Unassociated Document

RICHMOND, Va., February 12, 2009 – Tredegar Corporation (NYSE:TG) reported fourth-quarter net income from continuing operations of $5.9 million (17 cents per share) compared to $7.0 million (19 cents per share) in the fourth quarter of 2007. Earnings from continuing manufacturing operations in the fourth quarter were $10.2 million (30 cents per share) versus $6.3 million (17 cents per share) last year. Fourth-quarter sales from continuing operations decreased to $192.7 million from $208.5 million in 2007. On February 12, 2008, Tredegar sold its aluminum extrusions business in Canada. All historical results for this business have been reflected as discontinued operations in the accompanying financial tables.

(In Millions, Except Per-Share Data)	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	December 31						December 31
	2008			2007			2008			2007
Sales	$	192.7		$	208.5		$	883.9		$	922.6

Income from continuing operations as reported under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)	$	5.9		$	7.0		$	29.6		$	34.9
After-tax effects of:
Loss associated with plant shutdowns, asset impairments and restructurings		5.1			1.0			8.9			4.1
(Gains) losses from sale of assets and other items		(.8	)		(1.7	)		(6.6	)		(.6	)
Income from continuing manufacturing operations*	$	10.2		$	6.3		$	31.9		$	38.4

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations as reported under GAAP	$	.17		$	.19		$	.87		$	.90
After-tax effects per diluted share of:
Loss associated with plant shutdowns, asset impairments and restructurings		.15			.03			.26			.11
(Gains) losses from sale of assets and other items		(.02	)		(.05	)		(.20	)		(.02	)
Diluted earnings per share from continuing manufacturing operations*	$	.30		$	.17		$	.93		$	.99

* The after-tax effects of unusual items, plant shutdowns, asset impairments and restructurings, and gains or losses from sale of assets and other items have been presented separately and removed from net income and earnings per share from continuing operations as reported under GAAP to determine Tredegar’s presentation of income and earnings per share from continuing manufacturing operations. Income and earnings per share from continuing manufacturing operations are key financial and analytical measures used by Tredegar to gauge the operating performance of its continuing manufacturing businesses. They are not intended to represent the stand-alone results for Tredegar’s continuing manufacturing businesses under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or earnings per share as defined by GAAP. They exclude items that we believe do not relate to Tredegar’s ongoing manufacturing operations.

John D. Gottwald, Tredegar’s president and chief executive officer, said: “Earnings from continuing manufacturing operations increased by 13 cents per share or 76% in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared with the fourth quarter of 2007 despite significantly lower volumes in both our films and aluminum extrusions businesses. Operating profits in films, which improved by $6.3 million or 48.6% in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared with 2007, would have declined without the positive impact of the lag in the pass-through of substantially lower resin costs and adjustments for inventories accounted for under the last-in first-out method. Volume and operating profits in films are expected to continue to be adversely impacted by competitive pressures and the global economic downturn. More than ever, we are focused on reducing costs and managing the business under significantly greater economic uncertainty.”

Mr. Gottwald continued: “Operating profits for our ongoing U.S. operations in aluminum extrusions decreased by $318,000, or 12.0%, in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared with the fourth quarter of last year. The profit drop was primarily due to an 11.8% decline in volume. Volume declined for the year by 12.6%, which was on top of a volume decrease in 2007 versus 2006 of 15.9%. The timing of any recovery is virtually impossible to predict. We continue to be focused on reducing costs in light of anticipated further declines in volume based on current market conditions.”

Volume was down in the quarter and year ended December 31, 2008 compared with last year in most product segments, including personal care, surface protection and packaging materials. Net sales in 2008 declined in both the fourth quarter and year compared to 2007 due to lower volume, partially offset by higher selling prices from the pass-through of increased resin costs. A significant portion of the substantially lower resin costs realized in the fourth quarter of 2008 are not passed through to customers via lower selling prices until the first quarter of 2009.

