Q4 2023 Mativ Holdings Inc Earnings Call

Operator: Welcome to Mativ's 4th Quarter and Full Year 2023 Earnings Conference Call. On the call today from Mativ are Julie Schertl, Chief Executive Officer; Greg Whitesell, Chief Financial Officer; and Chris Cooper, Director of Investor Relations. Today's call is being recorded and will be available for replay later this afternoon.

Welcome to match its fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings conference call on the call today from massive Julie <unk>, Chief Executive Officer, Greg White, <unk>, Chief Financial Officer, and Chris <unk> Director of Investor Relations.

Today's call is being recorded and will be available for replay later this afternoon.

Operator: At this time, all participants have been placed in a listen-only mode, and the floor will be open for your questions following the presentation. If you'd like to ask a question at that time, please press star followed by one on your touch-tone phone. If you need to remove yourself from the queue, please press star followed by 2.

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Operator: If you require operator assistance, please press star followed by 0. And we ask that you please pick up your headset to allow optimal sound quality. I'll now turn the call over to Mr. Chris Cooper.

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I'll now turn the call over to Chris Cooper, Sir you may begin.

Chris Cooper: Sir, you may begin. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us for Mativ's fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings call. Before we begin, I'd like to remind you that comments included in today's conference call include forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from these comments for reasons shown in detail in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our annual report on Form 10-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Some financial measures discussed during this call are non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of these measures to the closest comparable GAAP measures are included in the appendix of the earnings release and accompanying presentation.

Good morning, everyone and thank you for joining us for Matt as fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings call before we begin I'd like to remind you that comments included in today's conference call include forward looking statements.

Actual results may differ materially from these comments for reasons shown in detail in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our annual report on Form 10-K, and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Some financial measures discussed during this call are non-GAAP financial measures reconcile.

Reconciliations of these measures to the closest GAAP measures are included in the appendix of the earnings release and accompanying presentation slides.

Chris Cooper: Unless stated otherwise, financial and operational metric comparisons are to the prior year period and relate to continuing operations. The earnings release issued yesterday afternoon is available on our website at ir.mativ.com, as are the slides for today's presentation. Download the slides or click through the slides at your own pace during the call using the webcast.

Unless stated otherwise financial and operational metric comparisons are to the prior year period and relate to continuing operations.

The earnings release issued yesterday afternoon is available on our website at IR dot matter for Dot com.

The slides for today's presentation.

You can download the slides and our click through these slides at your own pace during the call using the webcast interface.

Chris Cooper: The SWM and NENA merger closed on July 6, 2022. The third and fourth quarters of 2023 are the first reporting periods since the merger that are truly comparable. However, year-to-date GAAP results for the first half of 2022 will still only include legacy SWM since this was prior to the merger, supportive review dzcpr.org, appendix of our. Finally, with the November close of the sale of the engineered papers. The results for this business are now being summarized separately as discontinued operations, all remaining businesses being reported as continuing. With that, I'll turn the call over to Chris. Thank you, Chris.

Since the SWM at Neenah merger closed on July six 2022, the third and fourth quarters of 2023 of the first reporting period since the merger that are truly comparable however year to date GAAP results for the first half of 2022 will still only include legacy SWM. Since this was prior to the merger.

Comparable performance for year to date figures to illustrate how our results compare on a like for like basis are shown in the tables in our earnings release and the appendix of our presentation slides.

Finally, with the November close of the sale of the engineered papers results for this business are now being summarized separately as discontinued operations with all remaining businesses being reported as continuing operations.

I'll turn the call over to Julie.

Thank you Chris.

Julie Li: Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining our call. Greg and I have a lot of topics to cover with you today. In addition to our quarterly and full year financial results, an update on our operating environment, and our thoughts on the path ahead in 2024, we also want to share more details about our restructuring and overhead cost reduction initiatives that we announced in late January of this year. This effort will streamline our organizational size, shape, and complexity, simplify reporting lines, and amplify the way we leverage our business-critical resources to enhance how we serve and support our customers. I'm excited to share the details of this comprehensive plan with you and the broader investment community, as I believe it represents a step change in how we run our business and will accelerate our path to growth. Let's start with our Q4 and full year 2023 results. Sales from continuing operations were $452 million for the quarter, down 14% year-over-year, and $2 billion for the full year, down 9% on a comparable basis.

Everyone and thank you for joining our call.

Greg and I have a lot of topics to cover with you today. In addition to our quarterly and full year financial results and update on our operating environment and our thoughts on the path ahead. In 2024, we also want to share more details about our restructuring and overhead cost reduction initiatives that we announced in late June.

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This effort will streamline our organization our size shape and complexity.

