Crown Holdings Reports Third Quarter 2006 Results

Monday, October 16, 2006

PHILADELPHIA, Oct 16, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) today announced its financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006. As previously announced, the Company sold its remaining European plastics businesses in 2006 and amounts related to those businesses have been reclassified to discontinued operations.

Third Quarter Results

Net sales from continuing operations in the third quarter rose to $2,022 million, up 7.0% over the $1,890 million in the third quarter of 2005. The increase in sales was primarily attributable to stronger sales unit volumes.

Third quarter gross profit was $262 million compared to $272 million in the 2005 third quarter. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit was 13.0% in the quarter compared to 14.4% in the third quarter last year. The decline was primarily driven by the impact of higher raw material costs partially offset by stronger sales unit volumes, increased operating efficiencies and productivity gains.

Segment income (defined by the Company as gross profit less selling and administrative expense) was $184 million in the third quarter compared to $185 million in the 2005 third quarter. Segment income as a percentage of net sales was 9.1% in the quarter compared to 9.8% in the same period in 2005.

Commenting on the quarter, John W. Conway, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are pleased that in the face of significantly higher input costs, profits have remained firm and stable which is particularly noteworthy in light of last year's solid third quarter. Our North American Food segment had outstanding results on strong volumes and increased productivity. Both volumes and margin increased in the Americas Beverage business from the first and second quarters of this year. Internationally, four new beverage can lines in the Middle East began operations in the quarter which adds to our annual capacity in that fast growing market."

Interest expense in the third quarter was $73 million compared to $94 million in the third quarter of 2005. The decrease reflects the impact of lower average interest rates, the result of the Company's 2005 refinancing.

Net income from continuing operations in the third quarter was $87 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, compared to $82 million, or $0.47 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2005. The Company is currently in a dispute with a European supplier regarding cost of materials supplied in 2006. If the outcome of the proceedings is unfavorable, the Company anticipates that it would record a charge to its net income from continuing operations for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006 of not more than $0.03 per diluted share.

Included within net income from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2005 the Company recorded a net gain of $13 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, related to a net gain on the remeasurement of foreign currency exposures in Europe partially offset by a provision for restructuring.

Through September 30, the Company has repurchased 6,246,378 shares of common stock for $117 million during 2006, including 5,262,878 shares through a previously announced accelerated share repurchase program. The number of common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2006 was 162,923,235 which is approximately 3% lower than as at June 30, 2006.

Net debt (defined by the Company as total debt less cash) increased by $7 million from June 30, primarily as a result of the repurchase of $100 million of common stock offset by $88 million of free cash flow (defined by the Company as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures) in the third quarter. Debt and cash amounts were:

                        September 30,  June 30,  December 31,  September 30,
                            2006         2006        2005          2005

    Total debt              $3,698      $3,710       $3,403       $3,705
    Cash                       289         308          294          275
    Net debt                $3,409      $3,402       $3,109       $3,430

    Receivables
     securitization           $320        $264         $234         $320


    Nine Month Results

For the first nine months of 2006, net sales grew 4.1% to $5,375 million over the $5,163 million in the first nine months of 2005. The increase primarily reflects higher sales unit volumes across most product lines.

Gross profit for the nine month period was $693 million, or 12.9% of net sales, compared to $710 million, or 13.8% of net sales in the first nine months of 2005. The decrease was primarily attributable to the impact of higher raw material costs which were partially mitigated by stronger sales unit volumes, increased operating efficiencies and productivity gains.

Segment income in the first nine months of 2006 increased 1.3% to $459 million over the $453 million in the first nine months of 2005. Segment income as a percentage of net sales was 8.5% in the first nine months of 2006 compared to 8.8% for the same period last year.

For the first nine months of 2006, interest expense was $210 million compared to $283 million for the same period last year. The decrease reflects lower average interest rates in the first nine months of 2006 compared to the first nine months of 2005, the result of the Company's 2005 refinancing.

