million, or 16.9% of net sales. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributable to favorable net price realization, partially offset by lower volumes.

Third Quarter 2022 U.S. GAAP Summary

Net sales of $1.4 billion were essentially flat as reported, with the Americas increasing 3%, EMEA decreasing 6%, and APAC decreasing 5%.

Net earnings were $133 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, as compared to net earnings of $108 million, or $0.71 per diluted share. The prior year results were unfavorably impacted by a $15 million pre-tax loss on debt redemption, partially offset by a $7 million pre-tax gain on an equity investment.

Income tax expense was $51 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 27.9% in third quarter 2022. This compares to an income tax expense of $47 million in the prior year, or an effective tax rate of 30.2%.

Third Quarter 2022 Non-U.S. GAAP Summary

Net sales increased $64 million, or 5%, on a constant dollar basis. Price realization had a favorable impact of $176 million, or 13%, while volumes decreased by $102 million, or 7%. Constant dollar net sales were higher across all regions, with EMEA increasing 7%, APAC increasing 5%, and the Americas increasing 4%. Currency fluctuations had an unfavorable impact of $71 million, or 5%.

Adjusted EBITDA was $293 million, or 20.9% of net sales, as compared to $271 million, or 19.2%. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA margin was largely due to favorable net price realization, partially offset by lower volumes. Currency fluctuations had an unfavorable impact of $10 million, or 4%, in third quarter 2022.

The Adjusted Tax Rate was 25.6% in third quarter 2022, as compared to 24.9% in the prior year.

Adjusted earnings per diluted share increased to $0.98, from $0.86, primarily due to Adjusted EBITDA growth. Currency fluctuations had an unfavorable impact of $0.04, or 5%, in third quarter 2022.

Cash Flow and Net Debt

Cash flow provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2022 was a source of $321 million, as compared to a source of $378 million during the prior year period.

Capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2022 were $184 million, as compared to $155 million during the prior year period, to support growth initiatives. Free Cash Flow, defined as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, was a source of $137 million for the first nine months of 2022, as compared to a source of $223 million during the prior year period, primarily due to unfavorable working capital.

During the first nine months of 2022, the Company repurchased 4.5 million shares, valued at $280 million (average of approximately $62 per share), and paid cash dividends of approximately $90 million.

Total debt was $3.6 billion as of September 30, 2022 and $3.7 billion as of December 31, 2021. Net Debt, defined as total debt less cash and cash equivalents, was $3.4 billion as of September 30, 2022, as compared to $3.1 billion as of December 31, 2021. As of September 30, 2022, SEE had approximately $1.4 billion of available liquidity comprised of $249 million of cash and $1.12 billion available under our committed credit facilities.

Updated 2022 Full Year Outlook

For the full year 2022, SEE now expects net sales to be in the range of $5.65 to $5.75 billion, compared to the previous outlook in the range of $5.85 to $6.05 billion and Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $1.21 to $1.23 billion, compared to the previous outlook in the range of $1.22 to $1.25 billion.

The Company forecasts full year Adjusted EPS to be in the range of $4.05 to $4.15, which is based on approximately 147 million shares outstanding and an Adjusted Tax Rate of approximately 25.5%. The previous Adjusted EPS range was $4.05 to $4.20, which was based on approximately 148 million shares outstanding and an Adjusted Tax Rate of 26%.

The Company now expects full year Free Cash Flow in 2022 to be in the range of $460 to $500 million, compared to the previous outlook in the range of $510 to $550 million.

Conference Call Information

SEE will host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss our Third Quarter 2022 Results. The conference call will be webcast live on the Investors homepage at www.sealedair.com/investors. A replay of the webcast will also be available thereafter.

About SEE

Sealed Air (NYSE: SEE) is in business to protect, solve critical packaging challenges, and make our world better than we find it. Our automated packaging solutions promote a safer, more resilient, and less wasteful global food supply chain, enable eCommerce, and protect goods transported worldwide.

Our globally recognized brands include CRYOVAC^® brand food packaging, SEALED AIR^® brand protective packaging, AUTOBAG^® brand automated systems, BUBBLE WRAP^® brand packaging, SEE Automation™ solutions and prismiq™ brand smart packaging and digital printing.

