Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2012

or

 

¨

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                         to                 

Commission File No. 0-516

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

 

Incorporated under the laws		I.R.S. Employer Identification
of South Carolina		No. 57-0248420

1 N. Second St.

Hartsville, South Carolina 29550

Telephone: 843/383-7000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes         X                   No             

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes         X                   No             

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

X

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

(do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes                         No         X      

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock at October 19, 2012:

Common stock, no par value: 100,740,994

 

 

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

INDEX

 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION					3
Item 1.		Financial Statements:			3
		Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – September 30, 2012 (unaudited) and December 31, 2011 (unaudited)			3
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income – Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 (unaudited) and October 2, 2011 (unaudited)			4
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income – Three and Nine Months Ended September  30, 2012 (unaudited) and October 2, 2011 (unaudited)			5
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 (unaudited) and October 2, 2011 (unaudited)			6
		Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements			7
		Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm			23
Item 2.		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.			24
Item 3.		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.			36
Item 4.		Controls and Procedures.			37
PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION					37
Item 1.		Legal Proceedings.			37
Item 2.		Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.			39
Item 6.		Exhibits.			39

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Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

(Dollars and shares in thousands)

 

		September 30,     2012				December 31,     2011*
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	201,143			$	175,523
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances			673,629				606,785
Other receivables			37,361				43,378
Inventories:
Finished and in process			166,943				157,891
Materials and supplies			228,012				237,431
Prepaid expenses			47,447				65,227
Deferred income taxes			24,576				26,806
			1,379,111				1,313,041
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net			1,034,889				1,013,622
Goodwill			1,110,994				1,105,000
Other Intangible Assets, Net			284,085				304,600
Long-term Deferred Income Taxes			79,129				86,160
Other Assets			168,094				170,835
Total Assets		$	4,056,302			$	3,993,258
Liabilities and Equity
Current Liabilities
Payable to suppliers		$	463,705			$	436,732
Accrued expenses and other			354,736				347,622
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt			32,368				53,666
Accrued taxes			9,262				5,551
			860,071				843,571
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion			1,204,105				1,232,966
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits			386,827				420,048
Deferred Income Taxes			15,402				16,794
Other Liabilities			54,115				54,471
Commitments and Contingencies
Sonoco Shareholders’ Equity
Common stock, no par value
Authorized 300,000 shares
100,699 and 100,211 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively			7,175				7,175
Capital in excess of stated value			440,654				427,484
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(426,118)				(460,299)
Retained earnings			1,499,976				1,437,435
Total Sonoco Shareholders’ Equity			1,521,687				1,411,795
Noncontrolling Interests			14,095				13,613
Total Equity			1,535,782				1,425,408
Total Liabilities and Equity		$	4,056,302			$	3,993,258

 

*

The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements but does not

include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles.

 

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited)

(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)

 

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,     2012				October 2,     2011				September 30,     2012				October 2,     2011
Net sales		$	1,195,530			$	1,124,171			$	3,610,259			$	3,369,359
Cost of sales			989,301				937,431				2,970,627				2,797,320
Gross profit			206,229				186,740				639,632				572,039
Selling, general and administrative expenses			110,330				89,924				351,690				291,495
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges			(444)				12,048				24,164				23,943
Income before interest and income taxes			96,343				84,768				263,778				256,601
Interest expense			15,908				9,287				48,379				27,996
Interest income			1,056				953				2,858				2,751
Income before income taxes			81,491				76,434				218,257				231,356
Provision for income taxes			25,399				2,344				73,201				51,303
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates			56,092				74,090				145,056				180,053
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax			2,937				3,083				8,236				8,463
Net income		$	59,029			$	77,173			$	153,292			$	188,516
Net loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests		$	(193)			$	30			$	(65)			$	(514)
Net income attributable to Sonoco		$	58,836			$	77,203			$	153,227			$	188,002
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic			101,892				101,004				101,745				101,027
Diluted			102,544				101,959				102,548				102,200
Per common share:
Net income attributable to Sonoco:
Basic		$	0.58			$	0.76			$	1.51			$	1.86
Diluted		$	0.57			$	0.76			$	1.49			$	1.84
Cash dividends		$	0.30			$	0.29			$	0.89			$	0.86

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,     2012				October 2,     2011				September 30,     2012				October 2,     2011
Net income		$	59,029			$	77,173			$	153,292			$	188,516
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments			38,718				(93,885)				20,909				(36,252)
Changes in defined benefit plans, net of tax			(1,660)				(7,998)				8,287				(2,612)
Changes in derivative financial instruments, net of tax			3,274				(2,222)				4,985				1,495
Comprehensive income/(loss)			99,361				(26,932)				187,473				151,147
Comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			(193)				30				(65)				(514)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Sonoco		$	99,168			$	(26,902)			$	187,408			$	150,633

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,     2012				October 2,     2011
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income		$	153,292			$	188,516
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Asset impairment			5,876				9,005
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			149,159				131,611
Share-based compensation expense			6,472				10,039
Equity in earnings of affiliates			(8,236)				(8,463)
Cash dividends from affiliated companies			5,870				2,990
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets			(4,390)				258
Pension and postretirement plan expense			39,806				26,879
Pension and postretirement plan contributions			(64,080)				(123,691)
Tax effect of share-based compensation exercises			4,103				4,614
Excess tax benefit of share-based compensation			(1,867)				(3,248)
Net decrease in deferred taxes			(1,487)				(7,524)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions, dispositions, and foreign currency adjustments:
Trade accounts receivable			(56,641)				(96,426)
Inventories			3,246				(31,311)
Payable to suppliers			25,565				24,595
Prepaid expenses			(3,558)				(5,689)
Accrued expenses			10,062				3,422
Income taxes payable and other income tax items			22,366				7,997
Fox River environmental reserves			(1,320)				(1,379)
Other assets and liabilities			12,285				(287)
Net cash provided by operating activities			296,523				131,908
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment			(158,213)				(124,486)
Cost of acquisitions, exclusive of cash			(503)				(10,918)
Proceeds from the sale of assets			16,096				9,796
Net cash used in investing activities			(142,620)				(125,608)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt			5,678				11,560
Principal repayment of debt			(38,771)				(9,620)
Net (decrease) increase in commercial paper			(17,000)				113,000
Net change in overdrafts			469				(7,188)
Excess tax benefit of share-based compensation			1,867				3,248
Cash dividends			(89,537)				(85,955)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest			-				(5,718)
Shares acquired			(3,437)				(48,444)
Shares issued			7,153				16,146
Net cash used in financing activities			(133,578)				(12,971)
Effects of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash			5,295				(5,289)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents			25,620				(11,960)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			175,523				158,249
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	201,143			$	146,289

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Note 1:

Basis of Interim Presentation

In the opinion of the management of Sonoco Products Company (the “Company” or “Sonoco”), the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, unless otherwise stated) necessary to state fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods reported herein. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

With respect to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial information of the Company for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011 included in this Form 10-Q, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report dated November 1, 2012 appearing herein, states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their report on the unaudited financial information because that report is not a “report” or a “part” of a registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

 

Note 2:

Shareholders’ Equity

Earnings per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

 

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30, 2012				October 2, 2011				September 30, 2012				October 2, 2011
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Sonoco		$	58,836			$	77,203			$	153,227			$	188,002
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic			101,892,000				101,004,000				101,745,000				101,027,000
Dilutive effect of stock-based compensation			652,000				955,000				803,000				1,173,000
Diluted			102,544,000				101,959,000				102,548,000				102,200,000
Reported net income attributable to Sonoco per common share:
Basic		$	0.58			$	0.76			$	1.51			$	1.86
Diluted		$	0.57			$	0.76			$	1.49			$	1.84

Stock options and stock appreciation rights covering 2,453,745 and 2,462,878 shares, respectively, were not dilutive during the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012, and are therefore excluded from the computations of diluted income attributable to Sonoco per common share. The comparable figures for the three and nine-month periods ended October 2, 2011 were 1,753,351 and 1,379,167 shares, respectively. No adjustments were made to reported net income attributable to Sonoco in the computations of earnings per share.

Stock Repurchases

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 5,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. No shares were purchased under this authorization during the first nine months of 2012; accordingly, at September 30, 2012, a total of 5,000,000 shares remain available for repurchase.

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The Company frequently repurchases shares of its common stock to satisfy employee tax withholding obligations in association with the exercise of certain share-based compensation awards. These repurchases, which are not part of a publicly announced plan or program, totaled 103,209 shares in the first nine months of 2012 at a cost of $3,437, and 62,569 shares in the first nine months of 2011 at a cost of $2,146.

Dividend Declarations

On July 18, 2012, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share. This dividend was paid on September 10, 2012 to all shareholders of record as of August 17, 2012.

On October 15, 2012, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share. This dividend is payable December 10, 2012 to all shareholders of record as of November 16, 2012.

 

Note 3:

Acquisitions

On November 8, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of Tegrant Holding Corporation (“Tegrant”), a leading provider of highly engineered protective, temperature-assured and retail security packaging solutions. The cost of the Tegrant acquisition was $550,000 in cash paid at the time of the purchase plus an additional $503 paid in February 2012 for changes in working capital levels to the date of the closing. As the acquisition was completed near the end of the year, the allocation of the purchase price reported in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, was based on provisional estimates of the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. During the first nine months of 2012, the Company substantially finalized its valuations of the acquired assets and liabilities based on information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. As a result, adjustments were made to the provisional fair values that reduced property, plant and equipment by $(6,669), increased goodwill by $1,316, increased other intangible assets (customer lists) by $4,900, increased long-term deferred income tax assets by $7,291, increased trade accounts receivable by $750, decreased inventories by $(500), and increased accrued expenses by $7,088. The amounts shown in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011, have been adjusted to reflect these changes. The impact of the changes on the Company’s fiscal 2011 and 2012 results of operations was insignificant; accordingly, previously reported results have not been changed. The Company is finalizing the assessment of the valuation of certain assets and liabilities and will complete the valuation of all remaining assets and liabilities within 12 months from the date of the acquisition. Further adjustments, if any, are expected to be insignificant.

 

Note 4:

Restructuring and Asset Impairment

The Company has engaged in a number of restructuring actions over the past several years. Actions initiated in 2012 and 2011 are reported as “2012 Actions” and “2011 Actions,” respectively. Actions initiated prior to 2011, all of which were substantially complete at September 30, 2012, are reported as “2010 and Earlier Actions.”