Operating profit from ongoing operations increased in the fourth quarter of 2008 versus 2007 due primarily to the lag in the pass-through of substantially lower resin costs, adjustments for inventories accounted for under the last-in first-out method (LIFO) and cost reduction efforts, partially offset by lower volume. Operating profit for 2008 in comparison to 2007 decreased as a result of lower volume, partially offset by cost reduction efforts and the favorable impact of changes in the U.S. dollar value of currencies for operations outside of the U.S. The company estimates that the impact on operating profit of the lag in the pass-through of changes in average resin costs and adjustments for LIFO was positive $6.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2008 and negative $2.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. The company estimates that the impact on operating profit of resin pass-through lag and adjustments for LIFO was negative $600,000 in all of 2008 and negative $2.5 million in all of 2007. The company estimates that changes in the U.S. dollar value of currencies for operations outside of the U.S. had an unfavorable impact on operating profit of $200,000 in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared with the fourth quarter of 2007, and a favorable impact of approximately $3.6 million in all of 2008 compared with all of 2007.

Fourth-quarter net sales from ongoing U.S. operations in Aluminum Extrusions were $64.5 million, down 12.3% from $73.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. Operating profit from ongoing U.S. operations was $2.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2008, a 12.0% decrease from $2.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. Volume from ongoing operations decreased to 28.4 million pounds in the fourth quarter of 2008, down 11.8% from 32.2 million pounds in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The decreases in net sales in the fourth quarter and full year of 2008 compared with last year was mainly due to lower volume. Shipments declined in most markets. Shipments in non-residential construction, which comprised approximately 72% of total volume in 2008, declined by approximately 2.7% in 2008 compared with 2007. Operating profit from ongoing operations declined during the fourth quarter and all of 2008 versus the same periods last year mainly due to lower volume.

Capital expenditures for continuing operations in Aluminum Extrusions were $9.7 million in 2008 compared with $4.4 million in the prior year, and are projected to be approximately $24 million in 2009. In January 2008, Tredegar announced plans to spend approximately $24 million over the following 18 months to expand the capacity at its plant in Carthage, Tennessee. The Company had expenditures of $5.7 million in 2008 for this project, which will be dedicated to serving customers in the non-residential construction sector. Depreciation expense was $8.0 million in 2008 compared with $8.5 million in 2007, and is projected to be approximately $8.6 million in 2009.

Net pension income from continuing operations was $1.2 million in the fourth quarter and $4.9 million in 2008, a favorable change of $481,000 (1 cent per share after taxes) and $2.1 million (4 cents per share after taxes), respectively, from amounts recognized in the comparable periods of 2007. Most of the favorable change in 2008 relate to a pension plan that is reflected in “Corporate expenses, net” in the operating profit by segment table. The company contributed approximately $122,000 to its pension plans for continuing operations in 2008.

At December 31, 2008, the fair value of the assets of Tredegar’s pension plans was approximately $194.5 million, down from $284.1 million at December 31, 2007. The significant decline was mainly due to the drop in global stock prices and benefit payments to retirees of approximately $2.6 million per quarter. The projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2008 is approximately $211.7 million at a discount rate of 6.5%. The minimum required contribution to Tredegar’s pension plans in 2009 is estimated at $4.4 million and net pension income in 2009 is estimated at $3.2 million.

The effective tax rate used to compute income taxes from continuing manufacturing operations was 41.2% in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared with 44.7% in the fourth quarter of 2007, and 39.9% in 2008 compared with 38.8% in 2007. The increase in the effective tax rate for continuing manufacturing operations for all of 2008 versus 2007, which had an adverse impact of 2 cents per share, was mainly due to higher effective tax rates for operations outside of the U.S.

Overall results for continuing operations for the quarter include special items. After-tax net charges for continuing operations for plant shutdowns, asset impairments and restructurings and gains and losses from the sale of assets and other items were after-tax net losses of 13 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2008 and after-tax net gains of 2 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2007. After-tax net charges for continuing operations for plant shutdowns, asset impairments and restructurings and gains and losses from the sale of assets and other items were after-tax net losses of 6 cents per share and 9 cents per share in 2008 and 2007, respectively. Further details regarding these items are provided in the financial tables included with this press release.

Cash in excess of debt was $23.3 million at December 31, 2008, compared with debt in excess of cash of $33.8 million at December 31, 2007. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing manufacturing operations, a key valuation and borrowing capacity measure, was $98.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, down from $107.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. Cash in excess of debt, net debt and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. See notes to financial statements and tables for reconciliations to comparable GAAP measures.

