Crown Holdings Announces Second Quarter 2003 Results

Wednesday, July 16, 2003

Please see the Company's Amended Quarterly Report on Form 10Q for the second quarter of 2003 (filed on August 18,2003) which amends certain financial information contained in this press release.

PHILADELPHIA, July 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) today announced its results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003.

For the second quarter of 2003, the Company's reported net income grew to $72 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, compared to $64 million of net income, or $0.48 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2002. Year-to- date, the Company's net income increased to $38 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1,004 million, or $7.73 per diluted share, for the first six months of 2002. The first six months of 2002 included a $1,014 million charge for the cumulative effect of a change in accounting for goodwill, or $7.81 per diluted share. Before the cumulative effect of a change in accounting, the Company had income of $10 million, or $0.08 per diluted share in the first six months of 2002.

Net sales in the second quarter were $1,726 million, down 3.5% compared to the $1,789 million of net sales in the prior year period. For the first six months of 2003, net sales were $3,186 million, down 5.1% compared to net sales of $3,356 million for the same period in 2002. The decline in net sales was anticipated because of the impact of divested operations (which accounted for $206 million of net sales in the second quarter of 2002 and $400 million for the first six months of 2002) which was partially offset by the positive effects of stronger foreign currencies ($138 million and $258 million in the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003, respectively).

Gross profit in the second quarter was $219 million, or 12.7% of net sales, compared to $240 million, or 13.4% of net sales, in the 2002 second quarter. For the six months ended June 30, 2003, gross profit was $367 million, or 11.5% of net sales, compared to $411 million, or 12.2% of net sales, in the same prior year period. The reduced gross profit and gross profit margin reflect increased pension expense ($15 million, or 0.9% of net sales and $30 million, also 0.9% of net sales, in the second quarter and six month period, respectively) and divested operations (which contributed $22 million and $41 million of gross profit in last year's second quarter and six month period, respectively.) These factors offset improvements realized from stronger foreign currencies.

Segment income for the Company was $138 million, or 8.0% of net sales, in the second quarter and $205 million, or 6.4% of net sales, for the six months. This compared to $164 million, or 9.2% of net sales, and $257 million, or 7.7% of net sales, respectively, for the same prior year periods. The lower segment income is attributable to the impact of divested operations (which contributed $15 million and $28 million of segment income in the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2002, respectively) and to the increased pension expense. Reconciliations of segment income to segment income excluding divested operations (which is a non-GAAP measure) for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2003 are presented below to allow investors to compare the operating performance of the Company's current operations.

                                             June 30, 2002
    Three months ended
                         As reported    Divested       Current    June 30,
                                       Operations    Operations     2003
                                                                (as reported)

    Net sales               $1,789          $206       $1,583        $1,726

    Cost of products sold    1,447           170        1,277         1,399
    Depreciation and
     amortization               94            13           81            85
    Pension expense              8             1            7            23
    Gross profit               240            22          218           219

    Selling and
     administrative expense     76             7           69            81
    Segment income            $164           $15         $149          $138


                                              June 30, 2002

     Six months ended     As reported    Divested      Current      June 30,
                                        Operations    Operations      2003
                                                                (as reported)

    Net sales               $3,356         $ 400       $2,956        $3,186

    Cost of products sold    2,744           330        2,414         2,610
    Depreciation and
     amortization              185            27          158           163
    Pension expense             16             2           14            46
    Gross profit               411            41          370           367

    Selling and
     administrative expense    152            13          139           162
    Provision for
     restructuring               2             -            2             -
    Segment income            $257           $28         $229          $205

Commenting on the quarter, John W. Conway, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The fundamentals for the Company's portfolio of businesses continued to improve in the second quarter. Overall, volumes were above plan and generally equal to or better than last year. At the same time, we continued to benefit from our geographic diversity and stronger foreign currencies, with 69% of year-to-date net sales generated outside the United States. Looking ahead, the Company remains committed to continued improvement in the pricing for its products, increasing operational efficiencies across all divisions, maximizing our return on invested capital, growing free cash flow and delevering the balance sheet."

The Americas Division reported net sales of $718 million in the second quarter, $148 million lower than the prior year period reflecting operations divested in 2002. Those divested operations accounted for $149 million of the Americas Division's net sales in last year's second quarter. Segment income for the Division was $46 million, or 6.4% of net sales, compared to 8.7% of net sales in last year's second quarter. The reduced margin primarily resulted from pension expense increasing to $20 million, or 2.8% of net sales, in the 2003 second quarter compared to $15 million, or 1.7% of net sales, in the second quarter of 2002.

The European Division generated net sales of $925 million in the second quarter, an increase of $87 million, or 10.4%, over last year's second quarter. The increase reflects the positive effects of currency translation ($146 million) which offset divested operations (which accounted for $57 million of net sales in the second quarter of 2002). Segment income was $101 million, an increase of $4 million, or 4.1%, over last year's second quarter. As a percentage of net sales, segment income was 10.9% compared to 11.6% in last year's same quarter. In the second quarter of 2003, pension expense was $3 million, or 0.3% of net sales, compared to pension income of $7 million, or 0.8% of net sales, in the prior year period.

