Document


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 FORM 10-Q
 
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended July 3, 2016
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
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  ý    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ý    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer
 
ý
  
Accelerated filer
 
¨
Non-accelerated filer
 
¨(do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  
Smaller reporting company
 
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  ý
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock at July 21, 2016:
Common stock, no par value: 100,237,148




SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
INDEX
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - July 3, 2016 (unaudited) and December 31, 2015 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income – Three and Six Months Ended July 3, 2016 (unaudited) and June 28, 2015 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income – Three and Six Months Ended July 3, 2016 (unaudited) and June 28, 2015 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Six Months Ended July 3, 2016 (unaudited) and June 28, 2015 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
Item 6.

2



Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Financial Statements.
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)
(Dollars and shares in thousands) 
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
December 31,
2015*
Assets
 
 
 
 
Current Assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
107,748

 
$
182,434

Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances
 
669,085

 
627,962

Other receivables
 
46,427

 
46,801

Inventories:
 
 
 
 
Finished and in process
 
151,213

 
139,589

Materials and supplies
 
246,367

 
245,894

Prepaid expenses
 
50,913

 
64,698

 
 
1,271,753

 
1,307,378

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
 
1,109,013

 
1,112,036

Goodwill
 
1,151,556

 
1,140,461

Other Intangible Assets, Net
 
229,702

 
245,095

Long-term Deferred Income Taxes
 
49,247

 
52,626

Other Assets
 
153,605

 
156,089

Total Assets
 
$
3,964,876

 
$
4,013,685

Liabilities and Equity
 
 
 
 
Current Liabilities
 
 
 
 
Payable to suppliers
 
$
491,044

 
$
508,057

Accrued expenses and other
 
276,579

 
294,227

Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt
 
51,719

 
113,097

Accrued taxes
 
5,344

 
7,135

 
 
824,686

 
922,516

Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion
 
1,029,943

 
1,015,270

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
 
412,572

 
432,964

Deferred Income Taxes
 
80,072

 
72,933

Other Liabilities
 
41,887

 
37,129

Commitments and Contingencies
 

 

Sonoco Shareholders’ Equity
 
 
 
 
Common stock, no par value
 
 
 
 
Authorized 300,000 shares
100,299 and 100,944 shares issued and outstanding at
July 3, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively
 
7,175

 
7,175

Capital in excess of stated value
 
374,332

 
404,460

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(675,518
)
 
(702,533
)
Retained earnings
 
1,846,903

 
1,803,827

Total Sonoco Shareholders’ Equity
 
1,552,892

 
1,512,929

Noncontrolling Interests
 
22,824

 
19,944

Total Equity
 
1,575,716

 
1,532,873

Total Liabilities and Equity
 
$
3,964,876

 
$
4,013,685

 
*
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
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
Net sales
 
$
1,205,680

 
$
1,248,590

 
$
2,431,956

 
$
2,454,642

Cost of sales
 
963,667

 
1,008,274

 
1,944,690

 
1,993,936

Gross profit
 
242,013

 
240,316

 
487,266

 
460,706

Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
126,611

 
130,887

 
260,804

 
227,552

Restructuring/Asset impairment charges
 
23,278

 
10,445

 
32,506

 
10,086

Income before interest and income taxes
 
92,124

 
98,984

 
193,956

 
223,068

Interest expense
 
14,092

 
14,237

 
28,281

 
28,012

Interest income
 
548

 
636

 
950

 
1,190

Income before income taxes
 
78,580

 
85,383

 
166,625

 
196,246

Provision for income taxes
 
24,790

 
24,023

 
53,984

 
50,244

Income before equity in earnings of affiliates
 
53,790

 
61,360

 
112,641

 
146,002

Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax
 
2,928

 
3,269

 
4,267

 
4,315

Net income
 
$
56,718

 
$
64,629

 
$
116,908

 
$
150,317

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(466
)
 
(250
)
 
(742
)
 
(158
)
Net income attributable to Sonoco
 
$
56,252

 
$
64,379

 
$
116,166

 
$
150,159

Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
101,281

 
101,428

 
101,514

 
101,406

Diluted
 
101,873

 
102,424

 
102,148

 
102,362

Per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Sonoco:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.56

 
$
0.63

 
$
1.14

 
$
1.48

Diluted
 
$
0.55

 
$
0.63

 
$
1.14

 
$
1.47

Cash dividends
 
$
0.37

 
$
0.35

 
$
0.72

 
$
0.67

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
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
Net income
 
$
56,718

 
$
64,629

 
$
116,908

 
$
150,317

Other comprehensive income/(loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
(17,389
)
 
3,740

 
13,439

 
(59,246
)
Changes in defined benefit plans, net of tax
 
3,006

 
(1,125
)
 
8,954

 
5,148

Changes in derivative financial instruments, net of tax
 
2,722

 
2,449

 
4,622

 
1,244

Other comprehensive income/(loss)
 
(11,661
)
 
5,064

 
27,015

 
(52,854
)
Comprehensive income
 
45,057

 
69,693

 
143,923

 
97,463

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(466
)
 
(250
)
 
(742
)
 
(158
)
Other comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(726
)
 
(470
)
 
(2,138
)
 
161

Comprehensive income attributable to Sonoco
 
$
43,865

 
$
68,973

 
$
141,043

 
$
97,466

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

5



SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
116,908

 
$
150,317

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Asset impairment
 
4,199

 
2,462

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
 
105,530

 
104,024

Gain on reversal of Fox River environmental reserves
 

 
(32,543
)
Share-based compensation expense
 
9,665

 
4,353

Equity in earnings of affiliates
 
(4,267
)
 
(4,315
)
Cash dividends from affiliated companies
 
4,575

 
1,150

Net (gain)/loss on disposition of assets
 
11,291

 
(7,210
)
Pension and postretirement plan expense
 
22,244

 
27,965

Pension and postretirement plan contributions
 
(35,647
)
 
(25,118
)
Tax effect of share-based compensation exercises
 
1,290

 
3,513

Excess tax benefit of share-based compensation
 
(1,331
)
 
(3,521
)
Net increase/(decrease) in deferred taxes
 
3,613

 
(9,487
)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions, dispositions, and foreign currency adjustments:
 
 
 
 
Trade accounts receivable
 
(40,357
)
 
(33,084
)
Inventories
 
(15,998
)
 
(18,020
)
Payable to suppliers
 
(7,669
)
 
14,913

Prepaid expenses
 
1,377

 
(7,014
)
Accrued expenses
 
(7,909
)
 
5,941

Income taxes payable and other income tax items
 
12,197

 
417

Fox River environmental reserve spending
 
(580
)
 
(720
)
Other assets and liabilities
 
6,918

 
(941
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
186,049

 
173,082

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
 
 
 
 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
 
(98,774
)
 
(86,713
)
Cost of acquisitions, net of cash acquired
 
(863
)
 
(15,697
)
Cash paid for disposition of assets
 
(8,436
)
 

Proceeds from the sale of assets
 
3,594

 
31,006

Investment in affiliates and other, net
 
169

 
(2,775
)
Net cash used in investing activities
 
(104,310
)
 
(74,179
)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of debt
 
186,926

 
40,240

Principal repayment of debt
 
(248,817
)
 
(23,575
)
Net increase in commercial paper
 
14,000

 

Net increase/(decrease) in outstanding checks
 
5,255

 
(1,204
)
Excess tax benefit of share-based compensation
 
1,331

 
3,521

Cash dividends
 
(72,679
)
 
(67,379
)
Shares acquired
 
(42,125
)
 
(7,728
)
Shares issued
 
632

 
1,310

Net cash used in financing activities
 
(155,477
)
 
(54,815
)
Effects of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash
 
(948
)
 
12,519

Net (Decrease)/Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
(74,686
)
 
56,607

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
182,434

 
161,168

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
107,748

 
$
217,775

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

6

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)



Note 1: Basis of Interim Presentation
In the opinion of the management of Sonoco Products Company (the “Company” or “Sonoco”), the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, unless otherwise stated) necessary to state fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods reported herein. Operating results for the three and six months ended July 3, 2016, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016. 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, 2015.
With respect to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial information of the Company for the three- and six-month periods ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015 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 August 3, 2016 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 June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses," 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.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, "Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting," which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including 1) accounting for income taxes, 2) classification of excess tax benefits in the statement of cash flows, 3) forfeitures, 4) minimum statutory tax withholding requirements, 5) cash flow classification of employee taxes withheld in the form of shares, 6) the practical expedient for estimating the expected term, and 7) intrinsic value. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company does not expect the implementation of ASU 2016-09 to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," "Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)," which provides guidance on recording revenue on a gross basis versus a net basis based on the determination of whether an entity is a principal or an agent when another party is involved in providing goods or services to a customer. The amendments in this Update affect the guidance in ASU No. 2014-09 and are effective in the same time frame as ASU 2014-09 as discussed below.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, which changes accounting for leases and requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from all leases, including those classified as operating leases under previous accounting guidance on the balance sheet and requires disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements 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. The guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years and requires retrospective application. The Company is still assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, "Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs," which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts, and not recorded as separate assets. This update was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and was required to be applied on a retrospective basis. Accordingly, the Company adopted ASU 2015-03 on January 1, 2016. Debt issuance costs totaling $6,584 previously included in "Other Assets" have been reclassified to "Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Portion" on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015.

7

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue From Contracts With Customers," which changes the definitions/criteria used to determine when revenue should be recognized from being based on risks and rewards to being based on control. Among other changes, ASU 2014-09 changes the manner in which variable consideration is recognized, requires recognition of the time value of money when payment terms exceed one year, provides clarification on accounting for contract costs, and expands disclosure requirements. The effective date for implementation of ASU 2014-09 has been deferred and is now effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is still assessing the impact of ASU 2014-09 on its consolidated financial statements.
During the three- and six-month periods ended July 3, 2016, 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 July 3, 2016, there were no other pronouncements pending adoption that are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

Note 3: Acquisitions
The Company completed the acquisition of a small tube and core business in Australia on June 24, 2016. The all-cash purchase price of the business was $863. In conjunction with this acquisition, the Company recorded net tangible assets of $149, identifiable intangibles of $297, and goodwill of $417, none of which is expected to be tax deductible. This acquisition is expected to generate approximately $800 of annual sales in the Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment.
Acquisition-related costs of $822 and $2,082 were incurred in the three months ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015, respectively. These costs totaled $1,148 and $3,247 for the six months ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015, 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.