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I'm excited to share the details of this comprehensive plan with you and the broader investment community as I believe it represents a step change in how we run our business and will accelerate our path to growth ahead.

Let's start with our Q4 and full year 2023 result.

Sales from continuing operations of $452 million for the quarter down 14% year over year and $2 billion for the full year down 9% on a comparable basis. This performance mainly reflects continued lower volumes due to the challenging macroeconomic environment.

Julie Li: This performance mainly reflects continued lower volumes due to the challenging macroeconomic environment caused by an industry-wide destocking trend, geopolitical adversity, and high interest rates impacting our end market. However, we believe that the overall destocking trend, which has persisted for over a year, is at or near the bottom, and we have a line of sight to positive signs of demand momentum in many of our end markets. We are encouraged by these early indicators and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead. Adjusted EBITDA was $50 million for the quarter, down 20% year-over-year, and $213 million for the full year, down 17% on a comparable basis.

Uh huh.

Caused by an industry wide destocking trend geopolitical adversity and high interest rates impacting our end markets.

We believe that the overall destocking trend, which has persisted for over a year is at or near the bottom and we have a line of sight to positive signs of demand momentum and many of our end markets.

We are encouraged by these early indicators and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.

Adjusted EBITDA was $50 million for the quarter down 20% year over year and $213 million for the full year down 17% on a comparable basis.

Julie Li: The biggest driver of this continues to be low volume, as it impacts fixed cost absorption and reduces the realization of our implemented pricing actions and merger synergy. We combat this trend through a relentless focus on continuous operational improvement and cost minimization throughout the manufacturing process and broader supply chain, as well as consistent and disciplined price management. Especially in this low-demand environment, we are laser-focused on implementing these actions to deliver immediate and lasting results.

The biggest driver of this continues to be low volume as it impacted fixed cost absorption and reduces the realization of our implemented pricing actions and merger synergies.

We combat this trend through a relentless focus on continuous operational improvement and cost minimization throughout the manufacturing process and broader supply chain.

As well as consistent and disciplined price management.

Especially in this low demand environment, we are laser focused on implementing these actions to deliver immediate and lasting results.

Julie Li: We also expect to realize increased operating leverage when our demand profile improves. You can see the impact of these efforts in both segments' ability to drive tangible adjusted EBITDA margin improvement quarter over quarter. This quarter also marked the finish of our first full fiscal year as Mativ.

We also expect to realize increased operating leverage when our demand profile improves you can see the impact of these efforts in both segments ability to drive tangible adjusted EBITDA margin improvement quarter over quarter.

This quarter also marked the finish of our first full fiscal year as matters are you.

Julie Li: A year and a half ago, we set out to combine two separate successful legacy companies into a more powerful and focused specialty materials leader. Today, we look back at an eventful 18 months that included many accomplishments and milestones against a backdrop of a very challenging macro environment. We started 2023 by setting our enterprise ambition, defining our operating model, and benefiting from the results of early SG&A synergies during our initial integration period. This allowed us to press forward to streamline our business operations and procurement activities to deliver on our synergy potential. We began the year with a goal of $25 million in realized synergies in 2023, and I'm pleased to share that we achieved this goal at a faster pace than initially expected, realizing over $30 million in synergies in the year, and that our journey to achieve our total of $65 million in synergies is ahead of schedule. Most of the remaining synergies are focused on efficiencies within our procurement and supply chain areas, and In November, we closed on the sale of our engineered papers business to Singapore-based Evergreen Hill Enterprise.

Year, and a half ago, we set out to combine two separate successful legacy companies into a more powerful and focused specialty materials leader.

Today, we look back at an eventful 18 months.

It included many accomplishments and milestones against a backdrop of a very challenged macro environment.

We started 2023 by setting our enterprise ambition defining our operating model and benefiting from the results of early SG&A synergies during our initial integration period. This allowed us to press forward to streamline our business operations and procurement activities to deliver on our <unk>.

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We began the year with a goal of $25 million and realized synergies in 2023 and I'm pleased to share that we achieved this goal at a faster pace than initially expected realizing over $30 million in synergies in the year.

And then our journey to achieve our total of $65 million in synergies is ahead of schedule.

Most of the remaining synergies are focused on efficiencies within our procurement and supply chain areas and we expect to capture these savings quickly and efficiently over the next 18 months.

In November we closed on the sale of our engineered papers business to a Singapore based Evergreen Hill enterprise.

