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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended
September 29, 2019
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.
001-11261
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
Incorporated under the laws
of
South Carolina
I.R.S. Employer Identification
No.
57-0248420
1 N. Second St.
Hartsville
,
South Carolina
29550
Telephone:
843
/
383-7000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading
Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
No par value common stock
SON
New York Stock Exchange, LLC
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
☒
No
☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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
☒
No
☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
☒
Accelerated filer
☐
Non-accelerated filer
☐
Smaller reporting company
☐
Emerging growth company
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
☐
No
☒
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock at October 18, 2019:
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt
374,745
195,445
Accrued taxes
9,009
8,516
1,307,458
1,082,930
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion
1,180,221
1,189,717
Noncurrent Operating Lease Liabilities
252,460
—
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
197,453
374,419
Deferred Income Taxes
117,426
64,273
Other Liabilities
76,846
99,848
Sonoco Shareholders’ Equity
Common stock, no par value
Authorized
300,000
shares
100,082
and
99,829
shares issued and outstanding
at September 29, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively
7,175
7,175
Capital in excess of stated value
308,868
304,709
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(
774,373
)
(
740,913
)
Retained earnings
2,300,006
2,188,115
Total Sonoco Shareholders’ Equity
1,841,676
1,759,086
Noncontrolling Interests
12,637
13,192
Total Equity
1,854,313
1,772,278
Total Liabilities and Equity
$
4,986,176
$
4,583,465
*
The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
3
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 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
Net sales
$
1,353,931
$
1,364,762
$
4,065,357
$
4,035,322
Cost of sales
1,088,446
1,105,126
3,254,415
3,248,624
Gross profit
265,485
259,636
810,942
786,698
Selling, general and administrative expenses
120,322
136,002
395,096
414,474
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges
6,615
22,061
30,642
28,691
Operating profit
138,548
101,573
385,204
343,533
Non-operating pension costs/(income)
7,210
(
25
)
18,801
197
Interest expense
17,286
15,989
50,116
47,001
Interest income
2,530
1,487
4,023
4,017
Income before income taxes
116,582
87,096
320,310
300,352
Provision for income taxes
26,098
18,325
77,213
71,974
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates
90,484
68,771
243,097
228,378
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax
1,799
4,049
4,240
9,012
Net income
92,283
72,820
247,337
237,390
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(
219
)
(
405
)
(
451
)
(
1,508
)
Net income attributable to Sonoco
$
92,064
$
72,415
$
246,886
$
235,882
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic
100,778
100,640
100,727
100,534
Diluted
101,186
101,040
101,158
100,993
Per common share:
Net income attributable to Sonoco:
Basic
$
0.91
$
0.72
$
2.45
$
2.35
Diluted
$
0.91
$
0.72
$
2.44
$
2.34
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
4
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
Net income
$
92,283
$
72,820
$
247,337
$
237,390
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments
(
34,428
)
1,186
(
27,655
)
(
40,418
)
Changes in defined benefit plans, net of tax
(
16,850
)
6,961
(
7,887
)
22,200
Changes in derivative financial instruments, net of tax
(
93
)
1,659
1,290
394
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
$
(
51,371
)
$
9,806
$
(
34,252
)
$
(
17,824
)
Comprehensive income
40,912
82,626
$
213,085
$
219,566
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(
219
)
(
405
)
(
451
)
(
1,508
)
Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
844
730
792
2,407
Comprehensive income attributable to Sonoco
$
41,537
$
82,951
$
213,426
$
220,465
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
5
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
CHANGES IN TOTAL EQUITY
(unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
Total
Equity
Common Shares
Capital in
Excess of
Stated Value
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
Retained
Earnings
Noncontrolling
Interests
Outstanding
Amount
December 31, 2017
$
1,730,060
99,414
$
7,175
$
330,157
$
(
666,272
)
$
2,036,006
$
22,994
Net income
74,925
74,055
870
Other comprehensive income:
Translation gain
22,982
22,553
429
Defined benefit plan adjustment, net of tax
5,817
5,817
Derivative financial instruments, net of tax
1,047
1,047
Other comprehensive income:
$
29,846
$
29,417
$
429
Dividends
(
39,535
)
(
39,535
)
Issuance of stock awards
479
227
479
Shares repurchased
(
4,088
)
(
78
)
(
4,088
)
Stock-based compensation
3,048
3,048
Impact of new accounting pronouncements
1,721
(
176
)
1,897
April 1, 2018
$
1,796,456
99,563
$
7,175
$
329,596
$
(
637,031
)
$
2,072,423
$
24,293
Net income
89,645
89,412
$
233
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Translation loss:
(
64,587
)
(
62,480
)
(
2,107
)
Defined benefit plan adjustment, net of tax
9,422
9,422
Derivative financial instruments, net of tax
(
2,312
)
(
2,312
)
Other comprehensive loss:
$
(
57,477
)
$
(
55,370
)
$
(
2,107
)
Dividends
(
41,306
)
(
41,306
)
Issuance of stock awards
329
24
329
Shares repurchased
(
471
)
(
9
)
(
471
)
Stock-based compensation
3,074
3,074
Noncontrolling interest from acquisition
15
15
July 1, 2018
$
1,790,265
99,578
$
7,175
$
332,528
$
(
692,401
)
$
2,120,529
$
22,434
Net income
72,820
72,415
405
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Translation gain/(loss):
1,186
1,916
(
730
)
Defined benefit plan adjustment, net of tax
6,961
6,961
Derivative financial instruments, net of tax
1,659
1,659
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
$
9,806
$
10,536
$
(
730
)
Dividends
(
41,286
)
(
41,286
)
Issuance of stock awards
433
120
433
Shares repurchased
(
2,428
)
(
48
)
(
2,428
)
Stock-based compensation
3,320
3,320
September 30, 2018
$
1,832,930
99,650
$
7,175
$
333,853
$
(
681,865
)
$
2,151,658
$
22,109
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
6
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
CHANGES IN TOTAL EQUITY
(unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
Total Equity
Common Shares
Capital in
Excess of
Stated Value
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
Retained
Earnings
Noncontrolling
Interests
Outstanding
Amount
December 31, 2018
$
1,772,278
99,829
$
7,175
$
304,709
$
(
740,913
)
$
2,188,115
$
13,192
Net income
73,768
73,663
105
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Translation loss
(
2,972
)
(
2,852
)
(
120
)
Defined benefit plan adjustment, net of tax
7,156
7,156
Derivative financial instruments, net of tax
1,864
1,864
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
$
6,048
$
6,168
$
(
120
)
Dividends
(
41,534
)
(
41,534
)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests
(
214
)
(
214
)
Issuance of stock awards
399
340
399
Shares repurchased
(
7,395
)
(
133
)
(
7,395
)
Stock-based compensation
4,560
4,560
Impact of new accounting pronouncements
(
6,771
)
(
6,771
)
March 31, 2019
$
1,801,139
100,036
$
7,175
$
302,273
$
(
734,745
)
$
2,213,473
$
12,963
Net income
81,286
81,159
$
127
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Translation gain
9,745
9,573
172
Defined benefit plan adjustment, net of tax
1,807
1,807
Derivative financial instruments, net of tax
(
481
)
(
481
)
Other comprehensive income
$
11,071
$
10,899
$
172
Dividends
(
43,353
)
(
43,353
)
Issuance of stock awards
326
58
326
Shares repurchased
(
1,155
)
(
19
)
(
1,155
)
Stock-based compensation
4,306
4,306
June 30, 2019
$
1,853,620
100,075
$
7,175
$
305,750
$
(
723,846
)
$
2,251,279
$
13,262
Net income
92,283
92,064
$
219
Other comprehensive loss:
Translation loss
(
34,428
)
(
33,584
)
(
844
)
Defined benefit plan adjustment, net of tax
(
16,850
)
(
16,850
)
Derivative financial instruments, net of tax
(
93
)
(
93
)
Other comprehensive loss:
$
(
51,371
)
$
(
50,527
)
$
(
844
)
Dividends
(
43,337
)
(
43,337
)
Issuance of stock awards
330
9
330
Shares repurchased
(
147
)
(
2
)
(
147
)
Stock-based compensation
2,935
2,935
September 29, 2019
$
1,854,313
100,082
$
7,175
—
$
308,868
—
$
(
774,373
)
—
$
2,300,006
—
$
12,637
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
7
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income
$
247,337
$
237,390
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Asset impairment
6,362
2,627
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
173,085
176,895
Gain on adjustment of environmental reserves
(
10,675
)
—
Share-based compensation expense
11,800
9,442
Equity in earnings of affiliates
(
4,240
)
(
9,012
)
Cash dividends from affiliated companies
4,002
5,203
Net loss on disposition of assets
3,811
7,022
Pension and postretirement plan expense
21,837
25,736
Pension and postretirement plan contributions
(
225,535
)
(
27,339
)
Increase in net deferred tax liability
32,370
6,097
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions, dispositions, and foreign currency adjustments:
Trade accounts receivable
(
33,574
)
(
58,187
)
Inventories
(
643
)
(
8,938
)
Payable to suppliers
(
7,183
)
45,038
Prepaid expenses
(
533
)
(
5,126
)
Accrued expenses
29,611
35,353
Income taxes payable and other income tax items
(
20,407
)
(
13,050
)
Other assets and liabilities
11,393
22,365
Net cash provided by operating activities
238,818
451,516
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(
147,012
)
(
135,420
)
Cost of acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(
111,009
)
(
150,995
)
Proceeds from the sale of assets
2,887
23,444
Investment in affiliates and other, net
1,494
899
Net cash used in investing activities
(
253,640
)
(
262,072
)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt
258,834
202,460
Principal repayment of debt
(
109,692
)
(
157,911
)
Net change in commercial paper
12,000
(
100,000
)
Net decrease in outstanding checks
(
7,604
)
(
6,416
)
Payment of contingent consideration
(
5,000
)
—
Cash dividends
(
127,169
)
(
120,651
)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests
(
214
)
—
Shares acquired
(
8,697
)
(
6,987
)
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities
12,458
(
189,505
)
Effects of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash
(
2,172
)
(
4,427
)
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents
(
4,536
)
(
4,488
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
120,389
254,912
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
115,853
$
250,424
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
8
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares 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 nine months ended September 29, 2019, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019. 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, 2018.
With respect to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial information of the Company for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018 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 October 30, 2019 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:
New Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") ASU 2016-02, "Leases" (“ASU 2016-02”) requiring lessees to recognize on the balance sheet a right-of-use asset and lease liability for all long-term leases and requiring disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements in order to increase transparency and comparability among organizations. The accounting for lessors does not fundamentally change except for changes to conform and align guidance to the lessee guidance and the revenue recognition standard adopted in 2018. The Company established a cross-functional team to implement certain software solutions as part of its newly integrated enterprise-wide lease management system. The implementation plan included developing business processes, accounting systems, and internal controls to ensure the Company's compliance with reporting and disclosure requirements of the new standard. The Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance and, as also provided for under the standard, has made an accounting policy election to exclude from the balance sheet leases with a term of 12 months or less. The Company also elected the hindsight practical expedient to determine the reasonably certain lease term for existing leases and has elected to combine lease and non-lease components as a single lease component for all classes of assets.
The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 as of January 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective transition method and elected to apply the optional transition approach prescribed by ASU 2018-11 which allows entities to initially apply the new leases standard at the adoption date, without adjusting comparative periods. Upon the adoption of ASU 2016-02, the Company recorded on its consolidated balance sheet right of use assets totaling $
336,083
and lease liabilities totaling $
344,362
, as well as a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings of $
6,771
and a $
1,508
reduction to deferred tax liabilities.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, "Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments," which requires measurement and recognition of expected versus incurred credit losses for financial assets held. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company does not expect the implementation of ASU 2016-13 to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
During the three- and nine-month periods ended September 29, 2019, there have been no other newly issued nor newly applicable accounting pronouncements that have had, or are expected to have, a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. Further, at September 29, 2019, there were no other pronouncements pending adoption that are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
9
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Note 3:
Acquisitions
On August 9, 2019, the Company completed the acquisition of Corenso Holdings America, Inc. ("Corenso") for $
110,554
, net of cash acquired. Corenso is a leading manufacturer of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) and high-performance cores used in the paper, packaging films, tape, and specialty industries. Corenso operates a 108,000-ton per year URB mill and core converting facility in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, as well as a core converting facility in Richmond, Virginia, expanding the Company's ability to produce a wide variety of sustainable coreboard grades. Final purchase consideration will be subject to an adjustment for working capital, which is expected to be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2019. The acquisition was financed using available cash and short-term borrowings.
The preliminary fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the Corenso acquisition are as follows:
Corenso
Trade accounts receivable
$
8,673
Inventories
8,707
Property, plant and equipment
36,928
Goodwill
43,722
Other intangible assets
29,170
Payable to suppliers
(
6,043
)
Other net tangible assets/liabilities
405
Deferred income taxes, net
(
11,008
)
$
110,554
Goodwill,
none
of which is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes, is comprised of the assembled workforce and increased access to certain markets. Corenso's financial results from August 9, 2019 to September 29, 2019 are included in the Company's Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment.
The allocation of the purchase price of Corenso to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed was based on the Company's preliminary estimates of their fair value, based on information currently available. Management is continuing to finalize its valuations of certain assets and liabilities including, but not limited to, those listed in the table above, and expects to complete its valuations within one year of the date of acquisition.
On October 1, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of the remaining
70
percent interest in Conitex Sonoco (BVI), Ltd. ("Conitex Sonoco") from Texpack Investments, Inc. ("Texpack"). Concurrent with this acquisition, the Company also acquired a rigid paper facility in Spain ("Compositub") from Texpack Group Holdings B.V. Final consideration for both acquisitions was subject to a post-closing adjustment for the change in working capital to the date of closing. These adjustments were settled in February 2019 for additional cash payments to the sellers totaling $
455
.
On April 12, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Highland Packaging Solutions ("Highland"). Highland manufactures thermoformed plastic packaging for fresh produce and dairy products from a single production facility in Plant City, Florida. The acquisition of Highland included a contingent purchase liability of $
7,500
payable in two installments and based upon a sales metric which the Company anticipated meeting in full at the time of the acquisition. The first year's metric was met and the Company paid the first installment of $
5,000
in the second quarter of 2019. The second year's metric is also expected to be met and the final installment of $
2,500
is expected to be paid in the second quarter of 2020. The liability for the remaining installment is included in "Accrued expenses and other" on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 29, 2019.
10
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
During the nine months ended September 29, 2019, the Company finalized its valuations of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in acquisitions completed in the previous year based on new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of their respective acquisition dates.