Note 4: Shareholders' Equity
Earnings per Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share: 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Sonoco
 
$
56,252

 
$
64,379

 
$
116,166

 
$
150,159

Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
101,281,000

 
101,428,000

 
101,514,000

 
101,406,000

Dilutive effect of stock-based compensation
 
592,000

 
996,000

 
634,000

 
956,000

Diluted
 
101,873,000

 
102,424,000

 
102,148,000

 
102,362,000

Reported net income attributable to Sonoco per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.56

 
$
0.63

 
$
1.14

 
$
1.48

Diluted
 
$
0.55

 
$
0.63

 
$
1.14

 
$
1.47







8

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Certain stock appreciation rights to purchase shares of the Company's common stock are not dilutive because the exercise price is greater than the market price of the stock at the end of the reporting period. These stock appreciation rights may become dilutive in the future if the market price of the Company's common stock appreciates. The average number of stock appreciation rights that were not dilutive and therefore not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share during the three- and six-month periods ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015 was as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anti-dilutive stock appreciation rights
 

 
595,527

 
714,872

 
495,705

No adjustments were made to reported 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 5,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock. During the six months ended July 3, 2016, a total of 835,218 shares were repurchased under this authorization at a cost of $37,931; accordingly, at July 3, 2016, a total of 4,164,782 shares remain available for repurchase. These repurchases were made under the Company’s previously announced plan to utilize up to $100,000 to repurchase shares during 2016.
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 99,227 shares in the six months ended July 3, 2016 at a cost of $4,194, and 169,487 shares in the six months ended June 28, 2015 at a cost of $7,728.
Dividend Declarations
On April 20, 2016, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.37 per share. This dividend was paid on June 10, 2016 to all shareholders of record as of May 13, 2016.
On July 20, 2016, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.37 per share. This dividend is payable September 9, 2016 to all shareholders of record as of August 12, 2016. 

Note 5: Restructuring and Asset Impairment
The Company has engaged in a number of restructuring actions over the past several years. Actions initiated in 2016 and 2015 are reported as “2016 Actions” and “2015 Actions,” respectively. Actions initiated prior to 2015, all of which were substantially complete at July 3, 2016, are reported as “2014 and Earlier Actions.”
Following are the total restructuring and asset impairment charges/(credits), net of adjustments, and gains on dispositions recognized by the Company during the periods presented: 
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
Second Quarter
 
Six Months
 
Second Quarter
 
Six Months
Restructuring/Asset impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2016 Actions
 
$
19,632

 
$
26,045

 
$

 
$

2015 Actions
 
3,508

 
6,274

 
8,760

 
7,909

2014 and Earlier Actions
 
138

 
187

 
1,685

 
2,177

Restructuring/Asset impairment charges
 
$
23,278

 
$
32,506

 
$
10,445

 
$
10,086

Income tax benefit
 
$
(5,425
)
 
(8,345
)
 
$
(3,683
)
 
(15,276
)
Costs attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax
 
(38
)
 
(45
)
 
(55
)
 
(70
)
Total impact of restructuring/asset impairment charges, net of tax
 
$
17,815

 
$
24,116

 
$
6,707

 
$
(5,260
)

9

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

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 $3,850 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 2016. The Company continually evaluates its cost structure, including its manufacturing capacity, and additional restructuring actions are likely to be undertaken.
2016 Actions
During 2016, the Company announced the closure of a packaging services center in Mexico (part of the Display and Packaging segment), a fulfillment service center in Brazil (part of the Display and Packaging segment), a tubes and cores plant in Ecuador (part of the Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment), and a tubes and cores plant in Switzerland (part of the Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment). The Company also began manufacturing rationalization efforts in its Reels division (part of the Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment), completed the sale of a paper mill in France (part of the Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment), and announced the planned sale of a retail security packaging plant in Puerto Rico (part of the Display and Packaging segment), which was subsequently completed on July 5, 2016. In addition, approximately 95 positions were eliminated in the first half of 2016 in conjunction with the Company's ongoing organizational effectiveness efforts.
Below is a summary of 2016 Actions and related expenses by segment and by type incurred and estimated to be incurred through completion. 
2016 Actions
 
Second Quarter 2016
 
Total
Incurred
to Date
 
Estimated
Total Cost
Severance and Termination Benefits
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Packaging
 
$
487

 
$
1,452

 
$
1,702

Display and Packaging
 
1,277

 
2,653

 
3,403

Paper and Industrial Converted Products
 
1,730

 
$
4,141

 
4,641

Protective Solutions
 
38

 
360

 
360

Corporate
 
10

 
1,439

 
1,439

Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Packaging
 

 
(306
)
 
(306
)
Display and Packaging
 
2,237

 
2,237

 
2,237

Paper and Industrial Converted Products
 
13,279

 
13,279

 
13,279

Other Costs
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Packaging
 
104

 
302

 
652

Display and Packaging
 
11

 
11

 
61

Paper and Industrial Converted Products
 
459

 
477

 
1,327

Total Charges and Adjustments
 
$
19,632

 
$
26,045

 
$
28,795

The following table sets forth the activity in the 2016 Actions restructuring accrual included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets: 
2016 Actions
 
Severance
and
Termination
Benefits
 
Asset
Impairment/
Disposal
of Assets
 
Other
Costs
 
Total
Accrual Activity
2016 Year to Date
 
 
 
Liability at December 31, 2015
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

2016 charges
 
10,045

 
15,210

 
790

 
26,045

Cash payments
 
(6,220
)
 
(7,322
)
 
(472
)
 
(14,014
)
Asset write downs/disposals
 

 
(7,888
)
 

 
(7,888
)
Foreign currency translation
 
(6
)
 

 
(4
)
 
(10
)
Liability at July 3, 2016
 
$
3,819

 
$

 
$
314

 
$
4,133


10

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Included in "Asset Impairment/Disposal of Assets" above is a loss of $12,694 from the sale of a paperboard mill in France in May 2016. Included in this loss was the divestiture of $8,436 of cash required in order to consummate the disposition with the acquiror. Other assets divested in connection with the sale included net fixed assets of $3,201, and other tangible assets, net of liabilities disposed, of $1,057. Also included in "Asset Impairment/Disposal of Assets" is the impairment of $1,947 of intangible assets related to the sale of a retail security packaging business in Puerto Rico, which was committed to during the second quarter and completed on July 5, 2016, subsequent to the end of the quarter.
"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 2016 Actions restructuring costs by the end of 2016 using cash generated from operations.
2015 Actions
During 2015, the Company initiated the following restructuring actions in its Consumer Packaging segment: the closure of six rigid paper facilities (two in the United States, one in Canada, one in Russia, one in Germany, and one in the United Kingdom); the closure of a production line at a thermoforming plant in the United States; and the sale of a portion of its metal ends and closures business in the United States. Restructuring actions initiated in the Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment include the closures of a tubes and cores plant and a recycling business in the United States. The Company also recognized an asset impairment charge related to the potential disposition of a paperboard mill in France. Restructuring actions initiated in the Display and Packaging segment consisted of the closure of a printed backer card facility in the United States. In addition, the Company continued to realign its cost structure, resulting in the elimination of approximately 235 positions.
Below is a summary of 2015 Actions and related expenses by segment and by type incurred and estimated to be incurred through completion. 
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
Total
Incurred
to Date
 
 Estimated
Total Cost
2015 Actions
 
Second Quarter
 
Six Months
 
Second Quarter
 
Six Months
 
 
Severance and Termination Benefits
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Packaging
 
$
1,044

 
$
2,834

 
$
2,266

 
$
4,468

 
$
17,881

 
$
18,031

Display and Packaging
 
86

 
92

 
204

 
204

 
1,207

 
1,207

Paper and Industrial Converted Products
 
62

 
160

 
2,035

 
5,062

 
8,639

 
8,639

Protective Solutions
 

 

 

 

 
39

 
39

Corporate
 

 

 
1,033

 
2,200

 
2,775

 
2,775

Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Packaging
 
$
1,784

 
1,774

 
2,502

 
(4,830
)
 
(2,529
)
 
(2,529
)
Display and Packaging
 
335

 
335

 
17

 
17

 
809

 
809

Paper and Industrial Converted Products
 

 

 
219

 
221

 
10,198

 
10,198

Other Costs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Packaging
 
$
154

 
529

 
420

 
495

 
1,929

 
2,679

Display and Packaging
 
139

 
139

 

 

 
490

 
540

Paper and Industrial Converted Products
 
(96
)
 
411

 
53

 
61

 
662

 
712

Corporate
 

 

 
11

 
11

 
11

 
11

Total Charges and Adjustments
 
$
3,508

 
$
6,274

 
$
8,760

 
$
7,909

 
$
42,111

 
$
43,111


11

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

The following table sets forth the activity in the 2015 Actions restructuring accrual included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
2015 Actions
 
Severance
and
Termination
Benefits
 
Asset
Impairment/
Disposal
of Assets
 
Other
Costs
 
Total
Accrual Activity
2016 Year to Date
 
 
 
 
Liability at December 31, 2015
 
$
15,376

 
$

 
$

 
$
15,376

2016 charges
 
3,161

 
2,119

 
1,242

 
6,522

Adjustments
 
(75
)
 
(10
)
 
(163
)
 
(248
)
Cash payments
 
(10,596
)
 
10

 
(1,072
)
 
(11,658
)
Asset write downs/disposals
 

 
(2,119
)
 

 
(2,119
)
Foreign currency translation
 
(25
)
 

 
5

 
(20
)
Liability at July 3, 2016
 
$
7,841

 
$

 
$
12

 
$
7,853

“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 2015 Actions restructuring costs by the end of 2016 using cash generated from operations. 
2014 and Earlier Actions
2014 and Earlier Actions are comprised of a number of plant closures and workforce reductions initiated prior to 2015. Charges for these actions in both 2016 and 2015 relate primarily to 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 $100 associated with 2014 and Earlier Actions.
Below is a summary of expenses/(income) incurred by segment for 2014 and Earlier Actions for the three- and six- month periods ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015
 
 
2016
 
2015
2014 & Earlier Actions
 
Second Quarter
 
Six Months
 
Second Quarter
 
Six Months
Consumer Packaging
 
$

 
$

 
$
847

 
$
879

Display and Packaging
 

 

 
(17
)
 
(17
)
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
 
55

 
53

 
667

 
1,032

Protective Solutions
 
83

 
134

 
188

 
283

Total Charges and Adjustments
 
$
138

 
$
187

 
$
1,685

 
$
2,177

The accrual for 2014 and Earlier Actions totaled $340 and $824 at July 3, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and is included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accrual relates primarily to environmental remediation costs at a former paper mill in the United States and unpaid severance. The Company expects the majority of the liability associated with 2014 and Earlier Actions to be paid by the end of 2016 using cash generated from operations.









