SEE Reports Q3 2023 Results

Net sales of $1.38 billion, down 1% as reported; flat at constant currency

Net earnings of $58 million, down 57%

Adjusted EBITDA of $285 million, down 3% as reported; down 6% constant currency

Earnings per share (Diluted) of $0.40, down 56%

Adjusted EPS (Diluted) of $0.77, down 21% as reported; down 27% constant currency

Cash flow from operations (YTD) of $193 million

Free cash flow of $183 million (YTD, excluding the $175 million tax deposit) is up 33% in 2023

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 2023-- SEE (NYSE: SEE) announced financial results for Q3 2023.

“Our third quarter results were in line with our expectations and reflect continued weakness in our end-markets,” said Emile Chammas, SEE’s Interim Co-CEO and COO. “While our long-term strategy remains intact, we are focused on improving execution across our innovation, supply chain and commercial efforts. Our business has faced challenges in the past and we have persevered. I am confident that we can navigate the current cyclical market conditions and position SEE for long-term growth.”

“We delivered strong free cash flow in the third quarter and began to strengthen our balance sheet,” said Dustin Semach, SEE’s Interim Co-CEO and CFO. “While we are making good progress on cost take-out to grow and portfolio optimization, we plan to accelerate our efforts as we close out 2023 and head into 2024. I am excited to partner with Emile as we continue to build a culture of execution and accountability.”

Unless otherwise stated, all results compare third quarter 2023 to third quarter 2022 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, amortization of intangible assets and inventory step-up expense related to the acquisition of Liquibox, 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 $893 million, an increase of 8% as reported. Currency fluctuations had an unfavorable impact of $19 million, or 2%. On a constant dollar basis, net sales increased $83 million, or 10%. The Liquibox acquisition had a favorable impact of $82 million, or 10%, and price had a favorable impact of $8 million, or 1%. Volumes decreased $7 million, or 1%, resulting from continued food retail market declines, partially offset by growth in our food automation solutions. Adjusted EBITDA of $194 million, or 21.7% of net sales, increased 5% from $185 million, or 22.3% of net sales. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributable to the Liquibox acquisition.

Third quarter net sales in Protective were $488 million, a decrease of 14% as reported. Currency fluctuations had a favorable impact of $5 million, or 1%. On a constant dollar basis, net sales decreased $87 million, or 15%. Volumes decreased $75 million, or 13%, resulting from continued market pressures and destocking in the industrial and fulfillment sectors. Price had an unfavorable impact of $12 million, or 2%. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 13% to $95 million, or 19.5% of net sales, as compared to $109 million, or 19.2% of net sales. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributable to lower volumes.

Third Quarter 2023 U.S. GAAP Summary

Net sales of $1.38 billion decreased 1% as reported, with EMEA increasing 3%, the Americas decreasing 2% and APAC decreasing 3%.

Net earnings were $58 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, as compared to net earnings of $133 million, or $0.91 per diluted share in the prior year period. The current year results were unfavorably impacted as a result of business closure activity of $51 million, including $34 million of other restructuring associated costs, primarily related to non-cash asset impairment and inventory obsolescence charges, $15 million of contract termination charges and $2 million of severance and other closure related costs. The current year results were also unfavorably impacted by $29 million of higher net interest expense as a result of incremental debt incurred to finance the Liquibox transaction.

Income tax expense was $20 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 26.1% in the quarter. This compares to an income tax expense of $51 million in the prior year period, or an effective tax rate of 27.9%. The effective tax rate in third quarter 2023 benefited from excess foreign tax credits.

Third Quarter 2023 Non-U.S. GAAP Summary

Net sales decreased $4 million, or less than 1%, on a constant dollar basis. Volumes decreased by $82 million, or 6%, and price had an unfavorable impact of $4 million, or less than 1%, while the Liquibox acquisition had a favorable impact of $82 million, or 6%.

Adjusted EBITDA was $285 million, or 20.6% of net sales, as compared to $293 million, or 20.9% in the prior year period. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to lower volumes, partially offset by earnings generated from Liquibox.

