MONTREAL, QUEBEC and SARASOTA, FLORIDA–(Marketwired – March 8, 2018) – Intertape Polymer Group Inc. (TSX:ITP) (the “Company”) today released results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017. All amounts in this press release are denominated in US dollars unless otherwise indicated and all percentages are calculated on unrounded numbers. For more information, you may refer to the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis and audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2017 (“Financial Statements”).

Fourth Quarter 2017 Highlights (as compared to fourth quarter 2016):

• Revenue increased 13.1% to 7.4 million primarily due to additional revenue from the Cantech Acquisition ⁽¹⁾, an increase in average selling price, including the impact of product mix, and an increase in sales volume.
• Gross margin decreased to 22.8% from 25.6% primarily due to the non-recurrence of Insurance Proceeds ⁽²⁾. Gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2016 would have been 21.7% excluding the impact of the Insurance Proceeds.
• Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) increased 33.4% to .1 million primarily due to (i) an increase in share-based compensation of .7 million primarily driven by an increase in fair value of cash-settled awards, (ii) additional SG&A resulting from the Cantech Acquisition, and (iii) a .6 million increase in M&A Costs ⁽³⁾.
• Income tax expense decreased .2 million to an income tax benefit of .5 million for 2017 primarily due to a .6 million net tax benefit mainly resulting from the remeasurement of the US net deferred tax liability using the lower US corporate tax rate provided under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) enacted into law on December 22, 2017.
• Net earnings attributable to the Company shareholders (“IPG Net Earnings”) decreased {$content}.4 million to .3 million. The decrease was primarily due to an increase in SG&A and an increase in manufacturing facility closures, restructuring and other related charges primarily driven by the non-recurrence of the benefit from Insurance Proceeds in the fourth quarter of 2016 partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense and an increase in foreign exchange gains.
• Adjusted EBITDA ⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾ increased 0.2% to .7 million primarily due to organic growth in gross profit and adjusted EBITDA contributed by Cantech, partially offset by the non-recurrence of .1 million in Insurance Proceeds. Excluding Insurance Proceeds, adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2016 would have been .5 million.
• Cash flows from operating activities decreased .7 million to .3 million primarily due to a decrease in operating profit and cash flows from working capital items.
• Free cash flows⁽⁴⁾ decreased by .5 million to .3 million primarily due to a decrease in cash flows from operating activities.

Fiscal Year 2017 Highlights (as compared to fiscal year 2016):

• Revenue increased 11% to 8.1 million primarily due to additional revenue from the Cantech Acquisition and Powerband Acquisition ⁽¹⁾ (“Acquisitions”) and an increase in average selling price, including the impact of product mix.
• Gross margin decreased to 22.4% from 23.7% primarily due to a reduction in the Insurance Proceeds. Gross margin would have been 22.2% and 22.1% excluding the impact of the Insurance Proceeds in 2017 and 2016, respectively.
• SG&A increased 4.9% to 7.6 million primarily due to additional SG&A resulting from the Acquisitions and a .4 million increase in M&A Costs, partially offset by a decrease in share-based compensation of .9 million primarily driven by a decrease in the fair value of cash-settled awards.
• Income tax expense decreased .5 million to .0 million in 2017 primarily due to a .6 million net tax benefit mainly resulting from the remeasurement of the US net deferred tax liability using the lower US corporate tax rate provided under the TCJA.
• IPG Net Earnings increased .1 million to .2 million primarily due to an increase in gross profit and a decrease in income tax expense, partially offset by an increase in SG&A.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 6.2% to 9.6 million primarily due to organic growth in gross profit and adjusted EBITDA contributed by Cantech, partially offset by a .5 million reduction in Insurance Proceeds and an increase in SG&A mainly due to employee related costs to support growth initiatives in the business. Excluding the impact of Insurance Proceeds, adjusted EBITDA for 2017 and 2016 would have been 7.5 million and 9.4 million, respectively.
• Cash flows from operating activities decreased in the year ended December 31, 2017 by .0 million to .1 million, primarily due to cash flows from working capital items.
• Free cash flows ⁽⁴⁾ decreased by .3 million to .8 million due to an increase in capital expenditures and a decrease in cash flows from operating activities.

Other Highlights:

• On March 7, 2018, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of {$content}.14 per common share payable on March 30, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 20, 2018 . These dividends will be designated by the Company as “eligible dividends” as defined in Subsection 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).
• In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company achieved a run rate of .0 million in annual synergies associated with the closure of the TaraTape Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania manufacturing facility and integration, which was in line with the Company’s previous guidance of between and million of additional adjusted EBITDA.

