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8-K - FORM 8-K - SONOCO PRODUCTS CO | g25438e8vk.htm |
Exhibit 99
NEWS RELEASE |
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#63S December 3, 2010 | Contact: Roger Schrum | |||
+843/339-6018 | ||||
roger.schrum@sonoco.com |
Sonoco Provides Strategic and Financial Update
Company Repurchasing 2 Million Shares of Common Stock
Establishes 2011 Base Earnings Per Share Guidance of $2.52 to $2.62
Hartsville, S.C. Sonoco (NYSE: SON), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Harris E. DeLoach, Jr.
and Charles J. Hupfer, senior vice president and chief financial officer, today addressed the
investment community in New York to provide an update on the Companys 2010 financial performance,
outline strategic initiatives, announce a common stock repurchase and establish its financial
outlook for 2011.
Sonoco Repurchasing 2 Million Shares of Common Stock
DeLoach announced that Sonoco would immediately begin to repurchase 2 million shares of Sonoco
common stock. The share repurchase will be made in open market transactions and
is expected to be completed no later than the end of the first quarter of 2011. The shares are
being repurchased under a 5 million share repurchase authorization previously approved by Sonocos
Board of Directors. As of December 1, 2010, Sonoco had 101,152,528 shares of common stock
outstanding.
Because of Sonocos strong cash flow and balance sheet, the Company has followed a practice over
the years of repurchasing shares to offset the dilution of equity compensation, said DeLoach,
adding that the Company has not repurchased a significant number of shares since the third quarter
of 2007. In addition to this share repurchase, Sonoco has returned approximately $110 million in
cash to shareholders in the form of dividends in 2010. Sonoco has paid quarterly dividends since
1925 and increased dividends for 27 consecutive years while currently providing a payout that is
more than 40 percent higher than the S&P 500.
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1 North Second Street
Hartsville, S.C. 29550 USA
www.sonoco.com
Hartsville, S.C. 29550 USA
www.sonoco.com
Sonoco Provides Strategic and Financial Update page 2
Fourth Quarter, Full-Year 2010 Base Earnings To Be Within Previous Guidance; Debt Retirement Charge Anticipated
Sonoco expects base earnings per diluted share for the fourth quarter and full-year 2010 to be
within previously announced guidance of $.57 to $.61 and $2.32 to $2.36, respectively. Excluded
from these estimates is an expected pre-tax charge of $49 million related to the Companys recently
completed debt tender. In November, the Company paid $293 million under the tender to retire bonds
with a total face value of $244 million. In 2009, fourth quarter and full-year base earnings per
diluted share were $.58 and $1.78, respectively.
Base earnings and base earnings per diluted share are non-GAAP financial measures adjusted to
remove restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, acquisition costs, losses from early
extinguishment of debt and other items, if any; the exclusion of which the Company believes
improves comparability and analysis of the underlying financial performance of the business.
Higher than anticipated recovered paper costs during the fourth quarter along with the recent loss
of our molded wood plug operation, which was destroyed by fire on November 5, are expected to cost
us about 4 cents per share during the quarter, said Hupfer. Our best estimate today is that the
fourth quarter earnings will be to the low side of the original guidance of $.57 to $.61 per
diluted share. From an operations perspective, volume has held up well in the fourth quarter.
Absent the extra costs, I think we would be at, or above, the high side of our guidance.
2011 Base Earnings Guidance Established; Voluntary Pension Funding Anticipated
Sonoco expects 2011 base earnings per diluted share to be in the range of $2.52 to $2.62 per
diluted share. Hupfer said the Companys guidance assumes a 5-cents-per-share negative foreign
exchange impact; a 2-cents-per-share drag from higher taxes; and a positive 2 cents per share from
the repurchase of common stock. Increased profitability from operations is expected to add 25
cents to 35 cents per diluted share in 2011, Hupfer said. The increase in operating profits assumes
3 cents per share from Sonocos mid-year 2010 acquisition of Associated Packaging Technologies
(APT), a leading thermoforming tray producer for frozen and shelf-ready foods. In addition,
productivity improvements should more than offset inflation, adding 6 cents per share, while volume
growth also will contribute.
