Sonoco Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

Sonoco Products Company (“Sonoco” or the “Company”), one of the largest sustainable global packaging companies, reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 29, 2024.

Summary:

• Achieved GAAP net income attributable to Sonoco of $51 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $281 million, diluted earnings per share of $0.51 and Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.49
• Generated productivity improvements of $39 million during the third quarter of 2024 and $141 million during the first nine months of 2024
• Generated $438 million of operating cash flow and $171 million of Free Cash Flow during the first nine months of 2024
• Entered into an agreement on June 24, 2024, to acquire Eviosys for approximately €3.6 billion (approximately $3.9 billion); on track to complete the acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2024
• Secured financing for the Eviosys acquisition by entering into new term loan agreements and completing a public offering of senior unsecured notes
• Announced strategic review of the Thermoformed and Flexible Packaging (“TFP”) business to accelerate portfolio simplification; review expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024
• Reaffirms full year 2024 guidance for Adjusted EBITDA and operating cash flow (excluding effects of the pending Eviosys acquisition and potential divestitures)

“Our third-quarter results were within expectations from seasonally higher Consumer Packaging demand and continued strong productivity,” said Sonoco’s President and CEO, Howard Coker. “Consumer and Industrial volumes were higher year-over-year and price/cost headwinds were persistent across both segments. Overall, we achieved strong profit margin and operating cash flow in the quarter from the solid execution of our global team.”

Third Quarter 2024 Segment Results

(Dollars in millions except per share data)

Sonoco reports its financial results in two reportable segments: Consumer Packaging (“Consumer”) and Industrial Paper Packaging (“Industrial”), with all remaining businesses reported as All Other.

Consumer Packaging

• Consumer segment net sales were consistent with prior year results; higher sales from year-over-year volume growth in metal aerosol cans and flexible packaging were offset by the closure of a thermoformed food packaging plant and lower selling prices.
• Segment operating profit margin increased to 13% and Adjusted EBITDA margin to 16% as a result of higher productivity from procurement savings, production efficiencies, and fixed cost reduction initiatives, and higher volumes.

Industrial Paper Packaging

• Industrial segment net sales were $585 million from acquisitions and higher selling prices, and reflect lower sales related to the treatment of recycling as a procurement function effective January 1, 2024.
• Segment operating profit margin was 12% and Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17% as productivity from procurement savings, production efficiencies and fixed cost reduction initiatives was offset by continued pressure from price/cost impacts.

All Other

• Net sales were $107 million reflecting the sale of the Protexic business.
• Operating profit and Adjusted EBITDA margins were 16% and 19%, respectively, reflecting higher productivity from procurement savings, production efficiencies, and fixed cost reduction initiatives, and the sale of the Protexic business.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

• Cash and cash equivalents were $1,931 million as of September 29, 2024, compared to $152 million as of December?31, 2023, primarily related to the financing for the pending Eviosys acquisition
• Total debt was $4.8 billion as of September 29, 2024, an increase of $1.7 billion compared to December 31, 2023, primarily related to the financing for the pending Eviosys acquisition
• On September 29, 2024, the Company had available liquidity of $3.1 billion, including available borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility and cash on hand; $1.8 billion of this liquidity is intended to fund a portion of the pending Eviosys acquisition
• Cash flow from operating activities for the first nine months of 2024 was $438 million, compared to $617 million in the same period of 2023
• Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sales of fixed assets, for the first nine months of 2024 were $267 million, compared to $182 million for the same period last year
• Free Cash Flow for the first nine months of 2024 was $171 million compared to $435 million for the same period of 2023. Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Company’s definition of Free Cash Flow, the explanation as to why it is used, and the reconciliation to net cash provided by operating activities later in this release
• Dividends paid during the nine months ended September 29, 2024 increased to $152 million compared to $147 million for the same period of the prior fiscal year

Announced Acquisition

On June 24, 2024, Sonoco announced it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Titan Holdings I B.V. (“Eviosys”), a leading European manufacturer of food cans, ends and closures from an affiliate of KPS Capital Partners, LP (“KPS”) (the “Transaction”) to expand Sonoco’s global leadership in metal food can and aerosol packaging. Sonoco believes that both Sonoco’s metal packaging business and Eviosys have demonstrated meaningful commercial momentum, and the Transaction is expected to facilitate Sonoco’s ability to partner with customers and lead with innovation and sustainability.

The Transaction advances Sonoco’s strategy of disciplined and high return capital allocation. Under the terms of the agreement, Sonoco agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding equity interests in Eviosys for approximately €3.6 billion (approximately $3.9 billion) on a cash-free and debt-free basis and subject to customary adjustments. The Transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Adjusted EPS.