Some of the information contained in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When we use the words “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “likely,” “may” and similar expressions, we do so to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on our then current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. It is possible that our actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include, without limitation: Film Products is highly dependent on sales to one customer — The Procter & Gamble Company; growth of Film Products depends on its ability to develop and deliver new products at competitive prices; sales volume and profitability of continuing operations in Aluminum Extrusions is cyclical and highly dependent on economic conditions of end-use markets in the U.S., particularly in the construction, distribution and transportation industries and are also subject to seasonal slowdowns; our substantial international operations subject us to risks of doing business in foreign countries, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations; our future performance is influenced by costs incurred by our operating companies including, for example, the cost of energy and raw materials; and the other factors discussed in the reports Tredegar files with or furnishes to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) from time-to-time, including the risks and important factors set forth in “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of Tredegar’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K that will be filed with the SEC.

To the extent that the financial information portion of this release contains non-GAAP financial measures, it also presents both the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and a quantitative reconciliation of the difference between any such non-GAAP measures and such comparable GAAP financial measures. Accompanying the reconciliation is management’s statement concerning the reasons why management believes that presentation of non-GAAP measures provides useful information to investors concerning Tredegar’s financial condition and results of operations.

	Fourth Quarter Ended				Year Ended
	December 31				December 31
	2008		2007		2008			2007

Sales	$	192,702	$	208,462	$	883,899		$	922,583
Other income (expense), net (a) (e)		1,412		3,315		10,341			1,782
		194,114		211,777		894,240			924,365

Cost of goods sold (a)		153,795		171,396		739,721			761,509
Freight		4,434		4,352		20,782			19,808
Selling, R&D and general expenses		16,967		21,135		69,704			76,855
Amortization of intangibles		30		37		123			149
Interest expense		472		712		2,393			2,721
Asset impairments and costs associated with exit and disposal activities (a)		7,231		1,456		12,390			4,027
		182,929		199,088		845,113			865,069

Income from continuing operations before income taxes		11,185		12,689		49,127			59,296
Income taxes (e)		5,272		5,653		19,486			24,366
Income from continuing operations		5,913		7,036		29,641			34,930
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (b)		225		6,321		(705	)		(19,681	)

Net income (loss) (a) (c)	$	6,138	$	13,357	$	28,936		$	15,249

Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic:
Continuing operations	$	.17	$	.19	$	.87		$	.91
Discontinued operations		.01		.17		(.02	)		(.51	)
Net income (loss)	$	.18	$	.36	$	.85		$	.40
Diluted:
Continuing operations	$	.17	$	.19	$	.87		$	.90
Discontinued operations		.01		.17		(.02	)		(.51	)
Net income (loss)	$	.18	$	.36	$	.85		$	.39

Shares used to compute earnings (loss) per share:
Basic		33,782		36,494		33,977			38,532
Diluted		33,990		36,587		34,194			38,688

	Fourth Quarter Ended						Year Ended
	December 31						December 31
	2008			2007			2008			2007
Net Sales
Film Products	$	123,809		$	130,587		$	522,839		$	530,972
Aluminum Extrusions		64,459			73,523			340,278			371,803
Total net sales		188,268			204,110			863,117			902,775
Add back freight		4,434			4,352			20,782			19,808
Sales as shown in the Consolidated
Statements of Income	$	192,702		$	208,462		$	883,899		$	922,583

Operating Profit
Film Products:
Ongoing operations		19,195			12,915			53,914			59,423
Plant shutdowns, asset impairments,
restructurings and gain on sale of assets (a)		(6,648	)		(256	)		(11,297	)		(649	)

Aluminum Extrusions (b):
Ongoing operations		2,323			2,641			10,132			16,516
Plant shutdowns, asset impairments and
restructurings (a)		(72	)		-			(687	)		(634	)

AFBS:
Gain on sale of investments in Theken Spine and
Therics, LLC (d)		-			-			1,499			-
Plant shutdowns, asset impairments and
restructurings (a)		-			(1,200	)		-			(2,786	)
Total		14,798			14,100			53,561			71,870
Interest income		351			252			1,006			1,212
Interest expense		472			712			2,393			2,721
Gain on the sale of corporate assets (e)		-			2,699			1,001			2,699
Gain from write-up of an investment accounted for under
the fair value method (e)		600			-			5,600			-
Loss from write-down of an investment (e)		-			-			-			2,095
Stock option-based compensation costs		266			277			782			978
Corporate expenses, net		3,826			3,373			8,866			10,691
Income before income taxes		11,185			12,689			49,127			59,296
Income taxes (e)		5,272			5,653			19,486			24,366
Income from continuing operations		5,913			7,036			29,641			34,930
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (b)		225			6,321			(705	)		(19,681	)
Net income (loss) (a) (c)	$	6,138		$	13,357		$	28,936		$	15,249