Following are the total restructuring and asset impairment charges/(credits), net of adjustments, recognized by the Company during the periods presented:

 

		2012								2011
		Third Quarter				Nine Months				Third Quarter				Nine Months
Restructuring/Asset impairment:
2012 Actions		$	2,014			$	19,116			$	—			$	—
2011 Actions			(2,036	)			5,244				11,660				22,297
2010 and Earlier Actions			(422	)			(196	)			388				1,646
Restructuring/Asset impairment(credits)/charges		$	(444	)		$	24,164			$	12,048			$	23,943
Income tax benefit			(126	)			(5,912	)			(4,831	)			(8,470	)
Equity method investments, net of tax			—				22				—				17
Costs attributable to Noncontrolling Interests, net of tax			31				104				78				148
Total impact of Restructuring/Asset impairment (credits)/charges, net of tax		$	(539	)		$	18,378			$	7,295			$	15,638

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Restructuring and asset impairment charges are included in “Restructuring/Asset impairment charges” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company expects to recognize future additional charges totaling approximately $7,500 in connection with previously announced restructuring actions and believes that the majority of these charges will be incurred and paid by the end of 2012. The Company continually evaluates its cost structure, including its manufacturing capacity, and additional restructuring actions may be undertaken.

2012 Actions

During 2012, the Company announced the planned closures of a paper mill in Germany (part of the Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment) and a paperboard based protective packaging operation in the United States (part of the Protective Packaging segment). In addition, the Company continued its manufacturing rationalization efforts in its blow-molding businesses (part of the Consumer Packaging segment), including the planned closure of a facility in Canada, and realigned its cost structure resulting in the elimination of approximately 100 positions.

Below is a summary of 2012 Actions and related expenses by type incurred and estimated to be incurred through completion.

 

2012 Actions		Third Quarter				Total Incurred to Date				Estimated Total Cost
Severance and Termination Benefits
Paper and Industrial Converted Products		$	541			$	8,146			$	8,646
Consumer Packaging			407				1,509				1,659
Packaging Services			—				285				285
Protective Packaging			101				1,464				1,464
Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets
Paper and Industrial Converted Products			(18	)			2,233				2,233
Consumer Packaging			175				3,470				3,470
Protective Packaging			—				161				161
Other Costs
Paper and Industrial Converted Products			319				836				1,036
Consumer Packaging			263				588				1,088
Packaging Services			11				11				11
Protective Packaging			215				413				563
Total Charges and Adjustments		$	2,014			$	19,116			$	20,616

The following table sets forth the activity in the 2012 Actions restructuring accrual included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 

2012 Actions Accrual Activity 2012 Year to Date		Severance and   Termination Benefits						Asset Impairment/   Disposal of Assets						Other     Costs						Total
Liability at December 31, 2011				$	—					$	—					$	—					$	—
2012 charges					11,404						5,864						1,848						19,116
Cash payments					(7,509	)					—						(1,696	)					(9,205	)
Asset write downs/disposals					—						(5,864	)					—						(5,864	)
Foreign currency translation					(117	)					—						(10	)					(127	)
Liability at September 30, 2012				$	3,778					$	—					$	142					$	3,920

“Other costs” consist primarily of costs related to plant closures including equipment removal, utilities, plant security, property taxes and insurance. The Company expects to pay the majority of the remaining 2012 Actions restructuring costs by the end of 2012 using cash generated from operations.

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

2011 Actions

During 2011, the Company announced the closures in Canada of a flexible packaging facility and a thermoformed plastic packaging facility (parts of the Consumer Packaging segment), a tube and core facility in France (part of the Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment), and a fulfillment service center and a point-of-purchase display facility both in the United States (parts of the Packaging Services segment). The Company also sold two small businesses, a plastics operation in Brazil and a tubes and cores operation in the United States, and realigned its fixed cost structure resulting in the elimination of approximately 160 positions.

Below is a summary of 2011 Actions and related expenses by type incurred and estimated to be incurred through completion.

 

		2012								2011								Total
2011 Actions		Third Quarter				Nine Months				Third Quarter				Nine Months				Incurred to Date				Estimated Total Cost
Severance and Termination Benefits
Paper and Industrial Converted Products		$	162			$	238			$	5,770			$	6,192			$	9,366			$	9,966
Consumer Packaging			63				3,201				2,089				4,818				10,215				10,215
Packaging Services			72				364				—				212				1,209				1,209
Protective Packaging			—				109				86				86				1,218				1,218
Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets
Paper and Industrial Converted Products			—				33				195				(91	)			194				194
Consumer Packaging			(4,409	)			(3,833	)			—				6,868				6,379				6,379
Packaging Services			(114	)			(896	)			3,300				3,300				2,590				2,590
Protective Packaging			—				—				—				—				65				65
Other Costs
Paper and Industrial Converted Products			327				1,134				90				90				1,481				3,381
Consumer Packaging			1,231				3,772				72				668				5,177				7,577
Packaging Services			270				572				58				154				1,005				1,205
Protective Packaging			362				550				—				1				1,130				1,330
Total Charges and Adjustments		$	(2,036	)		$	5,244			$	11,660			$	22,297			$	40,029			$	45,329

The following table sets forth the activity in the 2011 Actions restructuring accrual included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 

2011 Actions Accrual Activity 2012 Year to Date		Severance and      Termination     Benefits						Asset   Impairment/   Disposal of Assets						Other     Costs						Total
Liability at December 31, 2011				$	10,320					$	—					$	80					$	10,400
2012 charges					3,970						712						6,028						10,710
Adjustments					(58	)					(5,408	)					—						(5,466	)
Cash receipts/(payments)					(11,731	)					8,686						(6,108	)					(9,153	)
Asset write downs/disposals					—						(3,990	)					—						(3,990	)
Foreign currency translation					21						—						—						21
Liability at September 30, 2012				$	2,522					$	—					$	—					$	2,522

In September 2012, the Company completed the sale of the land and building associated with a former flexible packaging facility in Canada. The majority of the activity in “Asset Impairment/Disposal of Assets” in the table above relates to the gain on this sale. “Other costs” consist primarily of lease termination costs and costs related to plant closures including the cost of equipment removal, utilities, plant security, property taxes and insurance.

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The Company expects to pay the majority of the remaining 2011 Actions restructuring costs by the end of 2012 using cash generated from operations.

2010 and Earlier Actions

2010 and Earlier Actions are comprised of a number of plant closures and workforce reductions initiated prior to 2011. Net cash receipts during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were $3,956, which included proceeds of $5,648 from the sale of the land and buildings associated with a previously closed paper mill in Canada. Net charges/(income) and adjustments totaled $(422) during the three-month period ended September 30, 2012. This included a gain of $(1,200) on the previously mentioned sale partially offset by $778 of ongoing costs related to building lease terminations and plant closures, including the cost of equipment removal, utilities, plant security, property taxes and insurance. The Company expects to recognize future pretax charges of approximately $700 associated with 2010 and Earlier Actions.

Below is a summary of expenses/(income) incurred by segment for 2010 and Earlier Actions for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011.

 

		2012								2011
2010 and Earlier Actions		Third Quarter				Nine Months				Third Quarter				Nine Months
Paper and Industrial Converted Products		$	(432)			$	(224)			$	342			$	1,209
Consumer Packaging			10				28				41				623
Packaging Services			—				—				(2)				(189)
Corporate			—				—				7				3
Total Charges and Adjustments		$	(422)			$	(196)			$	388			$	1,646

The accrual for 2010 and Earlier Actions totaled $3,359 and $4,039 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, and is included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accrual relates primarily to a pension withdrawal liability associated with a former paper mill in the United States and building lease terminations. The Company expects for the majority of both the liability and the future costs associated with 2010 and Earlier Actions to be paid by the end of 2013 using cash generated from operations.

 

Note 5:

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The following table summarizes the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss and the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax as applicable, for the nine months ended September 30, 2012:

 

		Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments						Defined Benefit Plans				Derivative Financial Instruments				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance at December 31, 2011		$	(21,277	)				$	(430,835)			$	(8,187)					$	(460,299)
Year-to-date change			20,909						8,287				4,985						34,181
Balance at September 30, 2012		$	(368	)				$	(422,548)			$	(3,202)					$	(426,118)

At September 30, 2012, the Company had commodity and foreign currency contracts outstanding to fix the costs of certain anticipated raw materials and energy purchases. These contracts, which have maturities ranging from September 2012 to December 2014, qualify as cash flow hedges under U.S. GAAP. The amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to these cash flow hedges were an unfavorable position of $5,355 ($3,202 after tax) at September 30, 2012, and an unfavorable position of $13,211 ($8,187 after tax) at December 31, 2011.

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The cumulative tax benefit on Derivative Financial Instruments was $2,153 at September 30, 2012, and $5,024 at December 31, 2011. During the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012, the tax benefit on Derivative Financial Instruments decreased by $(1,905) and $(2,871), respectively.

The cumulative tax benefit on Defined Benefit Plans was $251,078 at September 30, 2012, and $255,466 at December 31, 2011. During the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012, the tax benefit on Defined Benefit Plans increased by $1,370 and decreased by $(4,388), respectively.

Current period foreign currency translation adjustments of $416 and $(236) are included in noncontrolling interests at September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, respectively.

 

Note 6:

Goodwill

A summary of the changes in goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 is as follows:

 

The Company completed its most recent annual goodwill impairment testing during the third quarter of 2012. For testing purposes, the Company performed an assessment of each reporting unit by considering certain qualitative and quantitative factors. Qualitative factors included the macroeconomic environment, Company stock price and market capitalization movement, business strategy changes, and significant customer wins and losses. Quantitative factors included the amount by which the estimated fair value exceeded its current carrying value, current year operating performance as compared to prior projections, and implied fair values from comparable trading and transaction multiples. As a result of its qualitative and quantitative assessments, the Company concluded that there was no impairment of goodwill for any of its reporting units.

When the Company estimates the fair value of a reporting unit, it does so using a discounted cash flow model based on projections of future years’ operating results and associated cash flows, together with comparable trading and transaction multiples. The Company’s model discounts future cash flows, forecasted over a ten-year period, with an estimated residual growth rate. The Company’s projections incorporate management’s best estimates of the expected future results, which include expectations related to new business, and, where applicable, improved operating margins. Future cash flows are discounted to present value using a discount rate commensurate with the risks inherent in the cash flows.

The Company’s assessments, whether qualitative or quantitative, incorporate management’s expectations for the future, including forecasted growth rates and/or margin improvements. Therefore, should there be changes in the relevant facts and circumstances and/or expectations, management’s assessment regarding goodwill impairment may change as well.

Although no reporting units failed the qualitative or quantitative assessments noted above, in management’s opinion, the reporting units with significant goodwill having the greatest risk of future impairment if actual results in the future are not as expected are Plastics – Blowmolding and Rigid Paper – Europe. Total goodwill associated with these reporting units was approximately $131,000 and $10,000, respectively, at September 30, 2012. Although goodwill of the Packaging Services reporting unit is not currently at risk for impairment, a large portion of sales in this unit is concentrated in one customer and will be up for negotiation over the next few years. Management expects to retain this business; however, if a significant amount is lost and not replaced, it is possible that a goodwill impairment charge may be incurred. Total goodwill associated with this reporting unit was approximately $158,000 at September 30, 2012.