12

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars 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 six months ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015:
 
 
Gains and
Losses on Cash
Flow Hedges
 
Defined
Benefit
Pension Items
 
Foreign
Currency
Items
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
Balance at December 31, 2015

$
(5,152
)

$
(444,244
)

$
(253,137
)

$
(702,533
)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications

2,121


(3,190
)

13,439


12,370

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income

2,523


12,144




14,667

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to fixed assets

(22
)





(22
)
Net current-period other comprehensive
income

4,622


8,954


13,439


27,015

Balance at July 3, 2016

$
(530
)

$
(435,290
)

$
(239,698
)

$
(675,518
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2014
 
$
(5,962
)
 
$
(475,286
)
 
$
(127,603
)
 
$
(608,851
)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications
 
(3,858
)
 
(8,234
)
 
(59,246
)
 
(71,338
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income
 
5,339

 
13,382

 

 
18,721

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to fixed assets
 
(237
)
 

 

 
(237
)
Net current-period other comprehensive
income/(loss)
 
1,244

 
5,148

 
(59,246
)
 
(52,854
)
Balance at June 28, 2015
 
$
(4,718
)
 
$
(470,138
)
 
$
(186,849
)
 
$
(661,705
)


13

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

The following table summarizes the effects on net income of significant amounts classified out of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three- and six-month periods ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015
 
 
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Loss
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
 
 
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive
Loss Components
 
July 3,
2016
June 28,
2015
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
 
Affected Line Item in 
the Condensed Consolidated 
Statements of Net Income
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange contracts
 
$
(607
)
$
(4,201
)
$
(2,847
)
 
$
(8,289
)
 
Net sales
Foreign exchange contracts
 
387

2,106

1,432

 
4,507

 
Cost of sales
Commodity contracts
 
(1,294
)
(2,534
)
(2,805
)
 
(4,957
)
 
Cost of sales
 
 
(1,514
)
(4,629
)
(4,220
)
 
(8,739
)
 
Total before tax
 
 
505

1,801

1,697

 
3,400

 
Tax benefit
 
 
$
(1,009
)
$
(2,828
)
$
(2,523
)
 
$
(5,339
)
 
Net of tax
Defined benefit pension items
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of defined benefit pension items(a)
 
$
(7,368
)
$
(8,427
)
$
(14,511
)
 
$
(15,872
)
 
Cost of sales
Amortization of defined benefit pension items(a)
 
(2,456
)
(2,809
)
(4,837
)
 
(5,290
)
 
Selling, general and 
administrative
 
 
(9,824
)
(11,236
)
(19,348
)
 
(21,162
)
 
Total before tax
 
 
3,628

4,127

7,204

 
7,780

 
Tax benefit
 
 
$
(6,196
)
$
(7,109
)
$
(12,144
)
 
$
(13,382
)
 
Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period
 
$
(7,205
)
$
(9,937
)
$
(14,667
)
 
$
(18,721
)
 
Net of tax
 
(a)
See Note 10 for additional details.
At July 3, 2016, the Company had commodity contracts outstanding to fix the costs of certain anticipated purchases of natural gas and aluminum, and foreign currency contracts to hedge certain anticipated foreign currency denominated sales and purchases. The amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to these cash flow hedges were net losses of $708 ($530 after tax) at July 3, 2016, and net losses of $8,036 ($5,152 after tax) at December 31, 2015.
The cumulative tax benefit on Cash Flow Hedges included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss was $178 at July 3, 2016, and $2,884 at December 31, 2015. During the three- and six-month periods ended July 3, 2016, the tax benefit on Cash Flow Hedges changed by $(1,324) and $(2,706), respectively.
The cumulative tax benefit on Defined Benefit Pension Items was $242,802 at July 3, 2016, and $247,788 at December 31, 2015. During the three- and six-month periods ended July 3, 2016, the tax benefit on Defined Benefit Pension Items changed by $(1,423) and $(4,986), respectively.
During the three- and six-month periods ended July 3, 2016, changes in noncontrolling interests included foreign currency translation adjustments of $726 and $2,138, respectively.








14

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 7: Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill
A summary of the changes in goodwill by segment for the six months ended July 3, 2016 is as follows: 
 
 
Consumer
Packaging
 
Display
and
Packaging
 
Paper and
Industrial
Converted
Products
Protective
Solutions
 
Total
Goodwill at December 31, 2015
 
$
487,342

 
$
204,629

 
$
227,325

$
221,165

 
$
1,140,461

Acquisitions
 

 

 
417


 
417

Foreign currency translation
 
8,337

 

 
2,412


 
10,749

Other
 
(71
)
 

 


 
(71
)
Goodwill at July 3, 2016
 
$
495,608

 
$
204,629

 
$
230,154

$
221,165

 
$
1,151,556


In June 2016, the Company acquired a small tubes and cores business in Australia. In connection with this acquisition, the Company recognized $417 of Goodwill. See Note 3 for additional information.
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. As part of this testing, the Company analyzes certain qualitative and quantitative factors in determining goodwill impairment. In its most recent annual assessment, completed in the third quarter of 2015, the Company concluded that there was no impairment of goodwill for any of its reporting units. The assessment reflected a number of significant management assumptions and estimates including the Company's forecast of sales volumes and prices, profit margins, income taxes, capital expenditures and changes in working capital requirements. Changes in these assumptions and/or discount rates could materially impact the Company's conclusions.
Although no reporting units failed the assessments noted above, in management’s opinion, the reporting units having the greatest risk of a significant future impairment if actual results fall short of expectations are Display and Packaging, and Paper and Industrial Converted Products - Europe. Total goodwill associated with these reporting units was approximately $204,600 and $91,400, respectively, at July 3, 2016.
A large portion of sales in the Display and Packaging reporting unit is concentrated in one customer. Subsequent to the annual testing in the third quarter of 2015, this customer informed the Company of its decision not to renew a contract to continue operating a packaging center in Irapuato, Mexico. This triggering event resulted in a reassessment of the most recent annual impairment test for the Display and Packaging reporting unit completed as of the third quarter of 2015. Accordingly, the Company reperformed the impairment analysis for this reporting unit taking into consideration the effect on sales and operating profit of the lower business volume and concluded that goodwill in the Display and Packaging reporting unit was not impaired. The remaining business with this customer is currently under negotiations for contract renewal. If a significant amount of business were lost and not replaced under similar terms, it is likely that a goodwill impairment charge could be incurred. There have been no other triggering events identified between the most recent annual impairment test and July 3, 2016.
















15

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Other Intangible Assets
A summary of other intangible assets as of July 3, 2016 and December 31, 2015 is as follows:         
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Other Intangible Assets, gross
 
 
 
 
Patents
 
$
12,858

 
$
12,716

Customer lists
 
383,247

 
381,938

Trade names
 
19,260

 
19,246

Proprietary technology
 
17,744

 
17,738

Land use rights
 
298

 
297

Other
 
1,243

 
1,223

Other Intangible Assets, gross
 
$
434,650

 
$
433,158

Accumulated Amortization
 
$
(204,948
)
 
$
(188,063
)
Other Intangible Assets, net
 
$
229,702

 
$
245,095

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.
The Company recorded $297 of identifiable intangibles in connection with a 2016 acquisition, the majority of which related to a customer list. These intangibles will be amortized over their expected life of 10 years. See Note 3 for additional information. Also during 2016, the Company recognized the impairment of customer lists totaling $1,947 in connection with the sale of a retail security packaging business in Puerto Rico. See Note 5 for additional information.
Aggregate amortization expense was $8,231 and $8,174 for the three months ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015, respectively, and $16,567 and $16,324, for the six months ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015, respectively. Amortization expense on other intangible assets is expected to total approximately $32,400 in 2016, $31,600 in 2017, $30,800 in 2018, $29,400 in 2019 and $27,700 in 2020.

Note 8: 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. 
 
 
July 3, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value
Long-term debt, net of current portion
 
$
1,029,943

 
$
1,154,528

 
$
1,015,270

 
$
1,081,732

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 July 3, 2016 and December 31, 2015, 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 from July 2016 to December 2016, qualify as cash flow hedges under U.S. GAAP. To the extent considered effective, the changes in fair value of these contracts are recorded in other comprehensive income and reclassified to income or expense in the period in which the hedged item impacts earnings. The Company has determined all hedges to be highly effective and as a result no material ineffectiveness has been recorded.



16

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

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 July 3, 2016, natural gas swaps covering approximately 8.3 MMBTUs were outstanding. These contracts represent approximately 75% and 75% of anticipated U.S. and Canadian usage for the remainder of 2016 and 2017, respectively. Additionally, the Company had swap contracts covering 2,228 metric tons of aluminum and 1,320 short tons of OCC, representing approximately 54% and 1% of anticipated usage for the remainder of 2016, respectively. The fair values of the Company’s commodity cash flow hedges netted to a gain position of $960 at July 3, 2016 and a loss position of $(3,611) at December 31, 2015. The amount of the gain included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss at July 3, 2016, that is expected to be reclassified to the income statement during the next twelve months is $207.

Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedges
The Company has entered into forward contracts to hedge certain anticipated foreign currency denominated sales and purchases forecast to occur in 2016. The net positions of these contracts at July 3, 2016 were as follows (in thousands): 
Currency
Action
Quantity
Colombian peso
purchase
3,413,426

Mexican peso
purchase
273,554

Canadian dollar
purchase
41,341

Russian ruble
purchase
8,846

British pound
purchase
4,615

Turkish lira
purchase
674

New Zealand dollar
sell
(313
)
Australian dollar
sell
(1,018
)
Polish zloty
sell
(1,501
)
Euro
sell
(5,009
)
The fair value of these foreign currency cash flow hedges netted to a loss position of $(1,421) at July 3, 2016 and $(4,612) at December 31, 2015. During the six months ended July 3, 2016, certain foreign currency cash flow hedges related to construction in progress were settled as the related capital expenditures were made. Losses from these hedges totaling $22 were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss and included in the carrying value of the assets acquired. During the next twelve months, a loss of $(1,394) is expected to be reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss to the income statement.
Other Derivatives
The Company routinely enters into forward contracts or swaps to economically hedge the currency exposure of intercompany debt and existing foreign currency denominated receivables and payables. The Company does not apply hedge accounting treatment under ASC 815 for these instruments. As such, changes in fair value are recorded directly to income and expense in the periods that they occur.
The net positions of these contracts at July 3, 2016, were as follows (in thousands): 
Currency
Action
Quantity
Colombian peso
purchase
32,120,961

Mexican peso
purchase
236,789

Canadian dollar
purchase
22,163

British pound
purchase
20,500

Euro
sell
(14,493
)
The fair value of the Company’s other derivatives was $(890) and $(2,180) at July 3, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

17

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

The following table sets forth the location and fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments at July 3, 2016 and December 31, 2015
Description
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
July 3,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity Contracts
 