Julie Li: The sale of engineered papers was the culmination of a strategic initiative that began after the merger to focus our portfolio on our fastest growing end market. I'm very pleased with the outcome of this transaction as I believe we were able to find a great partner for Engineered Papers while significantly enhancing our portfolio mix. Furthermore, the transaction aligned with our commitment to prioritize debt reduction. Net proceeds realized from the engineered paper sale were in excess of our initial projections and were used to reduce our outstanding debt balance by more than $600 million, or approximately 35%. At the same time, we took a hard look at our capital allocation priorities and decided to further support debt reduction.

The sale of engineered papers was the culmination of our strategic initiatives that began after the merger to focus our portfolio on our fastest growing end markets I'm very pleased with the outcome of this transaction as I believe we were able to find a great partner for engineered papers, while significantly enhancing our poor.

Folio mix.

Furthermore, the transaction aligns with our commitment to prioritize debt reduction net proceeds realized from the engineered paper sale were in excess of our initial projections and were used to reduce our outstanding debt balance by more than $600 million or approximately 35%.

At the same time, we took a hard look at our capital allocation priorities and decided to further support debt reduction.

Julie Li: We reduced our dividend effective September 2023, committed to a share buyback program intended to counter dilution and right-size our capital spending plan by more than 10%. In support of our strategy of focused investments to accelerate growth, we announced and are in the process of starting up new assets in our filtration and release liners business. These are two of our identified growth platforms where we provide unique solutions to meet our customers' most challenging needs. Our new filtration meltblown line will start up in Germany in Q1 2024, and we added a silicone release coder in Mexico to target growth in North and South America in fast-growing applications such as label, adult care, and composite.

We reduced our dividend effective September 2023 committed to a share buyback program intended to counter dilution and right size, our capital spending plan by more than 10%.

In support of our strategy of focused investments to accelerate growth, we announced and are in the process of starting up new assets and our filtration and release liners business.

These are two of our identified growth platforms, where we provide unique solutions to meet our customers most challenging needs.

Our new filtration melt blown line will start up in Germany in Q1, 2024, and we added a silicone release coder in Mexico to target growth in North and South America, and fast growing applications, such as label adult care and composites.

Julie Li: This new coder in Mexico has started up and is running trials for customer qualifications performing in line with our investment thesis. Together, these investments will support $50 million of revenue growth as they ramp up, qualify, and become fully utilized. Also, as expected, we are continuing to consolidate our asset and warehouse footprint. We are currently in the process of streamlining our operations through the consolidation of three less profitable manufacturing sites into larger, more scalable facilities. Among those efforts was the sale of a small facility in the U.K. and announced closure of a plant and the consolidation of another small facility, both in the U.S. We are also actively streamlining our warehousing and distribution networks. For example, we've reduced the number of warehouses by about 10% since the merger and plan to reduce this number by another 10% by the end of this year.

This new coder in Mexico has started up and is running trials for customer qualifications performing in line with our investment thesis.

Combined these investments will support $50 million of revenue growth as they ramp up qualify and become fully utilized.

Okay.

Also as expected we are continuing to consolidate our asset and warehouse footprint. We are currently in the process of streamlining our operations through the consolidation of three less profitable manufacturing sites into larger more scalable facilities.

Among those efforts was a sale of a small facility in the U K and announced closure of a plant and the consolidation of another small facility both in the U S.

We are also actively streamlining our warehousing and distribution network.

For example, we've reduced the number of warehouses by about 10% since the merger and plan to reduce this number by another 10% by the end of this year.

Greg Whitesell: Taken together, these long-term decisions will drive benefits in reducing costs, improving the customer experience, and improving the quality of life for employees and driving margin performance, especially as demand returns to more normalized levels. With that, I'll turn it over to Greg for a more detailed discussion of our financial performance, and then I'll provide some color on our new structure and Mativ going forward. Thanks, Julie, and good morning, everyone.

Taken together these long term decisions will drive benefits and reducing cost improving the customer experience.

And driving margin performance, especially as demand returns to more normalized levels.

With that I'll turn it over to Greg for a more detailed discussion of our financial performance and then I'll provide some color on our new structure and matters going forward.

Yeah.

Thanks, Julie and good morning, everyone consolidated net sales for the quarter were $452 million compared to $524 million in the prior year with volume down, 14%, partially offset by favorable currency.

Greg Whitesell: Consolidated net sales for the quarter were $452 million, compared to $524 million in the prior year, with volume down 14%, partially offset by favorable current. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $50 million, down from $62 million in the prior year. Volume presented a $31 million impact, which was only partially offset by combined net selling price input cost benefits and favorable impacts from lower SG&A, realized synergies, and current. Turning to each of our legacy segments, net sales and advanced technical materials of $362 million were down 12% year over year. This reflected lower volumes due to continued customer caution in the uncertain macroeconomic environment as well as high interest rates that impact our end market. ATM adjusted EBITDA of $56 million was down 9% year-over-year, reflecting the effects of lower volumes that were partially offset by a positive net selling price input cost, distribution efficiencies, and currency translation.