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

There were no triggering events during the three- or nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012.

Other Intangible Assets

A summary of other intangible assets as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 is as follows:

 

		September 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
Other Intangible Assets, gross
Patents		$	2,224			$	2,222
Customer lists			344,832				343,564
Trade names			21,188				21,175
Proprietary technology			17,831				17,818
Land use rights			351				360
Other			4,947				4,925
Other Intangible Assets, gross		$	391,373			$	390,064
Accumulated Amortization		$	(107,288)			$	(85,464)
Other Intangible Assets, net		$	284,085			$	304,600

Other intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective useful lives, which generally range from three to forty years. The Company has no intangibles with indefinite lives. Aggregate amortization expense was $6,945 and $3,568 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, respectively, and $21,122 and $10,919 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, respectively. Amortization expense on other intangible assets is expected to approximate $28,400 in 2012, $28,300 in 2013, $27,900 in 2014, $26,400 in 2015 and $26,100 in 2016.

 

Note 7:

Financial Instruments and Derivatives

The following table sets forth the carrying amounts and fair values of the Company’s significant financial instruments for which the carrying amount differs from the fair value.

 

		September 30, 2012								December 31, 2011
		Carrying Amount				Fair Value				Carrying Amount				Fair     Value
Long-term debt, net of current portion		$	1,204,105			$	1,338,421			$	1,232,966			$	1,282,727

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, short-term debt and long-term variable-rate debt approximates fair value. The fair value of long-term debt is determined based on trade information in the financial markets of the Company’s public debt and is considered a Level 2 fair value instrument.

Cash Flow Hedges

At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had derivative financial instruments outstanding to hedge anticipated transactions and certain asset and liability related cash flows. To the extent considered effective, the changes in fair value of these contracts are recorded in other comprehensive income and reclassified to income or expense in the period in which the hedged item impacts earnings.

Commodity Cash Flow Hedges

The Company has entered into certain derivative contracts to manage the cost of anticipated purchases of natural gas, aluminum and old corrugated containers. At September 30, 2012, natural gas swaps covering approximately 8.7 million MMBTUs were outstanding. These contracts represent approximately 83%, 73% and 38% of anticipated U.S. and Canadian usage for the remainder of 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Additionally, the Company had swap contracts covering 3,911 metric tons of aluminum representing

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

approximately 63% of anticipated usage for the remainder of 2012 and 24% for 2013, and 14,625 short tons of old corrugated containers representing approximately 3% of anticipated usage for 2012. The fair values of the Company’s commodity cash flow hedges were in loss positions of $(6,373) and $(13,989) at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The amount of the loss included in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2012, that is expected to be reclassified to the income statement during the next twelve months is $(4,562).

Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedges

The Company has entered into forward contracts to hedge certain anticipated foreign currency denominated sales and purchases forecast to occur in 2012. The net positions of these contracts at September 30, 2012 were as follows (in thousands):

 

Currency		Action				Quantity
Colombian peso			purchase				3,846,580
Mexican peso			purchase				186,246
Canadian dollar			purchase				18,745
Euro			purchase				3,413
Turkish lira			purchase				2,178
British pound			purchase				1,663
Polish zloty			purchase				1,153
New Zealand dollar			sell				(459)
Australian dollar			sell				(678)
Russian ruble			sell				(2,443)

The fair value of these foreign currency cash flow hedges was $1,061 and $608 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. During the first nine months of 2012, certain foreign currency cash flow hedges related to construction in progress were settled as the related capital expenditures were made. A loss of $(9) and a loss of $(26) were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss and netted against the carrying value of assets during the three- and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively. The amount of the gain included in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2012 expected to be reclassified to the income statement during the next twelve months is $904.

Other Derivatives

The Company routinely enters into forward contracts or swaps to economically hedge the currency exposure of intercompany debt and existing foreign currency denominated receivables and payables. The Company does not apply hedge accounting treatment under ASC 815 for these instruments. As such, changes in fair value are recorded directly to income and expense in the periods that they occur. The net positions of these contracts at September 30, 2012 were as follows (in thousands):

 

Currency		Action				Quantity
Euro			purchase				19,395
Canadian dollar			purchase				5,438
British pound			purchase				517
Colombian peso			sell				(6,507,202)

The fair value of the Company’s other derivatives was $(438) and $(746) at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

The Company has determined all hedges to be highly effective and as a result no material ineffectiveness has been recorded.

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The following table sets forth the location and fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

 

Description		Balance Sheet Location		September 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity Contracts		Prepaid expenses		$	882			$	—
Commodity Contracts		Other assets		$	96			$	—
Commodity Contracts		Accrued expenses and other		$	(5,226	)		$	(10,234)
Commodity Contracts		Other liabilities		$	(2,125	)		$	(3,755)
Foreign Exchange Contracts		Prepaid expenses		$	1,525			$	1,097
Foreign Exchange Contracts		Accrued expenses and other		$	(464	)		$	(489)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign Exchange Contracts		Prepaid expenses		$	89			$	2
Foreign Exchange Contracts		Accrued expenses and other		$	(508	)		$	(748)
Foreign Exchange Contracts		Other liabilities		$	(19	)		$	—

The following tables set forth the effect of the Company’s derivative instruments on financial performance for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011:

 

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The following tables set forth the effect of the Company’s derivative instruments on financial performance for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011:

 

Description		Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)				Location of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income (Effective Portion)		Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income (Effective Portion)				Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)		Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)
Nine months ended September 30, 2012
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
Foreign Exchange Contracts		$	2,683			Net sales		$	306			Net sales		$     —
						Cost of sales		$	2,048
Commodity Contracts		$	(2,098)			Cost of sales		$	(9,599)			Cost of sales		$     94
Nine months ended October 2, 2011
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
Foreign Exchange Contracts		$	(672)			Net sales		$	2,439			Net sales		$    12
						Cost of sales		$	(1,985)
Commodity Contracts		$	(3,852)			Cost of sales		$	(7,937)			Cost of sales		$    152

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:		Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income Statement		Gain or (Loss) Recognized
Nine months ended September 30, 2012
Foreign Exchange Contracts		Cost of sales		$	278
		Selling, general and administrative		$	30
Nine months ended October 2, 2011
Foreign Exchange Contracts		Cost of sales		$	(283)
		Selling, general and administrative		$	(169)

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Note 8:

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. A three-tier fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize the inputs in measuring fair value as follows:

 

Level 1 –		Observable inputs such as quoted market prices in active markets;
Level 2 –		Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
Level 3 –		Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities, excluding retirement and postretirement plan assets, measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

 

Description		September 30, 2012		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
Hedge derivatives, net:
Commodity contracts		$(6,373)		$	—				$ (6,373)			$	—
Foreign exchange contracts		1,061			—				1,061				—
Non-hedge derivatives, net:
Foreign exchange contracts		(438)			—				(438)				—
Deferred compensation plan assets		2,590			2,590				—				—
Description		December 31, 2011		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
Hedge derivatives, net:
Commodity contracts		$(13,989)		$	—			$	(13,989)			$	—
Foreign exchange contracts		608			—				608				—
Non-hedge derivatives, net:
Foreign exchange contracts		(746)			—				(746)				—
Deferred compensation plan assets		2,279			2,279				—				—

As discussed in Note 7, the Company uses derivatives to mitigate the effect of raw material and energy cost fluctuations, foreign currency fluctuations and, from time to time, interest rate movements. Fair value measurements for the Company’s derivatives are classified under Level 2 because such measurements are determined using published market prices or estimated based on observable inputs such as interest rates, yield curves, spot and future commodity prices and spot and future exchange rates.

Certain deferred compensation plan liabilities are funded by assets invested in various exchange traded mutual funds. These assets are measured using quoted prices in accessible active markets for identical assets.

The Company does not currently have any nonfinancial assets or liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis. None of the Company’s financial assets or liabilities is measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs. There were no transfers in or out of Level 1 or Level 2 fair value measurements during the three- or nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012.

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Note 9:

Employee Benefit Plans

Retirement Plans and Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans

The Company provides non-contributory defined benefit pension plans for a majority of its employees in the United States and certain of its employees in Mexico and Belgium. Effective December 31, 2003, the Company froze participation for newly hired salaried and non-union hourly U.S. employees in its traditional defined benefit pension plan. At that time, the Company adopted a defined contribution plan, the Sonoco Investment and Retirement Plan (SIRP), which covers its non-union U.S. employees hired on or after January 1, 2004. The Company also sponsors contributory defined benefit pension plans covering the majority of its employees in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Netherlands.

On February 4, 2009, the U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan was amended to freeze plan benefits for all active participants effective December 31, 2018. Remaining active participants in the U.S. qualified plan will become participants of the SIRP effective January 1, 2019.

The Company also provides postretirement healthcare and life insurance benefits to a limited number of its retirees and their dependents in the United States and Canada, based on certain age and/or service eligibility requirements.

The components of net periodic benefit cost include the following:

 

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,   2012				October 2,   2011				September 30,   2012				October 2,   2011
Retirement Plans
Service cost		$	6,391			$	5,236			$	17,804			$	15,353
Interest cost			17,906				18,125				52,430				53,480
Expected return on plan assets			(20,890	)			(20,977	)			(62,889	)			(63,359	)
Amortization of net transition obligation			115				116				344				353
Amortization of prior service cost			139				144				308				215
Amortization of net actuarial loss			10,525				6,414				28,722				18,183
Net periodic benefit cost		$	14,186			$	9,058			$	36,719			$	24,225
Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans
Service cost		$	131			$	164			$	615			$	766
Interest cost			154				342				841				1,193
Expected return on plan assets			(391	)			(383	)			(1,131	)			(1,090	)
Amortization of prior service credit			(1,619	)			(1,998	)			(4,872	)			(5,940	)
Amortization of net actuarial loss			(403	)			2				(2	)			699
Net periodic benefit income		$	(2,128	)		$	(1,873	)		$	(4,549	)		$	(4,372	)

The Company made contributions of $55,160 and $115,123 to its defined benefit retirement and retiree health and life insurance plans during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, respectively. The Company anticipates that it will make additional contributions of approximately $8,200 to its defined benefit retirement and retiree health and life insurance plans in 2012.

Sonoco Investment and Retirement Plan (SIRP)

The Company recognized SIRP expense totaling $2,692 and $2,489 for the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, respectively, and $7,637 and $7,026 for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, respectively. Contributions to the SIRP, funded annually in the first quarter, totaled $8,920 during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, and $8,568 during the nine months ended October 2, 2011. No additional SIRP contributions are expected during the remainder of 2012.