The Asia-Pacific Division reported net sales of $83 million in the second quarter of 2003 compared to $85 million in the prior year period. Segment income increased 30% to $13 million, or 15.7% of net sales, compared to second quarter 2002 segment income of $10 million, which was 11.8% of net sales. Year to date, net sales were $166 million, up 2.5% over the $162 million in the first six months of 2002. Segment income for the first six months of 2003 was $22 million, or 13.3% of net sales, a $4 million, or 22.2%, increase, compared to the $18 million, which was 11.1% of net sales, in the same prior year period.

Interest expense in the second quarter was $101 million, up $15 million from the $86 million in the second quarter of 2002. The increase reflects the impact of the previously announced refinancing completed in February 2003. As expected, this resulted in higher average borrowing rates, which were partially offset by lower average debt outstanding. For the six months, interest expense was $180 million compared to $179 million for the same period last year.

    Debt and cash amounts were:

                        June 30,     March 31,   December 31,     June 30,
                          2003         2003          2002           2002

    Total debt           $4,364       $4,494        $4,054         $4,912
    Cash                    438          545           363            308
                         $3,926       $3,949        $3,691         $4,604

    Receivables
     securitization        $120         $100          $100           $166

The Company recorded a gain of $51 million ($42 million after tax, or $0.25 per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2003 on the translation of net U.S. dollar denominated debt in Europe. For the six months the gain was $64 million ($53 million after tax, or $0.32 per diluted share).

On April 15, 2003, the Company retired $50 million of public notes with a stated maturity on the same date. Additionally, during the second quarter, the Company, in privately negotiated transactions, repurchased $92 million of outstanding public notes. A gain of $2 million ($1 million after tax, or $0.01 per diluted share) was realized on the differences between the carrying values and repurchase prices of the notes.

This table highlights the impact on earnings per share from the following items:

                              Three Months Ended         Six Months Ended
                                   June 30,                  June 30,
    (Per diluted share)       2003          2002         2003          2002

    Cumulative effect
     of change in
     accounting                                                      ($7.81)
    Provision for
     restructuring                                                     (.02)
    Provision for asset
     impairments and gain/(loss)
     on sale of assets         $.01                       $.01         (.25)
    Gain/(loss) from
     early extinguishments
     of debt                    .01         $.19          (.07)         .19

    Foreign exchange impacts    .25         (.03)          .32         (.09)

    Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call tomorrow, July 17, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT) to discuss this news release. The dial-in numbers for the conference call are (630) 395-0036 or toll-free (888) 469-0487 and the access password is "packaging." A replay of the conference call will be available for a one-week period ending at midnight on Thursday, July 24. The telephone numbers for the replay are (402) 998-0797 or toll-free (800) 756-3941 and the access passcode is 2765. A live web cast of the call will be made available to the public on the Internet at the Company's website, www.crowncork.com.

The Company plans to release its results for the third quarter on October 16.

    For more information, contact:
    Timothy J. Donahue, Senior Vice President - Finance, (215) 698-5088.

    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 to differ include the Company's pricing, operational efficiency, investment returns, free cash flow and ability to delever its balance sheet. 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, 2002 and in subsequent filings. The Company does not intend to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement in light of future events.

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

                    Consolidated Statements of Operations

     (In millions, except share and per share data)
                             Three Months Ended          Six Months Ended
                                  June 30,                   June 30,
                             2003          2002          2003         2002

    Net sales               $1,726        $1,789       $3,186        $3,356

    Cost of products sold    1,399         1,447        2,610         2,744
    Depreciation and
     amortization               85            94          163           185
    Pension expense             23             8           46            16
    Gross profit               219           240          367           411

    Selling and
     administrative expense     81            76          162           152
    Provision for restructuring                                           2

    Segment income             138           164          205           257

    Provision for asset
     impairments and (gain)/loss
     on sale of assets          (3)                        (3)           24
    (Gain) / loss from early
     extinguishment of debt(1)  (2)          (25)           9           (25)
    Interest expense           101            86          180           179
    Interest income             (3)           (2)          (5)           (5)
    Translation and foreign
     exchange adjustments      (56)            9          (69)           18
    Income before income taxes,
     minority interests
     and cumulative effect of
     a change in accounting    101            96           93            66
    Provision for income taxes  20            26           39            46
    Minority interests,
     net of equity earnings     (9)           (6)         (16)          (10)

    Income before cumulative
     effect of a change
     in accounting              72            64           38            10
    Cumulative effect
     of a change in
     accounting (2)                                                  (1,014)

    Net income / (loss)        $72           $64          $38       ($1,004)

    Income / (loss) per
     average common share:
      Basic:
       - before cumulative effect
         of a change in
         accounting           $.44          $.49          $.23         $.08
       - after cumulative effect
         of a change in
         accounting           $.44          $.49          $.23       ($7.82)

       Diluted:
       - before cumulative effect
         of a change in
         accounting           $.43          $.48          $.23         $.08
       - after cumulative effect
         of a change in
         accounting           $.43          $.48          $.23       ($7.73)

    Weighted average common shares outstanding:
       Basic           164,910,274   131,160,900  164,379,638   128,461,067
       Diluted         165,843,258   133,238,280  165,312,801   129,836,316
    Actual common shares
     outstanding       164,922,827   150,321,659  164,922,827   150,321,659

    Notes:
    (1)  Prior year amounts reflect the reclassification from extraordinary
         earnings in compliance with SFAS No.145.

    (2)  Transition adjustment from the adoption on January 1, 2002 of SFAS
         No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets."

SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.