GEF Greif, Inc.

Management Discussion

• Items that could have a significant impact on the financial statements include the risks and uncertainties listed in Part I, Item 1A — Risk Factors, of the 2019 Form 10-K, updated by Part II, Item 1A of this Form 10-Q. Actual results could differ materially using different estimates and assumptions, or if conditions are significantly different in the future.
• The non-GAAP financial measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are used throughout the following discussion of our results of operations, both for our consolidated and segment results. For our consolidated results, EBITDA is defined as net income, plus interest expense, net, plus income tax expense, plus depreciation, depletion and amortization, and Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA plus restructuring charges, plus acquisition and integration related costs, plus non-cash asset impairment charges, plus non-cash pension settlement (income) charges, less (gain) loss on disposal of properties, plants, equipment and businesses, net. Since we do not calculate net income by business segment, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA by business segment are reconciled to operating profit by business segment. In that case, EBITDA is defined as operating profit by business segment less other (income) expense, net, less equity earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax, plus depreciation, depletion and amortization expense for that business segment, and Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA plus restructuring charges, plus acquisition and integration related costs, plus non-cash asset impairment charges, plus non-cash pension settlement (income) charges, less (gain) loss on disposal of properties, plants, equipment and businesses, net, for that business segment. We use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as financial measures to evaluate our historical and ongoing operations and believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to enable investors to perform meaningful comparisons of our historical and current performance. In addition, we present our U.S. and non-U.S. income before income taxes after eliminating the impact of non-cash asset impairment charges, non-cash pension settlement (income) charges, restructuring charges, acquisition and integration related costs and (gains) losses on sales of businesses, net, which are non-GAAP financial measures. We believe that excluding the impact of these adjustments enable investors to perform a meaningful comparison of our current and historical performance that investors find valuable. The foregoing non-GAAP financial measures are intended to supplement and should be read together with our financial results. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered an alternative or substitute for, and should not be considered superior to, our reported financial results. Accordingly, users of this financial information should not place undue reliance on the non-GAAP financial measures.
• Net sales were $1,112.4 million for the first quarter of 2020 compared with $897.0 million for the first quarter of 2019. The $215.4 million increase was primarily due to the sales contributed by the acquired Caraustar Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Caraustar") operations, partially offset by lower volumes in certain regions and the impact of foreign currency translation. See the "Segment Review" below for additional information on net sales by segment for the first quarter of 2020.