Prepaid expenses
 
$
781

 
$
8

Commodity Contracts
 
Other assets
 
$
757

 
$

Commodity Contracts
 
Accrued expenses and other
 
$
(576
)
 
$
(3,425
)
Commodity Contracts
 
Other liabilities
 
$
(2
)
 
$
(194
)
Foreign Exchange Contracts
 
Prepaid expenses
 
$
887

 
$
156

       Foreign Exchange Contracts
 
Accrued expenses and other
 
$
(2,308
)
 
$
(4,768
)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Exchange Contracts
 
Prepaid expenses
 
$
32

 
$
50

Foreign Exchange Contracts
 
Accrued expenses and other
 
$
(922
)
 
$
(2,230
)
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 July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015
Description
 
Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized
in OCI on
Derivatives
(Effective Portion)
 
Location of Gain
or (Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
Into Income
(Effective Portion)
 
Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Reclassified
from Accumulated
OCI Into Income
(Effective Portion)
 
Location of Gain 
or (Loss)  Recognized in
Income on
Derivatives
(Ineffective Portion)
 
Amount of Gain 
or (Loss)
Recognized
in Income on
Derivatives (Ineffective 
Portion)
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended July 3, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Exchange Contracts
$
(797
)
 
Net sales
 
$
(607
)
 
Net sales
 
$

 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
 
$
387

 
 
 
 
Commodity Contracts
$
3,249

 
Cost of sales
 
$
(1,294
)
 
Cost of sales
 
$
(108
)
Three months ended June 28, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Exchange Contracts
$
530

 
Net sales
 
$
(4,201
)
 
Net sales
 
$

 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
 
$
2,106

 
 
 
 
Commodity Contracts
$
(1,242
)
 
Cost of sales
 
$
(2,534
)
 
Cost of sales
 
$
70

 
Description
Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in
Income Statement
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized
Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
Three months ended July 3, 2016
 
 
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Cost of sales
$

 
Selling, general and administrative
$
1,352

Three months ended June 28, 2015
 
 
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Cost of sales
$

 
Selling, general and administrative
$
1,293



18

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

The following tables set forth the effect of the Company’s derivative instruments on financial performance for the six months ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015
Description
 
Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized
in OCI on
Derivatives
(Effective Portion)
 
Location of Gain
or (Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
Into Income
(Effective Portion)
 
Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Reclassified
from Accumulated
OCI Into Income
(Effective Portion)
 
Location of Gain 
or (Loss) 
Recognized in
Income on
Derivatives
(Ineffective Portion)
 
Amount of Gain
or (Loss) Recognized
in Income on
Derivatives
(Ineffective 
Portion)
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six months ended July 3, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Exchange Contracts
 
$
1,570

 
Net sales
 
$
(2,847
)
 
Net sales
 
$

 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
 
$
1,432

 
 
 
 
Commodity Contracts
 
$
1,516

 
Cost of sales
 
$
(2,805
)
 
Cost of sales
 
$
2

Six months ended June 28, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Exchange Contracts
 
$
(3,791
)
 
Net sales
 
$
(8,289
)
 
Net sales
 
$

 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
 
$
4,507

 
 
 
 
Commodity Contracts
 
$
(3,352
)
 
Cost of sales
 
$
(4,957
)
 
Cost of sales
 
$
110

 
Description
Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in
Income Statement
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized
Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
Six months ended July 3, 2016
 
 
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Cost of sales
$

 
Selling, general and administrative
$
1,116

Six months ended June 28, 2015
 
 
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Cost of sales
$

 
Selling, general and administrative
$
761






























19

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 9: 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
 
July 3,
2016
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Hedge derivatives, net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
 
$
960

 
$

 
$
960

 
$

Foreign exchange contracts
 
(1,421
)
 

 
(1,421
)
 

Non-hedge derivatives, net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange contracts
 
(890
)
 

 
(890
)
 

Deferred compensation plan assets
 
477

 
477

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Description
 
December 31,
2015
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Hedge derivatives, net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
 
$
(3,611
)
 
$

 
$
(3,611
)
 
$

Foreign exchange contracts
 
(4,612
)
 

 
(4,612
)
 

Non-hedge derivatives, net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange contracts
 
(2,180
)
 

 
(2,180
)
 

Deferred compensation plan assets
 
460

 
460

 

 

As discussed in Note 8, 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 nonfinancial assets or liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis. None of the Company’s financial assets or liabilities is measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs. There were no transfers in or out of Level 1 or Level 2 fair value measurements during the three- and six-month periods ended July 3, 2016.









20

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)


Note 10: Employee Benefit Plans
Retirement Plans and Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans
The Company provides non-contributory defined benefit pension plans for a majority of its employees in the United States and certain of its employees in Mexico and Belgium. 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 effective December 31, 2003 for newly hired salaried and non-union hourly employees. At that time, the Company adopted a defined contribution plan, the Sonoco Investment and Retirement Plan (SIRP), covering its non-union U.S. employees hired on or after January 1, 2004, and former participants of the U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan who elected to transfer out of that plan and into the SIRP under a one-time option effective January 1, 2010. On January 1, 2013, the SIRP was merged into the Sonoco Savings Plan and the name was changed to the Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan. The Company provides an annual contribution to participant accounts in the Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan, called the Sonoco Retirement Contribution (SRC), 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 amended to freeze plan benefits for all active participants effective December 31, 2018. Remaining active participants in the U.S. qualified plan will become eligible for SRC contributions effective January 1, 2019.
The components of net periodic benefit cost include the following: 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
Retirement Plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
 
$
4,799

 
$
6,088

 
$
9,822

 
$
11,341

Interest cost
 
14,984

 
17,829

 
30,310

 
34,762

Expected return on plan assets
 
(21,388
)
 
(23,527
)
 
(43,432
)
 
(46,253
)
Amortization of net transition obligation
 

 
41

 

 
81

Amortization of prior service cost
 
188

 
187

 
381

 
367

Amortization of net actuarial loss
 
9,960

 
11,105

 
19,556

 
20,833

Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
8,543

 
$
11,723

 
$
16,637

 
$
21,131

Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
 
$
71

 
$
206

 
$
156

 
$
384

Interest cost
 
114

 
225

 
244

 
447

Expected return on plan assets
 
(394
)
 
(414
)
 
(798
)
 
(807
)
Amortization of prior service credit
 
(124
)
 
(26
)
 
(252
)
 
(51
)
Amortization of net actuarial gain
 
(200
)
 
(63
)
 
(337
)
 
(68
)
Net periodic benefit income
 
$
(533
)
 
$
(72
)
 
$
(987
)
 
$
(95
)

The Company made aggregate contributions of $22,295 and $12,253 to its defined benefit retirement and retiree health and life insurance plans during the six months ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015, respectively. The Company anticipates that it will make additional aggregate contributions of approximately $10,300 to its defined benefit retirement and retiree health and life insurance plans over the remainder of 2016.







21

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Sonoco Retirement Contribution (SRC)
The Sonoco Retirement Contribution, which is funded annually in the first quarter, totaled $13,352 during the six months ended July 3, 2016, and $12,865 during the six months ended June 28, 2015. No additional SRC contributions are expected during the remainder of 2016. The Company recognized expense related to the SRC of $3,577 and $3,302 for the quarters ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015, respectively, and $6,595 and $6,929 for the six-month periods ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015, respectively.

Note 11: Income Taxes
The Company’s effective tax rate for the three- and six-month periods ending July 3, 2016, was 31.5% and 32.4%, respectively, and its effective tax rate for the three- and six-month periods ending June 28, 2015, was 28.1% and 25.6%, respectively. The rates for the three- and six-month periods of both years varied from the U.S. statutory rate due to the favorable effect of certain international operations that are subject to tax rates generally lower than the U.S. rate, the favorable effect of the manufacturer’s deduction on U.S. taxes, and the effect of changes in uncertain tax positions. The effective tax rates for the three- and six-month periods ended June 28, 2015 were further reduced by the recognition of beneficial tax attributes associated with the disposition of the Company's Canton, Ohio metal ends and closures facilities.
The Company and/or its subsidiaries file federal, state and local income tax returns in the United States and various foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, or non-U.S., income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2012. With respect to state and local income taxes, the Company is no longer subject to examination for years prior to 2011, with few exceptions. The Company is currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service for the 2012 and 2013 tax years.
The Company’s total liability for uncertain tax benefits has not changed significantly since December 31, 2015. The Company has $2,400 of reserves for uncertain tax benefits for which it believes it is reasonably possible that a resolution may be reached within the next twelve months. 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 loss of those benefits would have a material effect on the Company’s overall effective tax rate. 
 
Note 12: 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); blow-molded plastic bottles and jars; 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, semipermanent 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 and cores; fiber-based construction tubes and forms; wooden, metal and composite wire and cable reels and spools; and recycled paperboard, linerboard, corrugating medium, recovered paper and 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.

22

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

The following table sets forth net sales, intersegment sales and operating profit for the Company’s reportable segments. “Segment operating profit” is defined as the segment’s portion of “Income before interest and income taxes” excluding restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, acquisition-related costs, and certain other items, if any, the exclusion of which the Company believes improves comparability and analysis of the financial performance of the business. General corporate expenses have been allocated as operating costs to each of the Company’s reportable segments. "Other, net" for the six months ended June 28, 2015 is largely comprised of a $32,543 gain from the reversal of environmental liability reserves related to the Fox River environmental claims.

SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
 

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended
 

July 3,
2016

June 28,
2015

July 3,
2016

June 28,
2015
Net sales:








Consumer Packaging

$
511,007


$
531,114


$
1,038,345


$
1,050,991

Display and Packaging

130,874


141,604


275,141


287,389

Paper and Industrial Converted Products

433,342


448,876


856,416


871,187

Protective Solutions

130,457


126,996


262,054


245,075

Consolidated

$
1,205,680


$
1,248,590


$
2,431,956


$
2,454,642

Intersegment sales:








Consumer Packaging

$
1,596


$
1,321


$
2,928


$
3,001

Display and Packaging

626


451


1,123


848

Paper and Industrial Converted Products

23,536


25,038


49,917


52,589

Protective Solutions

286


457


872


1,065

Consolidated

$
26,044


$
27,267


$
54,840


$
57,503

Income before interest and income taxes:








Segment operating profit:








Consumer Packaging

$
59,509


$
57,530


$
122,374


$
111,558

Display and Packaging

5,030


1,035


8,311


1,873

Paper and Industrial Converted Products

37,480


38,963


70,779


66,760

Protective Solutions

14,220


13,604


26,246


23,289

Restructuring/Asset impairment charges

(23,278
)
 
(10,445
)
 
(32,506
)
 
(10,086
)
Other, net

(837
)
 
(1,703
)
 
(1,248
)
 
29,674

Consolidated

$
92,124


$
98,984


$
193,956


$
223,068

 


Note 13: Commitments and Contingencies
Pursuant to U.S. GAAP, accruals for estimated losses are recorded at the time information becomes available indicating that losses are probable and that the amounts are reasonably estimable. 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.
Fox River settlement and remaining claim
In March 2014, U.S. Paper Mills Corp. (U.S. Mills), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and five other defendants reached a settlement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) for natural resource damages and the environmental cleanup of the lower Fox River in Wisconsin. The terms of the settlement, which became final on April 7, 2015, required U.S. Mills to pay $14,700, which was paid in April 2014, and protects U.S. Mills from claims by other parties relating to natural resource damages and the cleanup of the lower Fox River, except claims pursuant to Section 107 of the Comprehensive Environment Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

23

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

The finalization of the settlement leaves intact a claim by Appvion, Inc., under Section 107 of CERCLA against eight defendants, including U.S. Mills, to recover response costs allegedly incurred by Appvion consistent with the national contingency plan for responding to release or threatened release of hazardous substances into the lower Fox River. The claim is asserted for approximately $200,000. Although the Company believes that the maximum amount for which the defendants could be liable is substantially less, the court has not yet ruled on the issue.
At December 31, 2015, U.S. Mills had reserves totaling $3,896 for potential liabilities associated with the Appvion claim. Through July 3, 2016, the Company has spent approximately $580 on legal costs related to this claim, leaving a reserve of $3,316 remaining at July 3, 2016. The actual costs that may be incurred associated with the Appvion claim are dependent upon many factors and it is possible that costs could ultimately be higher than the amount provided for in the remaining reserve. Because of the continuing uncertainties surrounding U.S. Mills' possible liability, including a potentially favorable resolution, the Company cannot currently estimate its potential liability, damages or range of potential loss, if any, beyond the amounts reserved, and an adverse resolution of these matters could have an adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows. The Company believes that the maximum additional exposure to its consolidated financial position beyond the amount reserved at is limited to the equity position of U.S. Mills, which was approximately $127,500 at July 3, 2016.
Tegrant
On November 8, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of Tegrant. During its due diligence, the Company identified several potential environmentally contaminated sites. The total remediation cost of these sites was estimated to be $18,850 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 $774 on remediation of these sites. During 2014 and 2015, the Company increased its reserves for these sites by a total of $392 in order to reflect its best estimate of what it is likely to pay in order to complete the remediation. At July 3, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company's accrual for Tegrant's environmental contingencies totaled $18,468 and $18,521, 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.
Village of Rockton
The previously disclosed actions instituted by the Village of Rockton against the Company on September 15, 2014, were dismissed with prejudice by stipulation of the parties on April 19, 2016, with no impact to 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.
Summary
As of July 3, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company (and its subsidiaries) had accrued $24,542 and $25,195, 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.

24



Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Directors of Sonoco Products Company:
We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Sonoco Products Company and its subsidiaries (the "Company") as of July 3, 2016, and the related condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three and six-month periods ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015 and the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the six-month periods ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.
We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income, of comprehensive income, of changes in total equity, and of cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein), and in our report dated February 29, 2016, 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, 2015, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
As discussed in Note 2 to the accompanying condensed consolidated interim financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for Debt Issuance Costs in the six-month period ended July 3, 2016. The accompanying December 31, 2015 condensed consolidated balance sheet reflects this change.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Charlotte, North Carolina
August 3, 2016
 

25

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;
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;
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;
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, 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;
competitive pressures, including new product development, industry overcapacity, and changes in competitors' pricing for products;

26

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

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 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 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 tax rates, and tax laws, regulations and interpretations thereof;
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;
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;
loss of consumer or investor confidence;
ability to protect our intellectual property rights;
actions of domestic or foreign government agencies and changes in laws and regulations affecting the Company;
international, national and local economic and market conditions and levels of unemployment; and
economic disruptions resulting from terrorist activities and natural disasters.

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.

27

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY


COMPANY OVERVIEW
Sonoco is a leading provider of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging and packaging supply chain services, with approximately 330 locations in 34 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.
Second Quarter 2016 Compared with Second Quarter 2015
RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles are referred to as GAAP financial measures. The following tables reconcile the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the periods presented. These non-GAAP financial measures (referred to as “Base”) are the GAAP measures adjusted to exclude (dependent upon the applicable period) restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, acquisition charges, specifically identified tax adjustments and certain other items, if any, the exclusion of which the Company believes improves comparability and analysis of the underlying financial performance of the business. 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, 2015 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 July 3, 2016
Dollars in thousands, except per share data
 
GAAP
 
Restructuring/
Asset
Impairment
 
Other
Adjustments
(1)
 
Base
Income before interest and income taxes
 
$
92,124

 
$
23,278

 
$
837

 
$
116,239

Interest expense, net
 
13,544

 

 

 
13,544

Income before income taxes
 
78,580

 
23,278

 
837

 
102,695

Provision for income taxes
 
24,790

 
5,425

 
233

 
30,448

Income before equity in earnings of affiliates
 
53,790

 
17,853

 
604

 
72,247

Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax
 
2,928

 

 

 
2,928

Net income
 
56,718

 
17,853

 
604

 
75,175

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(466
)
 
(38
)
 

 
(504
)
Net income attributable to Sonoco
 
$
56,252

 
$
17,815

 
$
604

 
$
74,671

Per diluted common share
 
$
0.55

 
$
0.17

 
$
0.01

 
$
0.73

 
(1)Consists primarily of acquisition-related costs.
 
 
For the three months ended June 28, 2015
Dollars in thousands, except per share data
 
GAAP
 
Restructuring/
Asset
Impairment
 
Other
Adjustments
(1)
 
Base
Income before interest and income taxes
 
$
98,984

 
$
10,445

 
$
1,703

 
$
111,132

Interest expense, net
 
13,601

 

 

 
13,601

Income before income taxes
 
85,383

 
10,445

 
1,703

 
97,531

Provision for income taxes
 
24,023

 
3,683

 
3,282

 
30,988

Income before equity in earnings of affiliates
 
61,360

 
6,762

 
(1,579
)
 
66,543

Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax
 
3,269

 

 

 
3,269

Net income
 
64,629

 
6,762

 
(1,579
)
 
69,812

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(250
)
 
(55
)
 

 
(305
)
Net income attributable to Sonoco
 
$
64,379

 
$
6,707

 
$
(1,579
)
 
$
69,507

Per diluted common share
 
$
0.63

 
$
0.07

 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
0.68


28

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

(1) Consists primarily of acquisition-related costs and an income tax gain from the release of a valuation allowance against tax loss carryforwards in Spain.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion provides a review of results for the three months ended July 3, 2016 versus the three months ended June 28, 2015.
OVERVIEW
Net sales for the second quarter of 2016 decreased 3.4% to $1,206 million, compared with $1,249 million in the same period last year. The decline in sales was the result of lower selling prices, driven by decreases in recovered paper and resin costs, the previously disclosed loss of contract packaging business in Irapuato, Mexico, and the negative impact of foreign currency translation. These negative factors were somewhat offset by positive changes in volume and mix of products sold.

Net income attributable to Sonoco for the second quarter of 2016 decreased 12.6% to $56.3 million, compared to $64.4 million reported for the same period of 2015. Current quarter net income includes after-tax restructuring and asset impairment charges of $17.8 million and after-tax acquisition charges of $0.6 million. Results for the second quarter of 2015 include after-tax restructuring and asset impairment charges of $6.7 million, and a net after-tax gain from other adjustments of $1.6 million. These other adjustments consisted primarily of acquisition-related costs and a $3.2 million income tax gain resulting from the release of a valuation allowance against tax loss carryforwards in Spain. Adjusted for these items, base net income attributable to Sonoco (base earnings) increased 7.4% to $74.7 million ($0.73 per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2016 versus $69.5 million ($0.68 per diluted share) in 2015.

The higher second quarter 2016 base earnings were largely driven by improvements in both the Consumer Packaging and Display and Packaging segments. Overall, the current quarter benefited from a positive price/cost relationship, lower pension and postretirement benefit costs, and a lower effective tax rate on earnings absent the above items. These gains were partially offset by higher labor, maintenance and other operating costs, and the negative impact of foreign currency translation due to a stronger U.S. dollar. Current-quarter earnings reflect an 82 basis point increase in the Company's overall gross profit margin compared to the prior year's quarter, largely due to the overall favorable price/cost relationship.
OPERATING REVENUE
Net sales for the second quarter of 2016 decreased $43 million from the prior-year quarter.
The components of the sales change were: 
 
($ in millions)
Volume/mix
$
9

Selling prices
(11
)
Acquisitions and Divestitures
1

Foreign currency translation and other, net
(42
)
 
 
Total sales decrease
$
(43
)
 
 
 
In order to enhance the meaningfulness of reported changes in volume/mix, a $15.9 million reduction in packaging center sales resulting from changes in the level of activity, primarily from the previously reported loss of contract packaging business in Irapuato, Mexico, is classified above as "other" due to the low/inconsistent correlation that typically exists between changes in revenue and operating profit in our packaging center operations.

