HADERA, Israel, November 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hadera Paper Ltd. (AMEX:AIP) (the "Company" or "Hadera Paper") today reported financial results for the third quarter and first nine months ended September 30, 2009. The Company, its subsidiaries and associated companies - is referred to hereinafter as the "Group".

Since the Company's share in the earnings of associated companies constitutes a material component in the Company's statement of income (primarily on account of its share in the earnings of Mondi Hadera Paper Ltd. ("Mondi Hadera") and Hogla-Kimberly Ltd. ("H-K")), before the presentation of the consolidated data below, the aggregate data which include the results of all the companies in the Hadera Paper Group (including the associated companies whose results appear in the financial statements under "earnings from associated companies") is being presented, without considering the rate of holding therein and net of mutual sales.

The aggregate sales during the reported period amounted to NIS 2,409.2 million, as compared with NIS 2,442.5 million in the corresponding period last year, representing a decrease of approximately 1.4%.

The aggregate sales in the third quarter this year amounted to NIS 790.4 million, as compared with NIS 823.9 million in the corresponding period last year, representing a decrease of 4.0% and as compared with NIS 788.8 million in the second quarter of the year.

The aggregate operating profit totaled NIS 186.7 million during the reported period, as compared with NIS 160.5 million in the corresponding period last year, representing growth of approximately 16.3%.

The aggregate operating profit totaled NIS 68.7 million in the third quarter of the year, as compared with NIS 49.2 million in the corresponding quarter last year, representing growth of 39.6% and as compared with NIS 54.1 million in the second quarter of the year.

The Consolidated Data set forth below excluding the results of operation of the associated companies: Mondi Hadera and H-K. Consolidated Data include also the sales turnover of Carmel Containers Systems Ltd. ("Carmel") and Frenkel- C.D. Ltd. ("Frenkel- C.D.") that were consolidated as of September 2008, as a result of the fact that the company's holding rate in Carmel has increased from 36.2% to 89.3%, and at Frenkel CD, indirectly, from 37.93% to 52.72%.

Commencing January 1, 2009, the company applies IFRS 8, "Operating Segments", and has accordingly recognized the packaging products and board segment, which includes the operations of Carmel and Frenkel C.D., as a separate segment. The associated companies H-K and Mondi Hadera were also recognized as independent segments. For further details, see below.

Consolidated sales in the reported period amounted to NIS 654.4 million, as compared with NIS 447.2 million in the corresponding period last year, representing an increase which was due mainly to the consolidation of the data of Carmel and Frenkel C.D. in the reported period.

Consolidated sales in the third quarter, amounted to NIS 220.4 million, as compared with NIS 171.4 million in the corresponding quarter last year.

The operating profit totaled NIS 15.1 million during the reported period, as compared with NIS 38.0 million in the corresponding period last year. The decrease in operating profits originated from the erosion of selling prices coupled with the quantitative erosion of packaging paper and recycling, as a result of the imports of packaging paper at dumping prices that was offset by the recording of non-recurring revenues of NIS 16.4 million on account of a unilateral dividend.

The operating profit amounted to NIS 1.2 million in the third quarter of the year, as compared with operating profit of NIS 7.9 million in the corresponding quarter last year.

The net profit attributed to the Company's shareholders amounted to NIS 70.2 million in the reported period, as compared with net profit of NIS 59.5 million, that is attributed to the company's shareholders in the corresponding period last year.

The net profit attributed to the Company shareholders during the reported period was affected by the improvement in operating profitability at some of the groups companies in Israel and in Turkey and by the recording of earnings as a result of the distribution of a unilateral dividend on account of the application of a preferred share by an associated Company that generated net revenues of NIS 8.4 million for the company. Moreover, a reduction in the Company's share in the losses on account of the operations in Turkey (KCTR) compared with the corresponding period last year also contributed to the improved profitability.

The net profit for the third quarter this year amounted to NIS 35.4 million, as compared with a net profit of NIS 20.2 million in the corresponding quarter last year.

Revenues from taxes on income amounted to NIS 6.0 million in the reported period, as compared with tax expenses of NIS 4.2 million in the corresponding period last year. The tax revenues originated primarily from the decrease in pretax profits in the amount of NIS 25.7 million, coupled with the change in the tax rates the following years that generated deferred tax revenues in the amount of NIS 9.4 million, that were offset as a result of recording a provision for taxes on account of events that were included the reported period.

The long-term liabilities (including current maturities) amounted to NIS 832.6 million as at September 30, 2009, as compared with NIS 828.2 million as at September 30, 2008. The long-term liabilities increased in relation to last year, primarily as a result of long-term loans that were assumed, designated for the financing of payments on account of Machine 8. This increase was offset as a result of the repayment of the old debenture series, coupled with the repayment of a capital note to an associated company and the cash flows from operating activities.

Basic earnings per share amounted to NIS 13.86 per share ($3.69 per share) in the reported period, as compared with basic earnings per share of NIS 11.75 per share ($3.44 per share) in the corresponding period last year.

