(Source: Business Wire)

Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE:SEE) reported third quarter 2009 earnings
per share of $0.34, compared with earnings per share of $0.05 in 2008.
Excluding the items detailed in the table below, third quarter 2009
earnings per share would have been $0.38, compared with 2008 earnings
per share of $0.28.
Reconciliation of Diluted Net Earnings per Common Share Three Months EndedSeptember 30, Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
U.S. GAAP diluted net earnings per common share $ 0.34 $ 0.05 $ 0.99 $ 0.73
Net earnings effect resulting from the following(1):
Global manufacturing strategy and restructuring and other charges 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.04
Impairment of available-for-sale securities 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.04
Loss on debt redemption 0.01 - 0.01
Cost reduction and productivity program restructuring charge - 0.22 - 0.21
Reversal of tax accruals, net, and related interest - (0.01 ) - (0.01 )
Adjusted diluted net earnings per common share $ 0.38 $ 0.28 $ 1.04 $ 1.01
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((1)) The items included in the table above are net of income taxes where applicable.
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Commenting on the Company's operating performance, William V. Hickey,
President and Chief Executive Officer, stated:
"Our results for the third quarter reflect the actions we have taken to
manage through the challenging economy. We are executing our plan well,
we are continuing to tightly control expenses, and are effectively
managing price/cost/mix variances. The result was a 390 basis point
improvement in adjusted operating margin to 12.3%, and a 36% increase in
adjusted earnings per share to $0.38. Sequentially, on a constant dollar
basis, we saw a 6% increase in sales in Protective Packaging and stable
sales in our two food businesses. We remain focused on customers and on
driving innovation as evidenced by Protective Packaging's recent
introduction of five new products in early October.
Cash generation continues to be strong, with an incremental $111 million
in the quarter resulting in $339 million in positive free cash flow year
to date. With all the steps we have taken over the past year, we are
well positioned for the current economic environment and we expect to
see meaningful benefits when markets improve."
Third Quarter Financial Highlights
Net sales decreased 11% to $1.08 billion from $1.22 billion in 2008.
Excluding the unfavorable effect of currency translation, sales
decreased 5%. The decline reflected a 4% reduction in unit volumes
principally in the industrials businesses and a 1% unfavorable effect
of product price/mix.
Cost of sales decreased $157 million, or $104 million excluding a
favorable effect of currency translation. This decrease resulted
primarily from approximately $60 million in lower average
petrochemical-based raw material costs and the impact of lower unit
volumes. Benefits from the Global Manufacturing Strategy (GMS) and the
2008 cost reduction and productivity program also contributed to the
lower cost of sales.
Operating profit was $130 million, or 12.1% of net sales. This
compares with $39 million, or 3.2% of net sales, for the third quarter
of 2008. Excluding charges related to GMS and the cost reduction and
productivity program, operating profit would have been $133 million,
or 12.3% of net sales, as compared with $103 million, or 8.4% of net
sales in 2008.
Benefits from GMS, the cost reduction and productivity program and
travel and expense savings were approximately $20 million in the
quarter.
The effective income tax rate decreased to 23.6% from 26.1% in the
second quarter of 2009, primarily reflecting the benefits of tax
credits identified in the third quarter.
Free cash flow was a source of $339 million year to date compared to
$75 million last year. This increase was attributable in part to a
$173 million net increase in cash from working capital items,
including the use of our accounts receivable securitization program,
and an $82 million decline in capital expenditures. (See the
supplementary information provided regarding free cash flow, a
non-U.S. GAAP measure.)
Third Quarter Business Segment Review
The following net sales discussions exclude the impact of currency
translation, which we refer to as "constant dollar net sales". The
attached financial statements present results in accordance with U.S.
GAAP and the Components of Change in Net Sales section provides further
details on the impact of currency translation.
Food Packaging Segment
Food Packaging recorded a constant dollar 4% increase in net sales,
which primarily reflected a favorable comparison in higher unit volumes
in North America due to the impact of pre-buying by customers in the
second quarter of 2008 in advance of our enterprise software launch on
July 1, 2008. After adjusting 2008 for this estimated buy-in, 2009 sales
would still have improved compared to last year.
Operating profit increased 72% to $64 million in the quarter, or 13.7%
of Food Packaging net sales. This compares with $37 million, or 7.7% of
net sales, in 2008. Last year's margin reflected lower volumes and
record high resin costs.
Food Solutions Segment
Food Solutions recorded a constant dollar 4% decrease in net sales,
which primarily reflected lower unit volumes in Europe due to reduced
meat consumption attributable to economic conditions.
Operating profit increased 25% to $21 million in the quarter, or 9.3% of
Food Solutions net sales. This compares with $17 million, or 6.7% of net
sales, in 2008. The increase in operating profit was primarily due to
lower average petrochemical-based raw material costs.
Protective Packaging Segment
Protective Packaging recorded a constant dollar 15% decrease in net
sales, which was primarily due to lower unit volumes in North America
and Europe, reflecting continuing weakness in economic conditions in
those regions and continues to be generally in line with production and
shipping trends.