COSTS AND EXPENSES
A positive price/cost relationship (the relationship of the change in sales prices to the change in costs of materials, energy and freight), which was due to costs decreasing more than selling prices, lower pension expense, and modest productivity improvements benefited gross margin, but were partially offset by higher maintenance, labor, and other costs. The translation impact of a stronger dollar lowered reported cost of goods sold by approximately $16 million compared to the

29

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

second quarter of 2015. The gross profit margin percentage improved to 20.1% this quarter compared to 19.2% in the prior-year quarter.
Second-quarter selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") costs decreased $4.3 million, or 3.3%, from the prior year quarter reflecting lower pension and post-retirement benefit costs, fixed cost reductions, and the impact of foreign currency translation. These positive factors were partially offset by higher wages and management incentive costs.
Current quarter restructuring and restructuring-related asset impairment charges totaled $23.3 million compared with $10.4 million in the same period last year. Charges in the current quarter include a loss from the May 23, 2016 sale of the Company's paperboard mill in Schweighouse-sur-Moder, France and asset impairment charges related to the sale of the Company's display and packaging business in Juncos, Puerto Rico, that occurred on July 5, 2016. Additional charges in the current quarter are primarily related to the Company's ongoing organizational effectiveness efforts and plant closure costs. Charges in the prior year's second quarter were more than offset by the benefit from a release of a valuation allowance against tax loss carryforwards in Spain. 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.
Net interest expense for the second quarter decreased slightly to $13.5 million, compared with $13.6 million during the second quarter of 2015. The small decrease was due to lower year-over-year debt levels.
The effective tax rate on GAAP and base earnings in the second quarter of 2016 was 31.5% and 29.6%, respectively, compared with 28.1% and 31.8%, respectively, for last year's quarter. The main driver of the year-over-year increase in the GAAP income tax rate is the loss on the sale of the paperboard mill in France for which there was no tax benefit. The year-over-year decrease in the second-quarter base income tax rate was primarily driven by a current-year favorable tax audit resolution and favorable changes in uncertain tax positions in the 2016 quarter.
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
The following table recaps net sales for the second quarters of 2016 and 2015 ($ in thousands): 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
 
% Change
Net sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Packaging
 
$
511,007

 
$
531,114

 
(3.8
)%
Display and Packaging
 
130,874

 
141,604

 
(7.6
)%
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
 
433,342

 
448,876

 
(3.5
)%
Protective Solutions
 
130,457

 
126,996

 
2.7
 %
Consolidated
 
$
1,205,680

 
$
1,248,590

 
(3.4
)%
Consolidated operating profits, also referred to as “Income before interest and income taxes” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, are comprised of the following ($ in thousands): 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
 
% Change
Income before interest and income taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment operating profit
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Packaging
 
$
59,509

 
$
57,530

 
3.4
 %
Display and Packaging
 
5,030

 
1,035

 
386.0
 %
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
 
37,480

 
38,963

 
(3.8
)%
Protective Solutions
 
14,220

 
13,604

 
4.5
 %
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges
 
(23,278
)
 
(10,445
)
 
122.9
 %
Other, net
 
(837
)
 
(1,703
)
 


Consolidated
 
$
92,124

 
$
98,984

 
(6.9
)%
 


30

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY


The following table recaps restructuring/asset impairment charges attributable to each of the Company’s segments during the second quarters of 2016 and 2015 ($ in thousands): 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges:
 
 
 
 
Consumer Packaging
 
$
3,573

 
$
6,035

Display and Packaging
 
4,085

 
203

Paper and Industrial Converted Products
 
15,489

 
2,976

Protective Solutions
 
121

 
187

Corporate
 
10

 
1,044

Total
 
$
23,278

 
$
10,445

Segment results viewed by Company management to evaluate segment performance do not include restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, acquisition-related charges, interest expense, income taxes, 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 defined as the segment’s portion of “Income before interest and income taxes” excluding those items. All other general corporate expenses have been allocated as operating costs to each of the Company’s reportable segments.
Consumer Packaging
The Consumer Packaging segment includes the following products and services: round and shaped rigid containers and trays (both composite and thermoformed plastic); blow-molded plastic bottles and jars; extruded and injection-molded plastic products; printed flexible packaging; global brand artwork management; and metal and peelable membrane ends and closures.
Segment sales decreased 3.8% over the prior year's quarter due to lower selling prices, stemming primarily from lower resin and metal costs, lower volumes and the negative impact of foreign currency translation. These negative factors were somewhat offset by increased revenue in our Flexibles business due to the small prior-year acquisition of Brazil-based Graffo.
Segment operating profit increased 3.4% over the prior year's quarter as segment operating margins improved to 11.6% of sales compared to 10.8% in the prior-year quarter. Overall, the segment benefited from a positive price/cost relationship and lower pension costs. These positive factors were partially offset by volume decreases as well as higher labor, maintenance and other operating costs, and the negative impact of foreign currency translation.
As is typical from time-to-time in the normal course of business, the Company is currently engaged in a contract renewal negotiation with a major customer in this segment. Although the Company believes it will be successful in this negotiation, it is possible that some, or all, of this business will be lost, or retained at lower margins.

Display and Packaging
The Display and Packaging segment includes the following products and services: designing, manufacturing, assembling, packing and distributing temporary, semipermanent and permanent point-of-purchase displays; supply chain management services, including contract packing, fulfillment and scalable service centers; retail packaging, including printed backer cards, thermoformed blisters and heat sealing equipment; and paper amenities, such as coasters and glass covers.
Reported sales for the quarter were down 7.6% compared to last year’s quarter due primarily to the negative impact of foreign currency translation and the previously reported loss of contract packaging business in Irapuato, Mexico. These declines were partially offset by higher volumes in our international packaging fulfillment businesses.
Operating profits increased $4.0 million from the prior year's quarter due to a positive price/cost relationship and productivity gains.



31

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

Paper and Industrial Converted Products
The Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment includes the following products: paperboard tubes and cores; fiber-based construction tubes and forms; wooden, metal and composite wire and cable reels and spools; and recycled paperboard, linerboard, corrugating medium, recovered paper and material recycling services.
Reported segment sales declined approximately 3.5% as the negative impact of foreign currency translation, lower corrugating medium volume and prices, and the divestiture of a paperboard mill in France were only partially offset by the favorable impacts of improved volumes in global tube and core and paperboard and a positive mix of business.
Operating profit decreased 3.8% driven by operating losses in corrugating medium. Reduced volume in corrugating medium, which also had a negative impact on productivity, together with lower selling prices, resulted in a $7.2 million year-over-year reduction in corrugating medium profitability. Excluding corrugating medium, the segment showed significant earnings improvement on solid gains in both volume and manufacturing productivity and lower fixed costs. In addition, segment operating profit benefitted from lower pension expense, which was partially offset by the negative impact of foreign currency translation.
The Company's corrugating medium operation, which consists of only one machine, has been and continues to be under pressure due to market supply in North America exceeding demand. As a result, larger competitors have moved to sell their excess capacity in the export market, which is a key target market for the Company. This has resulted in lower prices and reduced volume for our corrugating medium operation. Management is seeking both near and long-term solutions including, but not limited to, modified run schedules, targeted cost reductions, and strategic partnerships.
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 were up 2.7% year over year on strong volume/mix, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign currency translation and lower selling prices.
Operating profits increased 4.5% as solid volume gains, particularly in temperature-assured packaging, and a positive price/cost relationship were partially offset by higher labor, maintenance and other operating costs, a negative mix of business and the negative impact of foreign currency translation.

Six Months Ended July 3, 2016 Compared with Six Months Ended June 28, 2015

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 six months ended July 3, 2016
Dollars in thousands, except per share data
 
GAAP
 
Restructuring/
Asset
Impairment
 
Other
Adjustments
(1)
 
Base
Income before interest and income taxes
 
$
193,956

 
$
32,506

 
$
1,248

 
$
227,710

Interest expense, net
 
27,331

 

 

 
27,331

Income before income taxes
 
166,625

 
32,506

 
1,248

 
200,379

Provision for income taxes
 
53,984

 
8,345

 
340

 
62,669

Income before equity in earnings of affiliates
 
112,641

 
24,161

 
908

 
137,710

Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax
 
4,267

 

 

 
4,267

Net income
 
116,908

 
24,161

 
908

 
141,977

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(742
)
 
(45
)
 

 
(787
)
Net income attributable to Sonoco
 
$
116,166

 
$
24,116

 
$
908

 
$
141,190

Per diluted common share
 
$
1.14

 
$
0.24

 
$
0.01

 
$
1.38

 
(1)Consists primarily of acquisition-related costs.

32

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

 
 
For the six months ended June 28, 2015
Dollars in thousands, except per share data
 
GAAP
 
Restructuring/
Asset
Impairment
(1)
 
Other
Adjustments
(2)
 
Base
Income before interest and income taxes
 
$
223,068

 
$
10,086

 
$
(29,674
)
 
$
203,480

Interest expense, net
 
26,822

 

 

 
26,822

Income before income taxes
 
196,246

 
10,086

 
(29,674
)
 
176,658

Provision for income taxes
 
50,244

 
15,276

 
(9,232
)
 
56,288

Income before equity in earnings of affiliates
 
146,002

 
(5,190
)
 
(20,442
)
 
120,370

Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax
 
4,315

 

 

 
4,315

Net income
 
150,317

 
(5,190
)
 
(20,442
)
 
124,685

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(158
)
 
(70
)
 

 
(228
)
Net income attributable to Sonoco
 
$
150,159

 
$
(5,260
)
 
$
(20,442
)
 
$
124,457

Per diluted common share
 
$
1.47

 
$
(0.05
)
 
$
(0.20
)
 
$
1.22

(1) Includes disposal and income tax gains related to the sale of a portion of the Company's metal ends and closures business.
(2) Includes acquisition-related costs, a gain from the release of reserves related to the partial settlement of the Fox River environmental claims, and an income tax gain from the release of a valuation allowance against tax loss carryforwards in Spain.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion provides a review of results for the six months ended July 3, 2016 versus the six months ended June 28, 2015.
OVERVIEW
Net sales for the first half of 2016 decreased 0.9% to $2,432 million, compared with $2,455 million in the same period last year. As a result of the Company's accounting calendar, the first half of 2016 contained 185 days, which is 6 more calendar days than last year's first half. However, for the majority of the Company's operations, the first six months only contained 4 more business days, a 3.2% increase over last year's first six months. This increase, along with other volume gains, were more than offset by the negative impact of foreign currency translation, lower selling prices stemming from a year-over-year decline in recovered paper and resin costs, and lower revenue from our packaging center operations.

Net income attributable to Sonoco for the first six months of 2016 decreased 22.6% to $116.2 million, compared to $150.2 million reported for the same period of 2015. Net income for the current six months includes after-tax restructuring and asset impairment charges of $24.1 million and after-tax acquisition charges of $0.9 million. Results for the first six months of 2015 include an after-tax gain from the reversal of Fox River environmental reserves of $19.9 million, an after-tax gain from the sale of two metal end plants of $16.8 million, and a $3.2 million income tax gain resulting from the release of a valuation allowance against tax loss carryforwards in Spain. These prior year gains were partially offset by after-tax charges of $11.6 million related to restructuring actions and $2.6 million of acquisition-related and other expenses, during the first six months of 2015. Adjusted for these items, base net income attributable to Sonoco (base earnings) increased by 13.4% to $141.2 million ($1.38 per diluted share) in the first half of 2016 versus $124.5 million ($1.22 per diluted share) in the same period last year.

Current year-to-date earnings benefitted from strong operating profit improvements in each of the Company's segments compared to the prior-year period. Overall, the current-year period benefited from a positive price/cost relationship, improved manufacturing productivity, lower pension and postretirement benefit costs, and gains from volume/mix, which showed improvement beyond the positive impact of additional business days. Partially offsetting these positive factors were higher labor, maintenance and other operating costs and the negative impact of foreign currency translation due to a stronger U.S. dollar. Current year-to-date earnings reflect a 127 basis point increase in the Company's overall gross profit margin compared to the prior year's first six months, largely due to the favorable price/cost relationship and improved productivity.



