Crown Holdings Reports Second Quarter 2007 Results

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Gross Profit Improves By More Than 15%

PHILADELPHIA, July 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2007.

Second Quarter Results

Net sales in the second quarter rose to $1,990 million, up 11.7% over the $1,781 million in the second quarter of 2006. The increase was primarily the result of higher sales unit volumes across most product lines and geographies, the pass-through of higher raw material costs and favorable foreign currency translation. Approximately 71% of sales were generated outside the U.S. in both the second quarter of 2007 and 2006.

Second quarter gross profit grew 15.5% to $283 million over the $245 million in the 2006 second quarter. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit expanded to 14.2% in the second quarter from 13.8% in the second quarter last year. Stronger sales unit volumes, increased operating efficiencies and productivity gains drove the improvements.

Selling and administrative expense in the second quarter was $93 million compared to $74 million in last year's second quarter. The increase is attributable to a higher accrual for incentive compensation costs, foreign currency translation and general inflationary increases.

Segment income (a non-GAAP measure defined by the Company as gross profit less selling and administrative expense) grew to $190 million in the second quarter, up 11.1% over the $171 million in the 2006 second quarter. Segment income as a percentage of net sales was 9.5% in the second quarter compared to 9.6% in the second quarter last year.

Commenting on the results, John W. Conway, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The Company continued to build momentum in the second quarter through a combination of positive factors. In our Americas Beverage business, volumes and margins are returning to their 2005 levels due to sales unit recovery in North America, strong Latin American results and an increase in specialty cans in our overall sales mix. Equally important, margin recovery in our European Beverage business is on plan. At the same time, our North America Food business continues to improve. The Company remains on plan to generate strong free cash flow in 2007, which will be available to pay down debt and repurchase shares. Looking ahead, our new beverage can plant in Cambodia will begin operating in the third quarter. This will further expand and diversify our world class manufacturing portfolio with entry into another fast growing emerging market."

Interest expense in the second quarter was $77 million compared to $70 million in the second quarter of 2006. The increase reflects the impact of higher average short-term borrowing rates and foreign currency translation.

Net income from continuing operations in the second quarter was $88 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, compared to $74 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2006.

Included within net income from continuing operations, 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. In last year's second quarter, the Company reported a net gain of $2 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, related to financial foreign exchange gains offset by restructuring charges.

Six Month Results

For the first six months of 2007, net sales grew 12.0% to $3.7 billion over the $3.3 billion in the first six months of 2006. The increase reflects higher sales unit volumes, the pass-through of higher raw material costs and foreign currency translation.

Gross profit for the six month period improved 15.1% to $496 million, or 13.4% of net sales, compared to $431 million, or 13.0% of net sales in the first six months of 2006. The increase was driven by stronger sales unit volumes and increased operating efficiencies and productivity throughout the Company.

Segment income in the first half of 2007 increased 11.6% to $308 million over the $276 million in the first six months of 2006. Segment income as a percentage of net sales was 8.3% in the first six months of 2007 compared to 8.4% for the same period last year.

For the first six months of 2007, interest expense was $153 million compared to $137 million for the same period last year. The increase reflects higher short-term borrowing rates and foreign currency translation in the first half of 2007 compared to the first six months of 2006.

The Company reported net income from continuing operations of $104 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for the six month period ended June 30, 2007 compared to net income of $86 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, for the same period in 2006.

In the first half 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. During the first six months of 2006, the Company recorded a net charge to net income from continuing operations of $4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, related to restructuring charges offset by financial foreign exchange gains.