As a result, the following measurement period adjustments were made to the previously disclosed provisional fair values of assets and liabilities acquired and are now considered final:
Conitex Sonoco
Compositub
Highland
Trade accounts receivable
$
(
77
)
$
203
$
—
Inventories
—
50
—
Property, plant and equipment
(
199
)
(
1,026
)
1,895
Goodwill
2,246
(
566
)
(
1,895
)
Other intangible assets
300
1,888
—
Accrued expenses and other
(
1,782
)
(
138
)
—
Other net tangible assets /(liabilities)
(
404
)
(
40
)
—
Additional cash consideration
$
84
$
371
$
—
The Company has accounted for its acquisitions as business combinations under the acquisition method of accounting, in accordance with the business combinations subtopic of the Accounting Standards Codification and has included their results of operations in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income from their respective dates of acquisition.
Acquisition-related costs of $
3,903
and $
401
were incurred during the three months ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively, and $
5,516
and $
4,037
during the nine months ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively. Acquisition-related costs consist primarily of legal and professional fees and are included in "Selling, general and administrative expenses" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
11
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Note 4:
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 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Sonoco
$
92,064
$
72,415
$
246,886
$
235,882
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic
100,778
100,640
100,727
100,534
Dilutive effect of stock-based compensation
408
400
431
459
Diluted
101,186
101,040
101,158
100,993
Net income attributable to Sonoco per common share:
Basic
$
0.91
$
0.72
$
2.45
$
2.35
Diluted
$
0.91
$
0.72
$
2.44
$
2.34
Cash dividends
$
0.43
$
0.41
$
1.27
$
1.21
Potentially dilutive securities are calculated in accordance with the treasury stock method, which assumes the proceeds from the exercise of all dilutive stock appreciation rights (SARs) are used to repurchase the Company’s common stock. Certain SARs are not dilutive because either the exercise price is greater than the average market price of the stock during the reporting period or assumed repurchases from proceeds from the exercise of the SARs were antidilutive. These SARs may become dilutive in the future if the market price of the Company's common stock appreciates.
The average numbers of SARs that were not dilutive and, therefore, not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share during the three- and nine- month periods ended September 29, 2019 and
September 30, 2018
were as follows:
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
Anti-dilutive stock appreciation rights
533
895
458
892
No adjustments were made to "Net income attributable to Sonoco" in the computations of earnings per share.
Stock Repurchases
On February 10, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to
5,000
shares of the Company's common stock. A total of
2,030
shares were purchased in 2016.
No
shares were repurchased under this authorization during 2017, 2018, or during the nine months ended September 29, 2019. Accordingly, a total of
2,970
shares remain available for repurchase at September 29, 2019.
The Company frequently repurchases shares of its common stock to satisfy employee tax withholding obligations in association with certain share-based compensation awards. These repurchases, which are not part of a publicly announced plan or program, totaled
154
shares in the nine months ended September 29, 2019 at a cost of $
8,697
, and
135
shares in the nine months ended
September 30, 2018
at a cost of $
6,987
.
Dividend Declarations
On July 17, 2019, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $
0.43
per share. This dividend was paid on September 10, 2019 to all shareholders of record as of August 9, 2019.
12
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
On October 15, 2019, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $
0.43
per share. This dividend is payable on December 10, 2019 to all shareholders of record as of November 8, 2019.
Note 5:
Restructuring and Asset Impairment
The Company has engaged in a number of restructuring actions over the past several years. Actions initiated in 2019 and 2018 are reported as “2019 Actions” and “2018 Actions,” respectively. Actions initiated prior to 2018, all of which were substantially complete at September 29, 2019, are reported as “2017 and Earlier Actions.”
Following are the total restructuring and asset impairment charges, net of adjustments, recognized by the Company during the periods presented:
2019
2018
Third Quarter
Nine Months
Third Quarter
Nine Months
Restructuring/Asset impairment:
2019 Actions
$
5,310
$
21,660
$
—
$
—
2018 Actions
1,257
8,505
19,348
24,263
2017 and Earlier Actions
48
477
2,713
4,428
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges
6,615
30,642
22,061
28,691
Income tax benefit
(
1,805
)
(
7,750
)
(
5,465
)
(
7,196
)
Less: Costs attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax
(
18
)
(
156
)
(
28
)
(
48
)
Restructuring/asset impairment charges attributable to Sonoco, net of tax
$
4,792
$
22,736
$
16,568
$
21,447
Pre-tax restructuring and asset impairment charges are included in “Restructuring/Asset impairment charges” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
When recognizable in accordance with GAAP, the Company expects to recognize future additional charges totaling approximately $
3,100
in connection with previously announced restructuring actions. The Company believes that the majority of these charges will be incurred and paid by the end of 2019. The Company continually evaluates its cost structure, including its manufacturing capacity, and additional restructuring actions are likely to be undertaken.
2019 Actions
During 2019, the Company announced the elimination of a forming film production line at a flexible packaging facility in Illinois, initiated the closure of a composite can and injection molding facility in Germany, and announced the closure of a composite can plant in Malaysia (all part of the Consumer Packaging segment). Restructuring actions in the Protective Solutions segment included charges associated with the exit of an integrated material protective packaging facility in Texas. In addition, approximately
150
positions were eliminated in the first nine months of 2019 in conjunction with the Company's ongoing organizational effectiveness efforts.
13
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Below is a summary of 2019 Actions and related expenses by segment and by type incurred and estimated to be incurred through completion.
2019 Actions
Third Quarter 2019
Total
Incurred
to Date
Estimated
Total Cost
Severance and Termination Benefits
Consumer Packaging
$
3,987
$
9,842
$
10,242
Display and Packaging
15
72
72
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
663
$
2,441
2,441
Protective Solutions
186
867
867
Corporate
10
1,932
1,932
Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets
Consumer Packaging
—
4,196
4,196
Protective Solutions
(
1,173
)
(
1,043
)
(
1,043
)
Other Costs
Consumer Packaging
1,192
2,514
5,014
Display and Packaging
2
393
393
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
376
391
391
Protective Solutions
52
55
55
Total Charges and Adjustments
$
5,310
$
21,660
$
24,560
The following table sets forth the activity in the 2019 Actions restructuring accrual included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
2019 Actions
Severance
and
Termination
Benefits
Asset Impairment/
Disposal
of Assets
Other
Costs
Total
Accrual Activity
2019 Year to Date
Liability at December 31, 2018
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
—
2019 charges
15,154
3,153
3,353
21,660
Cash payments
(
9,377
)
1,604
(
3,353
)
(
11,126
)
Asset write downs/disposals
—
(
4,757
)
—
(
4,757
)
Foreign currency translation
(
55
)
—
—
(
55
)
Liability at September 29, 2019
$
5,722
$
—
$
—
$
5,722
"Asset Impairment/Disposal of Assets" consists primarily of an impairment cha
rge of $
3,306
resulting from the elimination of a forming film line at a flexible packaging facility in Illinois, a $
431
loss on the disposal of assets related to the closure of a composite can and injection molding facility in Germany, and a $
325
loss on the disposal of assets and inventory relating to the closure of a composite can plant in Malaysia. Partially offsetting these losses was a $
1,173
gain from the sale of a vacant Protective Solutions facility in Connecticut for which the Company received cash proceeds of $
929
, released an environmental reserve of $
675
, the liability for which was assumed by the buyer, and wrote off assets with a book value of $
431
.
“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 2019 Actions restructuring costs by the end of 2019 using cash generated from operations.
14
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
2018 Actions
During 2018,
the Company announced the closure of a flexible packaging plant in North Carolina, a global brand management facility in Canada, and a thermoformed packaging plant in California (all part of the Consumer Packaging segment),
five
tube and core plants -
one
in Alabama,
one
in Canada,
one
in Indonesia,
one
in Russia, and
one
in Norway (all part of the Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment), and a protective packaging plant in North Carolina (part of the Protective Solutions segment). Restructuring actions in the Display and Packaging segment included charges associated with exiting a single-customer contract at a packaging center near Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, approximately
120
positions were eliminated throughout 2018 in conjunction with the Company's ongoing organizational effectiveness efforts.
Below is a summary of 2018 Actions and related expenses by segment and by type incurred and estimated to be incurred through completion.
2019
2018
Total
Incurred
to Date
Estimated
Total Cost
2018 Actions
Third Quarter
Nine Months
Third Quarter
Nine Months
Severance and Termination Benefits
Consumer Packaging
$
94
$
930
$
1,154
$
2,848
$
5,629
$
5,629
Display and Packaging
1
153
1,134
1,865
2,093
2,093
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
(
47
)
150
608
1,900
3,261
3,261
Protective Solutions
—
(
1
)
232
1,008
1,074
1,074
Corporate
—
—
—
243
243
243
Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets
Consumer Packaging
181
2,799
305
380
5,488
5,488
Display and Packaging
44
131
4,517
4,517
4,756
4,756
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
—
253
70
70
371
371
Protective Solutions
—
—
—
(
243
)
(
243
)
(
243
)
Other Costs
Consumer Packaging
871
3,639
361
366
6,029
6,079
Display and Packaging
44
160
9,729
9,732
10,010
10,060
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
69
271
1,250
1,543
2,032
2,082
Protective Solutions
—
20
—
46
66
66
Corporate
—
—
(
12
)
(
12
)
(
11
)
(
11
)
Total Charges and Adjustments
$
1,257
$
8,505
$
19,348
$
24,263
$
40,798
$
40,948
The following table sets forth the activity in the 2018 Actions restructuring accrual included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
2018 Actions
Severance
and
Termination
Benefits
Asset
Impairment/
Disposal
of Assets
Other
Costs
Total
Accrual Activity
2019 Year to Date
Liability at December 31, 2018
$
3,194
$
—
$
179
$
3,373
2019 charges
1,232
3,183
4,090
8,505
Cash receipts/(payments)
(
3,767
)
494
(
4,160
)
(
7,433
)
Asset write downs/disposals
—
(
3,677
)
—
(
3,677
)
Foreign currency translation
1
—
4
5
Liability at September 29, 2019
$
660
$
—
$
113
$
773
15
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Included in "Asset Impairment/Disposal of Assets" above are asset
impairment charges of $
1,905
and
$
909
related to the closures of a
flexible packaging plant in North Carolina and a
thermoformed packaging plant in Ca
lifornia, respectively. Also included are
losses totaling $
232
related to the sale of fixed assets and inventory associated with the closure of a tube and core plant in Indonesia. The Company received proceeds of $
416
from this sale and wrote off assets with a book value totaling $
648
.
“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 2018 Actions restructuring costs by the end of 2019 using cash generated from operations.
2017 and Earlier Actions
2017 and Earlier Actions are comprised of a number of plant closures and workforce reductions initiated prior to 2018. Charges for these actions in both 2019 and 2018 primarily relate t
o the cost of plant closures including severance, equipment removal, plant security, property taxes and insurance.
The Company expects to recognize future pretax charges of approximately $
50
associated with 2017 and Earlier Actions.
Below is a summary of expenses/(income) incurred by segment for 2017 and Earlier Actions for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018.
2019
2018
2017 and Earlier Actions
Third Quarter
Nine Months
Third Quarter
Nine Months
Consumer Packaging
$
38
$
185
$
2,511
$
4,452
Display and Packaging
—
83
213
142
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
5
34
(
63
)
(
737
)
Protective Solutions
5
175
52
571
Corporate
—
—
—
—
Total Charges and Adjustments
$
48
$
477
$
2,713
$
4,428
The accrual for 2017 and Earlier Actions totaled $
645
and $
4,199
at September 29, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, and is included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The majority of the liability associated with 2017 and Earlier Actions relates to unpaid severance costs and is expected to be paid by the end of 2019 using cash generated from operations.
16
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Note 6:
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The following table summarizes the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss and the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax as applicable, for the nine months ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018:
Foreign
Currency
Items
Defined
Benefit
Pension Items
Gains and
Losses on Cash
Flow Hedges
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
Balance at December 31, 2018
$
(
251,102
)
$
(
487,380
)
$
(
2,431
)
$
(
740,913
)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications
(
26,863
)
(
27,781
)
1,434
(
53,210
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income
—
19,894
(
34
)
19,860
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to fixed assets
—
—
(
110
)
(
110
)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
(
26,863
)
(
7,887
)
1,290
(
33,460
)
Balance at September 29, 2019
$
(
277,965
)
$
(
495,267
)
$
(
1,141
)
$
(
774,373
)
Balance at December 31, 2017
$
(
198,495
)
$
(
467,136
)
$
(
641
)
$
(
666,272
)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications
(
38,011
)
1,221
583
(
36,207
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income
—
20,979
(
325
)
20,654
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to fixed assets
—
—
136
136
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
(
38,011
)
22,200
394
(
15,417
)
Amounts reclassified from retained earnings to accumulated other comprehensive loss
—
—
(
176
)
(
176
)
Balance at September 30, 2018
$
(
236,506
)
$
(
444,936
)
$
(
423
)
$
(
681,865
)
17
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
The following table summarizes the effects on net income of significant amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018:
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Loss
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
Details about Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Loss Components
September 29,
2019
September 30, 2018
September 29,
2019
September 30,
2018
Affected Line Item in
the Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Income
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges
Foreign exchange contracts
$
139
$
614
$
988
$
1,184
Net sales
Foreign exchange contracts
(
348
)
(
260
)
(
1,014
)
(
613
)
Cost of sales
Commodity contracts
11
(
153
)
127
(
143
)
Cost of sales
(
198
)
201
101
428
Income before income taxes
(
11
)
(
58
)
(
67
)
(
103
)
Provision for income taxes
$
(
209
)
$
143
$
34
$
325
Net income
Defined benefit pension items
Effect of curtailment loss
(a)
—
(
97
)
—
(
97
)
Non-operating pension (income)/cost
Effect of settlement loss
(a)
(
796
)
—
(
2,343
)
(645)
Non-operating pension costs
Amortization of defined
benefit pension items
(a)
(
5,905
)
(
9,068
)
(
24,360
)
(
27,352
)
Non-operating pension costs
$
(
6,701
)
$
(
9,165
)
$
(
26,703
)
$
(
28,094
)
Income before income taxes
1,709
2,357
6,809
7,115
Provision for income taxes
$
(
4,992
)
$
(
6,808
)
$
(
19,894
)
$
(
20,979
)
Net income
Total reclassifications for the period
$
(
5,201
)
$
(
6,665
)
$
(
19,860
)
$
(
20,654
)
Net income
(a)
See Note 11 for additional details.