33

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

OPERATING REVENUE
Net sales for the first six months of 2016 decreased $23 million from the prior-year period.
The components of the sales change were: 
 
($ in millions)
Volume/mix
$
82

Selling prices
(28
)
Acquisitions and Divestitures
5

Foreign currency translation and other, net
(82
)
 
 
Total sales decrease
$
(23
)
 
 
 
In order to enhance the meaningfulness of reported changes in volume/mix, a $17.8 million reduction in packaging center sales resulting from changes in the level of activity, primarily from the previously reported loss of contract packaging business in Irapuato, Mexico, is classified above as "other" due to the low/inconsistent correlation that typically exists between changes in revenue and operating profit in our packaging center operations.

COSTS AND EXPENSES
A positive price/cost relationship (the relationship of the change in sales prices to the change in costs of materials, energy and freight), which was due to costs decreasing more than selling prices, together with productivity improvements and lower pension expense all benefited gross margin, but were partially offset by higher maintenance, labor, and other costs. The translation impact of a stronger dollar lowered reported cost of goods sold by approximately $47 million compared to the first six months of 2015. The year-to-date gross profit margin percentage improved to 20.0% compared to 18.8% in the prior-year period.
Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") costs increased $33.3 million, or 14.6%, from the prior year reflecting last year's $32.5 million reversal of Fox River environmental reserves. Absent that reversal, SG&A costs would have been flat period-over-period. While 2016 SG&A expense also reflects lower pension and postretirement expense as well as a decrease due to the impact of foreign currency translation, these reductions were mostly offset by wage inflation, higher management incentive costs, and the increase in days.
Restructuring and restructuring-related asset impairment charges for the six months ended July 3, 2016 totaled $32.5 million compared with $10.1 million in the same period last year. Charges in the current year include a loss from the May 23, 2016 sale of the Company's paperboard mill in Schweighouse-sur-Moder, France and asset impairment charges related to the July 5, 2016 sale of the Company's display and packaging business in Juncos, Puerto Rico. Additional charges in the current year are primarily related to the Company's ongoing organizational effectiveness efforts and plant closure costs. Charges in the prior-year period reflect the benefit of a pretax gain of $7.6 million from the sale of two metal ends and closures plants. 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 Form 10-Q.
Net interest expense for the first half of 2016 increased to $27.3 million, compared with $26.8 million during the first half of 2015. The increase was due to the additional days in the current year-to-date accounting period partially offset by lower average year-over-year debt levels.
The effective tax rate on GAAP and base earnings in the the first six months of 2016 was 32.4% and 31.3%, respectively, compared with 25.6% and 31.9%, respectively, for same period last year. The main driver of the year-over-year increase in the GAAP income tax rate is the recognition in the prior year of beneficial tax attributes associated with the 2015 sale of two metal ends and closures plants contrasted with the 2016 sale of the Company's paperboard mill in France at a loss with no tax benefit.




34

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
The following table recaps net sales for the six months of 2016 and 2015 ($ in thousands): 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
 
% Change
Net sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Packaging
 
$
1,038,345

 
$
1,050,991

 
(1.2
)%
Display and Packaging
 
275,141

 
287,389

 
(4.3
)%
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
 
856,416

 
871,187

 
(1.7
)%
Protective Solutions
 
262,054

 
245,075

 
6.9
 %
Consolidated
 
$
2,431,956

 
$
2,454,642

 
(0.9
)%
Consolidated operating profits, also referred to as “Income before interest and income taxes” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, are comprised of the following ($ in thousands): 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
 
% Change
Income before interest and income taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment operating profit
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Packaging
 
$
122,374

 
$
111,558

 
9.7
 %
Display and Packaging
 
8,311

 
1,873

 
343.7
 %
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
 
70,779

 
66,760

 
6.0
 %
Protective Solutions
 
26,246

 
23,289

 
12.7
 %
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges
 
(32,506
)
 
(10,086
)
 
222.3
 %
Other, net
 
(1,248
)
 
29,674

 
 
Consolidated
 
$
193,956

 
$
223,068

 
(13.1
)%
 
The following table recaps restructuring/asset impairment charges attributable to each of the Company’s segments during the six months of 2016 and 2015 ($ in thousands): 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
July 3,
2016
 
June 28,
2015
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges:
 
 
 
 
Consumer Packaging
 
$
6,585

 
$
1,012

Display and Packaging
 
$
5,467

 
$
203

Paper and Industrial Converted Products
 
$
18,521

 
$
6,378

Protective Solutions
 
$
494

 
$
283

Corporate
 
$
1,439

 
$
2,210

Total
 
$
32,506

 
$
10,086

Consumer Packaging
Segment sales decreased 1.2% over the prior year's first six months as lower selling prices, stemming primarily from lower resin and metal costs, and the negative impact of foreign currency translation more than offset volume increases due to the additional business days along with acquisitions. Excluding the estimated benefit of additional business days, overall volume was relatively flat as volume improved in global composite cans and flexible packaging, but declined in rigid plastic containers.




35

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

Segment operating profit increased 9.7% over the prior year's first half and segment operating margins improved to 11.8 percent of sales during the period. Overall, the segment benefited from a positive price/cost relationship, including a favorable change in LIFO inventory reserves driven by declining commodity prices, productivity improvements and lower pension costs. These positive factors were partially offset by higher labor, maintenance and other operating costs, and the negative impact of foreign currency translation.

Display and Packaging
Reported sales for the first six months of 2016 were down 4.3% compared to last year’s first six months due primarily to the negative impact of foreign currency translation and the previously reported loss of contract packaging business in Irapuato, Mexico. These declines were partially offset by higher volumes in both our international packaging fulfillment and Poland packaging center operations as well as the impact of additional business days.
Operating profits increased $6.4 million year to date compared to the prior-year period primarily due to a positive price/cost relationship and productivity gains.
Paper and Industrial Converted Products
Reported segment sales were down 1.7% compared with the prior year's first six months as volume gains, which were driven primarily by the impact of additional business days, were more than offset by the negative impact of foreign currency translation and lower selling prices stemming from reduced recovered fiber costs. Volume/mix, excluding additional business days, showed improvement in our global tube and core operations, while in our paper operations, gains in North America's paperboard businesses were partially offset by lower corrugating medium sales.
Operating profit improved 6.0% on solid productivity gains, lower pension expense and the benefit from additional days in the quarter, despite a nearly $12 million year-over-year reduction in corrugating medium results, inflation in labor and other operating expenses and the negative impact of foreign currency translation. The decline in corrugating medium results reflects reduced volume, which also had a negative impact on productivity, together with lower selling prices.
Protective Solutions
Segment sales for the six months were up 6.9% year over year on strong volume beyond the impact of additional business days, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign currency translation and lower selling prices.
Operating profits increased 12.7% as volume gains, including the impact of additional days, and a positive price/cost relationship were only partially offset by higher labor, maintenance and other operating costs and the negative impact of foreign currency translation.

OTHER ITEMS
As previously disclosed, the Company had been pursuing the sale or closure of its paperboard mill in Schweighouse-sur-Moder, France, since October 2015 at an expected loss ranging from $12 to $15 million. On May 23, 2016, the sale was successfully completed resulting in the recognition of a $12.7 million loss. This loss is included in "Restructuring/Asset impairment charges" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three- and six-month periods ended July 3, 2016.
The Company continually assesses its operational footprint as well as its overall portfolio of businesses and may consider the disposition of plants and/or business units it considers to be suboptimal or nonstrategic. Should these efforts result in the future sale of any plants or business units, management expects to first seek to utilize the proceeds to invest in growth projects or strategic acquisitions.








36

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY


Financial Position, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash flows provided by operations totaled $186.0 million in the first six months of 2016 compared with $173.1 million during the same period last year, an increase of $13.0 million. Although there was a year-over-year decrease in net income of $33.4 million, the decrease was due in part to losses on disposition of assets which were $18.5 million higher than in the prior-year period. Losses in the current year related to the dispositions of a paperboard mill in France and a retail security packaging operation in Puerto Rico, whereas the prior year included a pretax gain of $7.2 million from the sale of two metal ends and closures plants. In addition, 2015 earnings include a non-cash tax benefit of $9.2 million on the sale of these plants and a non-cash $32.5 million pretax, $19.9 million after tax, benefit from the reversal of Fox River environmental reserves. Higher year-over-year contributions to the Company's pension and postretirement plans, combined with lower non-cash pension and postretirement plan expense, decreased operating cash flow by a total of $16.3 million in the first six months of 2016 from the same period last year. Trade accounts receivable increased in both the current and prior year six-month periods, reflecting higher levels of business activity from their respective prior year ends; however, the magnitude of the increase was not as great in 2016, resulting in the year-over-year use of cash being $7.3 million lower in 2016. Changes in inventories used $16.0 million of cash in the first six months of 2016 compared to using $18.0 million in the first six months of 2015. Inventory levels typically increase during the first six months of the year following a normal seasonal slowdown at year end. Inventory levels at the end of 2015 were lower than at the end of 2014 as a result of a more significant seasonal slowdown in 2015. As such, the subsequent increase in inventories to normal levels resulted in a lower use of cash of $2.0 million during the first six months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.
Trade accounts payable used $7.7 million of cash in the first six months of 2016 compared with providing $14.9 million in the first six months of 2015. This difference reflects run rate increases from the respective prior-year-end levels that were much less significant in 2016 than in 2015, as well as higher than normal account payable levels at December 31, 2015 due to inventory pre-buys and timing of payments. Accrued expenses used $7.9 million of cash in the first six months of 2016 compared with providing $5.9 million in the same period last year. The increased use of cash of $13.9 million is primarily due to the timing of payments for restructuring, payroll, and payroll-related taxes and withholdings. Changes in deferred taxes as well as other income tax related items benefitted the comparison of year-over-year operating cash flows by $24.9 million. This benefit was driven in large part by a 2015 change in the expected timing of deductions that impacted income taxes payable for the 2014 tax year, which in turn affected 2015 estimated tax payments. Changes in other assets and liabilities provided $7.9 million of additional cash in 2016 compared to 2015, driven by receipts of cash related to rebates, value added taxes, and customer reimbursable costs in 2016, which were higher than 2015.
Cash used in investing activities was $104.3 million in the first six months of 2016, compared with $74.2 million in the same period last year. The $30.1 million increase in the net use of cash is due in part to a $12.1 million increase in year-over-year spending for property, plant, and equipment due largely to increased capital investment in the Company's rigid paper operations in Europe. Proceeds from the sale of assets were $27.4 million lower year over year as the first six months of 2015 included $29.1 million of cash proceeds from the sale of two metal ends and closures plants. In 2016, the Company divested cash of approximately $8.4 million in connection with the sale of a paperboard mill in France. The change in "investment in affiliates and other, net" is primarily due to the purchase of long-term investment properties in Venezuela in 2015 using locally available cash. Capital spending for the remainder of 2016 is expected to total approximately $100 million.
Cash used by financing activities totaled $155.5 million in the first six months of 2016, compared with $54.8 million in the same period last year, an increased use of cash of $100.7 million. Outstanding debt was $1.08 billion at July 3, 2016 compared with $1.13 billion at December 31, 2015. These balances reflect net repayments of $47.9 million during the first six months of 2016, compared with net borrowings of $16.7 million during the same period last year. The higher net repayments reflect $75.3 million used to settle the Company's 5.625% debentures, which matured on June 15, 2016, partially offset by $14.0 million of proceeds from borrowing under the Company's commercial paper program. The Company paid cash dividends of $72.7 million during the first six months of 2016, an increased use of cash of $5.3 million over the same period last year. Net proceeds from the exercise of stock awards were $0.6 million in the six months ended July 3, 2016, compared with $1.3 million in the same period last year, a decrease of $0.7 million. The company also used $37.9 million of cash to repurchase approximately 825 thousand shares of outstanding stock under a $100 million repurchase program announced in December 2015. The Company expects to spend an additional $62 million on share repurchases during the remainder of 2016.