The Company reported net income from continuing operations of $171 million, or $1.00 per diluted share for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006 compared to $81 million, or $0.47 per diluted share for the same period in 2005.

In the first nine months of 2006, the Company recorded a net charge to net income from continuing operations of $8 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, reflecting a $12 million net loss related to restructuring projects and $4 million to expense stock options offset by a net gain of $6 million related to financial foreign exchange and a $2 million net gain on the sale of assets. During the first nine months of 2005, the Company recorded a net charge of $40 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, related to the remeasurement of foreign currency exposures in Europe, provisions for restructuring and for the early extinguishment of debt, partially offset by a net gain on the sale of assets and a gain related to the reversal of tax valuation allowances.

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, for planning and evaluating investment opportunities and of its ability to incur and service debt. 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 Sheet, respectively, and reconciliations to segment income and free cash flow can be found on the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and condensed and unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and a reconciliation of net debt to total debt can be found above under Third Quarter Results.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call tomorrow, October 17, 2006 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 October 24. The telephone numbers for the replay are (203) 369-1507 or toll-free (866) 475-1459 and the access passcode is 2525.

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 maintain increased volumes in the Americas Beverage business, to generate additional capacity and future growth rates in the Middle East and the outcome of a dispute with a European supplier regarding cost of materials supplied to the Company in 2006. 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, 2005 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 affiliated companies, 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, Balance Sheets and Cash Flows and Segment Information follow this page.


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

                                Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                  September 30,             September 30,
                                2006         2005         2006         2005
    Net sales                  $2,022       $1,890       $5,375       $5,163

    Cost of products sold       1,702        1,555        4,512        4,269
    Depreciation and
     amortization                  58           63          170          184
    Gross profit (1)              262          272          693          710
    Selling and
     administrative expense        78           87          234          257
    Provision for restructuring                  3           14            3
    Loss from early
     extinguishments of debt                                               2
    Gain on sale of assets         (1)                       (2)         (22)
    Interest expense               73           94          210          283
    Interest income                (2)          (2)          (8)          (6)
    Translation and foreign
     exchange adjustments          (1)         (19)          (9)          76
    Income from continuing
     operations before income
     taxes, minority interests
     and equity earnings          115          109          254          117
    Provision for income taxes     16           17           42           15
    Minority interests and
     equity earnings              (12)         (10)         (41)         (21)
    Income from continuing
     operations                    87           82          171           81
    Income/(loss) from
     discontinued operations
      (Loss)/income
       from operations                          13           (8)          32
      Loss on disposal             (2)         (17)         (21)         (17)
    Net income                    $85          $78         $142          $96
    Basic earnings/(loss)
     per average common share
    Continuing operations       $0.52        $0.49        $1.02        $0.49
    Discontinued operations     (0.01)       (0.02)       (0.17)        0.09
    Net income                  $0.51        $0.47        $0.85        $0.58
    Diluted earnings/(loss)
     per average common share
    Continuing operations       $0.51        $0.47        $1.00        $0.47
    Discontinued operations     (0.01)       (0.02)       (0.17)        0.09
    Net income                  $0.50        $0.45        $0.83        $0.56


    Weighted average common
     shares outstanding:
      Basic               165,711,447  165,867,132  166,619,352  165,793,699
      Diluted             169,829,685  171,909,751  170,790,808  171,766,529
    Actual common shares
     outstanding          162,923,235  166,629,853  162,923,235  166,629,853

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

Amounts for 2005 related to the Company's plastic closures business have been reclassified to discontinued operations as a result of the October 2005 sale of that business. Amounts related to the Company's remaining 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 nine months ended September 30 follows:

                              Three Months Ended        Nine Months Ended
                                 September 30,             September 30,
                              2006         2005         2006         2005

    Gross profit              $262         $272         $693         $710
    Selling and
     administrative expense     78           87          234          257
    Segment income            $184         $185         $459         $453