18
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
The following table summarizes the before and after tax amounts for the various components of other comprehensive income/(loss) for the three-month periods ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018:
Three months ended September 29, 2019
Three months ended September 30, 2018
Before Tax
Amount
Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
After Tax
Amount
Before Tax
Amount
Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
After Tax
Amount
Foreign currency items:
Net other comprehensive income/(loss) from foreign currency items
$
(
33,584
)
$
—
$
(
33,584
)
$
1,916
$
—
$
1,916
Defined benefit pension items:
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before
reclassifications
(
29,190
)
7,348
(
21,842
)
184
(
31
)
153
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive income/(loss) to net income
6,701
(
1,709
)
4,992
9,165
(
2,357
)
6,808
Net other comprehensive income/(loss) from
defined benefit pension items
(
22,489
)
5,639
(
16,850
)
9,349
(
2,388
)
6,961
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges:
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before
reclassifications
(
279
)
(
14
)
(
293
)
2,415
(
693
)
1,722
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive income/(loss) to net income
198
11
209
(
201
)
58
(
143
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive income/(loss) to fixed assets
(
9
)
—
(
9
)
80
—
80
Net other comprehensive income/(loss) from
cash flow hedges
(
90
)
(
3
)
(
93
)
2,294
(
635
)
1,659
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
$
(
56,163
)
$
5,636
$
(
50,527
)
$
13,559
$
(
3,023
)
$
10,536
19
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
The following table summarizes the before and after tax amounts for the various components of other comprehensive income/(loss) for the nine-month periods ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018:
Nine months ended September 29, 2019
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
Before Tax
Amount
Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
After Tax
Amount
Before Tax
Amount
Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
After Tax
Amount
Foreign currency items:
Net other comprehensive loss from foreign currency items
$
(
26,863
)
$
—
$
(
26,863
)
$
(
38,011
)
$
—
$
(
38,011
)
Defined benefit pension items:
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before
reclassifications
(
36,828
)
9,047
(
27,781
)
1,674
(
453
)
1,221
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive income/(loss) to net income
26,703
(
6,809
)
19,894
28,094
(
7,115
)
20,979
Net other comprehensive income/(loss) from
defined benefit pension items
(
10,125
)
2,238
(
7,887
)
29,768
(
7,568
)
22,200
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges:
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before
reclassifications
1,915
(
481
)
1,434
784
(
201
)
583
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive income/(loss) to net income
(
101
)
67
(
34
)
(
428
)
103
(
325
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive income/(loss) to fixed assets
(
110
)
—
(
110
)
136
—
136
Net other comprehensive income/(loss) from
cash flow hedges
1,704
(
414
)
1,290
492
(
98
)
394
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
$
(
35,284
)
$
1,824
$
(
33,460
)
$
(
7,751
)
$
(
7,666
)
$
(
15,417
)
Note 7:
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill
A summary of the changes in goodwill by segment for the nine months ended September 29, 2019 is as follows:
Consumer
Packaging
Display
and
Packaging
Paper and
Industrial
Converted
Products
Protective
Solutions
Total
Goodwill at December 31, 2018
$
617,332
$
203,414
$
256,947
$
231,474
$
1,309,167
2019 Acquisitions
—
—
43,722
—
43,722
Foreign currency translation
(
3,717
)
—
(
3,374
)
(
312
)
(
7,403
)
Other
(
2,461
)
—
2,246
—
(
215
)
Goodwill at September 29, 2019
$
611,154
$
203,414
$
299,541
$
231,162
$
1,345,271
The Company recorded goodwill totaling $
43,722
upon completion of the Corenso acquisition in the third quarter of 2019.
Measurement period adjustments were made in the first nine months of 2019 to the fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed in the 2018 acquisitions of Compositub, Highland, and Conitex Sonoco resulting in increases/(decreases) in goodwill of $(
566
), $(
1,895
) and $
2,246
, respectively. These adjustments are reflected above in "Other." See Note 3 for additional information.
20
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
The Company assesses goodwill for impairment annually and from time to time when warranted by the facts and circumstances surrounding individual reporting units or the Company as a whole. The Company completed its most recent annual goodwill impairment testing during the third quarter of 2019. As part of this testing, the Company analyzed certain qualitative and quantitative factors in determining goodwill impairment. The Company's assessments reflected a number of significant management assumptions and estimates including the Company's forecast of sales volumes and prices, profit margins, and discount rates. Changes in these assumptions could materially impact the Company's conclusions. Based on its assessments, the Company concluded that there was
no
impairment of goodwill for any of its reporting units.
Although no reporting units failed the assessments noted above, in management’s opinion, the goodwill of the Display and Packaging reporting unit is at risk of impairment in the near term if there is a negative change in the long-term outlook for the business or in other factors such as the discount rate. A large portion of projected sales in this reporting unit is concentrated in several major customers, the loss of any of which could impact the Company's conclusion regarding the likelihood of goodwill impairment for the unit.
Total goodwill associated with this reporting unit was $
203,414
at September 29, 2019. Based on the latest annual impairment test, the estimated fair value of the Display and Packaging reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by approximately
35
%.
In its 2019 annual goodwill impairment analysis, projected future cash flows for Display and Packaging were discounted at
8.9
%. Based on the discounted cash flow model and holding other valuation assumptions constant, Display and Packaging projected operating profits across all future periods would have to be reduced approximately
27
%, or the discount rate increased to
12.5
%, in order for the estimated fair value to fall below the reporting unit’s carrying value.
During the time subsequent to the annual evaluation, and at September 29, 2019, the Company considered whether any events and/or changes in circumstances had resulted in the likelihood that the goodwill of any of its reporting units may have been impaired. It is management's opinion that no such events have occurred.
Other Intangible Assets
A summary of other intangible assets as of September 29, 2019 and December 31, 2018 is as follows:
September 29,
2019
December 31,
2018
Other Intangible Assets, gross:
Patents
$
22,490
$
22,509
Customer lists
575,125
548,038
Trade names
31,094
31,174
Proprietary technology
28,679
28,748
Land use rights
277
282
Other
2,117
2,093
Other Intangible Assets, gross
$
659,782
$
632,844
Accumulated Amortization:
Patents
$
(
11,182
)
$
(
9,539
)
Customer lists
(
275,857
)
(
246,946
)
Trade names
(
9,371
)
(
7,413
)
Proprietary technology
(
17,480
)
(
15,400
)
Land use rights
(
49
)
(
48
)
Other
(
1,597
)
(
1,461
)
Total Accumulated Amortization
$
(
315,536
)
$
(
280,807
)
Other Intangible Assets, net
$
344,246
$
352,037
Intangible assets totaling $
29,170
were recorded upon the acquisition of Corenso in the third quarter of 2019. These assets consist entirely of customer lists that will be amortized over their expected useful lives of
10
years.
21
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Measurement period adjustments were made in the first nine months of 2019 to finalize the fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed in the 2018 acquisitions of Compositub and Conitex Sonoco resulting in increases in other intangible assets, primarily customer lists, of $
1,888
and $
300
, respectively.
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
intangible assets with indefinite lives.
Aggregate amortization expense was $
12,145
and $
11,664
for the three months ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively, and $
38,035
and $
34,266
for the nine months ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively. Amortization expense on other intangible assets is expected to total approximately $
50,800
in 2019, $
50,300
in 2020, $
48,200
in 2021, $
46,000
in 2022 and $
41,100
in 2023.
Note 8:
Debt
On May 17, 2019, the Company entered into a
364
-day, $
200,000
term loan with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. The full $
200,000
was drawn from this facility on May 20, 2019, and the proceeds were used to make voluntary contributions to the Company's U.S. defined benefit pension plans. The unsecured loan has a
364
-day term and the Company has a one-time option to request an extension of the term for an additional
364
days if it meets certain conditions. Interest is assessed at the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a margin based on a pricing grid that uses the Company’s credit ratings. The LIBOR margin at September 29, 2019 was
100
basis points. There is no required amortization and repayment can be accelerated at any time at the discretion of the Company.
Note 9:
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 29, 2019
December 31, 2018
Carrying
Amount
Fair
Value
Carrying
Amount
Fair
Value
Long-term debt, net of current portion
$
1,180,221
$
1,339,304
$
1,189,717
$
1,270,521
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 recent trade information in the financial markets of the Company’s public debt or is determined by discounting future cash flows using interest rates available to the Company for issues with similar terms and maturities. It is considered a Level 2 fair value measurement.
Cash Flow Hedges
At September 29, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had derivative financial instruments outstanding to hedge anticipated transactions and certain asset and liability related cash flows. These contracts, which have maturities ranging to December 2020, qualify as cash flow hedges under U.S. GAAP. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings and is presented in the same income statement line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item.
Commodity Cash Flow Hedges
The Company has entered into certain derivative contracts to manage the cost of anticipated purchases of natural gas and aluminum. At September 29, 2019, natural gas swaps covering approximately
6.0
million MMBTUs were outstanding. These contracts represent approximately
93
% and
82
% of anticipated U.S. and Canadian usage for the remainder of 2019 and 2020, respectively. Additionally, the Company had swap contracts covering
2,654
metric tons of aluminum, representing approximately
33
% and
22
% of anticipated usage for the remainder of 2019 and 2020, respectively. The fair values of the Company’s commodity cash flow hedges netted to a loss position of $(
1,683
) and $(
1,571
) at September 29, 2019 and December 31, 2018 respectively. The amount of the loss included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss at September 29, 2019, that is expected to be reclassified to the income statement during the next twelve months is $(
1,293
).
22
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedges
The Company has entered into forward contracts to hedge certain anticipated foreign currency denominated sales, purchases, and capital spending forecast to occur in 2019.
The net positions of these contracts at September 29, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):
Currency
Action
Quantity
Colombian peso
purchase
3,967,259
Mexican peso
purchase
177,879
Canadian dollar
purchase
15,867
Polish zloty
purchase
13,712
Czech koruna
purchase
12,013
Turkish lira
purchase
1,844
British pound
purchase
352
Swedish krona
sell
(
625
)
Euro
sell
(
4,231
)
Russian ruble
sell
(
41,520
)
The fair value of foreign currency cash flow hedges related to forecasted sales and purchases netted to a gain position of $
112
at September 29, 2019 and a loss position of $(
1,624
) at December 31, 2018.
Gains of $
112
are expected to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to the income statement during the next twelve months.
I
n addition, the Company has entered into forward contracts to hedge certain foreign currency cash flow transactions related to construction in progress. As of September 29, 2019 and at December 31, 2018, the net positions of these contracts were $(
3
) and $(
88
), respectively. During the nine months ended September 29, 2019, losses from these hedges totaling $(
110
) were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income and included in the carrying value of the related fixed assets acquired. Losses of $(
3
) are expected to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income and included in the carrying value of the related fixed assets acquired during the next twelve months.
Other Derivatives
The Company routinely enters into forward contracts or swaps to economically hedge the currency exposure of intercompany debt and 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 29, 2019, were as follows (in thousands):
Currency
Action
Quantity
Colombian peso
purchase
10,825,680
Mexican peso
purchase
345,007
Canadian dollar
purchase
16,477
The fair value of the Company’s other derivatives was a gain position of $
381
and $
166
at September 29, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
23
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares 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 29, 2019 and December 31, 2018:
Description
Balance Sheet Location
September 29, 2019
December 31, 2018
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity Contracts
Prepaid expenses
$
58
$
282
Commodity Contracts
Other assets
$
11
$
—
Commodity Contracts
Accrued expenses and other
$
(
1,541
)
$
(
1,843
)
Commodity Contracts
Other liabilities
$
(
211
)
$
(
10
)
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Prepaid expenses
$
564
$
770
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Accrued expenses and other
$
(
455
)
$
(
2,482
)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Prepaid expenses
$
423
$
727
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Accrued expenses and other
$
(
42
)
$
(
561
)
While certain of the Company’s derivative contract arrangements with its counterparties provide for the ability to settle contracts on a net basis, the Company reports its derivative positions on a gross basis. There are no collateral arrangements or requirements in these agreements.
The following tables set forth the effect of the Company’s derivative instruments on financial performance for the three months ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018:
Description
Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized
in OCI on
Derivatives
Location of Gain
or (Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
Into Income
Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Reclassified
from Accumulated
OCI Into Income
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
Three months ended September 29, 2019
Foreign Exchange Contracts
$
(
957
)
Net sales
$
139
Cost of sales
$
(
348
)
Commodity Contracts
$
678
Cost of sales
$
11
Three months ended September 30, 2018
Foreign Exchange Contracts
$
2,550
Net sales
$
614
Cost of sales
$
(
260
)
Commodity Contracts
$
(
135
)
Cost of sales
$
(
153
)
Description
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized
Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in
Income Statement
Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Three months ended September 29, 2019
Foreign Exchange Contracts
$
—
Cost of sales
$
161
Selling, general and administrative
Three months ended September 30, 2018
Foreign Exchange Contracts
$
—
Cost of sales
$
(
1,008
)
Selling, general and administrative
24
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Three months ended September 29, 2019
Three months ended September 30, 2018
Description
Revenue
Cost of
sales
Revenue
Cost of
sales
Total amount of income and expense line items presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
$
139
$
(
337
)
$
614
$
(
413
)
The effects of cash flow hedging:
Gain or (loss) on cash flow hedging relationships in Subtopic 815-20:
Foreign exchange contracts:
Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income
$
139
$
(
348
)
$
614
$
(
260
)
Commodity contracts:
Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income
$
—
$
11
$
—
$
(
153
)
The following tables set forth the effect of the Company’s derivative instruments on financial performance for the nine months ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018:
Description
Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized
in OCI on
Derivatives
Location of Gain
or (Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
Into Income
Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Reclassified
from Accumulated
OCI Into Income
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
Nine months ended September 29, 2019
Foreign Exchange Contracts
$
1,901
Net sales
$
988
Cost of sales
$
(
1,014
)
Commodity Contracts
$
14
Cost of sales
$
127
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
Foreign Exchange Contracts
$
(
211
)
Net sales
$
1,184
Cost of sales
$
(
613
)
Commodity Contracts
$
995
Cost of sales
$
(
143
)
Description
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized
Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in
Income Statement
Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Nine months ended September 29, 2019
Foreign Exchange Contracts
$
—
Cost of sales
$
(
411
)
Selling, general and administrative
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
Foreign Exchange Contracts
$
—
Cost of sales
$
1,016
Selling, general and administrative
25
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Nine months ended September 29, 2019
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
Description
Revenue
Cost of
sales
Revenue
Cost of
sales
Total amount of income and expense line items presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
$
988
$
(
887
)
$
1,184
$
(
756
)
The effects of cash flow hedging:
Gain or (loss) on cash flow hedging relationships in Subtopic 815-20:
Foreign exchange contracts:
Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income
$
988
$
(
1014
)
$
1,184
$
(
613
)
Commodity contracts:
Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income
$
—
$
127
$
—
$
(
143
)
Note 10:
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 for 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 29, 2019
Assets measured
at NAV
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Hedge derivatives, net:
Commodity contracts
$
(
1,683
)
$
—
$
—
$
(
1,683
)
$
—
Foreign exchange contracts
$
109
$
—
$
—
$
109
$
—
Non-hedge derivatives, net:
Foreign exchange contracts
$
381
$
—
$
—
$
381
$
—
Deferred compensation plan assets
$
135
$
—
$
135
$
—
$
—
Description
December 31, 2018
Assets measured
at NAV
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Hedge derivatives, net:
Commodity contracts
$
(
1,571
)
$
—
$
—
$
(
1,571
)
$
—
Foreign exchange contracts
$
(
1,712
)
$
—
$
—
$
(
1,712
)
$
—
Non-hedge derivatives, net:
Foreign exchange contracts
$
166
$
—
$
—
$
166
$
—
Deferred compensation plan assets
$
260
$
—
$
260
$
—
$
—
26
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
As discussed
in Note 9,
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 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 non-financial assets or liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis. None of the Company’s financial assets or liabilities are 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- and nine-month periods ended September 29, 2019.