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

The Company operates a $350 million commercial paper program, supported by a bank credit facility of the same amount. The revolving bank credit facility is committed through October 2019. There was $14 million and $0 in commercial paper outstanding at July 3, 2016 and December 31, 2015 respectively. Effective May 25, 2016, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Sonoco Deutschland Holdings GmbH entered into a Euro 150 million (approximately $168 million) unsecured five-year fixed-rate assignable loan agreement guaranteed by the Company. Proceeds were used primarily to refinance existing obligations, including an outstanding $150 million term loan.
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $107.7 million and $182.4 million at July 3, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. Of these totals, $87.0 million and $96.3 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. Under current law, cash repatriated to the United States is subject to federal income taxes, less applicable foreign tax credits. As the Company has domestic liquidity through a combination of operating cash flow generation and access to bank and capital markets borrowings, it has generally considered its offshore cash balances to be indefinitely invested outside the United States and it currently has no plans to repatriate cash balances. Accordingly, as of July 3, 2016, the Company is not providing for U.S. tax liability on these amounts for financial reporting purposes. However, if any such balances were to be repatriated, additional U.S. federal income tax payments could result. Computation of the potential deferred tax liability associated with unremitted earnings deemed to be indefinitely reinvested is not practicable.
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 cash deposit or borrowing positions 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 subsidiaries favorable interest terms on both. During the six months ended July 3, 2016, the Company recognized a net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $0.9 million due to exchange rates as the unfavorable impact of the weakening U.S. dollar on euro-denominated borrowings under this pooling arrangement was only partially offset by the favorable impact of the weakening U.S. dollar on other foreign-denominated cash balances, most notably the Brazilian real and the Canadian dollar.
Certain of the Company’s debt agreements impose restrictions with respect to the maintenance of financial ratios and the disposition of assets. The most restrictive covenant currently requires the Company to maintain a minimum level of interest coverage, and a minimum level of net worth, as defined in the agreements. As of July 3, 2016, 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 $10 million during the remainder of 2016, which would result in total 2016 contributions of approximately $46 million. Future funding requirements beyond the current year will vary depending largely on actual investment returns, future actuarial assumptions, 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 on a recurring basis at fair value include derivative contracts and pension and deferred compensation related assets. The valuation of the vast majority of these items is based either on quoted prices in active and accessible markets or on other observable inputs.

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 facilities are spread throughout the world, and the Company generally sells in the same countries where it produces. 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 and cultural risks, but the risks are mitigated by diversification and the relative stability of the countries in which the Company has significant operations.
In January 2003, the Venezuelan government suspended the free exchange of bolivars (BsF) for foreign currency and, since January 1, 2010, the Company has considered Venezuela to be a hyperinflationary economy and has accounted for its operations accordingly. Prior to July 1, 2015, the Company used Venezuela's official exchange rate to report the

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

results of its operations in Venezuela. Effective July 1, 2015, the Company began translating its Venezuelan operations using an alternative exchange rate. Accordingly, subsequent to this change, Venezuela operating results and all monetary assets and liabilities in Venezuela are reflected in the consolidated financial statements using DICOM-based rates. The DICOM rate at the end of June 2016 was 628 bolivars to the dollar compared to the official rate of 10 to 1. At July 3, 2016, the carrying value of the Company's net investment in its Venezuela operations was approximately $2.3 million.
At July 3, 2016, 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 a favorable position of $1.0 million at July 3, 2016, and an unfavorable position of $(3.6) million at December 31, 2015. Natural gas, aluminum, and OCC hedge contracts covering an equivalent of 8.3 MMBTUs, 2,228 metric tons, and 1,320 short tons, respectively, were outstanding at July 3, 2016. 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 unfavorable position of $(1.4) million at July 3, 2016, compared with a net unfavorable position of $(4.6) million at December 31, 2015. These contracts qualify as cash flow hedges and mature within twelve months of their respective reporting dates.
In addition, at July 3, 2016, the Company had various currency contracts outstanding to fix the exchange rate on certain foreign currency assets and liabilities. Although placed as an economic hedge, the Company does not apply hedge accounting to these contracts. The fair value of these currency contracts was a net unfavorable position of $(0.9) million at July 3, 2016 and $(2.2) million at December 31, 2015.
At July 3, 2016, the U.S. dollar had weakened against most of the functional currencies of the Company's foreign operations compared to December 31, 2015, resulting in a translation gain of $13.4 million being recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss during the six months ended July 3, 2016.
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.















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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, 2015, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016. 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 July 3, 2016, 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
As described in the “Remediation” section below, there were changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended July 3, 2016 that materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Remediation
As previously described in Part II, Item 9A of the 2015 Form 10-K, filed on February 29, 2016, and in Part I, Item 4 of the first quarter 2016 Form 10-Q, filed on May 6, 2016, the Company implemented a redesigned division-level balance sheet review process for its domestic operations to address the material weakness referred to in the reports described above, but the control had not yet operated for a sufficient period of time through the first quarter of 2016. Based upon the appropriate design as well as the testing and evaluation of the effectiveness of the control, our management has concluded that as of July 3, 2016, the previously identified material weakness has been remediated.

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings.
Information with respect to legal proceedings and other exposures appears in Part I - Item 3 - “Legal Proceedings” and Part II - Item 8 - “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” (Note 14 - “Commitments and Contingencies”) in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and in Part I - Item 1 - “Financial Statements” (Note 13 - “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 July 3, 2016, cannot be determined. As of July 3, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had accrued $24.5 million and $25.2 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.

Fox River settlement and remaining claim
In March 2014, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, U. S. Paper Mills Corp. (U.S. Mills) reached a conditional agreement with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to settle claims made by those agencies against U. S. Mills regarding the environmental cleanup of the lower Fox River in Wisconsin and related natural resource damages. U.S. Mills’ portion of the settlement was $14.7 million and was paid in April 2014. The settlement was subject to approval by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, (District Court). The District Court approved the settlement on February 6, 2015 and the time for appeal of the court’s order expired on April 7, 2015, with no appeal having been taken. The settlement protects U.S. Mills from claims by other parties relating to natural resource damages and the cleanup of the lower Fox River, except claims pursuant to Section 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).
The finalization of the settlement leaves intact a claim by Appvion, Inc., under Section 107 of CERCLA against eight defendants, including U.S. Mills, to recover response costs allegedly incurred by Appvion consistent with the national contingency plan for responding to release or threatened release of hazardous substances into the lower Fox River. Appvion’s claim is made in Civil Action No. 8-CV-16-WCG pending in the District Court. The claim is asserted for approximately $200 million. Although the Company believes that the maximum amount for which the defendants could be liable is substantially less, the court has not yet ruled on the issue. The case is presently set for trial in 2017. U.S. Mills plans to continue to defend its interests in the Appvion lawsuit vigorously. The Company also believes that all of its exposure to any liability for the Fox River is contained within its wholly owned subsidiary, U.S. Mills.
At December 31, 2015, the Company had reserves totaling $3.9 million for the Section 107 claim that remains in litigation. Through July 3, 2016, approximately $0.6 million has been spent on legal fees related to this claim, leaving a total of $3.3 million reserved as of July 3, 2016.

Village of Rockton
The previously disclosed actions instituted by the Village of Rockton against the Company on September 15, 2014, were dismissed with prejudice by stipulation of the parties on April 19, 2016, with no impact to the Company’s financial statements.

Other legal matters
Additional information regarding legal proceedings is provided in Note 13 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. 

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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 Purchased1
 
(b) Average Price
Paid per Share
 
(c) Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs2
 
(d) Maximum
Number of Shares
that May Yet be
Purchased under the
Plans or Programs2
4/04/16 - 5/08/16
 
112,806

 
$
47.27

 
105,000

 
4,541,278

5/09/16 - 6/05/16
 
201,193

 
$
46.95

 
199,500

 
4,341,778

6/05/16 - 7/03/16
 
179,561

 
$
46.86

 
176,996

 
4,164,782

Total
 
493,560

 
$
46.99

 
481,496

 
4,164,782

 
1
A total of 12,064 common shares were repurchased in the second quarter of 2016 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 353,722 shares were repurchased under this authorization during the first quarter of 2016 and an additional 481,496 shares were repurchased during the second quarter of 2016. Accordingly, a total of 4,164,782 shares remain available for repurchase at July 3, 2016. As previously announced, the Company expects to utilize up to $100 million to repurchase shares during 2016.

 
Item 6.
Exhibits.
10.
Unsecured Five-Year Fixed Rate Assignable Loan Agreement, dated May 23, 2016
 
 
15.
Letter re: unaudited interim financial information
 
 
31.
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and 17 C.F.R. 240.13a-14(a)
 
 
32.
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and 17 C.F.R. 240.13a-14(b)
 
 
101.
The following materials from Sonoco Products Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 3, 2016, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at July 3, 2016 and December 31, 2015, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015, and (v) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 

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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.
 
 
 
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
Date: August 3, 2016
By:
 
/s/ Barry L. Saunders
 
 
Barry L. Saunders
 
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)
 

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
10

 
Unsecured Five-Year Fixed Rate Assignable Loan Agreement, dated May 23, 2016
 
 
 
15

 
Letter re: unaudited interim financial information
 
 
 
31

 
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and 17 C.F.R. 240.13a-14(a)
 
 
 
32

 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and 17 C.F.R. 240.13a-14(b)
 
 
 
101

 
The following materials from Sonoco Products Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 3, 2016, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at July 3, 2016 and December 31, 2015, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended July 3, 2016 and June 28, 2015, and (v) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

44