                                               Segment Information

                                    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
                                       September 30,         September 30,
    Net Sales                        2006        2005       2006       2005

    Americas Beverage                $437        $438      $1,210     $1,271
    North America Food                250         226         630        585
    Europe Beverage                   342         273         919        722
    Europe Food                       574         567       1,435      1,439
    Europe Specialty Packaging        120         112         312        311
       Total reportable segments    1,723       1,616       4,506      4,328
    Non-reportable segments           299         274         869        835
       Total net sales             $2,022      $1,890      $5,375     $5,163


    Segment Income

    Americas Beverage                 $51         $56        $117       $148
    North America Food                 28          13          54         32
    Europe Beverage                    32          43          96        110
    Europe Food                        55          70         146        168
    Europe Specialty Packaging          6           7          20         19
       Total reportable segments      172         189         433        477
    Non-reportable segments            28          27          92         90
    Corporate and other
     non-allocated costs              (16)        (31)        (66)      (114)
       Total segment income          $184        $185        $459       $453

Amounts for 2005 related to the Company's plastic closures business have been reclassified to discontinued operations as a result of the October 2005 sale of that business. Amounts related to the Company's remaining 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)

    September 30,                                      2006       2005
    Assets
      Current assets
      Cash and cash equivalents                        $289       $275
      Receivables, net                                1,070        944
      Inventories                                       922        856
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets          69         76
      Assets held for sale                                         890
         Total current assets                         2,350      3,041

    Goodwill                                          2,127      2,038
    Property, plant and equipment, net                1,600      1,636
    Other non-current assets                          1,159      1,013
         Total                                       $7,236     $7,728

    Liabilities and shareholders' (deficit)/equity
    Current liabilities
      Short-term debt                                   $86        $63
      Current maturities of long-term debt              143         24
      Other current liabilities                       1,917      1,795
      Liabilities held for sale                                    200
         Total current liabilities                    2,146      2,082

    Long-term debt, excluding
     current maturities                               3,469      3,618
    Other non-current liabilities and
     minority interests                               1,728      1,821
    Shareholders' (deficit)/equity                     (107)       207

         Total                                       $7,236     $7,728

Amounts for 2005 related to the Company's plastic closures business were reclassified to assets and liabilities held for sale as a result of the October 2005 sale of that business. Amounts as of September 30, 2005 include the Company's remaining European plastics businesses that were sold in 2006.


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

    Nine months ended September 30,                    2006       2005

    Cash flows from operating activities
      Net income                                       $142        $96
      Depreciation and amortization                     173        222
      Other, net                                       (301)      (217)

         Net cash provided by operating
          activities (A)                                 14        101

    Cash flows from investing activities
      Capital expenditures                             (136)      (115)
      Other, net                                         14        (30)

         Net cash used for investing activities        (122)      (145)

    Cash flows from financing activities
      Net change in debt                                216        (91)
      Other, net                                       (127)       (41)

         Net cash provided by/(used for)
          financing activities                           89       (132)

    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
     and cash equivalents                                14        (20)

    Net change in cash and cash equivalents              (5)      (196)
    Cash and cash equivalents at January 1              294        471

    Cash and cash equivalents at September 30          $289       $275


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

          Nine months ended September 30,               2006       2005
          Net cash provided by operating activities      $14       $101
          Capital expenditures                          (136)      (115)
          Free cash flow                               ($122)      ($14)

Included within net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, were increased accounts receivable securitization amounts of $75 million and $204 million, respectively.

Cash flows related to the Company's plastic closures business and the Company's remaining European plastics businesses are included for the periods prior to the sale of those businesses.

SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.

Timothy J. Donahue, Senior Vice President - Finance, Crown Holdings, +1-215-698-5088;
or Edward Bisno, Bisno Communications, +1-212-717-7578, for Crown Holdings