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Note 10:

Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate for the three-and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2012, was 31.2% and 33.5%, respectively, and its effective tax rate for the three and nine-month periods ending October 2, 2011 was 3.1% and 22.2%, respectively. The quarterly and year-to-date rates for both years varied from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to the favorable effect of international operations that are subject to tax rates generally lower than the U.S. rate, the favorable effect of the manufacturer’s deduction, and contingencies recorded for uncertain tax positions. The quarterly and year-to-date rates for 2011 also varied from the U.S. statutory rate due to an $18,848 net benefit from deferred tax valuation allowance adjustments on foreign jurisdiction net operating losses. In addition, to a much lesser extent, the prior year’s rate reflected the positive impact of non-taxable life insurance proceeds and the net release of reserves for uncertain tax positions.

The Company and/or its subsidiaries file federal, state and local income tax returns in the United States and various foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examination by tax authorities for years before 2009. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to examination prior to 2007 with respect to U.S. state and local and non-U.S. income taxes.

There have been no significant changes in the Company’s liability for uncertain tax positions since December 31, 2011. The Company’s estimate for the potential outcome for any uncertain tax issue is highly judgmental. Management believes that any reasonably foreseeable outcomes related to these matters have been adequately provided for. However, future results may include favorable or unfavorable adjustments to estimated tax liabilities in the period the assessments are made or resolved or when statutes of limitation on potential assessments expire. Additionally, the jurisdictions in which earnings or deductions are realized may differ from current estimates. As a result, the Company’s effective tax rate may fluctuate significantly on a quarterly basis.

 

Note 11:

New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. This update eliminated the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity and provided the entity with the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The update also included a requirement for an entity to present on the face of the financial statements reclassification adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in the statement(s) where the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income are presented. This reclassification requirement, however, was subsequently deferred by ASU No. 2011-12. The Company selected the two statement approach and has included the additional statement in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, there have been no other newly issued nor newly applicable accounting pronouncements that have or are expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

Note 12:

Segment Reporting

The Company modified its reportable segments in the fourth quarter of 2011 as the result of changes in our business and related internal management reporting to better reflect its mix of business following the November 2011 acquisition of Tegrant. The Company now reports its financial results in the following four reportable segments: the Consumer Packaging segment, the Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment, the Packaging Services segment, and the Protective Packaging segment.

The Consumer Packaging segment includes the following products and services: round and shaped rigid containers and trays (both composite and thermoformed plastic); blow-molded plastic bottles and jars; extruded and injection-molded plastic products; printed flexible packaging; metal and peelable membrane ends and closures; and global brand artwork management.

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment includes the following products: high-performance paper and composite paperboard tubes and cores; fiber-based construction tubes and forms; wooden, metal and composite wire and cable reels and spools; and recycled paperboard, linerboard, corrugating medium, recovered paper and other recycled materials.

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

The Protective Packaging segment includes the following products: custom-designed paperboard-based and expanded foam protective packaging; temperature-assurance packaging; and retail security packaging.

The following table sets forth net sales, intersegment sales and operating profit for the Company’s reportable segments. “Segment operating profit” is defined as the segment’s portion of “Income before interest and income taxes” excluding restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, acquisition-related costs, and certain other items, if any, the exclusion of which the Company believes improves comparability and analysis of the financial performance of the business. General corporate expenses have been allocated as operating costs to each of the Company’s reportable segments. Prior year’s data have been restated to conform to the current presentation.

FINANCIAL SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,     2012				October 2,     2011				September 30,     2012				October 2,     2011
Net sales:
Consumer Packaging		$	475,946			$	503,370			$	1,448,750			$	1,492,257
Paper and Industrial Converted Products			453,605				484,066				1,392,675				1,440,436
Packaging Services			124,561				112,939				347,267				362,310
Protective Packaging			141,418				23,796				421,567				74,356
Consolidated		$	1,195,530			$	1,124,171			$	3,610,259			$	3,369,359
Intersegment sales:
Consumer Packaging		$	2,096			$	1,769			$	6,209			$	3,964
Paper and Industrial Converted Products			23,126				26,341				73,779				79,845
Packaging Services			516				346				1,694				967
Protective Packaging			457				119				1,465				776
Consolidated		$	26,195			$	28,575			$	83,147			$	85,552
Income before interest and income taxes:
Operating Profit
Consumer Packaging		$	43,829			$	52,363			$	136,661			$	143,713
Paper and Industrial Converted Products			33,150				38,027				105,106				108,780
Packaging Services			5,098				4,807				13,969				20,020
Protective Packaging			10,645				3,362				29,303				10,025
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges			444				(12,048	)			(24,164	)			(23,943	)
Other, net			3,177				(1,743	)			2,903				(1,994	)
Consolidated		$	96,343			$	84,768			$	263,778			$	256,601

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Note 13:

Commitments and Contingencies

Pursuant to U.S. GAAP, accruals for estimated losses are recorded at the time information becomes available indicating that losses are probable and that the amounts are reasonably estimable.

Environmental Matters

The Company is subject to a variety of environmental and pollution control laws and regulations in all jurisdictions in which it operates. As is the case with other companies in similar industries, the Company faces exposure from actual or potential claims and legal proceedings. Some of these exposures, as discussed below, have the potential to be material.

During the fourth quarter of 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notified U.S. Paper Mills Corp. (U.S. Mills), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, that U.S. Mills and NCR Corporation (NCR), an unrelated party, would be jointly held responsible to undertake a program to remove and dispose of certain PCB-contaminated sediments at a particular site on the lower Fox River in Wisconsin (the “Site”) which is now labeled by the EPA as Phase 1. U.S. Mills and NCR reached an agreement between themselves that each would fund 50% of the costs of remediation. The Company has expensed a total of $17,650 for its estimated share of the total cleanup cost of the Site, and through September 30, 2012, has spent a total of $14,467. The remaining accrual of $3,183 represents the Company’s best estimate of what it is likely to pay to complete the Site project. However, the actual costs associated with cleanup of the Site are dependent upon many factors and it is possible that remediation costs could be higher than the current estimate of project costs. The Company acquired U.S. Mills in 2001, and the alleged contamination predates the acquisition.

The EPA and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) have also issued a general notice of potential liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and a request to participate in remedial action implementation negotiations relating to a stretch of the lower Fox River, including the bay at Green Bay, (Operating Units 2 – 5) to eight potentially responsible parties, including U.S. Mills. Operating Units 2 – 5 include, but also comprise a vastly larger area than, the Site. A detailed description of the claims and proceedings associated therewith appears in Part II – Item 8 – “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” (Note 14 - “Commitments and Contingencies”) in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

On October 14, 2010, the EPA and WDNR filed suit against NCR, API, U.S. Mills and nine other defendants in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (No. 10-CV-00910-WCG) pursuant to Sections 106 and 107 of CERCLA. The plaintiffs seek to recover unreimbursed costs incurred for activities undertaken in response to the release and threatened release of hazardous substances from facilities at or near the Lower Fox River and Green Bay as well as damages for injury to, loss of, and destruction of natural resources resulting from such releases. The plaintiffs also seek a ruling that the defendants are liable for future response costs of the plaintiffs and requiring the defendants to comply with the unilateral Administrative Order for Remedial Action discussed in prior filings. The Company does not believe that the remedies sought in the suit materially expand the Company’s potential liability beyond what has been disclosed in this report or in the Company’s prior filings with the SEC. U.S. Mills plans to defend the suit vigorously.

Since 2007, U.S. Mills has expensed a total of $60,825 for potential liabilities associated with the Fox River contamination (not including amounts expensed for remediation at the Site) and through September 30, 2012, has spent a total of $8,560, primarily on legal fees, leaving a reserve of $52,265 remaining at September 30,

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

2012 for potential liabilities associated with the Fox River contamination (not including amounts accrued for remediation at the Site). Because of the continuing uncertainties in the estimated costs of remediation and continuing uncertainties surrounding U.S. Mills’ allocable share, including a potentially favorable resolution, it is impossible to state with any reasonable degree of confidence that any estimate is a better estimate than the amount recorded. However, because the discharges of hazardous materials into the environment occurred before the Company acquired U.S. Mills, and U.S. Mills has been operated as a separate subsidiary of the Company, the Company does not believe that it bears financial responsibility for these legacy environmental liabilities of U.S. Mills. Therefore, the Company continues to believe that the maximum additional exposure to its consolidated financial position is limited to the equity position of U.S. Mills, which was approximately $90,000 at September 30, 2012.

On November 8, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of Tegrant. During its due diligence, the Company identified several potential environmentally contaminated sites. The total remediation cost of these sites is estimated to be $18,850 and an accrual in this amount was recorded on Tegrant’s opening balance sheet.

The Company has been named as a potentially responsible party at several other environmentally contaminated sites. All of the sites are also the responsibility of other parties. The potential remediation liabilities are shared with such other parties, and, in most cases, the Company’s share, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated at the current time.

As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company (and its subsidiaries) had accrued $76,944 and $78,590, respectively, related to environmental contingencies. Of these, a total of $55,448 and $56,768 relate to U.S. Mills and $18,743 and $18,846 relate to Tegrant at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. These accruals are included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. U.S. Mills recognized a $40,825 benefit in 2008 from settlements reached and proceeds received on certain insurance policies covering the Fox River contamination. U.S. Mills’ two remaining insurance carriers are in liquidation. It is possible that U.S. Mills may recover from these carriers a small portion of the costs it ultimately incurs. U.S. Mills may also be able to reallocate some of the costs it incurs among other parties. There can be no assurance that such claims for recovery or reallocation would be successful and no amounts have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements of the Company for such potential recovery or reallocation.

Other Legal Matters

The Company was named as a defendant in a class action by persons who bought Company stock between February 7, 2007 and September 18, 2007. The complaint, as amended, alleged that the Company issued press releases and made public statements during the class period that were materially false and misleading. The complaint was seeking an unspecified amount of damages plus interest and attorneys’ fees. On April 26, 2012, the parties filed with the court a stipulation of settlement, which subsequently has been approved by the court and, subject to the conditions contained therein, ends the litigation. The settlement was funded entirely by insurance.

In addition to those matters described above, the Company is subject to various other legal proceedings, claims, and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of these matters could differ from management’s expectations, the Company does not believe the resolution of these matters has a reasonable possibility of having a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Directors of Sonoco Products Company:

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Sonoco Products Company as of September 30, 2012, and the related condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income, of comprehensive income, of changes in total equity, and of cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein), and in our report dated February 29, 2012, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

 

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Charlotte, North Carolina

November 1, 2012

 

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Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Statements included in this report 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,” “strategy,” “opportunity,” “target,” “anticipate,” “objective,” “goal,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “forecasts,” “future,” “will,” “would,” or the negative thereof, 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; realization of synergies resulting from acquisitions; 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; sales growth; continued payments of dividends; stock repurchases; producing improvements in earnings; financial results for future periods; goodwill impairment charges; expected amounts of capital spending; anticipated contributions to benefit plans; 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;

•

Ability to manage the mix of business to take advantage of growing markets while reducing cyclical effects of some of the Company’s existing business on operating results;

•

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 Company’s 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;

•

Actions of government agencies and changes in laws and regulations affecting the Company;

•

Liability for and anticipated costs of environmental remediation actions;

•

Accuracy of assumptions underlying projections related to goodwill impairment testing, and accuracy of management’s assessment of goodwill impairment;

•

Accuracy of assumptions underlying fair value measurements, accuracy of management’s assessments of fair value, and fluctuations in fair value;

•

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 in this report might not occur.

 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

 

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Sonoco is a leading provider of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging and packaging supply chain services, with approximately 340 locations in 34 countries.

Sonoco competes in multiple product categories, with its operations organized and reported in four segments: Consumer Packaging, Paper and Industrial Converted Products, Packaging Services, and Protective Packaging. The majority of the Company’s revenues are from products and services sold to consumer and industrial products companies for use in the packaging of their products for sale or shipment. The Company also manufactures paperboard, primarily from recycled materials, for both internal use and open market sale. Each of the Company’s operating units has its own sales staff and maintains direct sales relationships with its customers.

Third Quarter 2012 Compared with Third Quarter 2011

RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles are referred to as GAAP financial measures. The following tables reconcile the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the periods presented. These non-GAAP financial measures (referred to as “base”) are the GAAP measures adjusted to exclude (dependent upon the applicable period) restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, acquisition charges, specifically identified tax adjustments and certain other items, if any, the exclusion of which the Company believes improves comparability and analysis of the underlying financial performance of the business.

 

		For the three months ended September 30, 2012
Dollars in thousands, except per share data		GAAP				Restructuring/ Asset Impairment				Other(1)				Base
Income before interest and income taxes			$96,343				$(444)				$(3,177)				$92,722
Interest expense, net			14,852				-				-				14,852
Income before income taxes			81,491				(444)				(3,177)				77,870
Provision for income taxes			25,399				126				(1,135)				24,390
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates			56,092				(570)				(2,042)				53,480
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax			2,937				-				-				2,937
Net income			59,029				(570)				(2,042)				56,417
Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			(193	)			31				-				(162)
Net income attributable to Sonoco			$58,836				$(539)				$(2,042)				$56,255
Per diluted common share			$0.57				$0.00				$(0.02)				$0.55

 

(1)	“Other” consists primarily of excess insurance settlement gains.

 

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		For the three months ended October 2, 2011
Dollars in thousands, except per share data		GAAP				Restructuring/ Asset Impairment				Other(2)				Base
Income before interest and income taxes			$84,768				$12,048				$1,743				$98,559
Interest expense, net			8,334				-				-				8,334
Income before income taxes			76,434				12,048				1,743				90,225
Provision for income taxes			2,344				4,831				19,093				26,268
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates			74,090				7,217				(17,350)				63,957
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax			3,083				-				-				3,083
Net income			77,173				7,217				(17,350)				67,040
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			30				78				-				108
Net income attributable to Sonoco			$77,203				$7,295				$(17,350)				$67,148
Per diluted common share			$0.76				$0.07				$(0.17)				$0.66

 

(2)	“Other” consists primarily of acquisition-related costs and reductions in tax expense from valuation allowance adjustments on deferred tax assets.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion provides a review of results for the three months ended September 30, 2012 versus the three months ended October 2, 2011.

OVERVIEW

Net sales for the third quarter of 2012 were $1,195 million, compared with $1,124 million in the same period in 2011. This 6.3% increase was driven by $120 million in acquisition related sales, almost all of which is attributable to Tegrant, partially offset by lower sales prices in certain businesses and a negative impact from foreign currency translation. Tegrant was acquired November 8, 2011, and so is not included in the comparable prior year period.

Net income attributable to Sonoco for the third quarter of 2012 was $58.8 million compared to $77.2 million reported for the same period of 2011. Results for 2012 include a net after-tax benefit of $2.6 million representing gains from the sale of facilities and insurance recoveries totaling $6.4 million, after tax, partially offset by after-tax restructuring and other non-base charges of $3.8 million. Results for 2011 include $8.8 million of after-tax restructuring and acquisition charges and a net $18.8 million income tax benefit from valuation allowance adjustments on deferred tax assets. Third quarter 2012 base net income attributable to Sonoco (base earnings) was $56.3 million ($0.55 per diluted share) versus $67.1 million ($0.66 per diluted share) in 2011.

A combination of unfavorable changes in mix of business and higher costs had a negative impact on earnings in most of the Company’s businesses in the third quarter of 2012. In addition, a stronger dollar further reduced reported earnings compared to the prior year quarter. Absent the inclusion of Tegrant, overall base operating profits would have been down over 15%, as the impact of mix along with higher pension, labor, maintenance, and other costs, more than offset the benefits of positive price/cost and improved productivity. In Protective Packaging, operating profits in the legacy operations were down 10%; however, including the addition of Tegrant, operating profits for the segment as a whole more than tripled. Operating profits also increased modestly in Packaging Services, but were down significantly in Consumer Packaging and Paper and Industrial Converted Products.

 

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OPERATING REVENUE

Net sales for the third quarter of 2012 were $1,195 million, compared to $1,124 million for the third quarter of 2011, an increase of 6.3%, or $71 million.

The components of the sales change were:

($ in millions)
Volume/mix		$	10
Selling prices			(32)
Acquisitions/dispositions, net			120
Foreign currency translation and other, net			(27)
Total sales increase		$	71

Acquisition-related sales gains were almost exclusively driven by Tegrant. The majority of the decline in sales due to selling prices occurred in the Company’s recycling and paper operations and was driven by lower recovered paper prices.

COSTS AND EXPENSES

Cost of sales was up $51.9 million from the prior year quarter; however, excluding the impact of acquisitions, cost of sales would have been down, in line with the decrease in sales absent acquisitions. Lower market pricing for recovered paper benefitted our industrial businesses, while Consumer Packaging benefitted from lower resin and film costs. Price/cost (the relationship of the change in sales prices to the change in costs of materials, energy and freight) was positive relative to the prior year, but the benefit was more than offset by higher pension, labor, maintenance and other costs.

Acquisitions were the primary driver of the $20.4 million year-over-year increase in third quarter selling, general and administrative (SG&A) costs. Excluding acquisitions, these costs would have been $4.1 million higher, driven primarily by higher pension expense and general inflation. In addition, last year’s third quarter included the benefit of $3 million of life insurance proceeds which were not repeated in the current year. Base earnings before interest and income taxes were 7.8% of sales compared to 8.8% in last year’s third quarter, due to the increase in SG&A costs and the impact of acquisitions.

This year’s third quarter reflects a net restructuring and restructuring-related asset benefit of $0.4 million related to gains on the sale of previously closed facilities, while last year’s quarter included charges totaling $12.0 million. Additional information regarding restructuring actions and impairments is provided in Note 4 to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Net interest expense for the third quarter of 2012 increased to $14.9 million, compared with $8.3 million during the same period in 2011. The increase was due to higher debt levels as a result of the acquisition of Tegrant.

This year’s third quarter effective tax rate of 31.2% was higher than the 3.1% rate recorded in the third quarter of 2011. Last year’s quarter reflects an $18.8 million net benefit from deferred tax valuation adjustments on foreign jurisdiction net operating losses. In addition, to a much lesser extent, the prior year’s rate reflected the positive impact of non-taxable life insurance proceeds and the net release of reserves for uncertain tax positions. The effective tax rate on base earnings for the quarter increased to 31.3% from 29.1% last year. The quarter-over-quarter increase in the base rate reflects a decrease in non-taxable life insurance proceeds.

 

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REPORTABLE SEGMENTS

The following table recaps net sales for the third quarter of 2012 and 2011 ($ in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended
		Sept. 30, 2012				Oct. 2, 2011				% Change
Net sales:
Consumer Packaging		$	475,946			$	503,370				(5.4)%
Paper and Industrial Converted Products			453,605				484,066				(6.3)%
Packaging Services			124,561				112,939				10.3%
Protective Packaging			141,418				23,796				494.3%
Consolidated		$	1,195,530			$	1,124,171				6.3%
Consolidated operating profits, also referred to as “Income before interest and income taxes” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, are comprised of the following ($ in thousands):
		Three Months Ended
		Sept. 30, 2012				Oct. 2, 2011				% Change
Income before interest and income taxes:
Segment operating profit
Consumer Packaging		$	43,829			$	52,363				(16.3	)%
Paper and Industrial Converted Products			33,150				38,027				(12.8	)%
Packaging Services			5,098				4,807				6.1	%
Protective Packaging			10,645				3,362				216.6	%
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges			444				(12,048	)
Other, net			3,177				(1,743	)
Consolidated		$	96,343			$	84,768				13.7	%
The following table recaps restructuring/asset impairment charges attributable to each of the Company’s segments during the third quarter of 2012 and 2011 ($ in thousands):
		Three Months Ended
		Sept. 30, 2012				Oct. 2, 2011
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges:
Consumer Packaging		$	(2,260	)		$	2,202
Paper and Industrial Converted Products			899				6,397
Packaging Services			239				3,356
Protective Packaging			678				86
Corporate			—				7
Total		$	(444	)		$	12,048

Segment operating profit is used by Company management to evaluate segment performance and does not include (dependent upon the applicable period) restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, acquisition-related costs, specifically identified tax adjustments and certain other items, if any, the exclusion of which the Company believes improves comparability and analysis of the underlying financial performance of the business. Accordingly, the term “segment operating profit” is defined as the segment’s portion of “Income before interest and income taxes” excluding those items. All other general corporate expenses have been allocated as operating costs to each of the Company’s reportable segments.

Consumer Packaging

Sonoco’s Consumer Packaging segment includes the following products and services: round and shaped rigid containers and trays (both composite and thermoformed plastic); blow-molded plastic bottles and jars; extruded and injection-molded plastic products; printed flexible packaging; metal and peelable membrane ends and closures; and global brand artwork management.

 

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This year’s third quarter segment sales of $476 million were 5.4% lower than the $503 million reported in the prior year’s quarter. Year-over-year sales were down due to lower volumes, primarily in the Company’s composite cans and closures operations, slightly lower sales prices, particularly in blow-molded plastics, and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation. Volume in the plastics businesses was down modestly, partially driven by reduced demand for dual-ovenable trays for the frozen food industry.

Segment operating profit was $43.8 million compared with $52.4 million in last year’s third quarter. Operating profits were lower in the quarter due to negative volume and mix and higher pension, labor and other expenses, which were partially offset by a positive price/cost relationship and productivity improvements.

Paper and Industrial Converted Products

The Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment includes the following products: high-performance paper and composite paperboard tubes and cores; fiber-based construction tubes and forms; wooden, metal and composite wire and cable reels and spools; and recycled paperboard, linerboard, corrugating medium, recovered paper and other recycled materials.

Third quarter 2012 sales for the segment were $454 million, compared with $484 million in the same period in 2011. The 6.3% year-over-year reduction in third quarter sales was primarily due to the negative impact of foreign currency translation and lower recovered paper prices. In North America, lower recovered paper prices led to lower selling prices in the Company’s recycling and paper operations. Increased recycling activity in North America and Europe, additional trade sales of paper in North America, and improvement in the Company’s reels business were partially offset by tube and core volume declines in most regions of the world.

Segment operating profit was $33.2 million in the third quarter compared to $38.0 million in the third quarter of 2011. Temporary operating problems experienced at several North American paperboard mills and the negative impact of exchange rates, higher pension, labor and other costs accounted for the majority of the year-over-year decline. The higher volume of trade sales of paper was offset by a lower volume of intercompany sales resulting in no significant increase in segment operating profit, while the additional recycling volume added very little to operating profit given the lower recovered paper prices. These negative factors were partially offset by modest productivity improvements and a favorable price/cost relationship. The paperboard mill operating problems noted above have been resolved and are not expected to negatively affect future operating profits.

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; supply chain management services, including contract packing, fulfillment and scalable service centers; and paper amenities, such as coasters and glass covers.

Third quarter 2012 sales for this segment were $124.6 million, compared with $112.9 million in the same period in 2011, as the segment experienced strong volume increases in point-of-purchase displays and contract packing. These volume gains were partially offset by negative impact of foreign exchange translation.

Operating profit improved 6.1% to $5.1 million from $4.8 million in last year’s quarter due primarily to higher volumes in international packaging fulfillment centers and productivity improvements. These improvements were partially offset by a negative change in mix and the unfavorable effect of foreign exchange translation.

Protective Packaging

The Protective Packaging segment includes the following products: custom-designed paperboard-based and expanded foam protective packaging; temperature-assurance packaging; and retail security packaging.

Third quarter 2012 segment sales increased to $141 million, compared with $24 million in 2011. This increase was due entirely to last year’s acquisition of Tegrant as sales in the Company’s legacy protective packaging operations were flat year-over-year as modest volume increases were offset by lower selling prices.

 

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Segment operating profit increased to $10.6 million in the third quarter, compared to $3.4 million in the third quarter of 2011, primarily due to the acquisition of Tegrant. Operating profit from the Company’s legacy protective packaging operations decreased slightly as negative price/cost relationships were mostly offset by improvements in volume. Within Tegrant, operations largely performed in line with expectations except for retail packaging where customer churn and lower consumer demand in our served markets resulted in lower than expected sales and operating profit.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 Compared with Nine Months Ended October 2, 2011

RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The following tables reconcile the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures for each of the periods presented.

 

		For the nine months ended September 30, 2012
Dollars in thousands, except per share data		GAAP				Restructuring/ Asset Impairment				Other(1)				Base
Income before interest and income taxes			$263,778				$24,164				$(2,903	)			$285,039
Interest expense, net			45,521				-				-				45,521
Income before income taxes			218,257				24,164				(2,903	)			239,518
Provision for income taxes			73,201				5,912				(1,037	)			78,076
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates			145,056				18,252				(1,866	)			161,442
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax			8,236				22				-				8,258
Net income			153,292				18,274				(1,866	)			169,700
Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			(65	)			104				-				39
Net income attributable to Sonoco			$153,227				$18,378				$(1,866	)			$169,739
Per diluted common share			$1.49				$0.18				$(0.02	)			$1.65

 

(1)	“Other” consists primarily of excess insurance settlement gains.

 

		For the nine months ended October 2, 2011
Dollars in thousands, except per share data		GAAP				Restructuring/ Asset Impairment				Other(2)				Base
Income before interest and income taxes			$256,601				$23,943				$1,994				$282,538
Interest expense, net			25,245				-				-				25,245
Income before income taxes			231,356				23,943				1,994				257,293
Provision for income taxes			51,303				8,470				19,178				78,951
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates			180,053				15,473				(17,184)				178,342
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax			8,463				17				-				8,480
Net income			188,516				15,490				(17,184)				186,822
Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			(514	)			148				-				(366)
Net income attributable to Sonoco			$188,002				$15,638				$(17,184)				$186,456
Per diluted common share			$1.84				$0.15				$(0.17)				$1.82

 

(2)	“Other” consists primarily of acquisition-related costs, excess insurance settlement gains, and reductions in tax expense from valuation allowance adjustments on deferred tax assets.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion provides a review of results for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 versus the nine months ended October 2, 2011.

OVERVIEW

Net sales for the first nine months of 2012 were $3,610 million, compared with $3,369 million in the same period in 2011. This 7.2% increase was driven by $358 million in acquisition related sales, almost all of which is attributable to Tegrant, partially offset by lower sales prices and/or volume in certain businesses and a negative impact from foreign currency translation.

Net income attributable to Sonoco for the first nine months of 2012 was $153.2 million compared to $188.0 million reported for the same period of 2011. Current year earnings include $16.5 million of after-tax restructuring and other non-base charges, while 2011 results reflect a total net benefit from non-base items of $1.5 million, after-tax, including an $18.8 million net benefit from deferred tax valuation adjustments on foreign jurisdiction tax assets. Base net income attributable to Sonoco (base earnings) was $169.7 million ($1.65 per diluted share) for the first nine months 2012 versus $186.5 million ($1.82 per diluted share) in 2011.

Lower volume and unfavorable changes in mix had a negative impact on earnings in most of the Company’s businesses. Absent the impact of Tegrant, overall operating profits would have been down approximately 6%, as volume and mix, along with higher pension, labor and other costs, more than offset the benefits of positive price/cost and improved productivity. In Protective Packaging, operating profits in the legacy operations were up slightly, however, including Tegrant, they nearly tripled. Operating profits decreased modestly in Paper and Industrial Converted Products and Consumer Packaging, but were down 30% in Packaging Services.

OPERATING REVENUE

Net sales for the first nine months of 2012 were $3,610 million, compared to $3,369 million for the first nine months of 2011, an increase of $241 million.

The components of the sales change were:

($ in millions)
Volume/mix		$	(15)
Selling prices			(22)
Acquisitions/dispositions, net			358
Foreign currency translation and other, net			(80)
Total sales increase		$	241

Acquisition-related sales gains, which drove the overall increase in sales, were almost exclusively related to Tegrant. Sales prices were slightly lower for the Company overall as higher prices in the Consumer Packaging segment were more than offset by lower prices in the Company’s paper and recycling businesses where sales prices declined because of lower market prices for recovered paper, primarily old corrugated containers (OCC).

COSTS AND EXPENSES

Cost of sales was up $173.3 million from the prior year; however, cost of sales excluding the impact of acquisitions would have been down, in line with the decrease in sales absent acquisitions. Lower market pricing for recovered paper benefitted our industrial businesses, while Consumer Packaging was negatively impacted by generally higher resin, film and other costs. Price/cost was positive relative to the prior year, but was largely offset by higher pension, labor, maintenance and other costs.

Acquisitions were responsible for nearly all of the $60.2 million year-to-date increase in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) costs. Excluding acquisitions, SG&A costs would have been approximately 2% higher than the prior year period, driven primarily by higher pension expense and general inflation. Base earnings before interest and income taxes were 7.9% of sales compared to 8.4% last year.

 

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Restructuring and restructuring-related asset impairment charges totaled $24.2 million and $23.9 million for the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, respectively. Additional information regarding restructuring actions and impairments is provided in Note 4 to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Net interest expense for the first nine months of 2012 increased to $45.5 million, compared with $25.2 million during the same period in 2011. The increase was due to higher debt levels as a result of the acquisition of Tegrant.

The 2012 year-to-date effective tax rate of 33.5% was higher than the 22.2% rate recorded in the first nine months of 2011. This prior year’s rate reflects the $18.8 million net benefit from deferred tax valuation allowance adjustments on foreign jurisdiction net operating losses recorded in the third quarter along with the positive impact of non-taxable life insurance proceeds. The effective tax rate on base earnings increased to 32.6% in the first nine months of 2012 from 30.7% in the same period last year. The year-over-year increase in the base rate reflects a decrease in non-taxable life insurance proceeds.

REPORTABLE SEGMENTS

The following table recaps net sales for the first nine months of 2012 and 2011 ($ in thousands):

 

		Nine Months Ended
		Sept. 30, 2012				Oct. 2, 2011				% Change
Net sales:
Consumer Packaging		$	1,448,750			$	1,492,257			(2.9)%
Paper and Industrial Converted Products			1,392,675				1,440,436			(3.3)%
Packaging Services			347,267				362,310			(4.2)%
Protective Packaging			421,567				74,356			467.0%
Consolidated		$	3,610,259			$	3,369,359			7.1%
Consolidated operating profits, also referred to as “Income before interest and income taxes” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, are comprised of the following ($ in thousands):
		Nine Months Ended
		Sept. 30, 2012				Oct. 2, 2011				% Change
Income before interest and income taxes:
Segment operating profit
Consumer Packaging		$	136,661			$	143,713			(4.9)%
Paper and Industrial Converted Products			105,106				108,780			(3.4)%
Packaging Services			13,969				20,020			(30.2)%
Protective Packaging			29,303				10,025			192.3%
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges			(24,164	)			(23,943	)
Other, net			2,903				(1,994	)
Consolidated		$	263,778			$	256,601			2.8%
The following table recaps restructuring/asset impairment charges attributable to each of the Company’s segments during the first nine months of 2012 and 2011 ($ in thousands):
		Nine Months Ended
		Sept. 30, 2012				Oct. 2, 2011
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges:
Consumer Packaging		$	8,735			$	13,320
Paper and Industrial Converted Products			12,396				7,052
Packaging Services			336				3,478
Protective Packaging			2,697				86
Corporate			—				7
Total		$	24,164			$	23,943

 

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Consumer Packaging

Year-to-date segment sales of $1,449 million were down slightly from the $1,492 million reported in the first nine months of 2011 due to lower volumes in the Company’s composite cans and closures operations, lower sales from the 2011 divestiture of the Company’s Brazilian injection molding plastics business, and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation. These negative factors were partially offset by higher selling prices. Volume of blow molded plastics was up notably, but was offset by lower market demand in the Company’s other plastics businesses, partially driven by reduced demand for dual-ovenable trays for the frozen food industry. The volume growth in blow molding was driven by the commercialization in mid 2011 of new products for the food market and stronger demand in the personal care market.