Note 11:
Employee Benefit Plans
Retirement Plans and Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans
The Company provides non-contributory defined benefit pension plans to certain of its employees in the United States, Mexico and Belgium. The Company also sponsors contributory defined benefit pension plans covering the majority of its employees in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Netherlands. In addition, the Company 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 Company froze participation in its U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan for newly hired salaried and non-union hourly employees effective December 31, 2003. To replace this benefit, non-union U.S. employees hired on or after January 1, 2004, are provided an annual contribution, called the Sonoco Retirement Contribution (SRC), to their participant accounts in the Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan. The SRC is equal to
4
% of the participant's eligible pay plus
4
% of eligible pay in excess of the social security wage base. On February 4, 2009, the U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan was further amended to freeze plan benefits for all active, non-union participants effective December 31, 2018. Remaining active participants in the U.S. qualified plan became eligible for SRC contributions effective January 1, 2019.
The components of net periodic benefit cost include the following:
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
Retirement Plans
Service cost
$
1,006
$
4,532
$
2,909
$
13,682
Interest cost
13,686
13,698
43,729
41,249
Expected return on plan assets
(
13,114
)
(
22,740
)
(
51,443
)
(
68,529
)
Amortization of prior service cost
241
239
671
730
Amortization of net actuarial loss
5,993
9,241
24,673
27,823
Effect of curtailment loss
—
97
—
97
Effect of settlement loss
796
—
2,343
645
Net periodic benefit cost
$
8,608
$
5,067
$
22,882
$
15,697
Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans
Service cost
$
77
$
73
$
229
$
222
Interest cost
116
115
347
336
Expected return on plan assets
(
179
)
(
222
)
(
535
)
(
912
)
Amortization of prior service credit
(
124
)
(
124
)
(
371
)
(
373
)
Amortization of net actuarial gain
(
205
)
(
288
)
(
613
)
(
828
)
Net periodic benefit income
$
(
315
)
$
(
446
)
$
(
943
)
$
(
1,555
)
27
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
The Company made aggregate contributions of $
210,962
to its defined benefit retirement and retiree health and life insurance plans during the nine months ended September 29, 2019, including voluntary contributions to its U.S. defined benefit pension plans (the "Plans") totaling $
200,000
. These voluntary contributions were followed by actions to de-risk the Plan's portfolio by increasing the allocation of pension assets to fixed-income investments and to transfer certain inactive participants, and corresponding assets and liabilities, from the Sonoco Pension Plan (the "Active Plan") to the Sonoco Pension Plan for Inactive Participants (the "Inactive Plan"). Pursuant to these actions, the Company remeasured the assets and liabilities of the Plans as of July 1, 2019. The remeasurement resulted in an increase in "Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits" of $
24,424
and a corresponding change in Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) and deferred income taxes.
The Company expects to make additional aggregate contributions of approximately $
5,000
to its defined benefit retirement and retiree health and life insurance plans over the remainder of 2019. The Company made aggregate contributions of $
13,188
to its defined benefit retirement and retiree health and life insurance plans during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
The Company recognized settlement charges totaling $
2,343
and $
645
during the nine months ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively. These charges resulted from payments made to certain participants of the Company's Canadian pension plan who elected a lump sum option of distribution upon retirement.
Plan Termination
On July 17, 2019, the Company's Board of Directors approved a resolution to terminate the Sonoco Pension Plan for Inactive Participants, a tax-qualified defined benefit plan, effective September 30, 2019. Once approval is received from the Internal Revenue Service and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and following completion of a limited lump-sum offering, the Company is expected to settle all remaining liabilities under the Inactive Plan in 2020 through the purchase of annuity contracts. The Company anticipates making additional contributions to the Inactive Plan beginning in 2020 of between $
75,000
and $
125,000
in order to be fully funded on a termination basis at the time of the annuity purchase. However, the actual amount of the Company's long-term liability when it is transferred, and the related cash contribution requirement, will depend upon the nature and timing of participant settlements, as well as prevailing market conditions. Non-cash settlement charges resulting from the lump sum payouts and annuity purchases are expected to range between $
525,000
and $
575,000
. The termination of the Inactive Plan will apply to participants who have separated service from Sonoco and to non-union active employees who no longer accrue pension benefits. There is no change in the cumulative benefit previously earned by the approximately
11,000
impacted participants as a result of these actions, and the Company will continue to manage and support the Active Plan, comprised of approximately
600
active participants who continue to accrue benefits in accordance with a flat-dollar multiplier formula.
Sonoco Retirement Contribution (SRC)
SRC contributions, which are funded annually in the first quarter, totaled $
14,573
during the nine months ended September 29, 2019, and $
14,151
during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
No
additional SRC contributions are expected during the remainder of 2019. The Company recognized expense related to the SRC of $
5,912
and $
3,707
for the quarters ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively, and $
18,009
and $
11,594
for the nine-month periods ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively.
Note 12:
Income Taxes
The Company’s effective tax rate for the three- and nine-month periods ending September 29, 2019 was
22.4
% and
24.1
%, respectively, and its effective tax rate for the three- and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2018 was
21.0
% and
24.0
%, respectively. The rates for the three- and nine-month periods ending September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018 varied from the U.S. statutory rate due primarily to the effect of the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (GILTI) tax, the release of reserves for uncertain tax positions and the effect of state income taxes.
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 currently under audit for the 2012 and 2013 tax years and has entered the appeals
28
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
process with the Internal Revenue Service. Other than the aforementioned audit, with few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2016.
The Company’s reserve for uncertain tax benefits has decreased by approximately $
1,900
since December 31, 2018, due primarily to a decrease in reserves related to existing uncertain tax positions. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that the amount reserved for unrecognized tax benefits at September 29, 2019 could increase by approximately $
200
over the next twelve months. This change includes the anticipated increase in reserves related to existing positions offset by settlements of issues currently under examination and the release of existing reserves due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. Although 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. The Company has operations and pays taxes in many countries outside of the U.S. and taxes on those earnings are subject to varying rates. The Company is not dependent upon the favorable benefit of any one jurisdiction to an extent that the loss of such benefit would have a material effect on the Company’s overall effective tax rate.
As previously disclosed, the Company received a draft Notice of Proposed Adjustment (“NOPA”) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in February 2017 proposing an adjustment to income for the 2013 tax year based on the IRS's recharacterization of a distribution of an intercompany note made in 2012, and the subsequent repayment of the note over the course of 2013, as if it were a cash distribution made in 2013. In March 2017, the Company received a draft NOPA proposing penalties of $
18,000
associated with the IRS’s recharacterization, as well as an Information Document Request (“IDR”) requesting the Company’s analysis of why such penalties should not apply. The Company responded to this IDR in April 2017. On October 5, 2017, the Company received
two
revised draft NOPAs proposing the same adjustments and penalties as in the prior NOPAs. On November 14, 2017, the Company received
two
final NOPAs proposing the same adjustments and penalties as in the prior draft NOPAs. On November 20, 2017, the Company received a Revenue Agent's Report (“RAR”) that included the same adjustments and penalties as in the prior NOPAs. At the time of the distribution in 2012, it was characterized as a dividend to the extent of earnings and profits, with the remainder as a tax free return of basis and taxable capital gain. As the IRS proposes to recharacterize the distribution, the entire distribution would be characterized as a dividend. The incremental tax liability associated with the income adjustment proposed in the RAR would be approximately $
89,000
, excluding interest and the previously referenced penalties. On January 22, 2018, the Company filed a protest to the proposed deficiency with the IRS. The Company received a rebuttal of its protest from the IRS on July 10, 2018, and the matter has now been referred to the Appeals Division of the IRS. The Company had a pre-conference hearing with IRS Appeals during the second quarter of 2019. The Company strongly believes the position of the IRS with regard to this matter is inconsistent with the applicable tax laws and existing Treasury regulations, and that the Company's previously reported income tax provision for the year in question is appropriate. However, there can be no assurance that this matter will be resolved in the Company's favor. Regardless of whether the matter is resolved in the Company's favor, the final resolution of this matter could be expensive and time consuming to defend and/or settle. While the Company believes that the amount of tax originally paid with respect to this distribution is correct, and accordingly has not provided additional reserve for tax uncertainty, there is still a possibility that an adverse outcome of the matter could have a material effect on its future results of operations and financial condition.
29
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Note 13:
Leases
The Company routinely enters into leasing arrangements for real estate (including manufacturing facilities, office space, warehouses, and packaging centers), transportation equipment (automobiles, forklifts, and trailers), and office equipment (copiers and postage machines). The assessment of the certainty associated with the exercise of various lease renewal, termination, and purchase options included in the Company's lease contracts is at the Company's sole discretion. Most real estate leases, in particular, include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from
one
to
50
years. The Company's leases do not have any significant residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants.
As the implicit rate in the Company's leases is not readily determinable, the Company calculates its right of use lease liabilities using discount rates based upon the Company’s incremental secured borrowing rate, which contemplates and reflects a particular geographical region’s interest rate for the leases active within that region of the Company’s global operations. The Company further utilizes a portfolio approach by assigning a “short” rate to contracts with lease terms of
10
years or less and a “long” rate for contracts greater than
10
years. See Note 2 for further information regarding the Company's adoption of ASU 2016-02, "Leases."
The following table sets forth the balance sheet location and values of the Company’s lease assets and lease liabilities at September 29, 2019:
Classification
Balance Sheet Location
September 29, 2019
Lease Assets
Operating lease assets
Right of Use Asset - Operating Leases
$
296,499
Finance lease assets
Other Assets
18,402
Total lease assets
314,901
Lease Liabilities
Current operating lease liabilities
Accrued expenses and other
53,256
Current finance lease liabilities
Notes payable and current portion of debt
9,059
Total current lease liabilities
62,315
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities
Noncurrent Operating Lease Liabilities
252,460
Noncurrent finance lease liabilities
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion
8,559
Total noncurrent lease liabilities
261,019
Total lease liabilities
$
323,334
As of September 29, 2019, the Company has entered into additional leases that have not yet commenced. The associated contracts include payments over the respective lease terms totaling $
2,100
, which are not reflected in the Company's liabilities recorded as of September 29, 2019. These leases will commence during fiscal year 2020 with lease terms of approximately
5
years.
30
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Certain of the Company’s leases include variable costs. Variable costs include lease payments that were volume or usage-driven in accordance with the use of the underlying asset, and also non-lease components that were incurred based upon actual terms rather than contractually fixed amounts. In addition, variable costs are incurred for lease payments that are indexed to a change in rate or index. Because the right of use asset recorded on the balance sheet was determined based upon factors considered at the commencement date, subsequent changes in the rate or index that were not contemplated in the right of use asset balances recorded on the balance sheet result in variable expenses being incurred when paid during the lease term.
The following table sets forth the components of the Company's total lease cost for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 29, 2019:
Lease Cost
Three Months Ended September 29, 2019
Nine Months Ended September 29, 2019
Operating lease cost
(a)
$
15,502
$
46,818
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of lease asset
(a) (b)
2,036
6,158
Interest on lease liabilities
(c)
214
735
Variable lease cost
(a) (d)
10,657
27,626
Total lease cost
$
28,409
$
81,337
(a) Production-related and administrative amounts are included in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively.
(b) Included in depreciation and amortization.
(c) Included in interest expense.
(d) Also includes short term lease costs, which are deemed immaterial.
In compliance with ASC 842, the Company must provide the prior year disclosures required under the previous lease guidance (ASC 840) for comparative periods presented herein. Rental expense under operating leases for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 was $
19,953
and $
58,253
, respectively.
The following table sets forth the five-year maturity schedule of the Company's lease liabilities as of September 29, 2019:
Maturity of Lease Liabilities
Operating Leases
Finance Leases
Total
2019 (excluding nine months ended September 29, 2019)
$
21,383
$
3,026
$
24,409
2020
54,382
8,215
62,597
2021
47,033
3,238
50,271
2022
40,953
1,679
42,632
2023
37,072
1,079
38,151
Beyond 2023
188,816
1,390
190,206
Total lease payments
$
389,639
$
18,627
$
408,266
Less: Interest
83,923
1,009
84,932
Lease Liabilities
$
305,716
$
17,618
$
323,334
31
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
As presented in our 2018 Form 10-K (under ASC 840), the future minimum rentals under noncancellable operating leases with terms of more than one year, payable over the remaining lives of the leases at December 31, 2018, were as follows:
Period
Minimum Future Rental Commitments
2019
$
48,200
2020
41,700
2021
32,500
2022
27,300
2023
21,400
Beyond 2023
92,300
The following tables set forth the Company's weighted average remaining lease term and discount rates used in the calculation of its outstanding lease liabilities at September 29, 2019, along with other lease-related information for the three months ended September 29, 2019:
Lease Term and Discount Rate
As of September 29, 2019
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years):
Operating leases
11.2
Finance leases
2.7
Weighted-average discount rate:
Operating leases
4.89
%
Finance leases
4.91
%
Other Information
Nine Months Ended September 29, 2019
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows used by operating leases
$
46,374
Operating cash flows used by finance leases
735
Financing cash flows used by finance leases
7,593
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities
18,053
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities
1,186
32
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Note 14:
Revenue Recognition
The Company records revenue when control is transferred to the customer, which is either upon shipment or over time in cases where the Company is entitled to payment with margin for products produced that are customer specific without alternative use. The Company recognizes over time revenue under the input method as goods are produced. Revenue that is recognized at a point in time is recognized when the customer obtains control of the goods. Customers obtain control either when goods are delivered to the customer facility, if the Company is responsible for arranging transportation, or when picked up by the customer's designated carrier. The Company commonly enters into Master Supply Arrangements (MSA) with customers to provide goods and/or services over specific time periods. Customers submit purchase orders with quantities and prices to create a contract for accounting purposes. Shipping and handling expenses are included in "Cost of Sales," and freight charged to customers is included in "Net Sales" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
The Company has rebate agreements with certain customers. These rebates are recorded as reductions of revenue and are accrued using sales data and rebate percentages specific to each customer agreement. Accrued customer rebates are included in "Accrued expenses and other" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Payment terms under the
Company's
sales arrangements are short term, generally no longer than
120
days. The Company does provide prompt payment discounts to certain customers if invoices are paid within a predetermined period. Prompt payment discounts are treated as a reduction of revenue and are determinable within a short period of the sale.