	As of December 31
	2008		2007
Assets

Cash & cash equivalents	$	45,975	$	48,217
Accounts & notes receivable, net		91,400		97,064
Income taxes recoverable		12,549		323
Inventories		36,809		48,666
Deferred income taxes		7,654		9,172
Prepaid expenses & other		5,374		4,077
Current assets of discontinued operation (b)		-		37,750
Total current assets		199,761		245,269

Property, plant & equipment, net		236,870		269,083
Other assets (f)		38,926		116,759
Goodwill & other intangibles		135,075		135,907
Noncurrent assets of discontinued operation (b)		-		17,460
Total assets	$	610,632	$	784,478

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Accounts payable	$	54,990	$	67,161
Accrued expenses		38,349		33,676
Current portion of long-term debt		529		540
Current liabilities of discontinued operation (b)		-		17,152
Total current liabilities		93,868		118,529

Long-term debt		22,173		81,516
Deferred income taxes		45,152		68,625
Other noncurrent liabilities (f)		29,023		15,662
Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operation (b)		-		8,818
Shareholders' equity (f)		420,416		491,328

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	610,632	$	784,478

	Year Ended
	December 31
	2008			2007
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	28,936		$	15,249
Adjustments for noncash items:
Depreciation		43,068			45,892
Amortization of intangibles		123			149
Deferred income taxes		22,183			(24,241	)
Accrued pension income and postretirement benefits		(4,426	)		(1,735	)
Gain on the write-up of an investment accounted for under
the fair value method (e)		(5,600	)		-
Loss from write-down of investment		-			2,095
Gain on sale of assets		(3,083	)		(2,699	)
Loss on asset impairments and divestitures		10,136			32,287
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions
and divestitures:
Accounts and notes receivables		(678	)		15,786
Inventories		13,374			4,099
Income taxes recoverable		(12,092	)		10,478
Prepaid expenses and other		(1,873	)		764
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(18,900	)		(2,932	)
Other, net		4,238			362
Net cash provided by operating activities		75,406			95,554
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures (net of related accounts payable of $1.7 million in 2008)		(19,235	)		(20,643	)
Investment in a drug delivery company ($1 million in 2008
and $6.5 million in 2007), real estate in 2008 and 2007 and
Harbinger ($10 million in 2007)		(5,391	)		(23,513	)
Proceeds from the sale of the aluminum extrusions business in Canada
(net of cash included in sale and transaction costs)		23,407			-
Proceeds from the sale of assets and property disposals &
reimbursements from customers for purchases of equipment in 2007		4,691			7,871
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		3,472			(36,285	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid		(5,447	)		(6,126	)
Debt principal payments		(84,489	)		(39,964	)
Borrowings		25,000			59,500
Repurchases of Tredegar common stock, including settlement of $3,368
in 2008 and net of settlement payable of $3,368 in 2007		(19,792	)		(73,959	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		4,069			6,471
Net cash used in financing activities		(80,659	)		(54,078	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(461	)		2,128
(Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents		(2,242	)		7,319
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		48,217			40,898
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	45,975		$	48,217

	For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2008
	Film			Aluminum
	Products			Extrusions			Total
Operating profit from continuing ongoing operations	$	53.9		$	10.1		$	64.0
Allocation of corporate overhead		(7.2	)		(1.5	)		(8.7	)
Add back depreciation and amortization from
continuing operations		34.7			8.0			42.7
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations (g)	$	81.4		$	16.6		$	98.0

Selected balance sheet and other data as of December 31, 2008:
Net debt (cash) (h)	$	(23.3	)
Shares outstanding		33.9

(b)

On February 12, 2008, Tredegar sold its aluminum extrusions business in Canada for approximately $25 million to an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital. Tredegar realized cash income tax benefits in 2008 from the sale of approximately $12 million. All historical results for this business have been reflected as discontinued operations in the accompanying financial tables. The components of income (loss) from discontinued operations are presented below:

	Fourth Quarter Ended						Year Ended
	December 31						December 31
(In thousands)	2008			2007			2008			2007