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $50 million down from $62 million in the prior year volume presented a $31 million impact, which was only partially offset by combined net selling price input cost benefits and favorable impacts from lower SG&A realized synergies and currency.

Turning to each of our legacy segments net sales in advanced technical materials of $362 million were down 12% year over year.

This reflected lower volumes due to continued customer caution in the uncertain macroeconomic environment as well as high interest rates that impact our end markets.

<unk> adjusted EBITDA of $56 million was down 9% year over year, reflecting the effects of lower volumes that were partially offset by positive net selling price input cost distribution efficiencies and currency translation.

Greg Whitesell: Despite weak demand, we improved adjusted EBITDA margin by 30 basis points year over year and 50 basis points sequentially, mainly due to realized synergy. In our fiber-based solutions segment, comprised solely of packaging and specialty papers, net sales of $90 million were down 22% from last year and in line with the broader market. Year-over-year results reflected customer destocking, along with suppressed demand for premium paper and packages. FBS adjusted EBITDA of $13 million was down 35% year-over-year.

Despite weak demand, we improved adjusted EBITDA margin by 30 basis points year over year, and 50 basis points sequentially, mainly due to realized synergies.

In our fiber based solutions segment comprised solely of packaging and specialty papers net.

Net sales of $90 million were down 22% from last year and in line with the broader market.

Year over year results reflected customer destocking, along with suppressed demand for premium paper and packaging.

FBS adjusted EBITDA of $13 million was down 35% year over year, lower volume and associated manufacturing cost impacts in the current quarter were partially offset by favorable net selling price and input cost.

Greg Whitesell: Lower volume and associated manufacturing cost impacts in the current quarter were partially offset by favorable net selling price and input costs. Turning to a few of the corporate items, unallocated corporate adjusted EBITDA expense of around $19 million was flat year-over-year, and interest expense of $13 million was also essentially flat from the prior period. Other expense was down $3 million from 2022 when we recorded gains on foreign currency contracts. Our tax was a 19% benefit in the quarter.

Turning to a few of the corporate items unallocated corporate adjusted EBITDA expense of around $19 million was flat year over year and interest expense of $13 million was also essentially flat from the prior period.

Other expense was down 3 million from 2022, when we recorded gains on foreign currency contracts.

Our tax was a 19% benefit in the quarter.

Greg Whitesell: Julie referenced the successful November close of our engineered papers business and the subsequent paydown of more than $600 million in net debt. And I'd like to add that while we initially expected net proceeds to be around $575 million when we announced the transaction in August, we actually applied $632 million to debt reduction for more than 35% of our total debt. As expected, we also reduced net leverage sequentially by 0.3 turns to 3.9 times credit agreement EBITDA. At the end of the quarter, our remaining net debt was just under $1 billion, and available liquidity was $454 million.

Julie referenced the successful November close of our engineered papers business and the subsequent pay down of more than $600 million and net debt.

And I'd like to add that while we initially expected net proceeds to be around $575 million. When we announced the transaction in August we actually applied $632 million to debt reduction or more than 35% of our total debt.

As expected, we also reduced net leverage sequentially by <unk> three turns.

Three nine times credit agreement EBITDA.

At the end of the quarter, our remaining net debt was just under $1 billion and available liquidity was $454 million.

Greg Whitesell: As a reminder, our debt matures on a staggered basis between 2026 and 2028. We also repurchased just under $4 million of shares in the quarter. Our intent continues to be to opportunistically repurchase shares to offset dilution from stock compensation. And to be clear, the priority of cash flow remains paying down debt. While at this point we are not providing 2024 guidance, let me provide some color on a few assumptions that underlie our 2024 financial plan. For Q1 of 2024, while we expect a significant sequential step-up in sales, due to the higher cost of inventory that will sell through in Q1, we expect adjusted EBITDA to be similar to Q4. We expect Q1 will still be impacted by the current demand pace, but we continue to get insights from customers that provide confidence in an elevated demand pace in Q2 of 2024.

As a reminder, our debt matures on a staggered basis between 2026 and 2028.

We also repurchased just under $4 million of shares in the quarter.

Our intent continues to be to opportunistically repurchase shares to offset dilution from stock compensation and.

And to be clear the priority of cash flow remains paying down debt.

Well at this point, we are not providing 2024 guidance, let me provide some color on a few assumptions that underlie our 2024 financial plans.

For Q1 of 2024, while we expect a significant sequential step up in sales.

Due to the higher cost of inventory that will sell through in Q1, we expect adjusted EBITDA to be similar to Q4.