The following table sets forth information about receivables, contract assets, and liabilities from contracts with customers. Contract assets and liabilities are reported in "Other receivables" and "Accrued expenses and other," respectively, on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
September 29, 2019
December 31, 2018
Contract Assets
$
51,287
$
48,786
Contract Liabilities
$
(
18,469
)
$
(
18,533
)
Significant changes in the contract assets and liabilities balances during the period were as follows:
September 29, 2019
December 31, 2018
Contract
Asset
Contract
Liability
Contract
Asset
Contract
Liability
Beginning Balance
$
48,786
$
(
18,533
)
$
45,877
$
(
17,736
)
Revenue deferred or rebates accrued
—
(
21,812
)
—
(
19,730
)
Recognized as revenue
5,350
1,652
Rebates paid to customers
—
16,526
—
17,281
Increases due to rights to consideration for customer specific goods produced, but not billed during the period
51,287
—
48,786
—
Transferred to receivables from contract assets recognized at the beginning of the period
(
48,786
)
—
(
45,877
)
—
Ending Balance
$
51,287
$
(
18,469
)
$
48,786
$
(
18,533
)
Contract assets and liabilities are generally short in duration given the nature of products produced by the Company. Contract assets represents goods produced without alternative use for which the Company is entitled to payment with margin prior to shipment. Upon shipment, the Company is entitled to bill the customer, and therefore amounts included in contract assets will be reduced with the recording of an account receivable as they represent an unconditional right to payment. Contract liabilities represent revenue deferred due to pricing mechanisms utilized by the Company in certain multi-year arrangements, volume rebates, and payments received in advance. For multi-year arrangements with pricing mechanisms, the Company will generally defer revenue during the first half of the arrangement, and will release the
33
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
deferral over the back half of the contract term. The Company's reportable segments are aligned by product nature as disclosed in Note 15.
The following tables set forth information about revenue disaggregated by primary geographic regions, and timing of revenue recognition for the three-month periods ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018. The tables also include a reconciliation of disaggregated revenue with reportable segments.
Three months ended September 29, 2019
Consumer
Packaging
Display and
Packaging
Paper and
Industrial
Converted
Products
Protective
Solutions
Total
Primary Geographical Markets:
United States
$
415,567
$
59,688
$
279,908
$
104,082
$
859,245
Europe
99,276
83,888
83,421
6,456
273,041
Canada
26,567
—
26,960
—
53,527
Asia Pacific
17,714
—
71,313
496
89,523
Other
22,244
1,440
34,227
20,684
78,595
Total
$
581,368
$
145,016
$
495,829
$
131,718
$
1,353,931
Timing of Revenue Recognition:
Products transferred at a point in time
$
354,070
$
69,751
$
479,914
$
110,594
$
1,014,329
Products transferred over time
227,298
75,265
15,915
21,124
339,602
Total
$
581,368
$
145,016
$
495,829
$
131,718
$
1,353,931
Three months ended September 30, 2018
Consumer Packaging
Display and Packaging
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
Protective Solutions
Total
Primary Geographical Markets:
United States
$
431,217
$
80,696
$
274,965
$
107,493
$
894,371
Europe
101,848
82,906
84,313
6,721
275,788
Canada
29,427
—
33,233
—
62,660
Asia Pacific
17,863
—
35,617
781
54,261
Other
19,799
1,562
35,620
20,701
77,682
Total
$
600,154
$
165,164
$
463,748
$
135,696
$
1,364,762
Timing of Revenue Recognition
1
:
Products transferred at a point in time
$
358,233
$
79,239
$
438,599
$
117,608
$
993,679
Products transferred over time
241,921
85,925
25,149
18,088
371,083
Total
$
600,154
$
165,164
$
463,748
$
135,696
$
1,364,762
34
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
The following tables set forth information about revenue disaggregated by primary geographic regions, and timing of revenue recognition for the nine-month periods ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018. The tables also include a reconciliation of disaggregated revenue with reportable segments.
Nine months ended September 29, 2019
Consumer
Packaging
Display and
Packaging
Paper and
Industrial
Converted
Products
Protective
Solutions
Total
Primary Geographical Markets:
United States
$
1,268,863
$
187,347
$
817,364
$
309,318
$
2,582,892
Europe
306,495
225,695
262,084
17,918
812,192
Canada
82,706
—
89,696
—
172,402
Asia
51,072
—
209,961
1,932
262,965
Other
64,698
4,361
104,089
61,758
234,906
Total
$
1,773,834
$
417,403
$
1,483,194
$
390,926
$
4,065,357
Timing of Revenue Recognition:
Products transferred at a point in time
$
1,025,890
$
198,577
$
1,431,757
$
329,699
$
2,985,923
Products transferred over time
747,944
218,826
51,437
61,227
1,079,434
Total
$
1,773,834
$
417,403
$
1,483,194
$
390,926
$
4,065,357
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
Consumer Packaging
Display and
Packaging
Paper and
Industrial
Converted
Products
Protective
Solutions
Total
Primary Geographical Markets:
United States
$
1,275,775
$
223,760
$
820,429
$
313,343
$
2,633,307
Europe
310,864
221,228
267,566
20,325
819,983
Canada
87,729
—
99,868
—
187,597
Asia
51,067
—
106,615
2,671
160,353
Other
60,633
6,094
104,060
63,295
234,082
Total
$
1,786,068
$
451,082
$
1,398,538
$
399,634
$
4,035,322
Timing of Revenue Recognition
1
:
Products transferred at a point in time
$
1,070,346
$
222,137
$
1,332,266
$
339,043
$
2,963,792
Products transferred over time
715,722
228,945
66,272
60,591
1,071,530
Total
$
1,786,068
$
451,082
$
1,398,538
$
399,634
$
4,035,322
1
The Company has revised the amounts from those previously reported in 2018 to reflect corrections in the classification of revenue between "Products transferred at a point in time" and "Products transferred over time" for the Consumer Packaging and Display and Packaging reportable segments.
35
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Revised disclosures for the year ended December 31, 2018 are presented below:
Consumer Packaging
Display and Packaging
As Originally Reported
Adjustment
As Revised
As Originally Reported
Adjustment
As Revised
Products transferred at a point in time
Year ended December 31, 2018
$
1,440,662
$
(
41,837
)
$
1,398,825
$
248,034
$
41,837
$
289,871
Products transferred over time
Year ended December 31, 2018
$
919,337
$
41,837
$
961,174
$
344,275
$
(
41,837
)
$
302,438
36
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Note 15:
Segment Reporting
The Company reports its financial results in
four
reportable segments: Consumer Packaging, Display and Packaging, Paper and Industrial Converted Products, and Protective Solutions.
The Consumer Packaging segment includes the following products and services: round and shaped rigid containers and trays (both composite and thermoformed plastic); extruded and injection-molded plastic products; printed flexible packaging; global brand artwork management; and metal and peelable membrane ends and closures.
The Display and Packaging segment includes the following products and services: designing, manufacturing,
assembling, packing and distributing temporary, semi-permanent and permanent point-of-purchase displays; supply chain management services, including contract packing, fulfillment and scalable service centers; retail packaging, including printed backer cards, thermoformed blisters and heat sealing equipment; and paper amenities, such as coasters and glass covers.
The Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment includes the following products: paperboard tubes, cones, and cores; fiber-based construction tubes; wooden, metal and composite wire and cable reels and spools; and recycled paperboard, linerboard, corrugating medium, recovered paper and material recycling services.
The Protective Solutions segment includes the following products: custom-engineered, paperboard-based and expanded foam protective packaging and components; and temperature-assured 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 “Operating profit” 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.
SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
Net sales:
Consumer Packaging
$
581,368
$
600,154
$
1,773,834
$
1,786,068
Display and Packaging
145,016
165,164
417,403
451,082
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
495,829
463,748
1,483,194
1,398,538
Protective Solutions
131,718
135,696
390,926
399,634
Consolidated
$
1,353,931
$
1,364,762
$
4,065,357
$
4,035,322
Intersegment sales:
Consumer Packaging
$
1,351
$
782
$
3,394
$
2,643
Display and Packaging
1,112
1,034
3,393
2,196
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
33,485
32,828
98,674
100,804
Protective Solutions
255
418
1,080
1,273
Consolidated
$
36,203
$
35,062
$
106,541
$
106,916
Operating profit:
Segment operating profit:
Consumer Packaging
$
56,744
$
56,014
$
181,801
$
180,772
Display and Packaging
8,913
3,703
21,256
4,865
Paper and Industrial Converted
Products
59,427
53,906
169,043
155,229
Protective Solutions
13,983
10,433
39,262
34,739
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges
(
6,615
)
(
22,061
)
(
30,642
)
(
28,691
)
Other, net
6,096
(
422
)
4,484
(
3,381
)
Consolidated
$
138,548
$
101,573
$
385,204
$
343,533
37
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)
Note 16:
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. As is the case with other companies in similar industries, the Company faces exposure from actual or potential claims and legal proceedings from a variety of sources.
Some of these exposures, as discussed below, have the potential to be material.
Environmental Matters
The Company is subject to a variety of environmental and pollution control laws and regulations in all jurisdictions in which it operates.
Spartanburg
In connection with its acquisition of Tegrant in November 2011, the Company identified potential environmental contamination at a site in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The total remediation cost of the Spartanburg site was estimated to be $
17,400
at the time of acquisition and an accrual in this amount was recorded on Tegrant’s opening balance sheet. Since the acquisition, the Company has spent a total of $
1,525
on remediation of the Spartanburg site.
Based on favorable developments at the Spartanburg site, the Company reduced its environmental reserve by$
10,000
during the quarter ended September 29, 2019 in order to reflect its revised best estimate of what it is likely to pay in order to complete the remediation. This adjustment resulted in a $
10,000
reduction in "Selling, general and administrative expenses" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2019.
At September 29, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company's accrual for environmental contingencies related to the Spartanburg site totaled $
5,875
and $
15,964
, respectively. The Company cannot currently estimate its potential liability, damages or range of potential loss, if any, beyond the amounts accrued with respect to this exposure. However, the Company does not believe that the resolution of this matter has a reasonable possibility of having a material adverse effect on the Company's financial statements.
Other environmental matters
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. However, the Company does not believe that the resolution of these matters has a reasonable possibility of having a material adverse effect on the Company's financial statements. At September 29, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company's accrual for these other sites totaled $
2,984
and $
4,136
, respectively.
Summary
As of September 29, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company (and its subsidiaries) had accrued $
8,859
and $
20,100
, respectively, related to environmental contingencies. These accruals are included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Other Legal Matters
In addition to those matters described above, the Company is subject to other various 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.
38
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Sonoco Products Company,
Results of Review of Interim Financial Statements
We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Sonoco Products Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 29, 2019, and the related condensed consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, and changes in total equity for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018, and the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “interim financial statements”). Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2018, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in total equity and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein), and in our report dated February 28, 2019, 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, 2018, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
Basis for Review Results
These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.
We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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 PCAOB, 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.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Charlotte, NC
October 30, 2019
39
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 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. In addition, the Company and its representatives may from time to time make other oral or written statements that are also “forward-looking statements.” Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “consider,” “plan,” “strategy,” “opportunity,” “commitment,” “target,” “anticipate,” “objective,” “goal,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “future,” “re-envision,” “assume,” “will,” “would,” “can," “could,” “may,” “might,” “aspires,” “potential,” or the negative thereof, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding:
•
availability and supply of raw materials, and offsetting high raw material costs, including the impact of potential changes in tariffs;
•
improved productivity and cost containment;
•
improving margins and leveraging strong cash flow and financial position;
•
effects of acquisitions and dispositions;
•
realization of synergies resulting from acquisitions;
•
costs, timing and effects of restructuring activities;
•
adequacy and anticipated amounts and uses of cash flows;
•
expected amounts of capital spending;
•
refinancing and repayment of debt;
•
financial strategies and the results expected of them;
•
financial results for future periods;
•
producing improvements in earnings;
•
profitable sales growth and rates of growth;
•
market leadership;
•
research and development spending;
•
expected impact and costs of resolution of legal proceedings;
•
extent of, and adequacy of provisions for, environmental liabilities;
•
adequacy of income tax provisions, realization of deferred tax assets, outcomes of uncertain tax issues and tax rates;
•
goodwill impairment charges and fair values of reporting units;
•
future asset impairment charges and fair values of assets;
•
anticipated contributions to pension and postretirement benefit plans, fair values of plan assets, long-term rates of return on plan assets, and projected benefit obligations and payments;
•
expected impact of implementation of new accounting pronouncements;
•
creation of long-term value and returns for shareholders;
•
continued payment of dividends; and
•
planned stock repurchases.
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, perceived opportunities, expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, goals 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, uncertainties and assumptions include, without limitation:
•
availability and pricing of raw materials, energy and transportation, including the impact of potential changes in tariffs, and the Company's ability to pass raw material, energy and transportation price increases and surcharges through to customers or otherwise manage these commodity pricing risks;
•
costs of labor;
•
work stoppages due to labor disputes;
•
success of new product development, introduction and sales;
•
consumer demand for products and changing consumer preferences;
•
ability to be the low-cost global leader in customer-preferred packaging solutions within targeted segments;
40
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
•
competitive pressures, including new product development, industry overcapacity, customer and supplier consolidation, and changes in competitors' pricing for products;
•
ability to maintain or increase productivity levels, contain or reduce costs, and maintain positive price/cost relationships;
•
ability to negotiate or retain contracts with customers, including in segments with concentration of sales volume;
•
ability to improve margins and leverage cash flows and financial position;
•
continued strength of our paperboard-based tubes and cores and composite can operations;
•
ability to manage the mix of business to take advantage of growing markets while reducing cyclical effects of some of the Company's existing businesses on operating results;
•
ability to maintain innovative technological market leadership and a reputation for quality;
•
ability to attract and retain talented and qualified employees, managers and executives;
•
ability to profitably maintain and grow existing domestic and international business and market share;
•
ability to expand geographically and win profitable new business;
•
ability to identify and successfully close suitable acquisitions at the levels needed to meet growth targets, and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into the Company's operations;
•
the costs, timing and results of restructuring activities;
•
availability of credit to us, our customers and suppliers in needed amounts and on reasonable terms;
•
effects of our indebtedness on our cash flow and business activities;
•
fluctuations in interest rates and our borrowing costs;
•
fluctuations in obligations and earnings of pension and postretirement benefit plans;
•
accuracy of assumptions underlying projections of benefit plan obligations and payments, valuation of plan assets, and projections of long-term rates of return;
•
cost of employee and retiree medical, health and life insurance benefits;
•
resolution of income tax contingencies;
•
foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, interest rate and commodity price risk and the effectiveness of related hedges;
•
changes in U.S. and foreign tariffs, tax rates, and tax laws, regulations, interpretations and implementation thereof;
•
challenges and assessments from tax authorities resulting from differences in interpretation of tax laws, including income, sales and use, property, value added, employment and other taxes;
•
accuracy in valuation of deferred tax assets;
•
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;
•
ability to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting;
•
liability for and anticipated costs of resolution of legal proceedings;
•
liability for and anticipated costs of environmental remediation actions;
•
effects of environmental laws and regulations;
•
operational disruptions at our major facilities;
•
failure or disruptions in our information technologies;
•
failure of third party transportation providers to deliver our products to our customers or to deliver raw materials to us;
•
substantially lower than normal crop yields;
•
loss of consumer or investor confidence;
•
ability to protect our intellectual property rights;
•
changes in laws and regulations relating to packaging for food products and foods packaged therein, other actions and public concerns about products packaged in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process;
•
changing climate, climate change regulations and greenhouse gas effects;
•
actions of domestic or foreign government agencies and other changes in laws and regulations affecting the Company and increased costs of compliance;
•
international, national and local economic and market conditions and levels of unemployment;
•
anticipated impact on our operations of Brexit; and
•
economic disruptions resulting from terrorist activities and natural disasters.