Non-GAAP Measures

Segment income and free cash flow 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 and cash flow 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. Segment income and free cash flow are derived from the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations and Cash Flows, respectively, and reconciliations to segment income and free cash flow can be found within this release.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call tomorrow, July 18, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. (EDT) to discuss this news release. Forward-looking and other material information may be discussed on the conference call. The dial-in numbers for the conference call are (517) 308-9457 or toll-free (888) 820-8951 and the access password is "packaging." A live web cast of the call will be made available to the public on the Internet at the Company's Web site. A replay of the conference call will be available for a one-week period ending at midnight on July 25. The telephone numbers for the replay are (402) 220-9737 or toll free (800) 284-7024 and the access passcode is 200725.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, all other information in this press release consists of forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause the statements made in this press release or the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ include the Company's ability to generate volume and margin improvements in the Americas Beverage business, generate margin improvements in the European Beverage business, generate free cash flow, repay indebtedness, repurchase shares of Company common stock, commercialize plants in emerging markets, such as Cambodia, and grow the Company's business in emerging markets. Other important factors are discussed under the caption "Forward-Looking Statements" in the Company's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2006 and in subsequent filings made prior to or after the date hereof. The Company does not intend to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement in light of future events.

Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies around the world. World headquarters are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    For more information, contact:
    Timothy J. Donahue, Senior Vice President - Finance, (215) 698-5088, or
    Edward Bisno, Bisno Communications, (212) 717-7578.

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations, Statements of Cash Flows, Balance Sheets and Segment Information follow this page.

              Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
                (in millions, except share and per share data)

                               Three Months Ended        Six Months Ended
                                     June 30,                 June 30,
                                2007         2006         2007       2006
    Net sales                 $1,990       $1,781       $3,703     $3,305

    Cost of products sold      1,650        1,478        3,095      2,762
    Depreciation and
     amortization                 57           58          112        112
    Gross profit (1)             283          245          496        431
    Selling and
     administrative expense       93           74          188        155
    Provision for
     restructuring                 5            5            5         14
    Gain on sale of assets       (10)                      (10)        (1)
    Interest expense              77           70          153        137
    Interest income               (4)          (3)          (7)        (6)
    Translation and foreign
     exchange adjustments         (7)          (9)          (8)        (9)
    Income from continuing
     operations before
     income taxes, minority
     interests and equity
     earnings                    129          108          175        141
    Provision for income
     taxes                        22           19           40         26
    Minority interests and
     equity earnings             (19)         (15)         (31)       (29)
    Income from continuing
     operations                   88           74          104         86
    Loss from discontinued
     operations
      Loss from operations                     (5)                     (7)
      Loss on disposal                        (19)                    (19)
    Net income                   $88          $50         $104        $60
    Basic earnings/(loss)
     per average common
     share
    Continuing operations      $0.54        $0.44        $0.64      $0.51
    Discontinued operations                 (0.14)                  (0.15)
    Net income                 $0.54        $0.30        $0.64      $0.36
    Diluted earnings/(loss)
     per average common
     share
    Continuing operations      $0.53        $0.43        $0.62      $0.50
    Discontinued operations                 (0.14)                  (0.15)
    Net income                 $0.53        $0.29        $0.62      $0.35

    Weighted average common
     shares outstanding:
       Basic                162,900,139  167,085,962  162,588,529  167,080,828
       Diluted              167,182,198  170,917,175  166,933,467  171,278,893
    Actual common shares
     outstanding            164,140,218  167,855,178  164,140,218  167,855,178

    (1) A reconciliation from gross profit to segment income is found on the
        following page.

Amounts for 2006 related to the Company's divested North American and European plastics businesses have been reclassified to discontinued operations as a result of the 2006 sales of those businesses.