Segment operating profit in the first nine months of 2012 was $136.7 million compared with $143.7 million in the same period last year. Operating profits were lower year-to-date as lower volumes, negative changes in mix and higher pension, labor and other expenses were only partially offset by a positive price/cost relationship and productivity improvements.

Paper and Industrial Converted Products

Segment sales for the first nine months of 2012 were $1,393 million, compared with $1,440 million in the same period in 2011. The 3% year-over-year decrease was primarily due to lower selling prices and the negative impact of foreign currency translation. In North America, lower recovered paper prices led to lower selling prices in the Company’s recycling and paper operations. In addition, increased recycling activity in North America and Europe, additional trade sales of paper in North America, and improvement in the Company’s reels business were partially offset by tube and core volume declines in most regions of the world.

Segment operating profit was $105.1 million in the first nine months of 2012, compared to $108.8 million in the first nine months of 2011. The higher volume of trade sales of paper was offset by a lower volume of intercompany sales resulting in no significant increase in segment operating profit, while the additional recycling volume added very little to operating profit given the lower recovered paper prices. Negative tube and core volume and mix changes, higher pension, labor and other costs and an unfavorable impact from foreign exchange rates were partially offset by productivity improvements and a positive price/cost relationship.

Packaging Services

Segment sales for the first nine months of 2012 were $347 million, compared with $362 million in the same period in 2011. A continued increase in fulfillment activity globally was more than offset by lower year-over-year pack center revenue associated with last year’s loss of business with a major contract packaging customer and the negative impact of foreign currency translation.

Operating profit declined 30% to $14.0 million from $20.0 million last year due primarily to lower volumes associated with the lost contract packaging customer and the impact of exchange rates. This loss of business was partially offset by increased retail merchandising and fulfillment business and modest productivity improvements.

Protective Packaging

Segment sales for the first nine months of 2012 were $421.6 million, compared with $74.4 million in 2011. This increase was due entirely to last year’s acquisition of Tegrant, as sales in the Company’s legacy protective packaging operations were down slightly year-over-year.

Segment operating profit increased to $29.3 million in the first nine months of 2012, compared to $10.0 million in the first nine months of 2011, almost exclusively due to the acquisition of Tegrant. Operating profit from the Company’s legacy protective packaging operations was up slightly year-over-year as modest productivity gains were largely offset by a small decrease in volume and negative shifts in the business mix. Within Tegrant, operations largely performed in line with expectations except for retail packaging where customer churn and lower consumer demand in our served markets resulted in lower than expected sales and operating profit.

OTHER ITEMS

The Company completed its most recent annual goodwill impairment testing during the third quarter of 2012. For testing purposes, the Company performed an assessment of each reporting unit by considering certain qualitative and quantitative factors. Qualitative factors included the macroeconomic environment, Company stock price and market capitalization movement, business strategy changes, and significant customer wins and losses. Quantitative factors

 

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included the amount the estimated fair value exceeded its current carrying value, current year operating performance as compared to prior projections, and implied fair values from comparable trading and transaction multiples. As a result of its qualitative and quantitative assessments, the Company concluded that there was no impairment of goodwill for any of its reporting units.

When the Company estimates the fair value of a reporting unit, it does so using a discounted cash flow model based on projections of future years’ operating results and associated cash flows, together with comparable trading and transaction multiples. The Company’s model discounts future cash flows, forecasted over a ten-year period, with an estimated residual growth rate. The Company’s projections incorporate management’s best estimates of the expected future results, which include expectations related to new business, and, where applicable, improved operating margins. Future cash flows are discounted to present value using a discount rate commensurate with the risks inherent in the cash flows.

The Company’s assessments, whether qualitative or quantitative, incorporate management’s expectations for the future, including forecasted growth rates and/or margin improvements. Therefore, should there be changes in the relevant facts and circumstances and/or expectations, management’s assessment regarding goodwill impairment may change as well.

Although no reporting units failed the qualitative or quantitative assessments noted above, in management’s opinion, the reporting units with significant goodwill having the greatest risk of future impairment if actual results in the future are not as expected are Plastics – Blowmolding and Rigid Paper– Europe. Total goodwill associated with these reporting units was approximately $131 million and $10 million, respectively, at September 30, 2012.

Plastics – Blowmolding manufactures blow-molded plastic containers primarily for use in nonfood applications. This reporting unit is the result of the purchase of Matrix Packaging in May 2007 which was acquired to be a growth platform for the Company and to provide an avenue into the health and beauty market. Since that time, the Company has continued to invest significantly in the business, and current projections for this reporting unit reflect management’s expectations for revenue growth as well as improvements in operating margins. Sales growth is expected to be driven by new business from key nonfood customers, expansion into more food-based applications and collaboration with large-scale packaging service providers. Should the sales growth and margin improvements not materialize, a goodwill impairment charge may be incurred. Based on the valuation work performed for the current year test, the estimated fair value of Plastics – Blowmolding exceeded its carrying value by approximately 29%.

Rigid Paper – Europe manufactures round and shaped composite paperboard cans, single-wrap paperboard packages and fiber cartridges. Results in this unit declined substantially during the global recession, experiencing declines in both volume and profit margins. Recovery in this business following the global recession has not occurred as quickly as management previously anticipated due to on-going economic issues in the Eurozone and certain market opportunities that are evolving more slowly than expected. Although delayed, management expects a significant recovery in sales volume over the next several years and an improvement in profit margins due to price/cost, productivity gains and fixed cost leverage. However, should the projected improvements fall short of management’s expectations, a goodwill impairment charge may be incurred. In its evaluation of goodwill impairment, management estimated that the fair value of Rigid Paper – Europe exceeded its carrying value by approximately 80%.

Although goodwill of the Packaging Services reporting unit is not currently considered to be at risk of impairment, a large portion of sales in this unit is concentrated in a customer and will be up for renegotiation over the next few years. Management expects to retain this business; however, if a significant amount is lost and not replaced, it is possible that a goodwill impairment charge may be incurred. Total goodwill associated with this reporting unit was approximately $158 million at September 30, 2012. Based on the valuation work performed for the current year test, the estimated fair value of Packaging Services exceeded its carrying value by approximately 58%.

Holding the other valuation assumptions constant, Plastics – Blowmolding’s projected operating profits across all future periods would have to decline approximately 20% before the reporting unit’s carrying value is deemed to be in excess of its fair value. The corresponding percentages for Rigid Paper – Europe and Packaging Services are approximately 30% and 40%, respectively. The future operating performance of these units is dependent upon a number of variables which cannot be predicted with certainty.

 

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Financial Position, Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s financial position remained strong during the first nine months of 2012. Cash flows provided by operations totaled $296.5 million in the first nine months of 2012 and $131.9 million in the first nine months of 2011, an increase of $164.6 million. Lower pension and postretirement plan contributions accounted for approximately $59.6 million of the increase. Trade accounts receivable levels increased in both the nine month periods ending September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, reflecting higher levels of business activity; however, the magnitude of the increase was lower in 2012 resulting in a year-over-year improvement in operating cash flows of $39.8 million. Lower year-over-year market prices for OCC, one of the Company’s major raw materials, favorably affected cash provided by both trade accounts receivable and inventory. Inventories provided cash of $3.2 million in the first nine months of 2012 compared to using $31.3 million in the same period last year.

Cash used by investing activities was $142.6 million in the first nine months of 2012, compared with $125.6 million in the same period last year. The net change of $17.0 million reflects higher capital spending in the current year due largely to construction work on the new biomass boiler at the Company’s Hartsville manufacturing complex, partially offset by higher proceeds from the sale of assets, and lower acquisition spending. Capital spending is expected to be approximately $60 million during the remainder of 2012.

Cash used by financing activities totaled $133.6 million in the first nine months of 2012, compared with $13.0 million in the same period last year, an increased use of cash of $120.6 million. Outstanding debt was $1,236.5 million at September 30, 2012, reflecting net repayments of $50.1 million during the first nine months, while net borrowings actually increased $114.9 million during the same period last year. The Company repurchased approximately 1.3 million shares of its common stock under a repurchase program in the first nine months of 2011 at a cost of $46.3 million. No shares have been repurchased under this program in 2012. During the first nine months of 2012, the Company utilized cash to pay dividends of $89.5 million, an increase of $3.6 million over the same period last year.

On October 12, 2012, Sonoco took advantage of favorable market conditions to enter into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement for a syndicated bank line of credit supporting its commercial paper program. The new $350 million agreement, which replaces the existing agreement of the same amount entered into October 18, 2010, has a new five-year maturity and includes a group of eight banks. The new agreement reflects substantially the same terms and conditions as the existing agreement. Outstanding commercial paper, a component of the Company’s long-term debt, totaled $10 million at September 30, 2012.

Under an Internal Revenue Service rule, U.S. corporations may borrow funds from foreign subsidiaries for up to 30 days without unfavorable tax consequences. The Company utilizes this rule from time to time to access offshore cash in lieu of issuing commercial paper. Amounts outstanding subject to this rule at September 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011, were $155 million and $145 million, respectively. These short-term lending arrangements were subsequently settled within the 30-day period, resulting in equivalent increases in commercial paper outstanding and cash on hand. Depending on its immediate offshore cash needs, the Company may choose to access such funds again in the future as allowed under the rule.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $201.1 million and $175.5 million at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Of these totals, $176.5 million and $151.1 million, respectively, were held by foreign subsidiaries at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. These balances are exclusive of the intercompany borrowings from foreign subsidiaries under short-term lending arrangements to the parent as disclosed in the preceding paragraph. Cash held outside of the United States is available to meet local liquidity needs, or for capital expenditures, acquisitions, and other offshore growth opportunities. Most of the amounts held outside of the United States could be repatriated, but, under current law, would be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, less applicable foreign tax credits. As the Company enjoys ample domestic liquidity through a combination of operating cash flow generation and access to bank and capital markets borrowings, we consider the majority of our current cash balances to be indefinitely invested outside the United States and, accordingly, do not provide for U.S. federal tax liability on these amounts for financial reporting purposes. Repatriation could result in additional U.S. federal income tax payments. The Company utilizes a variety of tax planning and financing strategies to ensure that our worldwide cash is available in the locations where it is needed.

 

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Certain of the Company’s debt agreements impose restrictions with respect to the maintenance of financial ratios and the disposition of assets. The most restrictive covenant currently requires the Company to maintain a minimum level of interest coverage, and a minimum level of net worth, as defined. As of September 30, 2012, and throughout 2012, the Company’s interest coverage and net worth were substantially above the minimum levels required under these covenants.

The Company anticipates additional contributions to its pension and postretirement plans of approximately $8 million during the remainder of 2012, which would bring total contributions made during 2012 to approximately $72 million. Future funding requirements beyond 2012 will vary depending largely on actual investment returns, future actuarial assumptions, and recently enacted legislation.

