Sonoco Completes Strategic Review, Announces Agreement to Sell Thermoformed and Flexibles Packaging (TFP) Business to TOPPAN Holdings Inc.
December 18 2024 - 4:00PM
Sonoco Products Company (“Sonoco” or the “Company”) (NYSE: SON), a
global leader in high-value sustainable packaging, today announced
it has entered into an agreement to sell its Thermoformed and
Flexibles Packaging business (“TFP”) to TOPPAN Holdings Inc.
(“Toppan”) for approximately $1.8 billion on a cash-free and
debt-free basis and subject to customary adjustments (the
“Transaction”).
The Transaction, which reflects the completion of
the previously announced strategic review of Sonoco’s TFP business,
is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory
approvals, and is expected to close in the first half of 2025. Net
proceeds from the transaction are expected to be used to repay
existing debt.
“The decision to sell our TFP business accelerates
our portfolio simplification strategy, streamlines our
organizational structure, and enables more focused capital
investments in our remaining industrial paper and consumer
packaging businesses,” said Howard Coker, Sonoco’s President and
Chief Executive Officer. “TFP is a great business with leadership
positions in its served markets. We greatly value TFP’s tenured
history as part of the Sonoco family, and I am personally proud of
their long-standing commitment to serve our customers with both
innovative and high quality packaging products. We will work
closely with Toppan to ensure a successful transition for our
employees, customers, and suppliers and wish the entire team all
the best in the future.”
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as lead
financial advisor to Sonoco. RBC Capital Markets, LLC is also
acting as financial advisor to Sonoco. Freshfields LLP is acting as
Sonoco’s legal advisor. Houlihan Lokey is acting as lead financial
advisor to Toppan. Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co.,
Ltd. is also acting as financial advisor to Toppan. Morrison &
Foerster LLP is acting as Toppan’s legal advisor.
About Sonoco:With net sales of
approximately $6.8 billion in 2023, Sonoco has approximately 22,000
employees working in more than 300 operations around the world,
serving some of the world’s best-known brands. With our corporate
purpose of Better Packaging. Better Life., Sonoco is committed to
creating sustainable products and a better world for our customers,
employees, and communities. Sonoco was named one of America’s Most
Responsible Companies by Newsweek. For more information on the
Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this communication are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as
“accelerate,” “committed,” “enable,” “ensure,” “expect,” “future,”
“will,” or the negative thereof, and similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements in this communication
include, but are not limited to, the Company’s pending Transaction
and the anticipated timing thereof; the anticipated effects of the
divestiture on the Company’s portfolio simplification strategy,
streamlining of the Company’s organizational structure, and capital
investments in the Company’s remaining businesses; and the
Company’s expected use of the net proceeds of the divestiture.
These forward-looking statements are made based on
current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company’s
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 the Company’s 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. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things,
risks related to the pending Transaction, including that such
Transaction will not be completed on the timing or terms the
Company anticipates, or at all; the ability to receive regulatory
approvals for the Transaction in a timely manner, on acceptable
terms or at all, or to satisfy the other closing conditions to the
Transaction; the Company’s ability to realize anticipated benefits
of the Transaction, or that such benefits may take longer to
realize than expected; diversion of management’s attention; the
potential impact of the announcement or consummation of the
Transaction on relationships with employees, clients and other
third parties; the Company’s ability to execute on its strategy,
including with respect to portfolio simplification, organizational
streamlining, and capital investments, and achieve the benefits it
expects therefrom; and the other risks, uncertainties and
assumptions discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including its most recent reports on Forms
10-K and 10-Q, particularly under the heading “Risk Factors”.
Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the
forward-looking events discussed herein might not occur.
Contact Information
Investors Lisa WeeksVice President
of Investor Relations & Communicationslisa.weeks@sonoco.com
843-383-7524
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