41
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
More information about the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements is provided in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K under Item 1A - "Risk Factors" and throughout other sections of that report and in other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these various risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this report might not occur.
The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are, however, advised to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects, and about new or additional risks, uncertainties and assumptions, in our future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K.
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Sonoco is a leading provider of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging and packaging supply chain services, with approximately 310 locations in 36 countries.
Sonoco competes in multiple product categories, with its operations organized and reported in four segments: Consumer Packaging, Display and Packaging, Paper and Industrial Converted Products, and Protective Solutions. 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 2019 Compared with Third Quarter 2018
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/disposition-related costs, specifically identified tax adjustments, non-operating pension costs/income 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. More information about the Company's use of Non-GAAP financial measures is provided in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 under Item 7 - "Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations," under the heading "Use of non-GAAP financial measures."
For the three months ended September 29, 2019
Dollars in thousands, except per share data
GAAP
Restructuring/
Asset
Impairment
Other
Adjustments
(1)
Base
Operating profit
$
138,548
$
6,615
$
(6,096)
$
139,067
Non-operating pension costs
7,210
—
(7,210)
—
Interest expense, net
14,756
—
—
14,756
Income before income taxes
116,582
6,615
1,114
124,311
Provision for income taxes
26,098
1,805
(169)
27,734
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates
90,484
4,810
1,283
96,577
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax
1,799
—
—
1,799
Net income
92,283
4,810
1,283
98,376
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
(219)
(18)
—
(237)
Net income attributable to Sonoco
92,064
4,792
1,283
98,139
Per diluted common share*
$
0.91
$
0.05
$
0.01
$
0.97
*Due to rounding individual items may not sum across
(1 )
Consists of a $10,000 gain related to the reduction of an environmental reserve, offset by non-operating pension costs and costs related to acquisitions and potential acquisitions and divestitures.
42
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
For the three months ended September 30, 2018
Dollars in thousands, except per share data
GAAP
Restructuring/
Asset
Impairment
Other
Adjustments
(1)
Base
Operating profit
$
101,573
$
22,061
$
422
$
124,056
Non-operating pension costs
(25)
—
25
—
Interest expense, net
14,502
—
—
14,502
Income before income taxes
87,096
22,061
397
109,554
Provision for income taxes
18,325
5,465
2,139
25,929
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates
68,771
16,596
(1,742)
83,625
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax
4,049
—
—
4,049
Net income
72,820
16,596
(1,742)
87,674
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
(405)
(28)
—
(433)
Net income attributable to Sonoco
$
72,415
$
16,568
$
(1,742)
$
87,241
Per diluted common share*
$
0.72
$
0.16
$
(0.02)
$
0.86
*Due to rounding individual items may not sum across
(1)
Consists primarily of acquisition-related costs and the effect of the changes in tax rates on deferred tax adjustments and other non-base tax adjustments totaling a gain of $2,757.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion provides a review of results for the three months ended September 29, 2019 versus the three months ended September 30, 2018.
OVERVIEW
Net sales for the third quarter of 2019 decreased 0.8% to $1,354 million, compared with $1,365 million in the same period last year. This decrease reflects volume declines throughout most of the Company's businesses, as well as unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which were mostly offset by sales added by acquisitions. Lower overall selling prices in our industrial businesses, largely due to contracts tied to Old Corrugated Containers (OCC) costs which were lower year over year, were effectively offset by higher overall prices in our consumer businesses due to material and non-material cost increases passed along to customers as well as other efforts to more fully realize the value of the products and services we provide to our customers.
Net income attributable to Sonoco for the third quarter of 2019 increased 27.1% to $92.1 million, $0.91 per diluted share, compared to $72.4 million, $0.72 per diluted share, reported for the same period of 2018. Current quarter net income includes after-tax, non-base charges totaling $6.1 million, while results for the third quarter of 2018 include after-tax, non-base net charges totaling $14.8 million. Earnings increased partially due to an $11.8 million decrease in after-tax restructuring and asset impairment costs associated with previously announced plant closures and organizational restructuring activities together with a $7.4 million, after-tax, reduction of an environmental reserve. Additionally, after-tax non-operating pension costs increased $5.3 million over the prior year's third quarter.
Adjusted for all non-base items, third-quarter 2019 base net income attributable to Sonoco (base earnings) increased 12.5% to $98.1 million, $0.97 per diluted share, from $87.2 million, $0.86 per diluted share, in 2018. This increase was driven by a 12.1 percent increase in base operating profit and a lower effective tax rate, partially offset by an increase in net interest expense. Productivity improvements and acquisitions drove the year-over-year increase in operating profit, but were partially offset by volume declines.
43
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
OPERATING REVENUE
Net sales for the third quarter of 2019 decreased $11 million, or 0.8 percent, from the prior-year quarter.
The components of the sales change were:
($ in millions)
Volume/mix
$
(36)
Selling prices
(2)
Acquisitions
74
Foreign currency translation and other, net
(47)
Total sales decrease
$
(11)
In September of 2018, the Company exited a single-customer contract at a packaging center near Atlanta. The negative impact on comparable net sales, third quarter to third quarter, was $25.6 million. Due to the relatively low margins in this business, the impact of the lost revenue is included above in "Foreign currency translation and other, net."
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Cost of goods sold decreased $16.7 million, or 1.5%, and the gross profit margin percentage increased to 19.6% for the third quarter of 2019 compared to 19.0% in the prior-year's third quarter. The decrease in cost of goods sold was driven primarily by lower volume, the exit of the Atlanta packaging center, the translation impact of a stronger dollar, and lower raw material prices, all partially offset by the impact of acquisitions.
Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") costs for the quarter decreased $15.7 million, or 11.5%, year over year due to
a significant focus across the business on reducing controllable costs, along with a
$10 million
r
eduction of an environmental reserve and
lower management incentive expense. These were partially offset by the addition of expenses from acquisitions.
Restructuring costs and asset impairment charges totaled $6.6 million for the third quarter of 2019 compared with $22.1 million in the same period last year. The year-over-year decrease was mostly driven by costs related to the exit of a contract packaging fulfillment center in Atlanta in the prior year. Additional information regarding restructuring and asset impairment charges is provided in Note 5 to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Non-operating pension costs increased $7.2 million for the quarter, compared to the prior-year's period, due primarily to lower expected returns on plan assets stemming from actions earlier in 2019 to de-risk the U.S. plan's portfolio by increasing the allocation of pension assets to fixed-income investments.
Net interest expense for the third quarter increased to $14.8 million, compared with $14.5 million during the third quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily
due to higher debt balances stemming from the $200 million term loan the Company entered into in May 2019 and reduced interest income on lower offshore cash bala
nces, partially offset by one-time interest income from a favorable tax ruling in Brazil.
The 2019 third-quarter effective ta
x rates on GAAP and base earnings were 22.4% and 22.3%, respectively, compared with 21.0% and 23.7%, respectively, in the prior year’s quarter.
Although both the current-quarter GAAP and base effective tax rates benefited from a lesser impact from the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (GILTI) tax, the effective rate on GAAP earnings was slightly higher in 2019 due primarily to the favorable benefit of one-time adjustments in 2018 related to the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
44
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
The following table recaps net sales attributable to each of the Company’s segments for the third quarters of 2019 and 2018 (
$ in thousands
):
Three Months Ended
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
%
Change
Net sales:
Consumer Packaging
$
581,368
$
600,154
(3.1)
%
Display and Packaging
145,016
165,164
(12.2)
%
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
495,829
463,748
6.9
%
Protective Solutions
131,718
135,696
(2.9)
%
Consolidated
$
1,353,931
$
1,364,762
(0.8)
%
The following table recaps operating profit attributable to each of the Company’s segments during the third quarters of 2019 and 2018 (
$ in thousands
):
Three Months Ended
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
%
Change
Operating profit:
Segment operating profit:
Consumer Packaging
$
56,744
$
56,014
1.3
%
Display and Packaging
8,913
3,703
> 100%
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
59,427
53,906
10.2
%
Protective Solutions
13,983
10,433
34.0
%
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges
(6,615)
(22,061)
Other, net
6,096
(422)
Consolidated
$
138,548
$
101,573
36.4
%
Segment results viewed by Company management to evaluate segment performance do not include restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, acquisition-related charges, non-operating pension costs/income, or certain other items, if any, the exclusion of which the Company believes improves the comparability and analysis of the ongoing operating performance of the business. Accordingly, the term “segment operating profit” is a non-GAAP measure and is defined as the segment’s portion of “operating profit” excluding those items. All other general corporate expenses have been allocated as operating costs to each of the Company’s reportable segments.
The following table recaps restructuring/asset impairment charges attributable to each of the Company’s segments during the third quarters of 2019 and 2018 (
$ in thousands
):
Three Months Ended
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges:
Consumer Packaging
$
6,363
$
4,331
Display and Packaging
106
15,593
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
1,066
1,865
Protective Solutions
(930)
284
Corporate
10
(12)
Consolidated
$
6,615
$
22,061
45
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
Consumer Packaging
The Consumer Packaging segment includes the following products and services: round and shaped rigid containers and trays (both composite and thermoformed plastic); extruded and injection-molded plastic products; printed flexible packaging; global brand artwork management; and metal and peelable membrane ends and closures.
Segment sales decreased 3.1 percent compared to the prior year's quarter due to lower volume/mix and the negative impact of foreign exchange rates. Sales volume declined in Rigid Plastics, Flexibles, and North America Rigid Paper Containers as many served markets experienced slowing customer demand.
Segment operating profit increased 1.3 percent
compared to the prior year's quarter as the benefits of productivity improvements and other cost reductions were partially offset by weaker volume and a slightly negative price/cost relationship. Despite the volume declines and negative price/cost relationship
segment operating margin improved to 9.8 percent in the quarter from 9.3 percent in 2018.
Display and Packaging
The Display and Packaging segment includes the following products and services: designing, manufacturing,
assembling, packing and distributing temporary, semi-permanent and permanent point-of-purchase displays; supply chain management services, including contract packing, fulfillment and scalable service centers; retail packaging, including printed backer cards, thermoformed blisters and heat sealing equipment; and paper amenities, such as coasters and glass covers.
Sales declined 12.2 percent compared to last year’s quarter as volume growth in international pack centers and domestic displays was more than offset by reduced revenue from exiting a pack center contract at the end of the third quarter of 2018. Segment operating profit improved $5.2 million due to higher volume/mix, a positive price/cost relationship and the favorable impact on earnings of exiting the previously mentioned pack center contract.
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
The Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment includes the following products: paperboard tubes, cones and cores; fiber-based construction tubes; wooden, metal and composite wire and cable reels and spools; and recycled paperboard, linerboard, corrugating medium, recovered paper and material recycling services.
Segment sales increased 6.9 percent from the prior year's quarter due to sales added by the 2018 acquisition of Conitex and the August 2019 acquisition of Corenso. This increase was partially offset by lower volume/mix, declining selling prices, due primarily to historic weakness in the recovered paper market, and the negative impact of changes in foreign exchange rates.
Segment operating profit improved 10.2 percent above the prior year's quarter as earnings from the Conitex and Corenso acquisitions and productivity improvements were partially offset by lower volume/mix and a negative price/cost relationship. Segment operating margin improved 36 basis points to 12.0 percent.
The Company completed the Corenso acquisition on August 9, 2019. Corenso operates a 108,000-ton per year Uncoated Recycled Board (URB) mill in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, as well as two core converting facilities. All of Corenso's products are made from recycled paper, which further enhances the Company's commitment to increase the amount of material it recycles, or causes to be recycled, relative to the volume of products it puts into the market place. Corenso is expected to generate annual sales of approximately $75 million.
Protective Solutions
The Protective Solutions segment includes the following products: custom-engineered, paperboard-based and expanded foam protective packaging and components; and temperature-assured packaging.
Segment sales for the quarter declined 2.9% due to lower volume/mix as strong sales growth for temperature-assured packaging was offset by declines in molded foam and consumer fiber packaging. Despite the sales decline, segment operating profit improved on strong productivity improvements and a favorable mix of business compared to the previous year. Segment operating margin, compared to the prior-year quarter, improved 293 basis points to 10.6 percent.
46
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
Nine Months Ended September 29, 2019 Compared with Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
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 in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the periods presented.
For the nine months ended September 29, 2019
Dollars in thousands, except per share data
GAAP
Restructuring/
Asset
Impairment
Other
Adjustments
(1)
Base
Operating profit
$
385,204
$
30,642
$
(4,484)
$
411,362
Non-operating pension costs
18,801
—
(18,801)
—
Interest expense, net
46,093
—
—
46,093
Income before income taxes
320,310
30,642
14,317
365,269
Provision for income taxes
77,213
7,750
3,146
88,109
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates
243,097
22,892
11,171
277,160
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax
4,240
—
—
4,240
Net income
247,337
22,892
11,171
281,400
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
(451)
(156)
—
(607)
Net income attributable to Sonoco
$
246,886
$
22,736
$
11,171
$
280,793
Per diluted common share*
$
2.44
$
0.22
$
0.11
$
2.78
*Due to rounding individual items may not foot across
(1)
Consists of a $10,000 gain related to the reduction of an environmental reserve, offset by non-operating pension costs and costs related to acquisitions and potential acquisitions and divestitures.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018
Dollars in thousands, except per share data
GAAP
Restructuring/
Asset
Impairment
Other
Adjustments
(1)
Base
Operating profit
$
343,533
$
28,691
$
3,381
$
375,605
Non-operating pension costs
197
—
(197)
—
Interest expense, net
42,984
—
—
42,984
Income before income taxes
300,352
28,691
3,578
332,621
Provision for income taxes
71,974
7,196
5,604
84,774
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates
228,378
21,495
(2,026)
247,847
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax
9,012
—
—
9,012
Net income
237,390
21,495
(2,026)
256,859
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
(1,508)
(48)
—
(1,556)
Net income attributable to Sonoco
$
235,882
$
21,447
$
(2,026)
$
255,303
Per diluted common share*
$
2.34
$
0.21
$
(0.02)
$
2.53
*Due to rounding individual items may not foot across
(1)
Consists primarily of costs related to acquisitions and potential acquisitions. Additionally, includes the effect of the change in the U.S. corporate tax rate on deferred tax adjustments and other non-base tax charges totaling $5,540.
