ACCO Brands Corporation announced an update to the quarter ending September 30, 2022 and its full year 2022 outlook, reflecting a more challenging than anticipated operating environment.
“Our North America segment saw better overall back-to-school sell-through for the season, positive return to office trends and improved brand positioning in the third quarter; however, these improvements were more than offset by retailers’ more cautious approach to inventory replenishment. In Europe, the current energy crisis and persistent inflation has created a more challenging macroeconomic environment, negatively impacting sales and profits in our EMEA segment. These factors offset double-digit sales and profit growth in our International segment,” said Boris Elisman, ACCO Brands chairman and chief executive officer.
Due to the macroeconomic trends, we are providing a third quarter outlook and lowering our full year 2022 outlook to properly account for reduced channel inventory replenishment, a weaker end-user demand environment, especially in Europe, continued high inflation and adverse foreign exchange impacts. In addition, current market capitalization has triggered a review of our goodwill valuation and we expect to take a yet to be finalized non-cash goodwill impairment charge in the third quarter.
“While there are near-term macroeconomic challenges, the strength of our balance sheet and our ability to generate robust free cash flow will allow ACCO Brands to successfully navigate the current economic uncertainty. We have taken immediate actions to protect profitability and free cash flow by curtailing hiring, reducing inventory, and limiting discretionary spending and capital expenditures. In addition, we are reviewing incremental pricing actions and cost reductions, including facility rationalization projects. We have no debt maturities until 2026 and low annual interest costs. Near-term capital allocation priorities are focused on supporting our dividend and reducing debt. Our strategic transformation plan to be more consumer, brand and technology centric remains intact and we believe it will position us to deliver sustainable organic revenue growth and margin expansion as economies improve,” Elisman concluded.
Source: ACCO Brands
