Sonoco Reports 2009 Second Quarter Financial Results

Sonoco (NYSE:SON), one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, today reported second quarter 2009 earnings of $.33 per diluted share, compared with $.57 per diluted share reported in the second quarter of 2008. Results in the current year’s quarter were impacted by higher pension, restructuring and lower Companywide volumes.

Base earnings for the second quarter of 2009 were $.41 per diluted share, compared with $.62 per diluted share reported in the same period in 2008. Base earnings per diluted share and base earnings are non-GAAP financial measures that exclude restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, environmental charges and certain nonrecurring or infrequent and unusual items, as applicable. Base earnings for the 2009 second quarter reflect a year-over-year increase in after-tax pension expense of $.08 per diluted share. Excluded from base earnings in the 2009 period was an after-tax restructuring charge of $.07 per diluted share, stemming from previously announced plant closings and other cost-reduction measures. Base earnings in the second quarter of 2008 excluded an after-tax charge of $.05 per diluted share associated with restructuring initiatives. Additional information about base earnings and base earnings per share along with reconciliations to the most closely applicable GAAP financial measure is provided later in this release.

"We are pleased to report better than expected results in the second quarter as base earnings per diluted share exceeded the upper end of our previously announced guidance of $.34 to $.38. For the sixth consecutive quarter our Consumer Packaging segment, which is our largest business segment, representing nearly 44 percent of net sales, reported year-over-year improvement in operating profits, with second quarter segment results up nearly 20 percent,” said Harris E. DeLoach Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer. "However, this improvement was more than offset by the continued impact of the global recession on our businesses that serve industrial markets and disappointing results from our Packaging Services segment. That said, we began to see some improvement in our industrial-focused markets at the end of the second quarter for the first time since October 2008.”

Net sales for the second quarter of 2009 declined 21 percent (15 percent excluding the impact of foreign currency translation) to $864 million, compared with $1.09 billion in the same period last year. "Lower Companywide volumes, particularly in our industrial-focused businesses, continued to be the primary drivers impacting sales,” said DeLoach. "Although conditions were weaker year-over-year in served markets, we were pleased that new product sales increased approximately $13 million, or 41 percent year-over-year, most of which was in the Consumer Packaging segment.”

Net income attributable to Sonoco for the second quarter of 2009 was $33.6 million, compared with $58.0 million for the same period in 2008. Second quarter 2009 base earnings were $40.9 million, compared with $62.6 million last year. Base earnings for the current quarter exclude after-tax restructuring charges of $7.3 million, while 2008 second quarter base earnings excluded $4.6 million in impairment and restructuring charges, after tax. The higher pension expense in 2009 reduced base earnings by $8.1 million when compared to the same period in 2008.

"Lower Companywide volumes and higher pension expenses were partially offset by a positive selling price/ material cost relationship and productivity improvements,” said DeLoach. "We also benefited from previously announced cost-reduction actions focused on aligning our manufacturing footprint to reflect projected business activity, and implementing other contingency initiatives including freezing salaries, temporarily suspending 401(k) matches and further curtailing discretionary spending. These actions are reflected in the second quarter’s gross profit, which as a percent of sales, was 18.3 percent, compared with 17.9 percent in the same period in 2008.”

Cash generated from operations in the second quarter of 2009 was $106.4 million, compared with $79.8 million in the same period in 2008. The impact on cash flow of lower quarter-over-quarter earnings was largely offset by an increase in liabilities associated with higher noncash pension expense and a change in deferred taxes. Improvements in working capital, particularly inventories, accounted for the vast majority of the quarter-over-quarter increase in operating cash flow. Capital expenditures and cash dividends paid totaled $22.7 million and $27.0 million, respectively, in the second quarter of 2009, compared with $28.8 million and $26.9 million, respectively, in the second quarter of 2008.

For the first six months of 2009, net sales declined 22 percent (16 percent excluding the impact of foreign currency translation) to $1.66 billion, compared with $2.12 billion in the first half of 2008. Net income attributable to Sonoco for the first six months of 2009 was $56.7 million ($.56 per diluted share), compared with $71.2 million ($.71 per diluted share) in the same period in 2008. Earnings for the first six months of 2009 were negatively impacted by after-tax restructuring charges of $13.3 million ($.13 per diluted share) and higher year-over-year pension expense. Earnings in the 2008 period were negatively impacted by a $31.0 million ($.31 per diluted share), after-tax, noncash impairment charge related to the Company’s remaining financial interest in the 2003 sale of its high density film business and $14.5 million ($.14 per diluted share) in after-tax restructuring charges.

Base earnings for the first half of 2009 were $70.1 million ($.70 per diluted share), compared with $116.7 million ($1.16 per diluted share) in the first half of 2008. Lower Companywide volumes and increased after-tax pension costs of $17.2 million ($.17 per diluted share) more than offset higher selling prices and productivity improvements during the period. Gross profit as a percent of sales was 18.0 percent, compared with 17.9 percent in the first half of 2008.