“We finished 2017 on a high note with a solid adjusted EBITDA performance of .7 million for the fourth quarter and 9.6 million for the year, supported by the benefits of manufacturing cost reductions, the contribution from acquisitions including operational synergies and a favourable product mix” indicated Greg Yull, President and CEO.

“Our capital expenditures reached a record level of million in 2017 which reflects, in large part, the significant opportunities identified to increase manufacturing capacity in certain product categories such as water-activated tapes and stretch film as well as to improve operational and manufacturing efficiencies. Furthermore, we completed three large capital projects in 2017 on time and on budget, representing approximately million in total capital invested to date.

“As we look to 2018, we remain committed to capital projects we believe will yield an after-tax internal rate of return of greater than 15% and anticipate that expenditures will remain near record levels, between to million. 2018 will continue to be somewhat of a transition year given more significant projects coming on line, but we should start reaping the rewards of the investments made in 2017. This year, we expect to complete the Utah Shrink Film and Specialty Tape projects and to make significant progress on the Capstone and Powerband greenfield manufacturing facilities. We continue to work hard on achieving significant synergies from our acquisitions, including Cantech, and we expect to deliver solid organic growth for the current fiscal year derived from the significant investments we are making in our operations. These investments should reinforce our competitive position and increase shareholder value for years to come,” concluded Mr. Yull.

Outlook

The Company’s expectations for the fiscal year and first quarter of 2018 are as follows:

• Revenue growth in 2018 is expected to be similar to that experienced in 2017, excluding the impact of any merger and acquisitions activity that takes place in 2018, and any significant fluctuations in selling prices caused by unforeseen variations in raw material prices.
• Adjusted EBITDA for 2018 is expected to be between 5 and 5 million. As in previous years, the Company expects adjusted EBITDA to be proportionately higher in the second, third and fourth quarters of the year relative to the first quarter due to the effects of normal seasonality.
• Total capital expenditures for 2018 are expected to be between and million.
• Excluding the potential impact of changes in the mix of earnings between jurisdictions, the Company expects an 18% to 23% effective tax rate for 2018 and cash taxes paid in 2018 to be less than one third of the income tax expense in 2018, as a result of the TCJA enacted into law in the United States on December 22, 2017. The TCJA, among other things, lowered the US statutory corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and enhanced and extended through 2026 the option to claim accelerated depreciation deductions on qualified property.
• Revenue in the first quarter of 2018 is expected to be greater than in the first quarter of 2017.
• Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2018 is expected to be greater than in the first quarter of 2017, excluding the benefit of the Insurance Proceeds recorded in the first quarter of 2017.

Conference Call

A conference call to discuss the Company’s 2017 fourth quarter and annual results will be held Thursday, March 8, 2018, at 10 A.M. Eastern Time. Participants may dial 877-291-4570 (USA & Canada) and 647-788-4919 (International).

AN ACCOMPANYING PRESENTATION WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE. PLEASE CLICK THE LINK OR TYPE INTO YOUR BROWSER TO ACCESS:

https://www.itape.com/investor%20relations/events%20and%20presentations/investor%20presentations

You may access a replay of the call by dialing 800-585-8367 (USA & Canada) or 416-621-4642 (International) and entering Access Code 9885109. The recording will be available from March 8, 2018 at 1:00 P.M. until April 8, 2018 at 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time.

About Intertape Polymer Group Inc.

Intertape Polymer Group Inc. is a recognized leader in the development, manufacture and sale of a variety of paper and film based pressure-sensitive and water-activated tapes, polyethylene and specialized polyolefin films, woven coated fabrics and complementary packaging systems for industrial and retail use. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec and Sarasota, Florida, the Company employs approximately 2,500 employees with operations in 19 locations, including 13 manufacturing facilities in North America and one each in Europe and Asia.

For information about the Company, visit www.itape.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), which are made in reliance upon the protections provided by such legislation for forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including statements regarding the Company’s commitment to capital projects and expectations for after-tax internal rates of return; the Company’s anticipated amount of capital expenditures in 2018; the Company’s expected strategic and financial benefits from its ongoing capital investment, product development, manufacturing facility expansion and merger and acquisition programs; the Company’s expected timing for completion of certain capital projects; the Company’s synergies from the Cantech Acquisition; the Company’s organic growth expectations for the current fiscal year; the Company’s future competitive position and shareholder value; and the Company’s fiscal year and first quarter 2018 outlook, including Adjusted EBITDA, gross margin, capital expenditures, effective tax rate and income tax expenses and revenue, may constitute forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections made by the Company’s management. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “continue,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “foresee,” “believe” or “seek” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements, by their nature, involve risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements are also subject to assumptions concerning, among other things: business conditions and growth or declines in the Company’s industry, the Company’s customers’ industries and the general economy; the anticipated benefits from the Company’s manufacturing facility closures and other restructuring efforts; the anticipated benefits from the Company’s manufacturing facility capacity expansions; the anticipated benefits from the Company’s acquisitions and partnerships; the anticipated benefits from the Company’s capital expenditures; the quality and market reception of the Company’s products; the Company’s anticipated business strategies; risks and costs inherent in litigation; the Company’s ability to maintain and improve quality and customer service; anticipated trends in the Company’s business; anticipated cash flows from the Company’s operations; availability of funds under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility; and the Company’s ability to continue to control costs.

The Company can give no assurance that these estimates and expectations will prove to have been correct. Actual outcomes and results may, and often do, differ from what is expressed, implied or projected in such forward-looking statements, and such differences may be material. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. For additional information regarding important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and other risks and uncertainties, and the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements, you are encouraged to read “Item 3 Key Information – Risk Factors”, “Item 5 Operating and Financial Review and Prospects (Management’s Discussion & Analysis)” and statements located elsewhere in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the other statements and factors contained in the Company’s filings with the Canadian securities regulators and the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Each of these forward-looking statements speaks only as of the date of this press release. The Company will not update these statements unless applicable securities laws require it to do so.

Note to readers: Complete consolidated financial statements and Management’s Discussion & Analysis are available on the Company’s website at www.itape.com in the Investor Relations section and under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined under applicable securities legislation, including EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flows (please see the “EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA” section below for a description and reconciliation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA and the “Free Cash Flows” section below for a description and reconciliation of free cash flows). In determining these measures, the Company excludes certain items which are otherwise included in determining the comparable GAAP financial measures. The Company believes such non-GAAP financial measures improve the period-to-period comparability of the Company’s results and provide investors with more insight into, and an additional tool to understand and assess, the performance of the Company’s ongoing core business operations. As required by applicable securities legislation, the Company has provided definitions of those measures and reconciliations of those measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Investors and other readers are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures set forth below and should consider non-GAAP financial measures only as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for or as a superior measure to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

A reconciliation of the Company’s EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to net earnings (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is set out in the EBITDA reconciliation table below. EBITDA should not be construed as earnings (loss) before income taxes, net earnings (loss) or cash flows from operating activities as determined by GAAP. The Company defines EBITDA as net earnings (loss) before (i) interest and other finance costs (income); (ii) income tax expense (benefit); (iii) amortization of intangible assets; and (iv) depreciation of property, plant and equipment. The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA before (i) manufacturing facility closures, restructuring and other related charges (recoveries); (ii) advisory fees and other costs associated with mergers and acquisitions activity, including due diligence, integration and certain non-cash purchase price accounting adjustments (“M&A Costs”); (iii) share-based compensation expense (benefit); (iv) impairment of goodwill; (v) impairment (reversal of impairment) of long-lived assets and other assets; (vi) write-down on assets classified as held-for-sale; (vii) loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment; and (viii) other discrete items as shown in the table below. The terms “EBITDA” and “adjusted EBITDA” do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by GAAP and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.
EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to cash flows from operating activities or as alternatives to net earnings (loss) as indicators of the Company’s operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. The Company has included these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes that they allow investors to make a more meaningful comparison between periods of the Company’s performance, underlying business trends and the Company’s ongoing operations. The Company further believes these measures may be useful in comparing its operating performance with the performance of other companies that may have different financing and capital structures, and tax rates. Adjusted EBITDA excludes costs that are not considered by management to be representative of the Company’s underlying core operating performance, including certain non-operating expenses, non-cash expenses and non-recurring expenses. In addition, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are used by management to set targets and are metrics that, among others, can be used by the Company’s Human Resources and Compensation Committee to establish performance bonus metrics and payout, and by the Company’s lenders and investors to evaluate the Company’s performance and ability to service its debt, finance capital expenditures and acquisitions, and provide for the payment of dividends to shareholders. The Company experiences normal business seasonality that typically results in adjusted EBITDA that is proportionately higher in the second, third and fourth quarters of the year relative to the first quarter.

Free Cash Flows

Free cash flows is defined by the Company as cash flows from operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment.

The Company is including free cash flows, a non-GAAP financial measure, because it is used by management and investors in evaluating the Company’s performance and liquidity. Free cash flows does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Free cash flows should not be interpreted to represent the total cash movement for the period as described in the Company’s Financial Statements, or to represent residual cash flow available for discretionary purposes, as it excludes other mandatory expenditures such as debt service.

A reconciliation of free cash flows to cash flows from operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is set forth below.