We expect Q1 will still be impacted by the current demand pace, but we continue to get insights from customers that provide confidence and an elevated demand pace in Q2 of 2024.

Greg Whitesell: We are maintaining our expectation of sequential quarterly improvements subject to our normal year-end seasonality, building toward a $70 million run rate at year end, and our previously announced overhead reduction program, yielding a $20 million annualized savings run rate by the end of 2024, further solidifies this increased EBITDA level. For modeling purposes, going forward, we expect our annual interest expense to be around $70 million, and our depreciation and amortization expense should be around $100 million annually. With that, Julie, I'll turn it back to you to talk about a recent announcement and Mativ going forward. Thanks, Greg. There's no question that the environment in 2023 was not what we expected. And our results are not representative of our future.

We are maintaining our expectation of sequential quarterly improvements subject to our normal year end seasonality.

<unk> toward a $70 million run rate at year end.

And our previously announced overhead reduction program, yielding a $20 million annualized savings run rate by the end of 2024 further solidifies this increased EBITDA level.

Julie Li: As we saw demand continue to weaken, we focused on those areas that we could control and made several meaningful and impactful decisions throughout the year. Many of those decisions were difficult but necessary, as they paved the path for a more successful enterprise that will drive both growth and margin results. Since the merger, we've established our company strategy, defined our operating model, streamlined our operations, and achieved above-targeted synergy levels. We also right-sized our portfolio and oriented it toward stronger end markets that will support our growth in the top line and bottom line going forward. With the sale of engineered papers and with a lot of integration efforts behind us or in the process, now is the right time to streamline our administrative functions in support of a more focused and less complex organization.

Hunger and markets that will support our growth and top line and bottom line going forward.

With the sale of engineered papers and with a lot of integration efforts behind us or in process. Now is the right time to streamline our administrative functions in support of a more focused and less complex organization.

Julie Li: As part of this initiative, we've announced two discrete waves of cost reduction efforts focused on non-operating costs. The first wave is currently underway and consists mainly of workforce reductions that are indexed towards senior levels of the organization and will have an impact on our P&L this year. We expect to achieve a run rate of $20 million in overhead cost savings by the end of 2024. The associated expenses are expected to be in the $15 to $20 million range, comprised mainly of severance costs, and will hit the P&L predominantly in the first half of 2024.

As part of this initiative, we've announced to discrete waves of cost reduction efforts focused on non operating cost.

The first wave is currently underway and consists mainly of workforce reductions that are indexed towards senior levels of the organization and will have an impact on our P&L. This year.

We expect to achieve a run rate of $20 million, an overhead cost savings by the end of 2024.

The associated expenses are expected to be in the 15 to 20 million dollar range comprised mainly of severance costs and will hit the P&L predominantly in the first half of 2024.

Julie Li: The second wave of cost reduction efforts is driven primarily by system integration. This work will improve transactional efficiencies and further reduce headcount, but with longer implementation timelines. With this second effort, we expect to achieve an additional $20 million in overhead cost savings by the end of 2026. Taken together, both waves will reduce overall non-operating costs by approximately 15% over this time frame. As part of these initiatives, we are realigning our operations into two new segments, ultimately simplifying reporting lines and reducing operational complexity. Our Filtration and Advanced Materials segment, or FAM, will be focused on filtration and protective coating and film solutions, serving customers that depend on us to make air and water cleaner, optical films sharper, and surfaces more scratch resistant.

The second wave of cost reduction efforts is driven primarily by system integration.

This work will improve transactional efficiencies and further reduce headcount, but with longer implementation timelines.

With the second effort, we expect to achieve an additional $20 million in overhead cost savings by the end of 2026.

Taken together, both waves will reduce overall non-operating costs by approximately 15% over this timeframe.

As part of these initiatives, we're realigning our operations into two new segments, ultimately simplifying reporting lines and reducing operational complexity.

Our filtration and advanced materials segment, or Fam will be focused on filtration and protective coating in film solution.

Serving customers that depend on us to make air and water cleaner optical films sharper and surfaces more scratch resistant.

Julie Li: This segment is driven by macro factors such as the increased need for clean air and access to clean water. For more information, visit www.fema.gov. High Performance Protection Features that, for example, safeguard products from sunlight, sound, water, and temperature, as well as support the movement to alternative energy sources and infrastructure development.

Segment is driven by macro factors such as the increased need for clean air access to clean water.

Hi performance protection features that for example, safeguard products from sunlight sound water and temperature.

As well as support the movement to alternative energy sources and infrastructure development.