For the first six months of 2009, cash generated from operations was $181.9 million, compared with $143.9 million in the same period in 2008. Capital expenditures and cash dividends paid were $57.4 million and $53.9 million, respectively, for the first half of 2009, compared with $62.9 million and $52.7 million, respectively, in the first half of 2008. Cash used to reduce debt during the first half of 2009 totaled $47.9 million, and the Company’s calculation of debt-to-total-capital declined to 34.2 percent at June 28, 2009, compared with 37.0 percent at December 31, 2008.

As of the end of the second quarter, cash and cash equivalents totaled $111 million, compared with $102 million at December 31, 2008. Sonoco continues to operate its $500 million commercial paper program with $54 million outstanding at the end of the second quarter of 2009. The commercial paper program is fully supported by a bank credit facility provided by a syndicate of banks that is committed until May 2011. The Company continues to believe these banks are capable of meeting their commitments.

Third Quarter and Full-Year 2009 Outlook

Sonoco expects third quarter 2009 base earnings to be in the range of $.43 to $.47 per diluted share. Base earnings in the third quarter of 2008 were $.60 per diluted share. Full-year 2009 base earnings are projected to be in the range of $1.55 to $1.65 per diluted share. As previously reported by the Company, third quarter and full-year guidance include a year-over-year increase in pension expense of $.08 and $.35 per diluted share, respectively. The Company’s 2009 annual earnings guidance reflects an expected tax rate of approximately 30 percent.

The Company’s updated guidance assumes ongoing sales demand will remain near the levels noted late in the second quarter, as well as the realization of previously announced cost-reduction plans and the impact of normal seasonality. Although the Company believes the assumptions reflected in the range of guidance for the full year are reasonable, the outlook, given today’s economic environment, is very uncertain.

"While we were encouraged by the sequential improvement in our second quarter results, we are extremely cautious about the global economy and the impact the lingering recession is having on consumers and our customers,” said DeLoach. "We remain focused on improving areas we can control and are implementing further initiatives that are aimed at simplifying our business structure to scale the Company for profitable growth, improving innovation and creating sustainable operating efficiencies.”

Segment Review

The Company uses a non-GAAP financial measure, base operating profit, when discussing the operational results of its segments. Base operating profit is defined as the segments’ portion of consolidated Income Before Income Taxes, excluding restructuring charges, impairment charges, environmental charges, net interest expense and certain nonrecurring or infrequent and unusual items. A reconciliation of base operating profit to GAAP Income Before Income Taxes for the Company’s three reportable segments and All Other Sonoco is provided later in this release.

Consumer Packaging

Sonoco’s Consumer Packaging segment includes the following products: round and shaped rigid packaging (both composite and plastic); printed flexible packaging; and metal and peelable membrane ends and closures.

Second quarter 2009 sales for the segment were $372.8 million, compared with $398.2 million in the same period in 2008. Base operating profit for this segment was $38.9 million in the second quarter of 2009, compared with $32.5 million in the same period in 2008.

Sales in this segment declined six percent during the second quarter as lower volumes and the negative effect of foreign currency translation of approximately $12 million were only partially offset by higher selling prices. The selling price increases were implemented to offset higher manufacturing and raw materials costs, the negative impacts of which were not fully felt until later in the second quarter. This delay in realizing the negative effect of higher material costs, along with productivity improvements, more than offset the negative impact of lower volume and higher pension costs, resulting in an improvement in quarterly base operating profits.

Tubes and Cores/Paper

The Tubes and Cores/Paper segment includes the following products: high-performance paper and composite paperboard tubes and cores; fiber-based construction tubes and forms; recycled paperboard, linerboard, recovered paper and other recycled materials.

Second quarter 2009 sales for the segment were $323.4 million, compared with $455.4 million in the same period in 2008. Second quarter base operating profit for this segment declined to $20.2 million, compared with $40.0 million in the same period in 2008.

The 29 percent decline in sales in the Tube and Core/Paper segment was due to global volume declines, the negative effect of foreign currency translation of approximately $39 million and lower prices, primarily those received for recovered paper. Base operating profits declined due to the impact of lower volume and higher pension costs. The benefit of lower recovered paper costs was nearly completely offset by reduced selling prices.

Packaging Services

The Packaging Services segment includes the following products and services: designing, manufacturing, assembling, packing and distributing temporary, semipermanent and permanent point-of-purchase displays; brand artwork management; and supply chain management services, including contract packing, fulfillment and scalable service centers.

Second quarter 2009 sales for this segment were $98.5 million, compared with $138.1 million in the same period in 2008. Base operating profit for this segment was $1.1 million in the second quarter, compared with $8.9 million in the same period in 2008.