The Adjusted Tax Rate was 25.7% in third quarter 2023, as compared to 25.6% in the prior year period.

Adjusted earnings per diluted share decreased to $0.77, from $0.98 in the prior year period, primarily due to lower Adjusted EBITDA and higher interest expense, partially offset by the operating income generated from Liquibox.

Cash Flow and Net Debt

Cash flow from operating activities during the first nine months of 2023 was a source of $193 million, as compared to a source of $321 million during the prior year period. Excluding the $175 million tax deposit, cash flow provided by operating activities was $368 million for the first nine months of 2023, up 15% as compared to the prior year period.

Capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2023 were $185 million, as compared to $184 million during the prior year period. Free Cash Flow, defined as net cash from operating activities less capital expenditures, was a source of $8 million for the first nine months of 2023, as compared to a source of $137 million during the prior year period. Excluding the $175 million tax deposit, Free Cash Flow was a source of $183 million for the first nine months of 2023, up 33% as compared to the prior year period.

Dividend payments for the nine months of 2023 were $89 million, as compared to approximately $90 million during the prior year period.

Total debt was $4.9 billion as of September 30, 2023 and $3.7 billion as of December 31, 2022. Net Debt, defined as total debt less cash and cash equivalents, was $4.6 billion as of September 30, 2023, as compared to $3.2 billion as of December 31, 2022. As of September 30, 2023, SEE had approximately $1.19 billion of available liquidity comprised of $281 million of cash and $911 million of available and unused lines of credit under our committed credit facilities.

Updated 2023 Full Year Outlook

For the full year 2023, SEE continues to expect net sales in the range of $5.40 to $5.60 billion and Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $1.075 to $1.125 billion.

The Company continues to forecast full year Adjusted EPS to be in the range of $2.75 to $2.95, which is based on approximately 145 million shares outstanding and an anticipated Adjusted Tax Rate of approximately 27%.

Excluding full year 2023 payments related to the IRS settlement, the Company continues to expect Free Cash Flow in 2023 in the range of $325 to $375 million.

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EPS and Free Cash Flow are non-U.S. GAAP financial measures. 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 adjustments in the valuation of our "SEE Ventures" portfolio (which may include debt, equity method, or equity investments), amortization of intangible assets and inventory step-up expense related to the acquisition of Liquibox, 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.

Conference Call Information

SEE will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss our Third Quarter 2023 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

SEE (NYSE: SEE), is in business to protect, to solve critical packaging challenges, and to make our world better than we find it. Our automated packaging solutions promote a safer, more resilient, and less wasteful global food, fluids and liquids supply chain, enable e-commerce, and protect goods in transit from damage.

The company, under its former trade name, Sealed Air, announced its new SEE corporate brand and logo in May 2023.

Our globally recognized solution brands include CRYOVAC^® food packaging, LIQUIBOX^® fluids and liquids systems, SEALED AIR^® protective packaging, AUTOBAG^® automated packaging systems, BUBBLE WRAP^® packaging, SEE Automation™ and prismiq™ digital packaging and printing.

Our partnership with customers creates value through sustainable, automated, and digital packaging solutions, leveraging our industry-leading expertise in materials, automation systems, engineering and technology.

Our SEE Net Positive Circular Ecosystem is leading the packaging industry in creating a more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable future. We 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 SEE 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 $5.6 billion in sales in 2022 and has approximately 17,300 employees (including Liquibox employees) who serve customers in 120 countries/territories. To learn more, visit sealedair.com.

Website Information

We routinely post important information for investors on our website, www.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”), "Calculation of Net Debt", “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), amortization of intangible assets and inventory step-up expense related to the acquisition of Liquibox, 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, results of operations and cash flows. 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, expectations regarding future impacts resulting from the Liquibox acquisition, 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, including recessionary and inflationary pressures, currency translation and devaluation effects, changes in raw material pricing and availability, competitive conditions, the success of new product offerings, failure to realize synergies and other financial benefits from the acquisition of Liquibox within the expected time frames, greater than expected costs or difficulties related to the integration of Liquibox, 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, uncertainties relating to existing or potential increased hostilities in the Middle East, 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 statements 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 2023 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.