Basic earnings per share amounted to NIS 7.00 per share in the third quarter ($1.86 per share), as compared with earnings of NIS 3.99 per share ($1.17 per share) in the corresponding quarter last year.

The inflation rate during the reported period amounted to 3.4%, as compared with an inflation rate of 4.4% in the corresponding period last year.

The financial expenses during the reported period amounted to NIS 14.8 million, as compared with NIS 11.9 million in the corresponding period last year.

The US dollar exchange rate was revaluated by 1.2% during the reporting period, in relation to a revaluation of approximately 11% during the corresponding period last year.

In the course of the reported period, a turnaround has occurred in the intensity of the global and local economic crisis. Following a stability of several months at the low point, in the past several months it was possible to observe a gradual recovery in global economic activity, that was expressed, inter alia, the slowdown in both global and local unemployment, the initial expansion of investments and credit volumes, coupled with an expansion of public and private consumption.

In the global paper and paper products market, we currently see a new trend in terms of prices in the paper industry. Prices in the global packaging paper sector have started to climb sharply last September in Europe.

The Hadera Paper Group manages a relatively wide and diverse portfolio of companies and businesses. This fact is instrumental in dealing with the local and global crisis. The company's sectors of operation focus on consumer goods and basic inputs that were affected in a relatively limited manner by the repercussions of the global economic and financial crisis.

Hadera Paper Group was quick to formulate, at an early stage, an aggressive program for efficiency and savings in purchasing for all its companies, across all sectors of operation. During the reported period, most of the Group companies have met their defined objectives, while rendering it possible to compensate for the lower prices dictated by the global crisis, the local slowdown and the imports of fine paper and packaging paper at dumping prices, primarily from Europe. The group companies also operated in order to intensively manage, in a controlled manner, the operating working capital, while carefully monitoring trade receivables and risk management.

The companies whose earnings are reported under this item (according to Hadera Paper's holdings therein), include primarily: Mondi Hadera and Hogla-Kimberly.

The company's share in the profits of associated companies totaled NIS 63.9 million during the reported period, as compared with NIS 36.6 million in the corresponding period last year.

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 income of Mondi Hadera Paper
      (49.9%) rose by NIS 2.4 million. The increase in profit originated
      primarily from an increase in the operating profit of Mondi, that grew
      from NIS 27.4 million last year, to NIS 28.9 million this year.
    - The Company's share in the net earnings of Hogla-Kimberly Israel
      (49.9%) increased by NIS 15.6 million. Hogla-Kimberly's operating
      profit grew from NIS 126.6 million to NIS 155.0 million this year.
    - The Company's share in the losses of KCTR (49.9%) was reduced by
      NIS 7.8 million.

On November 1, 2009, the company announced that it examined the need for a provision for the impairment of the packaging paper sector as a cash generating unit and has arrived at the conclusion that no recognition is necessary of a loss on account of the impairment of fixed assets. The company has also examined the need for a provision for impairment on account of the consolidated subsidiary Carmel and has arrived at the conclusion that no recognition is necessary of a loss on account of the impairment.

As aforementioned, according to IFRS 8, the Company has identified five segments and fields of operation, as follows: (1) The paper and recycling segment - generates revenue from the sale of paper products to paper manufacturing companies as well as from the recycling of paper and cardboard. (2) The office supplies marketing segment - generates revenue from the sale of office supplies to customers. (3) The packaging and cardboard products segment - generates revenue from the sale of packaging and cardboard products to customers. (4) The Hogla Kimberly segment - an associated company that generates revenue from the manufacture and marketing of household paper products, hygiene products, disposable diapers and complementary kitchen products, in Israel and in Turkey. (5) The Mondi Hadera Paper segment - an associated company that generates revenue from the manufacture and marketing of fine paper.

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)

                         Nine months ended September 30,

                              NIS IN THOUSANDS (1)
                            except per share amounts


                                                       2009          2008

    Net sales                                       654,405       447,180

    Net earnings attributed to the
    Company's shareholders                           70,161        59,479

    Basic net earnings per share attributed
    to the Company's shareholders                     13.86         11.75

    Fully diluted earnings per share attributed
    to the Company's shareholders                     13.86         11.73


                        Three months ended September 30,

                              NIS IN THOUSANDS (1)


                                                       2009          2008

    Net sales                                       220,371       171,394

    Net earnings attributed to the
    Company's shareholders                           35,445        20,177

    Basic net earnings per share attributed
    to the Company's shareholders                       7.0          3.99

    Fully diluted earnings per share attributed
    to the Company's shareholders                       7.0          3.98


    (1) The representative exchange rate at September 30, 2009 was N.I.S.
        3.758=$1.00.

    Contact:

    Lea Katz, Adv.
    Corporate Secretary and Chief of Legal Department
    Hadera Paper Ltd. Group
    Tel:+972-4-6349408
    Leak@hadera-paper.co.il

SOURCE Hadera Paper Ltd