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Sonoco Provides Strategic and Financial Update page 3
Our base earnings per share forecast reflects 8.6 percent earnings growth on the low side and
12.9 percent on the high side, he said. Hupfer added that Sonocos 2011 base earnings guidance
assumes no significant change in year-over-year pension expense, reflecting a voluntary cash
contribution of about $85 million that is expected to be made in late 2010 or early 2011.
2010 Turnaround, Strategic Growth Initiatives Highlighted
DeLoach pointed out that sales have grown 13 percent to approximately $4 billion in the 12 months
ending with the third quarter of 2010, during which base earnings per diluted share increased 37
percent to reach $2.32.
That says a lot about our strategy. But more importantly, it says a lot about our people. Im
proud of the way our employees have responded going into and especially, coming out of the
recession, DeLoach told investors. Clearly, were back on track, and more than ever we stand
ready to grow. And, were far from done. We have not lost sight of our long-term growth goals and
improving returns to our shareholders.
DeLoach said the Company remains on track to meet its growth goals of increasing sales to $5.5 to
$6.0 billion by the end of 2014, while improving earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) margins
from the current 9.4 percent to 11 percent. Over this planning horizon, he said the Company expects
organic growth to increase sales by about $300 million; international sales growth to add $300
million; new product sales to add about $350 million; and acquisitions to add between $500 million
to $1 billion.
New Product Sales Projected to Grow to Nearly $200 Million in 2011
Deloach pointed out that over the past five years, Sonoco has averaged more than $100 million per
year in new product sales and expects total new product sales to be near $175 million in 2010.
To meet our growth goals, we expect new product sales to average about $200 million per year. This
essentially doubles what we accomplished just a few years ago, he said, adding that the Company
defines new products as those which employ new technology or represent new market applications that
have been commercialized for two years or less. We will be commercializing several breakthrough
products in 2011. This growth is driven by our ability to collaborate with customers and suppliers
while effectively leveraging our broad intellectual capital and packaging capabilities.
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Sonoco Provides Strategic and Financial Update page 4
DeLoach highlighted growth of rigid plastic containers and several new private-label products
as near-term opportunities driving growth. Excluding recent acquisitions, our Sonoco Plastics
business should see organic growth in 2010 of about $65 million. We expect to add $40 million in
organic sales in 2011. If you include our recent APT acquisition, net sales for our plastics
business should be near $600 million in 2011. This is up from less than $200 million in 2005.
DeLoach said that Sonocos private label sales currently account for more than 12 percent of total
Consumer Packaging segment sales. And, we are receiving more opportunities to work with private
label producers and retailers who are interested in quality packaging.
Closing
DeLoach concluded by saying, We believe our performance in 2010 proves that Sonoco is back on
track and ready to meet our growth goals. We expect to have a strong year in 2011, with base
earnings growing at about 10 percentmuch like we saw coming out of the last recession.
Event Replay
A replay of Sonocos presentation will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern time on December 3, 2010, and
continue through midnight Eastern time on December 13, 2010. The toll-free replay number in the
United States is 888/286-8010 and the international replay number is +617/801-6888. The replay
access code is 46382814. The webcast and presentations of the event will be archived for 90 days
on the Companys Web site at www.sonoco.com, under the Investor Relations tab.
About Sonoco
Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a $3.6 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. The Company is a proud 2010/2011 member of the Dow Jones
Sustainability World Index. 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,
forecast, future, will, would and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements include, but
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Sonoco Provides Strategic and Financial Update page 5
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, managements 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 in obligations and earnings of pension and postretirement benefit plans; | ||
| pricing pressures, demand for products, and ability to maintain market share; | ||
| 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 Companys operations; | ||
| ability to win new business and/or identify and successfully close suitable acquisitions at the levels needed to meet growth targets; | ||
| 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 improve operating results in reporting units facing potential goodwill impairment; | ||
| loss of consumer or investor confidence; and | ||
| economic disruptions resulting from terrorist activities. |
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Sonoco Provides Strategic and Financial Update page 6
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 Companys 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 Commissions public reference
facilities and its Web site, http://www.sec.gov/, and from the Companys investor relations
department and the Companys 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
Commissions 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.
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