Julie Li: Our highly engineered materials and our advanced technologies make us an unmatched and clear choice for our customers to support these megatrends. We consider FAM, on a comparative basis, to be our higher growth and higher margin segment. It will represent about 40% of our sales going forward, and we expect it to grow at GVP plus rates with normalized EBITDA margins in the mid to high teens. SAM will be led by Christophe Stenzel, who has a long and successful track record at Mativ, leading our filtration segment to consistent growth over the last several years. Our Sustainable and Adhesive Solutions segment, or SAS, will be focused primarily on release liners, industrial products, such as tapes, and construction, and cable wraps.

Are highly engineered materials and our advanced technologies make as an unmatched and clear choice for our customers to support these mega trends.

We consider pham on a comparative basis to be our higher growth and higher margin segment. It.

It will represent about 40% of our sales going forward and.

And we expect it to grow at GBP plus rates with normalized EBITDA margins in the mid to high teens.

Sam will be led by Chris Stuff's, dental who has a long and successful track record it matter, leaving our filtration segment to consistent growth over the last several years.

Are sustainable and adhesive solutions segment or staff will be focused primarily unreleased liner industrial products, such as tapes and construction and cable rap.

Julie Li: Healthcare and Packaging and Specialty Paper and Market. SAS provides solutions that heal wounds faster, make packaging more sustainable, and ensure paint and DIY projects exceed expectations. This segment will be driven by macro factors such as adhesive use in permanent and temporary connections, sustainability and eco-friendly alternatives, personal health and wellness, particularly for an aging population, as well as new construction and remodeling. SAS will comprise about 60% of our sales, and we expect it to grow relatively in line with long-term broad economic growth in the U.S. and Europe and, to a smaller degree, Asia. Normalized EBITDA margin for staff is expected to be in the low to mid teens.

Healthcare and packaging and specialty paper and markets.

<unk> provide solutions that heal wounds faster make packaging more sustainable and ensure pink and DIY projects exceed expectations.

This segment will be driven by macro factors such as the adhesive used in permanent and temporary connections.

Sustainability and eco friendly alternative personal health and wellness, particularly for an ageing population as well as new construction and remodeling.

Zac will comprise about 60% of our sales and we expect to grow relatively in line with longterm broad economic growth in the U S and Europe and to a smaller degree Asia.

Normalized EBITDA margin for staff are expected to be in the low to mid teens.

Operator: Staff will be led by Ryan Elwert, who recently joined us from Georgia Pacific, where he was Chief Customer Officer with a strong track record of fostering long, mutually beneficial customer relationships. I'm excited to welcome Ryan to Mativ, and I've personally worked with him before and can attest that he embodies our win-with-customers core values. This segment realignment has already gone into effect in Q1 2024 and will reduce our organizational complexity, drive substantial cost savings, provide further cross-selling opportunities, and allow us to better leverage technologies, marketing, and R&D. If you look at our journey over the last 18 months, you will realize how much Mativ has evolved in this short period of time. We've transformed Mativ from two legacy companies into a more agile and focused enterprise.

Staff will be led by Ryan L work recently joined US from Georgia Pacific, where he was chief customer officer with a strong track record of fostering long mutually beneficial customer relationships on.

I'm excited to welcome Ryan <unk> and I've personally worked with him before and can attest that he embodies or win with customers core value.

This segment realignment has already gone into effect in Q1, 2024 and will reduce our organizational complexity drive substantial cost savings provide further cross selling opportunities and allow us to better leverage technologies marketing and R&D.

If you look at our journey over the last 18 months, you will realize how much amount of has evolved in the short period of time.

We've transform matter from two legacy companies to a more agile and focused enterprise.

Operator: We've proven our ability to navigate some of the toughest demand and macro environment challenges while integrating our teams and businesses. We've made bold decisions about our portfolio, our assets, and cost structure and taken action to unlock value that will be further amplified when demand picks up. I'm encouraged by our position as we enter 2024 and look forward to realizing our remaining synergies as well as our incremental cost savings described earlier today. But most of all, I'm encouraged by the early signs of momentum we're seeing in our demand profile as we enter 2020. We are well positioned to take advantage of returning demands, and I'm excited about our second full year at Mativ and demonstrating the results of these decisions and actions.

We've proven our ability to navigate some of the toughest demand and macro environment challenges, while integrating our teams and businesses.

We've made bold decisions on our portfolio, our assets and cost structure and taken action to unlock value that will be further amplified when demand picks up.

I'm encouraged by our position as we enter 2024 and looks forward to realizing our remaining synergies as well as our incremental cost savings described earlier today, but.

But most of all I'm encouraged by the early signs of momentum we're seeing in our demand profile as we enter 2024.

We are well positioned to take advantage of returning demand and I'm excited about our second full years matters and demonstrating the results of these decisions and actions.

