Verso Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

"Verso delivered a strong second quarter performance driven by the ongoing execution of our operating strategy and positive macro trends." – Randy Nebel, President and CEO of Verso.

Aug. 6, 2021 - Verso Corporation (NYSE: VRS) today reported financial results for the second quarter of 2021 and announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend for the quarter ending September 30, 2021, in the amount of $0.10 per each outstanding share of Verso's Class A common stock. The quarterly cash dividend is payable on September 28, 2021 to Verso's stockholders of record holding shares of common stock at the close of business September 17, 2021.

Second Quarter 2021 Highlights:

• Net sales of $329 million, a 23% increase over second quarter 2020 and 17% increase over first quarter 2021
• Net income of $16 million compared to a net loss of $34 million in second quarter 2020 and a net loss of $90 million in the first quarter 2021
• Adjusted EBITDA of $52 million compared to $(9) million in second quarter 2020 and $30 million in first quarter 2021
• Adjusted EBITDA margin of 15.8% compared to a negative margin in second quarter 2020 and a 10.6% margin in first quarter 2021
• $246 million in available liquidity including $117 million in cash
• Returned $59 million in capital to shareholders in repurchases and dividends

Overview

"Verso delivered a strong second quarter performance driven by the ongoing execution of our operating strategy and positive macro trends. We are seeing the benefits of these actions that support our customers' needs. Continued capacity reduction in the industry, combined with heightened demand as the economy reopens, is driving growth in order rates and backlogs as well as price increases across our product lines," said Verso President and Chief Executive Officer Randy Nebel. "I am pleased that we were able to return $59 million to our shareholders, while continuing to maintain a strong balance sheet which we believe provides the financial flexibility to execute on our strategy to generate long-term value for all stakeholders."

Results of Operations - Comparison of Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 to Three Months Ended June 30, 2020

Net sales

Net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2021 increased $61 million, or 23%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020, driven by increases in volume and favorable price/mix as the economy began to open, partially offset by $30 million, or 11%, attributable to our idled Duluth and Wisconsin Rapids mills. Total company sales volume was up from 346 thousand tons during the three months ended June 30, 2020, to 369 thousand tons during the same period of the current year. Of the 23 thousand ton volume increase, 82 thousand tons were attributable to an increase in volume, partially offset by 59 thousand tons attributable to our idled Duluth and Wisconsin Rapids mills.

Operating income (loss)

Operating income was $11 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, an increase of $53 million when compared to operating loss of $42 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020.

Operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2021 were positively impacted by:

• Favorable price/mix of $31 million driven by price increase realization across all grades, led by pulp price improvements
• Higher sales volume resulting in an increase of $8 million
• Improved operating income from closed and idled mills of $9 million
• Lower depreciation expense of $5 million
• Lower net operating expenses of $11 million driven primarily by improved performance and cost reduction initiatives across our mill system
• Lower planned major maintenance costs of $6 million driven by reduced scope of planned outages

Operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2021 were negatively impacted by:

• Inflationary costs of $5 million driven by purchased pulp, energy and freight
• Higher selling, general and administrative expenses of $4 million driven primarily by an increase in incentive expense and other general expenses
• Higher restructuring charges of $6 million associated with the permanent shutdown of our Duluth Mill in December 2020
• Higher other operating expenses of $2 million primarily related to a loss on the sale of our Duluth Mill of $3 million

Other (income) expense

Other income for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 includes income of $6 million and $5 million, respectively, associated with the non-operating components of net periodic pension cost (income).

Income tax expense (benefit)

Income tax expense of $2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 primarily reflects estimated tax expense for the period, partially offset by $1 million of tax benefit from the release of valuation allowance against state tax credits.

Verso's complete second quarter 2021 financial report is available on the company's website: versoco.com.

Verso Corporation is a leading American-owned and operated producer of graphic, specialty and packaging paper and market pulp, with a long-standing reputation for quality and reliability. To learn more, visit: versoco.com.

SOURCE: Verso Corporation