47
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion provides a review of results for the nine months ended September 29, 2019 compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
OVERVIEW
Net sales for the first nine months of 2019 increased 0.7% to $4,065 million, compared with $4,035 million in the same period last year. The improvement reflects an increase in sales added by acquisitions and slightly higher selling prices overall as lower selling prices in our industrial businesses, largely due to contracts tied to OCC costs which were lower year over year, were more than offset by higher selling prices in our consumer businesses due to material and non-material cost increases passed along to customers as well as other efforts to more fully realize the value of the products and services we provide to our customers. These positive factors were somewhat offset by the negative impact of foreign exchange rates and volume declines across most of our businesses.
Net income attributable to Sonoco for the first nine months of 2019 increased 4.7% to $246.9 million, $2.44 per diluted share, compared to $235.9 million, $2.34 per diluted share, reported for the same period of 2018. Current period net income includes after-tax, non-base charges totaling $33.9 million. These charges consist of $22.7 million in after-tax restructuring charges, $13.9 million in after-tax non-operating pension charges, and $4.6 million in after-tax acquisition-related costs. Offsetting these charges is a $7.4 million after-tax gain related to the reduction of an environmental reserve. Results for the first nine months of 2018 include after-tax restructuring and asset impairment charges of $21.4 million and non-operating pension charges, acquisition, and non-base tax benefits of $2.0 million. Adjusted for these items, base net income attributable to Sonoco (base earnings) for the nine-month period ending September 29, 2019 increased 10.0% to $280.8 million, $2.78 per diluted share, from $255.3 million, $2.53 per diluted share, in 2018.
GAAP and base earnings both increased in the first nine months of 2019. GAAP earnings increased less than base earnings as after-tax restructuring charges increased $1.3 million year over year, after-tax non-operating pension costs increased $13.8 million, and favorable non-base tax adjustments totaling $5.5 million in the prior year did not recur in 2019. These negative year-over-year changes were partially offset by $7.4 million in after-tax gains related to a reduction of an environmental reserve in 2019. Absent these and all other non-base items, year-over-year base earnings increased $25.5 million. This increase was driven by earnings from acquired businesses, productivity improvements and a positive price/cost impact, particularly in the Company's Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment. These positive factors were slightly offset by volume declines across most businesses.
OPERATING REVENUE
Net sales for the first nine months of 2019 increased $30 million from the same period in 2018.
The components of the sales change were:
($ in millions)
Volume/mix
$
(100)
Selling prices
36
Acquisitions and Divestitures
231
Foreign currency translation and other, net
(137)
Total sales increase
$
30
In September of 2018, the Company exited a single-customer contract at a packaging center near Atlanta. The negative impact on comparable net sales, for the first nine months of 2019 compared to the nine months of 2018, was $60.1 million. Due to the relatively low margins in this business, the impact of the lost revenue is included above in "Foreign currency translation and other, net."
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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Cost of goods sold increased $5.8 million, or 0.2%, and the Company's gross profit margin percentage increased to 19.9% for the first nine months of 2019, compared to 19.5% in the prior-year's period. The modest increase in gross profit margin was largely attributable to a favorable price/cost relationship, procurement productivity, and the timing and direction of material cost movements. Margins also benefited from improved manufacturing cost productivity, partially offset by higher wage and operating cost inflation. The increase in cost of goods sold was driven primarily by the impact of acquisitions, mostly offset by lower volume, the exit of the Atlanta packaging center, the translation impact of a stronger dollar, and lower raw material prices.
SG&A costs for the first nine months decreased $19.4 million, or 4.7%, year over year
driven
by
a significant focus across the business on reducing controllable costs along with the previously mentioned
$10 million reduction of an environmental reserve, and
lower management incentive expense. These reductions were partially offset by the addition of expenses from acquisitions.
Year-to-date restructuring costs and asset impairment charges totaled $30.6 million compared with $28.7 million in the same period last year. Additional information regarding restructuring and asset impairment charges is provided in Note 5 to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Non-operating pension costs increased $18.6 million in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the prior-year period due primarily to lower expected returns on plan assets as a result of lower asset values at the end of 2018 and lower assumed long-term rates of return.
Net interest expense for the first nine months increased to $46.1 million, compared with $43.0 million during the first nine months of 2018. The increase was primarily
due to higher debt balances stemming from the $200 million term loan the Company entered into in May 2019 and reduced interest income on lower offshore cash bala
nces, partially offset by one-time interest income from a favorable tax ruling in Brazil.
The effective tax rate on GAAP and base earnings in the first nine months of 2019 was 24.1% and 24.1%, respectively, compared with 24.0% and 25.5%, respectively, for the same period last year
. Although both the GAAP and base effective tax rates benefited from a lesser impact from the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (GILTI) tax, the effective tax rate on GAAP earnings was slightly higher in 2019 due primarily to the favorable benefit of one-time adjustments in 2018 related to the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
.
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
The following table recaps net sales attributable to each of the Company's segments during the first nine months of 2019 and 2018 (
$ in thousands
):
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
% Change
Net sales:
Consumer Packaging
$
1,773,834
$
1,786,068
(0.7)
%
Display and Packaging
417,403
451,082
(7.5)
%
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
1,483,194
1,398,538
6.1
%
Protective Solutions
390,926
399,634
(2.2)
%
Consolidated
$
4,065,357
$
4,035,322
0.7
%
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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
The following table recaps operating profits attributable to each of the Company's segments during the first nine months of 2019 and 2018 (
$ in thousands
):
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
% Change
Operating profit:
Segment operating profit:
Consumer Packaging
$
181,801
$
180,772
0.6
%
Display and Packaging
21,256
4,865
>100%
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
169,043
155,229
8.9
%
Protective Solutions
39,262
34,739
13.0
%
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges
(30,642)
(28,691)
Other, net
4,484
(3,381)
Consolidated
$
385,204
$
343,533
12.1
%
Segment results viewed by Company management to evaluate segment performance do not include restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, acquisition-related charges, non-operating pension costs/income, or certain other items, if any, the exclusion of which the Company believes improves the comparability and analysis of the ongoing operating performance of the business. Accordingly, the term “segment operating profit” is a non-GAAP measure and is defined as the segment’s portion of “operating profit” excluding those items. All other general corporate expenses have been allocated as operating costs to each of the Company’s reportable segments.
The following table recaps restructuring/asset impairment charges attributable to each of the Company’s segments during the first nine months of 2019 and 2018 (
$ in thousands
):
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2019
September 30, 2018
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges:
Consumer Packaging
$
24,105
$
8,046
Display and Packaging
992
16,256
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
3,540
2,776
Protective Solutions
73
1,382
Corporate
1,932
231
Consolidated
$
30,642
$
28,691
Consumer Packaging
Segment sales decreased 0.7%
year to date compared to the prior-year period as the favorable impacts of sales from acquisitions and higher selling prices were offset by the negative impact of foreign exchange rates and lower volumes in Global Plastics, Flexibles and North American Rigid Paper Containers as many served markets experienced weaker customer demand. The volume decline in Rigid Plastics was largely due to poor performance in the perimeter of the store end-use market, partially due to the negative impact of weather on strawberry crop yield and partially due to operational issues related to the consolidation of a facility and relocation of four thermoforming lines to other facilities. The plastics business also experienced a slowdown in some industrial-served markets.
Year-to-date segment operating profit increased 0.6% due to a positive price/cost relationship, the benefit of acquisitions, and productivity gains particularly in Flexibles. These positive drivers were effectively offset by the previously mentioned volume declines.
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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
Display and Packaging
Sales for the segment were down 7.5% year to date compared to last year’s period as
volume growth in domestic displays, international pack centers, and security packaging was more than offset by foregone revenue following the Company's September 2018 exit from a single-customer contract to operate a pack center outside Atlanta.
Segment operating profit increased $16.4 million, largely
due to higher volume/mix, improved productivity and the non-recurrence of operating losses at the exited pack center.
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
Segment sales increased 6.1% year to date versus the prior year period due to acquisitions, partially offset by volume declines across most businesses.
Operating profit increased 8.9% over the prior year period driven by the 2018 acquisition of Conitex and the August 2019 acquisition of Corenso; otherwise, a positive price/cost relationship across most of the segment and productivity gains were offset by volume losses. Prices for OCC, a primary raw material, trended downward during the first nine months of the year, creating margin pressure on the segment's contract business. However, more than offsetting this effect, the Company was able to better maintain selling prices on the portion of the tubes, cores and paper business not contractually tied to OCC. As a result, segment operating margin improved 29 basis points to 11.4%.
Protective Solutions
Segment sales for the period declined 2.2% year over year driven by volume declines in
molded foam and consumer fiber packaging, somewhat offset by strong sales growth for temperature-assured packaging.
Year-to-date operating profit increased 13.0% from the prior-year period due to total productivity and a favorable mix of business, somewhat reduced by a negative price/cost relationship. Segment operating margin was 10.0%, a 134 basis point improvement over the same period last year.
OTHER ITEMS
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Goodwill impairment evaluation
The Company assesses its goodwill for impairment annually and from time to time when warranted by the facts and circumstances surrounding individual reporting units or the Company as a whole. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the reporting unit's assets, including goodwill, there is no impairment. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of that reporting unit, an impairment charge to goodwill is recognized for the excess. The Company's reporting units are the same as, or one level below, its operating segments, as determined in accordance with ASC 350.
The Company completed its most recent annual goodwill impairment testing during the third quarter of 2019. For testing purposes, the Company performed an assessment of each reporting unit using either a qualitative evaluation or a quantitative test. The qualitative evaluations considered factors such as the macroeconomic environment, Company stock price and market capitalization movement, business strategy changes, and significant customer wins and losses. The quantitative tests, described further below, considered factors such as current year operating performance as compared to prior projections and implied fair values from comparable trading and transaction multiples.
When performing a quantitative analysis, the Company estimates the fair value of its reporting units using a discounted cash flow model based on projections of future years’ operating results and associated cash flows. The Company's assessments reflected a number of significant management assumptions and estimates including the Company's forecast of sales volumes and prices, profit margins, and discount rates, which are validated by observed comparable trading and transaction multiples. The Company’s model discounts projected future cash flows, forecasted over a ten-year period, with an estimated residual growth rate. The Company’s projections incorporate management’s estimates of the most-likely expected future results. Projected future cash flows are discounted to present value using an assumed discount rate that management believes is appropriate for the reporting unit.
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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
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 conclusion regarding goodwill impairment may change as well. Management’s projections related to revenue growth and/or margin improvements are based on a combination of factors, including expectations for volume growth with existing customers and customer retention, product expansion, changes in price/cost relationships, productivity gains, fixed cost leverage, and stability or improvement in general economic conditions.
In considering the level of uncertainty regarding the potential for goodwill impairment, management has concluded that any such impairment would, in most cases, likely be the result of adverse changes in more than one assumption. Management considers the assumptions used to be its best estimates across a range of possible outcomes based on available evidence at the time of the assessment. Other than in Display and Packaging, which is discussed below, there is no specific singular event or single change in circumstances management has identified that it believes could reasonably result in a change to expected future results in any of its reporting units sufficient to result in goodwill impairment. In management’s opinion, a change of such magnitude would more likely be the result of changes to some combination of the factors identified above, a general deterioration in competitive position, introduction of a superior technology, significant unexpected changes in customer preferences, an inability to pass through significant raw material cost increases, and other such items as identified in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" on pages 8-16 of the Company's 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Although no reporting units failed the annual impairment test noted above, in management’s opinion, the goodwill of the Display and Packaging reporting unit is at risk of impairment in the near term if the reporting unit's operating performance does not continue to improve in line with management's expectations, or if there is a negative change in the long-term outlook for the business or in other factors such as the discount rate. The Display and Packaging reporting unit designs, manufactures, assembles, packs and distributes temporary, semi-permanent and permanent point-of-purchase displays; provides supply chain management services, including contract packing, fulfillment and scalable service centers; and manufactures retail packaging, including printed backer cards, thermoformed blisters and heat sealing equipment. The current goodwill impairment analysis incorporates management's expectations for moderate sales growth and mild improvements to profit margin percentages which reflects the estimated benefits of future productivity initiatives. A large portion of projected sales in this reporting unit is concentrated in several major customers, the loss of any of which could impact the Company's conclusion regarding the likelihood of goodwill impairment for the unit. Total goodwill associated with this reporting unit was approximately $203 million at September 29, 2019. Based on the latest annual impairment test, the estimated fair value of the Display and Packaging reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by approximately 35%.
Sensitivity Analysis
In its 2019 annual goodwill impairment analysis, projected future cash flows for Display and Packaging were discounted at 8.9%. Based on the discounted cash flow model and holding other valuation assumptions
constant, Display and Packaging projected operating profits across all future periods would have to be reduced
approximately 27%, or the discount rate increased to 12.5%, in order for the estimated fair value to fall below the
reporting unit’s carrying value.
