Business News

Crown Holdings Reports Second Quarter 2008 Results

Thursday 17. July 2008 - Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCK) today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2008.

Second Quarter Highlights

— Net Sales grew 10.4% to $2,196 million
— Gross Profit improved 23.1% to $352 million
— Segment income rose 28.0% to $247 million
— Earnings per diluted share increased 13.0% to $0.61

Commenting on the results, John W. Conway, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Our overall performance in the quarter was excellent. In Europe, beverage can volumes rose 9% over last year’s second quarter, driven by a 25% increase in our fast growing Middle East markets. Our beverage can volumes in Asia grew 8% reflecting the addition of our new manufacturing plant in Cambodia and the second production line in our Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam facility. Volumes in our European Food Can business were up 4% reflecting more favorable weather conditions compared to 2007. Our North American plants benefited from improved mix to maintain segment income that is comparable to last year’s second quarter. Equally important, our operating efficiencies and productivity continued to improve worldwide driven by increased capacity utilization to meet demand and by the dedication of our associates. With two strong quarters behind us and our current view of the balance of the year, 2008 is shaping up to be outstanding for the Company.”

Second Quarter Results

Net sales in the second quarter rose to $2,196 million, up 10.4% over the $1,990 million in the second quarter of 2007. The increase was primarily due to $139 million from foreign currency translation, the pass-through of higher raw material costs in the form of higher selling prices and sales unit volume growth in beverage and food cans. Approximately 74% of net sales were generated outside the U.S. in the second quarter of 2008 compared to 71% in the second quarter of 2007.

Gross profit in the second quarter grew 23.1% to $352 million over the $286 million in the 2007 second quarter. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit expanded 160 basis points to 16.0% in the second quarter from 14.4% in the second quarter last year. Growth in beverage and food can sales unit volumes, ongoing efficiency improvements and $22 million from foreign currency translation primarily drove the improvement.

Selling and administrative expense in the second quarter was $105 million compared to $93 million in last year’s second quarter. The increase primarily reflects foreign currency translation of $7 million.

Segment income (a non-GAAP measure defined by the Company as gross profit less selling and administrative expense) grew to $247 million in the second quarter, up 28.0% over the $193 million in the 2007 second quarter. Foreign currency translation increased segment income by $15 million in the second quarter of 2008 compared to the same period last year. Segment income as a percentage of net sales expanded by 150 basis points to 11.2% in the second quarter compared to 9.7% in the second quarter last year.

“During the quarter we announced the construction of a new beverage can plant on our existing food can manufacturing site in Casablanca, Morocco that is expected to be operational late next year. At the same time, the Company and its licensees also reached a significant milestone relating to sustainability and resource minimization efforts by selling the 150 billionth patented, lightweight SuperEnd(R) beverage can end which since 2001 has saved thousands of tons of aluminum, coatings and greenhouse gases,” Mr. Conway noted.

“We are also quite proud that the creativity of our design experts and our leading technologies were recognized in the quarter. Crown received seven prestigious Starpack Awards from The Institute of Packaging for distinctive design, shaping and convenience technologies created to drive marketing goals for products as diverse as pet food, coffee, biscuits, garden shears, lubricants and protectants,” Mr. Conway added.

During the second quarter of 2008, the Company recorded a pre-tax gain on sale of assets of $2 million and a pre-tax charge of $1 million for restructuring actions. There was no net after-tax impact on earnings per diluted share as the net after-tax amount of these items was negligible.

Interest expense in the second quarter was $79 million compared to $77 million in the second quarter of 2007. The increase reflects $5 million of foreign currency translation partially offset by lower average debt outstanding.

The provision for income taxes in the second quarter of 2008 was $42 million, an effective tax rate of 24.9% compared to $22 million, or a 16.7% effective rate, in the same 2007 period. The increase in the effective tax rate is primarily due to the release of U.S. deferred tax valuation allowances in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Net income in the second quarter improved 8.8% to $99 million compared to $91 million in the second quarter of 2007. Earnings per diluted share in the second quarter grew 13% to $0.61 over the $0.54 in the 2007 second quarter.

Included within net income in the 2007 second quarter, the Company recorded a net gain of $4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, reflecting a net gain of $8 million related to gain on sale of assets offset by a net loss of $4 million related to restructuring actions.

Six Month Results

For the first six months of 2008, net sales grew 9.6% to $4.1 billion over the $3.7 billion in the first six months of 2007. The increase reflects foreign currency translation of $258 million, the pass-through of higher raw material costs in the form of higher selling prices and sales unit volume growth in beverage cans.

Gross profit for the six month period improved 21.4% to $608 million, or 15.0% of net sales, compared to $501 million, or 13.5% of net sales in the first six months of 2007. The improvement was driven by beverage can sales unit volume growth, increased operating efficiencies and foreign currency translation of $37 million.

Selling and administrative expense for the six month period ended June 30, 2008 was $207 million compared to $188 million for the same 2007 period and reflects $13 million of foreign currency translation.

Segment income in the first half of 2008 grew 28.1% to $401 million over the $313 million in the first six months of 2007. Foreign currency translation increased segment income by $24 million in the first six months of 2008 compared to 2007. Segment income as a percentage of net sales improved to 9.9% in the first six months of 2008 compared to 8.5% for the same period last year.

For the first six months of 2008, interest expense was $156 million compared to $153 million for the same period last year. The increase reflects foreign currency translation of $9 million partially offset by the impact of lower average debt outstanding.

The provision for income taxes for the six month period ended June 30, 2008 was $68 million compared to $40 million in the first half of 2007. For the first half of 2008, the effective tax rate increased to 28.0% from 22.2% in 2007 due to the release of the U.S. deferred tax valuation allowance in 2007.

Net income for the first six months of 2008 increased 15.6% to $126 million, compared to net income of $109 million, for the same period in 2007. Earnings per diluted share for the first six months of 2008 rose 18.5% to $0.77 compared to $0.65 in the first half of last year. For the six month period ended June 30, 2008, there were 3,896,097 (2.3%) fewer weighted average diluted common shares outstanding than in the same 2007 period.

During the first half of 2008 the Company recorded a net charge of $2 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, for restructuring, gain on sale of assets and loss from early extinguishments of debt. During the first six months of 2007, the Company recorded a net gain of $4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, reflecting a net gain of $8 million related to gain on sale of assets offset by a net loss of $4 million related to restructuring actions.

Debt and cash amounts were:


June 30, December 31, June 30, December 31,
2008 2007 2007 2006

Total debt $3,799 $3,437 $3,701 $3,541
Cash 311 457 304 407
Net debt $3,488 $2,980 $3,397 $3,134

Receivables
securitization $279 $272 $262 $240


Non-GAAP Measures


Segment income, free cash flow and net debt are not defined terms under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP measures). Non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, cash flow or total debt data prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to calculations of similarly titled measures by other companies.

The Company views segment income and free cash flow as the principal measures of performance of its operations and for the allocation of resources. The Company believes net debt is a useful measure of the Company’s debt levels. Segment income, free cash flow and net debt are derived from the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Cash Flows and Consolidated Balance Sheets, respectively, and reconciliations to segment income, free cash flow and net debt can be found within this release.