Feb. 14, 2006 - Glatfelter today reported net income of $26.9 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2005, compared to $19.3 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2004. The current year's quarterly results include after tax gains totaling $22.8 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, from the sale of timberlands and insurance recoveries as well as after-tax restructuring charges totaling $1.0 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. The fourth quarter of 2004 results include gains from timberland sales aggregating $13.6 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, after tax, and a restructuring charge totaling $2.0 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, after tax. Excluding these items from each quarter's results, adjusted earnings (which are reconciled to net income in the accompanying financial tables) were $5.2 million, or $0.12 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2005, compared with $7.7 million, or $0.17 per diluted share in the year-earlier quarter.

Operating income in the Specialty Papers business unit totaled $2.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 compared with $4.0 million in the same quarter a year ago. The benefits of stronger pricing conditions and demand across most markets were more than offset by higher input costs. Long Fiber & Overlay Papers' operating income declined $2.3 million to $3.2 million in the quarter-to-quarter comparison primarily due to higher input costs and softer pricing in this business unit's key markets.

"We experienced strong growth in our Specialty Papers business unit during the quarter," said George H. Glatfelter II, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Volume in this business increased 8% led by a very strong 21% increase in Engineered Products. Our new product development capabilities resulted in the scale-up of several new business opportunities and we expect this progress to continue. While Specialty Papers' fourth quarter results were lower than a year ago, we are becoming more optimistic about the first half of 2006."

"In addition, despite a difficult business climate in certain Long Fiber & Overlay Papers markets that resulted in substantial market-related downtime, we are beginning to see indications of improvement in this unit's key markets," added Mr. Glatfelter.

Net sales totaled $143.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2005, an increase of 2.7% compared to the same quarter a year ago. In the Company's Specialty Papers business unit, net sales increased $9.2 million, or 11.0%, consisting of an 8.2% increase in volume and $2.3 million attributable to higher product pricing. Net tons shipped in the quarter-to-quarter comparison were particularly strong in this unit's engineered products and envelope & converting markets, which generated volume growth of approximately 21% and 7%, respectively. Long Fiber & Overlay Papers' shipments increased approximately 4% and selling prices declined $1.5 million on a constant currency basis in the quarter-to-quarter comparison.

Costs of products sold increased $9.9 million, to $122.4 million, compared to the same quarter a year ago. The increase was primarily due to higher net tons shipped, $3.8 million attributable to higher costs of fiber, other raw materials and energy, as well as higher maintenance costs. Further, the Company experienced market-related downtime during the fourth quarter of 2005 approximating 8% of the production capacity of its Long Fiber & Overlay Papers business unit. Gross profit declined to $23.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2005 compared to $28.8 million in the year earlier quarter.

During the fourth quarter of 2005, the Company began to implement its European Restructuring and Optimization Program ("EURO Program"), a comprehensive series of actions designed to improve the operating performance of the Long Fiber & Overlay Papers business unit. Restructuring charges in the current quarter associated with this program totaled $1.6 million, pre tax, and were for severance and related benefits associated with the elimination of certain positions at the Gernsbach, Germany facility.

Sales of timberlands completed during the quarter consisted of 2,488 acres for $21.0 million in cash. In the year ago quarter, the Company completed the sale of 2,400 acres of timberlands for $23.5 million in cash. These transactions resulted in a pre-tax gain of $20.3 million and $23.0 million, respectively.

The Company also successfully resolved certain claims under insurance policies related to the Fox River environmental matter. Insurance recoveries included in the 2005 fourth quarter's results totaled $18.0 million and have been fully received in cash.

The Company's effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2005 and 2004 was 36.9% and 36.2%, respectively. The effective tax rate on adjusted earnings for the fourth quarter of 2005 and 2004 was 14.3% and 24.8%, respectively.

Full Year Results

For the full year of 2005, net income totaled $38.6 million or $0.87 per diluted share, compared to $56.1 million and $1.27 per diluted share, respectively, in 2004. The reported results for the full year 2005 include after tax gains totaling $24.0 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, from insurance recoveries and the sale of timberlands, as well as restructuring charges totaling $1.0 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, after-tax. The results for 2004 benefited from after-tax gains totaling $55.5 million, or $1.26 per share, from sales of timberlands and the corporate aircraft and from insurance recoveries. Restructuring charges in 2004 totaled $12.7 million, after-tax, or $0.29 per diluted share. Excluding these items from each year's results, adjusted earnings (which are reconciled to net income in the accompanying financial tables) were $15.6 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, in 2005 compared with $13.4 million, or $0.30 per diluted share a year ago.

Commenting on the near term outlook, Mr. Glatfelter stated, "Heading into 2006, we are seeing strong demand for our Specialty Papers products and prices in many of these markets are strengthening. At the same time, high input costs, that in certain instances continue to rise, reflect an ongoing concern. We are keenly focused on addressing the challenges facing our Long Fiber & Overlay Papers business. We have begun to see indications of improving demand for this unit's products, particularly in the Food & Beverage markets. However, sluggish economic conditions and an imbalance of supply and demand in our Composite Laminates markets will continue to adversely impact the overall performance of this business unit. As part of the EURO Program, we are implementing a significant workforce efficiency plan at each of our European facilities. Together with other aspects of the EURO Program, we expect to achieve step-change improvement in our cost structure from these efforts which will approximate $7 million to $9 million annually, by 2008."

Timberland Strategy

The Company recently completed an extensive study to determine the optimum approach for managing its timberlands in a way that creates the greatest value for its shareholders. The study considered many factors including, among others, land valuations, external and internal wood costs and future fiber requirements. The Company concluded that the most advantageous approach is to sell all 40,000 acres of higher and better use ("HBU") properties in an orderly fashion. In some cases, low cost, low risk opportunities may exist to add value to some of these acres through entitlements. It is estimated that the cost of fiber will increase by approximately $0.03 to $0.06 per share annually when the entire 40,000 acres are sold but that the benefit from the proceeds will far outweigh this increased cost. For the present, the Company intends to retain the pure timberland properties to mitigate the cost of replacing internally generated wood with outside sources. Execution of the Timberland Strategy is expected to take approximately three to five years to complete and is estimated to provide pre-tax cash proceeds of approximately $150 million to $200 million, assuming, among other factors, acceptable market conditions and a carefully executed plan of disposition.

Mr. Glatfelter stated, "We continue to approach our business in a fiscally disciplined manner and further monetization of our timberland assets will allow us to create additional benefit for our shareholders, maintain our strong balance sheet, and generate increased flexibility for value creation."

Headquartered in York, Pennsylvania, Glatfelter is a global manufacturer of specialty papers and engineered products. U.S. operations include facilities in Spring Grove, PA and Neenah, WI. International operations include facilities in Germany, France and the Philippines and an office in China. Glatfelter's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GLT.

SOURCE: Glatfelter