Operator: Thank you for joining us this morning, and please open the line for questions. Thank you. If you'd like to ask a question, please press star followed by 1 on your telephone keypad. If you'd like to withdraw your question, please press star followed by 2. When preparing to ask your question, please ensure you are unmuted locally. As a reminder, that's star followed by 1 on your keypad now.

Thank you for joining us this morning, and please open the line for questions.

Thank you if you'd like to ask a question. Please press thoughtful about one your telephone keypad you would like to choose your question. Please <unk>.

To ask you a question. Please ensure you you should Luckily I was reminded us thoughtful about one <unk>.

Julie Li: Our first question comes from Daniel Harriman of Sidoti. Daniel, your line is open, please go ahead. Thank you. Good morning, Julie, Greg, and Chris. Thank you so much for all the details on that call and congrats on finishing the first year of the merged company. On the third quarter call, Julie, you mentioned just the issue with demand generation and how that was obviously affecting company performance. Could you provide us with a little bit of an update on what you're doing to generate that demand and how you see that playing out thus far into 2024? And then, maybe just more generally, what's the shape of demand? You mentioned a little bit about some customer conversations, but what's the shape of demand thus far into the year? And how do you see that playing out?

Our first question comes from Daniel <unk>, The New line is open and please go ahead.

Thank you good morning, jewelry groden cruise. Thank you so much food for all the details one more call and <unk>. The first year has emerged company.

On the third quarter call Julia you mentioned dispute issue with demand generation and how about with your <unk> company performance.

Could you provide us a little bit of an update on what you're doing to generate the demanded all you see the appointment out thus far in 2024.

And then maybe just more generally what's the shape of demand you reference a little bit with some customer conversations, but what's the shake the demand is foreign to the year and how do you see the appointment out you're referencing seasonality or whatever else may be going on.

Julie Li: You know, referencing seasonality or whatever else may be going on. Sure. Thanks for the question, Dan. You know, as we enter Q1, we're seeing signs of improved demand in some key areas and end markets in the early days. And from a shape standpoint, we expect significant sequential revenue increases in Q1 and, as we work through the year with a little bit more normal seasonality as we end the year in Q4. As Greg mentioned, the bottom line results will take an extra quarter to catch up just because of the high cost of inventory and the flow through in Q1. But I'm encouraged by our demand picture where we sit today. And there are some key efforts the team is driving.

Sure. Thanks, Thanks for the question Dan.

We enter Q1, we're seeing signs of improved demand in some key areas and and markets in the early days and from a shape standpoint, we expect significant sequential revenue increases in Q1, and as we work through the year with a little bit more normal seasonality as we end of the year in queue for as Greg mentioned the bottom line.

Results will take an extra quarter to catch up just because of the high cost inventory and the flow through in Q1, but I'm I'm encouraged by our demand picture, where we sit today and there are some key efforts. The team is driving I'd say R&D and innovation is one of those key efforts. The second one is customer programming in alignment with corker.

Julie Li: I'd say R&D and innovation is one of those key efforts. The second one is customer programming and alignment with core customers. And then the third one is we've altered how we incentivize some of our teams from a revenue generation standpoint, and we've added capabilities and resources in some of those areas as well. So we've really focused on how we make sure our customer-facing resources are best leveraged, and that goes into some of the reorganization that we've talked about as well. Being able to leverage resources broadly across marketing, sales, and R&D and prioritize where we have the greatest opportunities in those areas

Customers and then the third one is we've altered how we insert some of our teams from a revenue generation standpoint, and we've added capabilities and resources in some of those areas as well. So we've really focused on how do we make sure our customer facing resources are best leverage and that goes into.

Some of the reorganization that we've talked about his well being able to leverage resources broadly across marketing sales and R&D and prioritize where we have the greatest opportunities in those areas.

Julie Li: Great, that's super helpful. Thank you. And just one more quick one, if I may. Julie, last quarter, you referenced kind of some bright spots being healthcare and hygiene and then, you know, struggling in markets and construction and transportation. Is that still playing out kind of as you mentioned last quarter?

Great. That's super helpful. Thank you and just one more quick one or for me.

Julie last quarter, you reference from some bright spots B and health care and hygiene and then.

Struggling and mortgage and construction of transportation does.

Does that still plan out kind of are you reference last quarter or there've been some changes in terms of where you may be seeing some some bright spots of demand.

Julie Li: Or have there been some changes in terms of, you know, where you may be seeing some bright spots of demand? I think it's starting to turn a bit, you know, as I said, in Q1, we're seeing some bright spots, and that's inclusive of our filtration business, so we have transportation and markets as well as life science and markets and clean air and water. It's inclusive of our release liner business that is driven by health and hygiene and labels and composites. You know, where it's probably still softest is in some of our commercial print markets, and we're seeing that broadly and in the market data.