Sales in this segment were affected by significantly lower volumes in the Company’s contract packing, fulfillment and point-of-purchase display operations along with the negative effect of foreign currency translation of approximately $15 million. Base operating profits decreased primarily due to the lower point-of-purchase display and contract packing volume.

All Other Sonoco

All Other Sonoco includes businesses that are not aggregated in a reportable segment and includes the following products: wooden, metal and composite wire and cable reels, molded and extruded plastics, custom-designed protective packaging and paper amenities such as coasters and glass covers.

Second quarter 2009 sales in All Other Sonoco were $69.5 million, compared with $94.9 million reported in the same period in 2008. Base operating profit for the second quarter of 2009 was $7.4 million, compared with $12.4 million in the same period in 2008.

Sales in All Other Sonoco declined during the quarter due to lower volumes in molded plastics, wire and cable reels and protective packaging along with the negative effect of foreign currency translation of approximately $2 million. Base operating profit in All Other Sonoco declined as lower volume and higher pension costs more than offset productivity improvements and reduced material costs.

Corporate

Net interest expense for the second quarter of 2009 decreased to $10.1 million, compared with $12.1 million during the same period in 2008. The decrease was due to lower debt levels and lower interest rates. The effective tax rate for the Company for the second quarter of 2009 was 31.9 percent, compared with 26.0 percent in the same period in 2008. The lower tax rate in 2008 was primarily a result of nonrecurring tax benefits recognized in 2008 related to a tax law change in Italy.

Conference Call Webcast

Sonoco will host its regular quarterly conference call today, Thursday, July 16, 2009, at 11 a.m. Eastern time, to review its 2009 second quarter financial results. The live conference call can be accessed in a "listen only” mode via the Internet at http://www.sonoco.com/, under the "Latest News” section. A telephonic replay of the call will be available starting at 3 p.m. Eastern time to U.S. callers at 877/660-6853 and international callers at +201/612-7415. The replay passcode for both U.S. and international calls is account number 286 and conference ID number 325795. The archived telephone call will be available through July 25, 2009. The call also will be archived on the Investor Information section of Sonoco's Web site.

About Sonoco

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a $4.1 billion global manufacturer of industrial and consumer products and provider of packaging services, with more than 300 operations in 35 countries, serving customers in some 85 nations. For more information on the Company, visit our Web site at http://www.sonoco.com/.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements included herein that are not historical in nature, are intended to be, and are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements” for purposes of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words "estimate,” "project,” "intend,” "expect,” "believe,” "consider,” "plan,” "anticipate,” "objective,” "goal,” "guidance,” "outlook,” "forecasts,” "future,” "will,” "would” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding offsetting high raw material costs, improved productivity and cost containment, adequacy of income tax provisions, refinancing of debt, adequacy of cash flows, anticipated amounts and uses of cash flows, effects of acquisitions and dispositions, adequacy of provisions for environmental liabilities, financial strategies and the results expected from them, continued payments of dividends, stock repurchases, producing improvements in earnings, financial results for future periods, and creation of long-term value for shareholders.

Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such information includes, without limitation, discussions as to guidance and other estimates, expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies and objectives concerning our future financial and operating performance. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict.

Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include, without limitation:

• availability and pricing of raw materials;
• success of new product development and introduction;
• ability to maintain or increase productivity levels and contain or reduce costs;
• international, national and local economic and market conditions;
• availability of credit to us, our customers and/or our suppliers in needed amounts and/or on reasonable terms;

• fluctuations of obligations and earnings of pension and postretirement benefit plans;
• ability to maintain market share;
• pricing pressures and demand for products;
• continued strength of our paperboard-based tubes and cores and composite can operations;
• anticipated results of restructuring activities;
• resolution of income tax contingencies;
• ability to successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into the Company’s operations;
• rate of growth in foreign markets
• foreign currency, interest rate and commodity price risk and the effectiveness of related hedges;
• liability for and anticipated costs of environmental remediation actions;
• actions of government agencies and changes in laws and regulations affecting the Company;
• ability to weather the current economic downturn;
• loss of consumer or investor confidence; and
• economic disruptions resulting from terrorist activities.

The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed herein might not occur.

Additional information concerning some of the factors that could cause materially different results is included in the Company’s reports on forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Such reports are available from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s public reference facilities and its Web site, http://www.sec.gov/, and from the Company's investor relations department and the Company’s Web site, http://www.sonoco.com.

References to our Web Site Address

References to our Web site address and domain names throughout this release are for informational purposes only, or to fulfill specific disclosure requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules or the New York Stock Exchange Listing Standards. These references are not intended to, and do not, incorporate the contents of our Web site by reference into this release.