Income (loss) from operations before income taxes	$	-		$	(376	)	$	(391	)	$	(6,366	)
Income tax cost (benefit) on operations		-			(108	)		(98	)		(2,199	)
		-			(268	)		(293	)		(4,167	)
Loss associated with asset impairments and disposal
activities		-			(4,144	)		(1,337	)		(31,755	)
Income tax cost (benefit) on asset impairments and
costs associated with disposal activities		(225	)		(10,733	)		(925	)		(16,241	)
		225			6,589			(412	)		(15,514	)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$	225		$	6,321		$	(705	)	$	(19,681	)

(c)

Comprehensive income (loss), defined as net income and other comprehensive income (loss), was a loss of $67.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 and income of $33.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2007. Comprehensive income (loss) was a loss of $54.7 million for 2008 and income of $49.9 million for 2007. Other comprehensive income (loss) includes changes in foreign currency translation adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments and prior service cost and net gains or losses from pension and other postretirement benefit plans arising during the period and the related amortization of these prior service cost and net gains or losses recorded net of deferred taxes directly in shareholders' equity. The loss in comprehensive income for the fourth quarter and full year of 2008 relates to the significant reduction since the end of 2007 in the funded status of our pension plans (see Note (f)).

(d)

The gain on the sale of the investments in Theken Spine and Therics, LLC of $1.5 million is included in "Other income (expense), net" in the condensed consolidated statements of income. AFBS (formerly Therics, Inc.) received these investments in 2005, when substantially all of the assets of AFBS, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tredegar, were sold or assigned to a newly-created limited liability company, Therics, LLC, controlled and managed by an individual not affiliated with Tredegar.

(e)

Gain on the sale of corporate assets in 2008 includes a realized gain related to the sale of equity securities ($509,000) and a realized gain on the sale of corporate real estate ($492,000). These gains are included in "Other income (expense), net" in the condensed consolidated statements of income. The unrealized gain from the write-up of an investment accounted for under the fair value method of $5.6 million in 2008 is included in "Other income (expense), net" in the condensed consolidated statements of income. The write-up was based on the valuation of Tredegar's investment implied from a new round of equity financing completed for the investee in the fourth quarter of 2008. The loss from the write-down of an investment of $2.1 million in 2007 is included in "Other income (expense), net" in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

(f)

In accordance with SFAS No. 158, “Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” (SFAS 158), we recognize in the balance sheets the funded status of each of our defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. As of December 31, 2008, the funded status of our defined benefit pension plan was a net liability of $17.1 million in "Other noncurrent liabilities" compared with an asset of $86.3 million in "Other assets" and a liability of $2.3 million in "Other noncurrent liabilities" as of December 31, 2007. The impact of the change in the funded status, net of deferred taxes, is recognized directly in shareholders' equity and comprehensive income or loss. Adjustments made as a result of this change in the funded status of our plans will not impact our debt covenant computations since our credit agreement allows us to elect to use generally accepted accounting principles in effect when the agreement was signed, which was prior to our adoption of SFAS 158.

(g)

Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, represents income from continuing operations before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, unusual items and losses associated with plant shutdowns, asset impairments and restructurings, gains from the sale of assets, investment write-downs or write-ups, charges related to stock option awards accounted for under the fair value-based method and other items. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to represent cash flow from operations as defined by GAAP and should not be considered as either an alternative to net income (as an indicator of operating performance) or to cash flow (as a measure of liquidity). Tredegar uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of unlevered (debt-free) operating cash flow. We also use it when comparing relative enterprise values of manufacturing companies and when measuring debt capacity. When comparing the valuations of a peer group of manufacturing companies, we express enterprise value as a multiple of Adjusted EBITDA. We believe Adjusted EBITDA is preferable to operating profit and other GAAP measures when applying a comparable multiple approach to enterprise valuation because it excludes the items noted above, measures of which may vary among peer companies.

Tredegar Corporation	Contact:
Corporate Communications	D. Andrew Edwards
1100 Boulders Parkway	Phone: 804/330-1041
Richmond, Virginia 23225	Fax: 804/330-1777
E-mail: invest@tredegar.com	E-mail: daedward@tredegar.com
Web Site: www.tredegar.com

Debt	$	22.7
Less: Cash and cash equivalents		(46.0	)
Net debt (cash)	$	(23.3	)