Certain assets and liabilities are reported in the Company’s financial statements at fair value, the fluctuation of which can impact the Company’s financial position and results of operations. Items reported by the Company on a recurring basis at fair value include derivative contracts and pension and deferred compensation related assets. The valuation of the vast majority of these items is based either on quoted prices in active and accessible markets or on other observable inputs.

At September 30, 2012, the Company had commodity contracts outstanding to fix the cost of a portion of anticipated raw materials and natural gas purchases. The total net fair market value of these instruments was an unfavorable position of $6.4 million at September 30, 2012, and an unfavorable position of $14.0 million at December 31, 2011. Natural gas, aluminum contracts, and old corrugated containers contracts covering an equivalent of 8.7 million MMBTUs, 4,000 metric tons, and 15,000 short tons, respectively, were outstanding at September 30, 2012. Additionally, the Company had various currency contracts outstanding to fix the exchange rate on certain anticipated foreign currency cash flows. The total market value of these instruments was a net favorable position of $1.3 million at September 30, 2012 compared with a net favorable position of $0.6 million at December 31, 2011. These contracts qualify as cash flow hedges and mature within twelve months of their respective reporting dates.

In addition, at September 30, 2012, the Company had various currency contracts outstanding to fix the exchange rate on certain foreign currency assets and liabilities. Although placed as an economic hedge, the Company does not apply hedge accounting to these contracts. The fair value of these currency contracts was a net unfavorable position $0.4 million at September 30, 2012 and a net unfavorable position of $0.7 million December 31, 2011.

At September 30, 2012, the U.S. dollar had weakened against most of the functional currencies of the Company’s foreign operations compared to December 31, 2011, resulting in a translation gain of $20.9 million being recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income during the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Restructuring and Impairment

Information regarding restructuring charges and restructuring-related asset impairment charges is provided in Note 4 to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Information regarding new accounting pronouncements is provided in Note 11 to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Information about the Company’s exposure to market risk is discussed under Part I, Item 2 in this report and was disclosed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2012. There have been no other material quantitative or qualitative changes in market risk exposure since the date of that filing.

 

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Item 4.

Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision, and with the participation, of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that such controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, were effective.

Changes in Internal Controls

The Company is continuously seeking to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations and of its internal controls. This results in refinements to processes throughout the Company. However, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. In making its assessment of changes in internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2012, management has excluded Tegrant Holding Corporation (Tegrant), acquired November 8, 2011. The Company is currently assessing Tegrant’s control environment and expects the evaluation to be completed by the first anniversary of the acquisition as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules. Tegrant’s total revenues for the nine month period ended September 30, 2012 represent approximately 9.7% of the Company’s consolidated revenue for the same period. Its excluded assets represent approximately 17.7% of the Company’s consolidated assets at September 30, 2012.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings.

Information with respect to legal proceedings and other exposures appears in Part I – Item 3 – “Legal Proceedings” and Part II – Item 8 – “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” (Note 14 – “Commitments and Contingencies”) in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and in Part I – Item 1 – “Financial Statements” (Note 14 – “Commitments and Contingencies”) of this report.

Fox River

In April 2006, the United States and the State of Wisconsin (plaintiffs) sued U.S. Paper Mills Corp. (U.S. Mills), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and NCR Corporation (NCR), an unrelated company, to recover certain costs incurred for response activities undertaken regarding the release and threatened release of hazardous substances in specific areas of elevated concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments in the Lower Fox River and Green Bay in northeastern Wisconsin (hereinafter the Site). Pursuant to a Consent Decree agreed to by NCR and U.S. Mills as a consequence of the litigation, the Site is to be cleaned up on an expedited basis and NCR and U.S. Mills started removing contaminated sediment in May 2007. The remediation involves removal of sediment from the riverbed, dewatering of the sediment and storage at an offsite landfill. U.S. Mills and NCR reached an agreement between themselves that each would fund 50% of the costs of remediation, which through September 30, 2012, has totaled slightly more than $25 million. U.S. Mills’ environmental reserve at September 30, 2012, includes $3.2 million for its share of the estimated remaining costs under the funding agreement for the remediation of the Site. The actual costs associated with cleanup of the Site, however, are dependent upon many factors and it is possible that remediation costs could be higher or lower than the current estimate of project costs. Under the terms of the agreement, the parties reserved their rights to make claims against each other, as well as third parties, to reallocate the costs of remediating the Site. Accordingly, the Company’s ultimate share of the liability for remediating the Site could be greater or less than 50% of the total cost.

In addition to the Site discussed above, as previously disclosed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, U.S. Mills faces additional exposure related to potential natural resource damage and environmental remediation costs for a larger stretch of the lower Fox River, including the bay at Green Bay, which includes the Site discussed above (Operating Units 2 – 5). On November 13, 2007, the EPA issued a unilateral Administrative Order for Remedial Action pursuant to Section 106 of CERCLA. The order requires U.S. Mills and the seven other respondents jointly to take various actions to cleanup OUs 2 – 5. The order covers planning and design

 

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work as well as dredging and disposing of contaminated sediments and the capping of dredged and less contaminated areas of the river bottom. The order also provides for a penalty for failure by a respondent to comply with its terms as well as exposing a non-complying respondent to potential treble damages. Even though U.S. Mills has reserved its rights to contest liability for any portion of the work, it is cooperating with the other respondents to comply with the order, but its financial contribution will likely be determined by the lawsuit commenced in June 2008 and discussed below.

On June 12, 2008, NCR and Appleton Papers, Inc. (API), as plaintiffs, commenced suit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (No. 08-CV-0016-WCG) against U.S. Mills, as one of a number of defendants, seeking a declaratory judgment allocating among all the parties the costs and damages associated with the pollution and clean up of the Lower Fox River. The suit also seeks damages from the defendants for amounts already spent by the plaintiffs, including natural resource damages, and future amounts to be spent by all parties with regard to the pollution and cleanup of the Lower Fox River. On December 16, 2009, the court issued an order which concluded that, under the equities of the case, NCR and API were not entitled to any contributions from U.S. Mills and other defendants, thereby granting the defendant’s motions for summary judgment and denying the plaintiffs’ motions for summary judgment. Although an order has been issued by the court, no appealable final judgment has been entered yet; nevertheless, NCR has reported that it intends to appeal the ruling, presumably after entry of the final judgment. Subsequent to the December 2009 ruling, U.S. Mills and other defendants made motions to have the court rule that, on the same basis as the December 2009 ruling, NCR would be responsible for any costs that U.S. Mills might incur, past, present and future. These motions have been granted by the court, but are also subject to being appealed. U.S. Mills plans to continue to defend the suit vigorously.

On October 14, 2010, the United States and the State of Wisconsin filed suit against NCR, API, U.S. Mills and nine other defendants in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (No. 10-CV-00910-WCG) pursuant to Sections 106 and 107 of CERCLA. The plaintiffs seek to recover unreimbursed costs incurred for activities undertaken in response to the release and threatened release of hazardous substances from facilities at or near the Lower Fox River and Green Bay as well as damages for injury to, loss of, and destruction of natural resources resulting from such releases. The plaintiffs also seek a ruling that the defendants are liable for future response costs of the plaintiffs and requiring the defendants to comply with the unilateral Administrative Order for Remedial Action discussed above. The Company does not believe that the remedies sought in the suit materially expand the Company’s potential liability beyond what has been previously disclosed in this report or in the Company’s prior filings. U.S. Mills plans to defend the suit vigorously.

As of September 30, 2012, U.S. Mills’ environmental reserve for potential liabilities associated with the remediation of OUs 2 -5 (not including amounts accrued for remediation of the Site) totaled $52.3 million. Because of the continuing uncertainties in the estimated costs of remediation and continuing uncertainties surrounding U.S. Mills’ allocable share, including a potentially favorable resolution, it is impossible to state with any degree of confidence that any estimate is a better estimate than the amount recorded. However, because the discharges of hazardous materials into the environment occurred before the Company acquired U.S. Mills, and U.S. Mills has been operated as a separate subsidiary of the Company, the Company does not believe that it bears financial responsibility for these legacy environmental liabilities of U.S. Mills. Therefore, the Company continues to believe that the maximum additional pretax exposure to its consolidated financial position is limited to the equity position of U.S. Mills, which was approximately $90 million at September 30, 2012.

Other Legal Matters

On July 7, 2008, the Company was served with a complaint filed in the United States District Court for South Carolina by the City of Ann Arbor Employees’ Retirement System, individually and on behalf of others similarly situated (no. 4:08-cv-02348-TLW-KDW). The suit is a class action on behalf of those who purchased the Company’s common stock between February 7, 2007 and September 18, 2007, except officers and directors of the Company. The complaint, as amended, alleged that the Company issued press releases and made public statements during the class period that were materially false and misleading. The complaint also named certain Company officers as defendants and was seeking an unspecified amount of damages plus interest and attorneys’ fees. On April 26, 2012, the parties filed with the court a stipulation of settlement, which subsequently has been approved by the court and, subject to the conditions contained therein, ends the litigation. The settlement was funded entirely by insurance.

 

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Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Period		(a) Total Number of   Shares Purchased1		(b) Average Price     Paid per Share		(c) Total Number of   Shares Purchased as   Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs2		(d) Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet be   Purchased under the   Plans or Programs2
7/02/12 – 8/05/12		15		$  30.29		—		5,000,000
8/06/12 – 9/02/12		230		$  30.63		—		5,000,000
9/03/12 – 9/30/12		—		—		—		5,000,000
Total		245		$  30.61		—		5,000,000

 

1

A total of 245 common shares were repurchased in the third quarter of 2012 related to shares withheld to satisfy employee tax withholding obligations in association with the exercise of certain share-based compensation awards. These shares were not repurchased as part of a publicly announced plan or program.

 

2

On April 19, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 5,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. This authorization rescinded all previous existing authorizations and does not have a specific expiration date. No shares were repurchased under this authorization during 2012. At September 30, 2012, a total of 5,000,000 shares remained available for repurchase.

 

Item 6.

Exhibits.

 

10.				Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, effective October 12, 2012
15.				Letter re: unaudited interim financial information
31.				Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and 17 C.F.R. 240.13a-14(a)
32.				Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and 17 C.F.R. 240.13a-14(b)
101.				The following materials from Sonoco Products Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, and (v) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

		SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
		(Registrant)
Date:  November 1, 2012		By: /s/ Barry L. Saunders
		Barry L. Saunders
		Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
		(principal financial officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number				Description
10						Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, effective October 12, 2012
15						Letter re: unaudited interim financial information
31						Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and 17 C.F.R. 240.13a-14(a)
32						Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and 17 C.F.R. 240.13a-14(b)
101						The following materials from Sonoco Products Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, and (v) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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