SEE’s Operating Model, together with our industry-leading expertise in materials, engineering and technology, create value through more sustainable, automated, and digitally connected packaging solutions.

We are leading the packaging industry in creating a more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable future and have pledged to design or advance 100% of our packaging materials to be recyclable or reusable by 2025, with a bolder goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions in our global operations by 2040. Our Global Impact Report highlights how we are shaping the future of the packaging industry. We are committed to a diverse workforce and a caring, inclusive culture through our 2025 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion pledge.

SEE generated $5.5 billion in sales in 2021 and has approximately 16,500 employees who serve customers in 114 countries/territories. To learn more, visit sealedair.com.

Website Information

We routinely post important information for investors on our website, sealedair.com, in the Investors section. We use this website as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investors section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

Non-U.S. GAAP Information

In this press release and supplement, we have included several non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, including Net Debt, Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted EPS, net sales on an "organic" and a “constant dollar” basis, Free Cash Flow, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Tax Rate, as our management believes these measures are useful to investors. We present results and guidance, adjusted to exclude the effects of Special Items and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under U.S. GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods or prior guidance. In addition, non-U.S. GAAP measures are used by management to review and analyze our operating performance and, along with other data, as internal measures for setting annual budgets and forecasts, assessing financial performance, providing guidance and comparing our financial performance with our peers and may also be used for purposes of determining incentive compensation. The non-U.S. GAAP information has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for U.S. GAAP information. It does not purport to represent any similarly titled U.S. GAAP information and is not an indicator of our performance under U.S. GAAP. Non-U.S. GAAP financial measures that we present may not be comparable with similarly titled measures used by others. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on these non-U.S. GAAP measures. For a reconciliation of these U.S. GAAP measures to non-U.S. GAAP measures and other important information on our use of non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, see the attached supplementary information entitled “Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows” (under the section entitled “Non-U.S. GAAP Free Cash Flow”), “Reconciliation of Net Earnings and Net Earnings Per Common Share to Non-U.S. GAAP Adjusted Net Earnings and Non-U.S. GAAP Adjusted Net Earnings Per Common Share,” “Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Non-U.S. GAAP Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA,” “Components of Change in Net Sales by Segment” and “Components of Change in Net Sales by Region.” Information reconciling forward-looking U.S. GAAP measures to non-U.S. GAAP measures is not available without unreasonable effort.

We have not provided guidance for the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, as they are not available without unreasonable effort due to the high variability, complexity, and low visibility with respect to certain Special Items, including restructuring charges, adjustments in the valuation of our "SEE Ventures" portfolio (which may include debt, equity method, or equity investments), gains and losses related to acquisition and divestiture of businesses, the ultimate outcome of certain legal or tax proceedings, and other unusual gains and losses. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could be material to our results computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning our business, consolidated financial condition and results of operations. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by such words as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “assume,” “could,” “should,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “potential,” “seek,” “predict,” “may,” “will” and similar references to future periods. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding expected future operating results, expectations regarding the results of restructuring and other programs, anticipated levels of capital expenditures and expectations of the effect on our financial condition of claims, litigation, environmental costs, contingent liabilities and governmental and regulatory investigations and proceedings.

The following are important factors that we believe could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements: global economic and political conditions, currency translation and devaluation effects, changes in raw material pricing and availability, competitive conditions, the success of new product offerings, consumer preferences, the effects of animal and food-related health issues, the effects of epidemics or pandemics, including the Coronavirus Disease 2019, negative impacts related to the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and related sanctions, export restrictions and other counteractions thereto, changes in energy costs, environmental matters, the success of our restructuring activities, the success of our merger, acquisition and equity investment strategies, the success of our financial growth, profitability, cash generation and manufacturing strategies and our cost reduction and productivity efforts, changes in our credit ratings, the tax benefit associated with the Settlement agreement (as defined in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K), regulatory actions and legal matters and the other information referenced in the “Risk Factors” section appearing in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and as revised and updated by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Any forward-looking statement made by us is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

The supplementary information included for 2022 in this press release on the current and subsequent pages is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The calculation of the non-U.S. GAAP Adjusted income tax rate is as follows: