Hadera Paper Ltd.Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2011

HADERA, Israel, May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hadera Paper Ltd. (AMEX:AIP) (the "Company" or "Hadera Paper") today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010 (the "Reported Period"). The Company, its subsidiaries and associated company - are referred to hereinafter as the "Group".

The Consolidated Data set forth below excludes the results of operation of the associated company Hogla-Kimberly Ltd. ("H-K").

Consolidated sales during the reported period amounted to NIS 517.6 million, as compared with NIS 240.0 million last year, representing an increase of 115.7%, originating primarily from growth in the sales of the packaging paper and recycling sector as compared with the corresponding period last year, coupled with the consolidation of the sales of Hadera Paper - Writing and Printing Ltd ("Hadera Paper Printing"), starting January 1, 2011, in the total sum of NIS 182.1 million, net of inter-company sales totaling NIS 172.6 million.

The operating profit totaled NIS 53.8 million during the reported period, 10.4% of sales, as compared with NIS 7.4 million, 3.1% of sales, in the corresponding period last year. The increase in operating profit during the reported period, in relation to the corresponding period last year, is primarily attributed to non-recurring revenues from the sale of real estate, coupled with the significant growth in the gross profit as a result of the said growth in sales, that was offset as a result of the consolidation of the results of the Hadera Paper Printing sector, starting January 1, 2011, due to an operating loss of NIS -3.0 million in this sector.

The net profit attributed to the Company's shareholders amounted to NIS 41.2 million in the reported period, as compared with net profit of NIS 24.3 million in the corresponding period last year, representing an increase of 69.5%. The net profit, net of non-recurring revenues and expenditures during the reported period, amounted to NIS 19.8 million, representing a decrease of 18.6% in relation to the corresponding period last year.

The net profit attributed to the company's shareholders during the reported period was affected by the improvement in the operating margin at most group companies in Israel and in Turkey as a result of the increase in the volume of operations, that brought about an improvement in the operating profit as mentioned above, coupled with non-recurring revenues from the sale of real estate. In addition the net profit was adversely affected by the increase on the financial expenses in the reported period as compared with the corresponding period last year.

Basic earnings per share amounted to NIS 8.10 per share ($2.33 per share) in the reported period, as compared with basic earnings per share of NIS 4.80 per share ($1.29 per share) in the corresponding period last year.

The exchange rate of the NIS in relation to the dollar was revaluated by approximately 1.9% during the reported period, as compared with a revaluation of approximately 1.6% during the reported period last year (the average exchange rate of the NIS vis-a-vis the dollar was revaluated during the reported period by a rate of approximately 3.6% in relation to the corresponding period last year). The changes in exchange rates as mentioned above, affected the results of the various sectors, although the Group's business portfolio, including the investee companies, is practically at equilibrium in terms of foreign currency and consequently, the exposure of the Group to sharp fluctuations in currency exchange rates is low.

The inflation rate during the reported period amounted to 0.7%, as compared with a negative inflation rate of -0.9% in the corresponding period last year.

The Company estimates that the demand for recycled packaging paper, as a replacement for virgin packaging paper, is continuing in global paper markets. The trend of rising prices of recycled products in the global packaging paper market continued in the first quarter as well, at an average rate of approximately 5.7% (according to publications of PPI Germany). The prices of recycled products are expected to rise by a further 5% starting in May 2011. The said increase in prices and demand, in addition to the prevailing high level of prices, may support the continued growth and expansion in the volumes of operation of the packaging paper sector, in Israel and worldwide.

The Group manages a wide and diverse portfolio of companies and businesses focused on consumer goods and basic commodities. As part of the trend of consumption in the Israeli economy during the reported period, this trend led to an increase in demand at most Group companies for a wide range of products, while continuing to place an emphasis on the implementation of efficiency and cost-cutting measures across all sectors of operation.

In terms of raw materials, in the course of the first quarter, the NIS was revaluated in relation to the average dollar and the euro, in relation to last year, by a rate of approximately 3.6% and 4.8%, respectively. This revaluation led to savings in terms of inputs and imported products denominated in dollars or euro, in the principal sectors of operation of the company, whose prices track import prices in the said currencies. As a result of the said revaluation, the relative price of natural gas denominated in dollars, decreased by approximately 3.7% in relation to last year and also contributed to savings. These savings were partially offset as a result of the rise in the prices of water during the reported period by an average rate of approximately 24%, in relation to the corresponding period last year, along with the increase in the prices of electricity during the reported period, in relation to the corresponding period last year, by a rate of approximately 6.7%. In addition, a sharp rise was recorded in the price of fibers, by an average rate of approximately 19% in relation to last year.

The financial expenses during the reported period amounted to NIS 17.4 million, as compared with NIS 0.9 million in the corresponding period last year. The sharp rise in financial expenses is attributed primarily to the fact that during the corresponding period last year, the cost of financing Machine 8 was capitalized. This capitalization ended in late May 2010. An additional factor consists of expenditures on account of bond series 5, that was issued in May 2010. Moreover, an increase of NIS 3.7 million was recorded in financial expenses in relation to the corresponding period last year, as a result of the higher inflation rate during the reported period, as compared with a lower inflation rate during the corresponding period last year, coupled with the consolidation of the financial expenses of Hadera Paper Printing, starting January 1, 2010, in the sum of NIS 2.9 million.

The company's share in the profits of associated companies totaled NIS 11.1 million during the reported period, as compared with NIS 19.5 million in the corresponding period last year. The decrease is partially attributed to the Company's share in the profits of Hadera Paper Printing (which starting 1, January 2011, is consolidated in the Company's reports).

The following principal changes were recorded in the Company's share in the earnings of associated companies, in relation to the corresponding period last year:

- The company's share in the net profit of H-K Israel (49.9%) during the reported period, amounted to NIS 11.9 million, as compared with NIS 18.8 million in the corresponding period last year. The decrease in the sum of NIS 6.9 million, originated primarily from the decrease in operating profit that fell from NIS 50.4 million to NIS 29.2 million this year. The decrease in the operating profit is primarily attributed to the erosion of selling prices in certain segments of operation as a result of escalating competition in the market, coupled with non-recurring expenditures associated with compensation of consumers on account of complaints related to leaks in a new brand of diapers. These were offset by efficiency measures that were implemented across the company, the lowering of purchasing expenditures in view of the decrease in the average dollar exchange rate by approximately 3.6%, coupled with empowering the company brands. These factors served to reduce the erosion in profit during the reported period.

- The company's share in the losses of KCTR Turkey (49.9%) during the reported period, amounted to NIS 0.8 million, as compared with NIS 1.2 million in the corresponding period last year, representing a decrease of approximately NIS 0.4 million. The reduced loss, despite the slight decrease in the volume of operations, is primarily attributed to the continuing efficiency measures during the reported period, that led to the reduction in the operating loss from NIS 3.2 million in the corresponding period last year, to NIS 0.2 million during the reported period. The improvement in the operating profit was partially offset by the recording of financial expenditures of NIS 1.4 million, as compared with financial revenues of NIS 0.8 million in the corresponding period last year.

In other matter, the Company announced today that Pursuant to the information provided by the Company in the periodical report for 2010, regarding negotiations being conducted by the Company regarding an agreement for the purchase of natural gas, the Company announced that an agreement was signed on May 15, 2011 between the company and the partners in the Yam Tethys projects ("The Agreement"). Pursuant to the Agreement, the term of the agreement signed between the companies on July 29, 2005, for the purchase of natural gas ("The Original Agreement") (regarding which the Company issued a press release on July 31, 2005), will be extended by an additional 2 years, until June 30, 2013.

The formula for the price of gas set in the Agreement is based on the price of petroleum (Brent barrel) and includes a minimum price for the price of gas. It should be noted, that following the sharp rise in fuel prices that took place since the signing of the Original Agreement, the price of gas in the Agreement is significantly higher than the maximum price that was set in the Original Agreement. This fact could potentially have an impact on the price of gas for the Company, as compared with the cost according to the Original Agreement, by an additional sum of approximately $19.4 million per annum (according to the calculation of the formula at the date of signing the Agreement, in terms of gross cost, prior to tax shield), the Company is making preparations for a cost-cutting and efficiency plan accordingly. The actual cost of the gas is dependent upon numerous factors, primarily changes in global petroleum prices. The remaining terms of the Original Agreement would remain in force, with the necessary changes.

The overall financial volume of the Agreement is currently estimated at approximately $63 million (according to the calculation of the formula at the date of signing the Agreement). It should be clarified that the actual volume may change over time as a result of changes in global petroleum prices. In parallel, as stated in previous reports of the Company, the Company is continuing to evaluate a project for building a new power station at the Hadera site.

This report contains various forward-looking statements based upon the Board of Directors' present expectations and estimates regarding the operations and plans of the Group and its business environment. The Company does not guarantee that the future results of operations will coincide with the forward-looking statements and these may in fact differ considerably from the present forecasts as a result of factors that may change in the future, such as changes in costs and market conditions, failure to achieve projected goals, failure to achieve anticipated efficiencies and other factors which lie outside the control of the Company as well as certain other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation for publicly updating the said forward-looking statements, regardless of whether these updates originate from new information, future events or any other reason.

                                Hadera PAPER LTD.
                               SUMMARY OF RESULTS
                                   (UNAUDITED)
                            except per share amounts
                          Three months ended March 31,
                              NIS IN THOUSANDS (1)


                                           2011           2010

    Net sales                           517,609        239,985

    Net earnings attributed to
    the Company's shareholders           41,192         24,290

    Basic net earnings per share
    attributed to the Company's
    shareholders                           8.10           4.80

    Fully diluted earnings per
    share attributed to the
    Company's shareholders                 8.06           4.75

    (1) The representative exchange rate at March 31, 2011 was NIS
        3.481=$1.00.


    Contact:

    Yael Nevo, Adv.
    Corporate Secretary and Chief of Legal Department
    Hadera Paper Ltd. Group
    [email protected]
    Tel:+972-4-6349408

SOURCE Hadera Paper Ltd