Operating profit increased 5% to $41 million in the quarter, or 13.5% of
Protective Packaging net sales. This compares with $40 million, or 10.5%
of net sales, in 2008. The increase in operating profit was primarily
due to lower average petrochemical-based raw material costs.
Other Category
Other category recorded a constant dollar 20% decrease in net sales,
which was primarily due to lower unit volumes in North America in the
Specialty Materials business, reflecting ongoing weak economic
conditions in that region.
Operating profit decreased 29% to $5 million in the quarter, or 5.9% of
Other net sales. This compares with $7 million, or 6.5% of net sales in
2008. The decrease in operating profit was primarily due to the decline
in volumes, partially offset by product price/mix and lower average
petrochemical-based raw material costs.
2009 Outlook and Earnings Guidance
Commenting on the Company's outlook, Mr. Hickey stated:
"For the fourth quarter, we expect to continue to realize the benefits
from our various programs, to remain disciplined on operating expenses,
and to experience only a modest increase in raw material prices.
However, we do remain cautious on fourth quarter sequential sales growth
due to the uncertainty in consumer confidence and discretionary
spending, particularly during the upcoming holiday shopping season."
As a result, our full year 2009 earnings per share guidance is now
expected to be in the range of $1.27 to $1.35 as compared toour
previous guidance of $1.17 to $1.37. This includes full year charges of
$20 million net of taxes, or $0.08 per share, for GMS related projects
and $4 million net of taxes, or $0.02 per share, related to the loss on
debt redemption and impairment of available-for-sale securities recorded
in the third quarter. Excluding these items, our full year 2009 earnings
per share guidance is now expected to be in the range of $1.37 to $1.45
as compared to our previous guidance of $1.25 to $1.45.
Updated assumptions include a full year effective income tax rate of
approximately 26.0%, reduced from 27.7% and capital expenditures of
approximately $80 to $100 million, reduced from $100 to $125 million.
Web Site and Conference Call
Information
Mr. Hickey and David H. Kelsey, the Company's Chief Financial Officer,
will conduct an investor conference call today at 11:00 a.m. (ET). The
conference call will be webcast live on Sealed Air's web site at www.sealedair.com
in the Investor Information section under the Presentations & Events
tab. Listeners should go to the web site prior to the call to
pre-register and to download and install any necessary audio software.
Prior to the call, the Company will also post supplemental financial and
statistical information, as well as other supplemental information
including the reconciliations of certain non-GAAP measures on its web
site in the Investor Information section under the Quarterly Results
tab. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the Company's web
site.
Investors who cannot access the webcast may listen to the conference
call live via telephone by dialing (888) 713-4218 (domestic) or (617)
213-4870 (international) and use participant code 88854178. Telephonic
replay will be available beginning today at 2:00 p.m. (ET) and ending on
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. (ET). To listen to the replay,
please dial (888) 286-8010 (domestic) or (617) 801-6888 (international)
and use the confirmation code 43378489.
Business
Sealed Air is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of a wide
range of packaging and performance-based materials and equipment systems
that serve an array of food, industrial, medical, and consumer
applications. Operating in 52 countries, Sealed Air's international
reach generated revenue of $4.8 billion in 2008. With widely recognized
brands such as Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning, Jiffy®
protective mailers, Instapak® foam-in-place systems and
Cryovac® packaging technology, Sealed Air continues to
identify new trends, foster new markets, and deliver innovative
solutions to its customers. For more information about Sealed Air,
please visit the Company's web site at www.sealedair.com.
Non-U.S. GAAP Information
In this press release, Sealed Air has presented financial measures that
exclude items that are included in U.S. GAAP calculations of such
measures. This release sets forth earnings per share excluding charges
related to GMS and restructuring and other charges, a loss on debt
redemption, the reversal of tax accruals and charges related to the
impairment of the Company's auction rate securities investments. The
Company's adjusted 2009 earnings guidance also excludes certain of these
charges. Operating profit and operating margin are presented excluding
GMS and restructuring and other charges. This release also sets forth
measures of net sales, cost of sales, and operating profit excluding
currency translation effects. Presenting results and guidance excluding
the items indicated in this press release aids in the comparisons with
other periods or prior guidance. Earnings per share, changes in net
sales, measures of expense control, and operating profit, adjusted to
eliminate the effects of specified items that would otherwise be
included under U.S. GAAP, are among the criteria upon which the Company
may determine performance-based compensation. The Company's management
generally uses changes in net sales, cost of sales and operating profit,
excluding the effects of currency translation, in measuring the
performance of the Company's operations. Thus, management believes that
this information may be useful to investors. Also, see the supplementary
information provided regarding free cash flow, a non-U.S. GAAP measure.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the Company's statements in this press release are
forward-looking. These statements include comments as to future events
that may affect the Company, which are based upon management's current
expectations and are subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside
the Company's control. Forward-looking statements can be identified by
such words as "anticipates," "expects," "may," "plans," "should," "will"
and similar expressions. Important factors that the Company believes
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
Company's forward-looking statements include: general economic
conditions, particularly as they affect packaging utilization; changes
in raw material and energy costs; currency translation effects; and
legal proceedings.