             Consolidated Supplemental Financial Data (Unaudited)
                                (in millions)

    Reconciliation from Gross Profit to Segment Income

The Company views segment income, as defined below, as a principal measure of performance of its operations and for the allocation of resources. Segment income is defined by the Company as gross profit less selling and administrative expense. A reconciliation from gross profit to segment income for the three and six months ended June 30 follows:


                               Three Months Ended           Six Months Ended
                                   June 30,                June 30,
                                     2007        2006        2007       2006
    Gross profit                   $  283    $    245      $  496    $   431
    Selling and administrative
     expense                           93          74         188        155
    Segment income                 $  190    $    171      $  308    $   276


                                            Segment Information
                                 Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended
                                      June 30,               June 30,
    Net Sales                         2007        2006      2007        2006

    Americas Beverage              $   488      $  426    $  881     $ 773
    North America Food                 205         198       390       380
    European Beverage                  401         339       682       577
    European Food                      469         450       915       861
    European Specialty Packaging       117         106       220       192
        Total reportable segments    1,680       1,519     3,088     2,783
    Non-reportable segments            310         262       615       522
        Total net sales            $ 1,990      $1,781    $3,703    $3,305

    Segment Income

    Americas Beverage              $    57      $   40    $   94    $   68
    North America Food                  20          18        30        26
    European Beverage                   58          40        88        65
    European Food                       45          49        83        91
    European Specialty Packaging         9          12        10        14
        Total reportable segments      189         159       305       264
    Non-reportable segments             31          31        65        62
    Corporate and other
     unallocated items                 (30)        (19)      (62)      (50)
        Total segment income       $   190      $  171    $  308    $  276

Amounts for 2006 related to the Company's divested North American and European plastics businesses have been reclassified to discontinued operations as a result of the 2006 sales of those businesses.


             CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Condensed & Unaudited)
                                (in millions)
    June 30,                                        2007              2006
    Assets
    Current assets
        Cash and cash equivalents                 $  304            $  308
        Receivables, net                             993               929
        Inventories                                1,106             1,008
        Prepaid expenses and other current assets     70               102
            Total current assets                   2,473             2,347

    Goodwill                                       2,236             2,125
    Property, plant and equipment, net             1,580             1,622
    Other non-current assets                         504             1,193
          Total                                   $6,793            $7,287

    Liabilities and shareholders' deficit
    Current liabilities
     Short-term debt                              $   94            $   86
     Current maturities of long-term debt             40               141
     Other current liabilities                     1,911             1,943
        Total current liabilities                  2,045             2,170

    Long-term debt, excluding current maturities   3,567             3,483
    Other non-current liabilities and minority
     interests                                     1,569             1,755
    Shareholders' deficit                           (388)             (121)

        Total                                     $6,793            $7,287

Amounts as of June 30, 2006 include the Company's divested North American and European plastics businesses that were sold in subsequent 2006 quarters.


        Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Condensed & Unaudited)
                                (in millions)

    Six months ended June 30,                          2007          2006

    Cash flows from operating activities
         Net income                                    $104          $ 60
         Depreciation and amortization                  112           114
         Other, net                                    (426)         (283)

           Net cash used for operating activities (A)  (210)         (109)

    Cash flows from investing activities
      Capital expenditures                              (76)         (101)
      Other, net                                         54            16

         Net cash used for investing activities         (22)          (85)

    Cash flows from financing activities
      Net change in debt                                124           213
      Other, net                                         (5)          (18)

         Net cash provided by financing activities      119           195

    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
     and cash equivalents                                10            13

    Net change in cash and cash equivalents            (103)           14
    Cash and cash equivalents at January 1              407           294

    Cash and cash equivalents at June 30               $304          $308

    (A) Free cash flow is defined by the Company as net cash used for
        operating activities less capital expenditures.  A reconciliation from
        net cash used for operating activities to free cash flow for the six
        months ended June 30 follows:

        Six months ended June 30,                     2007              2006
        Net cash used for operating activities       ($210)            ($109)
        Capital expenditures                           (76)             (101)
        Free cash flow                               ($286)            ($210)

Cash flows related to the Company's divested North American and European plastics businesses are included for the periods prior to the sale of those businesses.

SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.
CONTACT: Timothy J. Donahue, Senior Vice President - Finance of Crown
Holdings, Inc., +1-215-698-5088; or Edward Bisno of Bisno Communications for
Crown Holdings, Inc., +1-212-717-7578
(CCK)