Georgia-Pacific Investing More than $150 Million to Grow Consumer Tissue Business

Esko, the global developer of integrated hardware and software solutions for the print, packaging, and label industries, has acquired imposition A.I. software company Tilia Labs, in a deal that delivers on the need of brand owners and converters to connect and integrate the entire value chain through upstream digitalization. Tilia Labs’ range of intelligent algorithms for sheet layout, estimation, and planning complement Esko’s existing software suite and the two companies will work together to develop next generation integrated solutions.

Net sales in the second quarter of 2020 were $1.4 billion, compared to $1.8 billion in the second quarter of 2019. Average selling prices improved approximately 1 percent and increased revenue $18 million. However, lower shipments due to the pandemic negatively impacted sales by $255 million. Unfavorable foreign currency translation reduced net sales by $88 million. Segment operating profit1 was $95 million in the quarter, compared with $236 million in the same period of 2019. Current year profits were impacted $6 million by unfavorable foreign currency translation. The benefit of higher selling prices more than offset incremental cost inflation by $1 million. Reflecting the impact of the pandemic, sales volume in tons declined approximately 15 percent from the prior year quarter and negatively impacted segment operating profit by $84 million. Segment operating profit was negatively impacted by $52 million as lower production levels were partially offset by improved operating performance and cost control efforts. Production levels were down approximately 20 percent from the second quarter of 2019 reflecting required curtailment to comply with government decrees to manage the pandemic, including disruptive lock downs in Mexico and the Andean countries, as well as the company’s effort to align supply with lower demand and manage inventory.

Total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in April increased four percent compared to April 2020. They were up one percent when compared to the same four months of 2020. The operating rate was 95.1 percent, up 9.6 points from April 2020 and up 5.2 points year-to-date. Mill inventories at the end of April increased 9,000 short tons from the previous month and were up 20,000 short tons compared to April 2020.