I think it's it's starting to turn a bit as I said Q1, we're seeing some bright spots and that's inclusive.

Of our filtration business, where we have transportation and markets.

As well as life science and markets and clean air and water. It's inclusive of our release liner business that is driven by health and hygiene and labels and composites.

Where it's probably still softest as in some of our commercial print markets and we're seeing that broadly in in the market data, but we're seeing nice I'd say nice demand improvement in Q1, I I'm I'm really pleased with the order profile that we have on board today.

Julie Li: But we're seeing nice, I'd say nice demand improvement in Q1. I'm really pleased with the order profile that we have on board today. Thank you. Our next question comes from John Tanwanteng of CJS. John, your line is open, please go ahead. Hi, good morning. It's Charlie Straser, actually, for John, questions. Spend a couple of minutes on the lower inches, quarter. What kind of driver is that

Nine Q. Our next question comes from John <unk>, John <unk>. Please go ahead.

Good morning, Charlie struggle to John.

Good morning, Thank you for taking.

The questions.

Spent a couple of minutes on the large lower interest expense in the quarter.

Greg Whitesell: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29, the expected run rate going forward, and resetting your interest rate swap. Thanks, Charlie. Yeah, so overall, our expectation is that we will be around $70 million in interest for next year. So that would be a pace of about $17 or $18 a quarter. This quarter, you're right, we actually were at $13 million. It would have been about $17 to $18, but ultimately, we had a true-up related to the higher price that we received for the EP transaction. And with that true-up and the movement between discontinued operations and continuing operations, it actually knocked that down to $13 million for the quarter. But ongoing, we'd normally expect in that $17 to $18 million a quarter.

Which I drove.

You get it for Ya.

So what is the kind of expected Rodriguez forward after paying that was good.

Okay, and resetting your interest rate swaps with the proceeds.

Yes, Thanks Charlie.

So overall, our expectation is that we would be around $70 million in interest for next year. So that would be a pace of about 17 or 17 or 18 a quarter.

This quarter, you're right, we're actually we're at $13 million.

Would have been about 17 to 18, but.

But ultimately we had a true up related to the higher price that we received for the E. P transaction.

And without true up in the movement between discontinued option continuing up it actually knock that down to 13 million for the quarter, but ongoing would expect normally about $17 million to $18 million a quarter.

Greg Whitesell: That's helpful. Thank you very much. And just to follow up there, you know, what in the market, one so far, or geographies, really, are you seeing notable... I'll maybe start there, and then, Julie, you can jump in.

For the total thank you very much and just to follow up there.

Marcus's Q1, so far.

Geography's really.

Noble strength or weakness.

Or maybe you start there and enjoy you can jump and it's.

Greg Whitesell: It's been encouraging. The backlog reports that we have across several of our businesses, of course, it's kind of under continued pressure to see that come down and down. And Julie mentioned the trough that we hit in Q4. We're seeing that in the backlog of orders now, that that is starting to build back. It's not roaring back, but we are actually seeing it build in several different areas, even in packaging and specialty papers. Julie just mentioned the pressure on commercial print there, but we are seeing the backlog start to build some in packaging and specialty papers. Also, in our industrials business, which was one of the first ones to start to experience destocking, all the way back in late 2022, we're seeing an increase in the backlog of orders there as well.

It's been encouraging the backlog reports that we have across several of our businesses.

Three.

And continued pressure seeing that come down and down.

And your Joy mentioned the trough that we we've hit in queue for we're seeing that in the backlog.

Backlog of orders now that that is starting to build back it's not roaring back.

But we are actually seeing those build in several different areas.

There is even even in packaging and specialty papers, you Julius mentioned stole the pressure on commercial print there, but we are seeing the backlog start to build some.

Packaging.

Packaging and specialty papers also in our industrial business, which was one of the first ones to.

Which was one of the first ones to start to experience. The Destocking all the way back in late 2022, we're seeing an increase in the backlog of orders there as well.

Operator: Perfect, thank you. We have no further questions registered on the telephone line, so I'll hand over to the management team for any further or closing remarks. Yes, just want to say thank you for joining the call today and for your support of Mativ, and we look forward to our next call next quarter. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's call. Thank you for joining; you may now disconnect your line. All this and much more at www.ipple.com

Great. Thank you.

Perfect. Thank you we have no further questions registered by the telephone lines, So humbucker with speed management team for any further or closing remarks.

Yes, just wanted to say thank you for joining the call today and for your support of matters and we look forward to our next call next quarter.

Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's cool. Thank you for joining your mental disconnect your lines.

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