52
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
Income taxes
As previously disclosed, the Company received a draft Notice of Proposed Adjustment (“NOPA”) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in February 2017 proposing an adjustment to income for the 2013 tax year based on the IRS's recharacterization of a distribution of an intercompany note made in 2012, and the subsequent repayment of the note over the course of 2013, as if it were a cash distribution made in 2013. In March 2017, the Company received a draft NOPA proposing penalties of $18 million associated with the IRS’s recharacterization, as well as an Information Document Request (“IDR”) requesting the Company’s analysis of why such penalties should not apply. The Company responded to this IDR in April 2017. On October 5, 2017, the Company received two revised draft NOPAs proposing the same adjustments and penalties as in the prior NOPAs. On November 14, 2017, the Company received two final NOPAs proposing the same adjustments and penalties as in the prior draft NOPAs. On November 20, 2017, the Company received a Revenue Agent's Report (“RAR”) that included the same adjustments and penalties as in the prior NOPAs. At the time of the distribution in 2012, it was characterized as a dividend to the extent of earnings and profits, with the remainder as a tax free return of basis and taxable capital gain. As the IRS proposes to recharacterize the distribution, the entire distribution would be characterized as a dividend. The incremental tax liability associated with the income adjustment proposed in the RAR would be approximately $89 million, excluding interest and the previously referenced penalties. On January 22, 2018, the Company filed a protest to the proposed deficiency with the IRS. The Company received a rebuttal of its protest from the IRS on July 10, 2018, and the matter has now been referred to the Appeals Division of the IRS. The Company had a pre-conference hearing with IRS Appeals during the second quarter of 2019. The Company strongly believes the position of the IRS with regard to this matter is inconsistent with the applicable tax laws and existing Treasury regulations, and that the Company's previously reported income tax provision for the year in question is appropriate. However, there can be no assurance that this matter will be resolved in the Company's favor. Regardless of whether the matter is resolved in the Company's favor, the final resolution of this matter could be expensive and time consuming to defend and/or settle. While the Company believes that the amount of tax originally paid with respect to this distribution is correct, and accordingly has not provided additional reserve for tax uncertainty, there is still a possibility that an adverse outcome of the matter could have a material effect on its future results of operations and financial condition.
Pension Plan Termination
On July 17, 2019, the Company's Board of Directors approved a resolution to terminate the Sonoco Pension Plan for Inactive Participants, a tax-qualified defined benefit plan (the "Inactive Plan"), effective September 30, 2019. Once approval is received from the Internal Revenue Service and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and following completion of the limited lump-sum offering, the Company is expected to settle all remaining liabilities under the Inactive Plan in 2020 through the purchase of annuity contracts. The Company anticipates making additional contributions to the Inactive Plan in 2020 of between $75 million and $125 million in order to be fully funded on a termination basis at the time of the annuity purchase. However, the actual amount of the Company's long-term liability when it is transferred, and the related cash contribution requirement, will depend upon the nature and timing of participant settlements, as well as prevailing market conditions. Non-cash settlement charges resulting from the lump sum payouts and annuity purchases are expected to range between $525 million and $575 million. The termination of the Inactive Plan will apply to participants who have separated service from Sonoco and to nonunion active employees who no longer accrue pension benefits. There is no change in the cumulative benefit previously earned by the approximately 11,000 impacted participants as a result of these actions, and the Company will continue to manage and support the Sonoco Pension Plan, comprised of approximately 600 active participants who continue to accrue benefits in accordance with a flat-dollar multiplier formula.
Financial Position, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Operating cash flows totaled $238.8 million in the nine months ended September 29, 2019 compared with $451.5 million during the same period last year, a decrease of $212.7 million. The year-over-year change in operating cash flows is due largely to a $198.2 million increase in benefit plan contributions resulting from voluntary contributions totaling $200 million made to the Company's U. S. defined benefit pension plans in the first nine months of 2019. Accounts Receivable consumed $33.6 million of operating cash in the first nine months of 2019 compared with $58.2 million in the same period last year as both periods experienced increased business activity following seasonally lower year-end activity. Similarly, inventories consumed $0.6 million of cash in the first nine months of 2019 compared with $8.9 million in the same period last year. Trade accounts payable consumed $7.2 million of cash during the nine months ended September 29, 2019 compared to providing $45.0 million last year. The year-over-year change was due largely to the timing of payments at the end of the third quarter of 2019.
53
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
Changes in accrued expenses provided $29.6 million of operating cash in the nine months ended September 29, 2019 while providing $35.4 million in the same period last year. The lower provision this year is primarily due to higher management incentives paid in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months of 2018. Changes in other assets and liabilities consumed $11.0 million of additional cash in the first nine months of 2019 compared to 2018 while the impact of income taxes, net payables and deferred items provided $18.9 million more, due primarily to the cash tax benefits from the $200 million voluntary pension contributions made in 2019 . Operating cash flows in the last quarter of 2019 are anticipated to include cash tax benefits of approximately $10 million associated with the $200 million voluntary pension contributions.
Cash used in investing activities was $253.6 million in the nine months ended September 29, 2019, compared with $262.1 million in the same period last year, a lower year-over-year use of cash of $8.4 million. Acquisition spending was $40.0 million lower year over year with the Company having acquired Corenso in the first nine months of 2019 and having acquired Highland Packaging in the first nine months of 2018. Proceeds from the sale of assets provided $2.9 million in the nine months ended September 29, 2019, compared to $23.4 million in the same period last year. The year-over-year decrease was due primarily to net proceeds of $17.2 million received in September 2018 for the sale of equipment relating to a single-customer contract packaging operation near Atlanta, less a contract termination fee. Capital spending during the first nine months of 2019 was $147.0 million, approximately $12 million higher year over year. Capital spending for the remainder of 2019 is not expected to exceed $60 million.
Cash provided by financing activities totaled $12.5 million in the nine months ended September 29, 2019, compared with a use of cash totaling $189.5 million in the same period last year. The $202.0 million year-over-year increased provision was primarily driven by $216.6 million of higher year-over-year net borrowings, including $200 million from a new term loan, the proceeds from which were used to fund voluntary contributions to the U.S. defined benefit pension plans. Also during the nine months ended September 29, 2019, the Company settled a $5.0 million contingent purchase price liability related to the Highland acquisition and paid cash dividends of $127.2 million, an increase of $6.5 million over the same period last year. Cash used to repurchase the Company's common stock was higher year over year by $1.7 million.
The Company operates a $350 million commercial paper program, supported by a $500 million revolving credit facility with a syndicate of eight banks. The revolving bank credit facility is committed through July 2022. If circumstances were to prevent the Company from issuing commercial paper, it has the contractual right to draw funds directly on the underlying revolving bank credit facility. Borrowings under the credit facility may be prepaid at any time at the discretion of the Company.
On May 17, 2019, the Company entered into a new 364-day, $200 million term loan. The full $200 million was drawn from this facility on May 20, 2019 and the proceeds used to fund voluntary contributions to Sonoco's U.S. defined benefit pension plans. The unsecured loan has a 364-day term and the Company has a one-time option to request an extension of the term for an additional 364 days if it meets certain conditions. Interest is assessed at the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a margin based on a pricing grid that uses the Company’s credit ratings. The LIBOR margin at September 29, 2019 was 100 basis points. There is no required amortization and repayment can be accelerated at any time at the discretion of the Company.
The Company continually explores strategic acquisition opportunities which may result in the additional use of cash. Given the nature of the acquisition process, the timing and amounts of such expenditures are not predictable. The Company expects that any acquisitions requiring funding in excess of cash on hand would be financed using available borrowing capacity.
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $115.9 million and $120.4 million at September 29, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Of these totals, approxim
ately $92.5 million a
nd $102.3 million, respectively, were held outside of the United States by the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. Cash held outside of the United States is available to meet local liquidity needs, or for capital expenditures, acquisitions, and other offshore growth opportunities. As the Company has ample domestic liquidity through a combination of operating cash flow generation and access to bank and capital markets borrowings, we have generally considered our foreign unremitted earnings to be indefinitely invested outside the United States and currently have no plans to repatriate such earnings, other than excess cash balances that can be repatriated at minimal tax cost. Accordingly, the Company is not providing for taxes on these amounts for financial reporting purposes. Computation of the potential deferred tax liability associated with unremitted earnings considered to be indefinitely reinvested is not practicable.
54
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
The Company uses a notional pooling arrangement with an international bank to help manage global liquidity requirements. Under this pooling arrangement, the Company and its participating subsidiaries may maintain either a cash deposit or borrowing position through local currency accounts with the bank, so long as the aggregate position of the global pool is a notionally calculated net cash deposit. Because it maintains a security interest in the cash deposits, and has the right to offset the cash deposits against the borrowings, the bank provides the Company and its participating subsidiaries favorable interest terms on both.
During the nine months ended September 29, 2019, the Company reported a net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $2.2 million
due to an overall stronger U.S. dollar relative to certain foreign currencies.
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 covenants currently require the Company to maintain a minimum level of interest coverage and a minimum level of net worth, as defined in the agreements. As of September 29, 2019, the Company’s interest coverage and net worth were substantially above the minimum levels required under these covenants.
The Company anticipates making additional contributions to its pension and postretirement plans of approximately $5.0 million during the remainder of 2019, which would result in total 2019 contributions of approximately $231 million. As discussed in "Other Items," the Company expects to make additional contributions to the Sonoco Pension Plan for Inactive Participants in 2020 of between $75 million and $125 million, ($55 million and $95 million, after tax), as the liabilities of the Inactive Plan are settled pursuant to Board actions to terminate the Inactive Plan effective September 30, 2019. Any such additional contributions in excess of cash on hand are expected to be financed using available borrowing capacity. Future funding requirements beyond the current year will vary depending largely on actual investment returns, future actuarial assumptions, the nature and timing of participant settlements, and legislative actions.
Fair Value Measurements, Foreign Exchange Exposure and Risk Management
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 at fair value on a recurring basis 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.
As a result of operating globally, the Company is exposed to changes in foreign exchange rates. The exposure is well diversified, as the Company’s operations are located throughout the world, and the Company generally sells in the same countries where it produces with both revenue and costs transacted in the local currency. The Company monitors these exposures and may use traditional currency swaps and forward exchange contracts to hedge a portion of forecasted transactions that are denominated in foreign currencies, foreign currency assets and liabilities or net investment in foreign subsidiaries. The Company’s foreign operations are exposed to political, geopolitical and cultural risks, but the risks are mitigated by diversification and the relative stability of the countries in which the Company has significant operations.
Due to the highly inflationary economy in Venezuela, the Company considers the U.S. dollar to be the functional currency of its Venezuelan operations and uses the official exchange rate when remeasuring the financial records of those operations. Economic conditions in Venezuela have worsened considerably over the past several years and there is no indication that conditions are due to improve in the foreseeable future. Further deterioration could result in the recognition of an impairment charge or a deconsolidation of the subsidiary. At September 29, 2019, the carrying value of the Company's net investment in its Venezuelan operations was approximately
$2.0 million. In addition, at September 29, 2019, the Company's Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss included a translation loss of $3.8 million related to its Venezuelan operations which would need to be reclassified to net income in the event of a complete exit
of the business or a deconsolidation of these operations.
The Company has operations in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe that could be impacted by the pending exit of the UK from the European Union (Brexit). Our UK operations have been making contingency plans regarding potential customs clearance issues, tariffs and other uncertainties should no Brexit deal be reached. Although it is difficult to predict all of the possible impacts to our supply chain or in our customers' downstream markets, the Company has evaluated the potential operational impacts and uncertainties of Brexit and at this time believes that the likelihood of a material impact on our future results of operations is low. Although there are some cross-border sales made out of and into the UK, most of what we produce in the UK is also sold in the UK and the same is true for continental Europe. In some cases, companies that have been importing from Europe into the UK are now seeking local sources, which has
55
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
actually been positive for our UK operations. Annual sales of our UK operations totaled approximately $120 million in 2018.
At September 29, 2019, 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 $(1.7) million and $(1.6) million at September 29, 2019
and
December 31, 2018, respectively. Natural gas and aluminum hedge contracts covering an equivalent of 6.0 million MMBTUs and 2,654 metric tons, respectively, were outstanding at September 29, 2019. 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 $0.1 million at September 29, 2019 and a net unfavorable position of $(1.7) million at December 31, 2018. These contracts qualify as cash flow hedges and mature within twelve months of their respective reporting dates.
In addition, at September 29, 2019, 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 favorable position of $0.4 million and $0.2 million at September 29, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
At September 29, 2019, the U.S. dollar had strengthened against most of the functional currencies of the Company's foreign operations compared to December 31, 2018, resulting in a net translation loss of $26.9 million being recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss during the nine months ended September 29, 2019.
Restructuring and Impairment
Information regarding restructuring charges and restructuring-related asset impairment charges is provided in
Note 5
to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
New Accounting Pronouncements
Information regarding new accounting pronouncements is provided in Note 2 to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
56
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
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, 2018, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2019. There have been no other material quantitative or qualitative changes in market risk exposure since the date of that filing.
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision, and with the participation, of our management, including our Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), we conducted an evaluation pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, ("the Exchange Act") of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on this evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that such controls and procedures, as of September 29, 2019, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, were effective to ensure that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms. For this purpose, disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information that is required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting occurring during the three months ended September 29, 2019, that materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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 16 - “Commitments and Contingencies”) in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and in Part I - Item 1 - “Financial Statements”
(Note 16 - “
Commitments and Contingencies”) of this report.
Environmental Matters
The Company has been named as a potentially responsible party (PRP) at several environmentally contaminated sites not owned by the Company. All of the sites are also the responsibility of other parties. The Company's liability, if any, is shared with such other parties, but the Company's share has not been finally determined in most cases. In some cases, the Company has cost-sharing arrangements with other PRPs with respect to a particular site. Such agreements relate to the sharing of legal defense costs or cleanup costs, or both. The Company has assumed, for purposes of estimating amounts to be accrued, that the other parties to such cost-sharing agreements will perform as agreed. It appears that final resolution of some of the sites is years away, and actual costs to be incurred for these environmental matters in future periods is likely to vary from current estimates because of the inherent uncertainties in evaluating environmental exposures. Accordingly, the ultimate cost to the Company with respect to such sites, beyond what has been accrued at September 29, 2019, cannot be determined. As of September 29, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had accrued $8.9 million and $20.1 million, respectively, related to environmental contingencies. The Company periodically reevaluates the assumptions used in determining the appropriate reserves for environmental matters as additional information becomes available and, when warranted, makes appropriate adjustments.
Other legal matters
Additional information regarding legal proceedings is provided i
n Note 16 to the C
ondensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
57
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Period
(a) Total Number of
Shares Purchased
1
(b) Average Price
Paid per Share
(c) Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
2
(d) Maximum
Number of Shares
that May Yet be
Purchased under the
Plans or Programs
2
7/01/19 - 8/04/19
2,029
$
63.14
—
2,969,611
8/05/19 - 9/01/19
279
$
57.31
—
2,969,611
9/02/19 - 9/29/19
47
$
58.32
—
2,969,611
Total
2,355
$
62.35
—
2,969,611
1
A total of 2,355 common shares were repurchased in the second quarter of 2019 related to shares withheld to satisfy employee tax withholding obligations in association with certain share-based compensation awards. These shares were not repurchased as part of a publicly announced plan or program.
2
On February 10, 2016, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 5,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock. A total of 2,030,389 shares were repurchased under this authorization during 2016 at a cost of $100.0 million. No shares were repurchased during 2017, 2018, or during the nine months ended September 29, 2019. Accordingly, a total of 2,969,611 shares remain available for repurchase at September 29, 2019.
XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
*
Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601 (b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to furnish supplementally copies of any of the omitted schedules or exhibits upon request of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
58
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
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.
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