Sonoco secured financing for the Transaction through a $700 million delayed draw term loan facility on July 12, 2024, a $1.5 billion 364-day delayed draw term loan facility on September 16, 2024, and a registered public offering of senior unsecured notes of $1.8 billion on September 19, 2024, and has maintained its investment grade credit rating. With increased debt reduction from divestitures and cash from operations, Sonoco expects to further reduce net leverage from previous estimates within 24 months of the closing of the Transaction.

The Transaction is expected to close by the end of 2024, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, including expiration, termination, or receipt of the applicable waiting period or clearances, as applicable under certain specified antitrust laws.

Eviosys’ current CEO, Tomas Lopez, is expected to remain with Sonoco and lead Sonoco’s EMEA metal packaging business and Rodger Fuller, Chief Operating Officer, is expected to lead the integration effort.

Strategic Reviews of TFP and ThermoSafe Businesses as Part of Further Portfolio Simplification Efforts

On September 4, 2024, Sonoco announced a review of strategic alternatives for the TFP business, included in the Consumer segment. Sonoco’s TFP business is a market leader in thermoformed and flexible packaging serving a wide range of customers in food, retail and medical markets. The TFP business provides a variety of complex packaging to value-added categories including snacks, condiments, healthcare, prepared meals, fresh products and coffee and pet. On a standalone basis, the TFP business generated revenue of $1.3 billion in 2023. The strategic review process of the TFP business is underway and Sonoco expects to complete the review processes in the fourth quarter of 2024.

As previously announced, Sonoco also intends to divest the,ThermoSafe business, included in the All Other group of businesses. The ThermoSafe business is Sonoco’s leading temperature-assured packaging business and generated revenue of $283 million in 2023. The strategic review process of the ThermoSafe business is underway and Sonoco expects to complete the review processes in the third quarter of 2025.

Guidance⁽¹⁾

Fourth Quarter 2024

• Adjusted EPS⁽²⁾: $1.15 to $1.35

Full Year 2024

• Adjusted EPS⁽²⁾: $5.05 to $5.25
• Cash flow from operating activities: $650 million to $750 million
• Adjusted EBITDA: $1,050 to $1,090

Commenting on the Company’s outlook, Sonoco’s President and CEO, Howard Coker, said, “Our earnings and cash results year-to-date keep us on track to deliver within our annual guidance range for 2024. We are excited about the anticipated completion of the pending Eviosys acquisition, which we expect will bring incremental growth to our metal packaging business and continue the transformation and simplification of our portfolio.”

⁽¹⁾Guidance provided excludes any impact of the pending Eviosys acquisition or potential divestitures. Although the Company believes the assumptions reflected in the range of guidance are reasonable, given the uncertainty regarding the future performance of the overall economy, the effects of inflation, the challenges in global supply chains, potential changes in raw material prices, other costs, and the Company’s effective tax rate, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those described below, actual results could vary substantially. Further information can be found in the section entitled “Forward-looking Statements” in this release.

⁽²⁾ Fourth quarter and full year 2024 GAAP guidance are not provided in this release due to the likely occurrence of one or more of the following, the timing and magnitude of which we are unable to reliably forecast without unreasonable efforts: restructuring costs and restructuring-related impairment charges, acquisition/divestiture-related costs, gains or losses from the sale of businesses or other assets, and the income tax effects of these items and/or other income tax-related events. These items could have a significant impact on the Company’s future GAAP financial results. Accordingly, a quantitative reconciliation of Adjusted EPS guidance has been omitted in reliance on the exception provided by Item 10 of Regulation S-K.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Company integrated its flexible packaging and thermoformed packaging businesses within the Consumer segment in order to streamline operations, enhance customer service, and better position the business for accelerated growth. As a result, the Company changed its operating and reporting structure to reflect the way it now manages its operations, evaluates performance, and allocates resources. Beginning the first quarter of 2024, the Company’s consumer thermoformed businesses moved from the All Other group of businesses to the Consumer segment. The Company’s Industrial segment was not affected by these changes.

For full third quarter results click here.

About Sonoco

With net sales of approximately $6.8 billion in 2023, Sonoco has approximately 21,000 employees working in more than 300 operations around the world, serving some of the world’s best-known brands. With our corporate purpose of Better Packaging. Better Life., Sonoco is committed to creating sustainable products and a better world for our customers, employees and communities. Sonoco was named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.

Contact:

Lisa Weeks – Vice President of Investor Relations & Communications – lisa.weeks@sonoco.com – (843) 383-7524

Source: Sonoco Products Company