Crown Holdings Reports Second Quarter 2005 Results; Net Sales and Segment Income Increase 10%

Monday, July 18, 2005

PHILADELPHIA, July 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK), today announced its financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2005.

Second Quarter Results

Net sales in the second quarter rose to $2,017 million, a 9.9% increase over the $1,836 million in the second quarter of 2004. Americas Division's net sales improved 8.0% to $808 million, the European Division's net sales grew 10.1% to $1,097 million and the Asia Division's net sales increased 21.7% to $112 million.

Gross profit in the 2005 second quarter grew 11.2% to $288 million over the $259 million in last year's second quarter. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit expanded to 14.3% in the second quarter compared to 14.1% in the same quarter last year. The improvements reflect increased efficiencies and productivity throughout the Company, the effects of the Company's past restructuring programs and stronger foreign currencies.

Segment income (defined by the Company as gross profit less selling and administrative expense and provision for restructuring) grew to $186 million in the second quarter, up 10.1% over the $169 million in the 2004 second quarter. A reconciliation from gross profit to segment income is provided as a note to the attached unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Commenting on the quarter, John W. Conway, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are pleased to report continued operating improvements for the quarter. These reflect our constant focus on world class performance to drive increased efficiencies and productivity. Volumes for the period were firm and our price initiatives to recover higher raw material costs are in place and remain on plan. Looking ahead, the Company is well positioned with its worldwide manufacturing platform to continue growing with our customers around the world while improving margins and reducing debt."

Interest expense in the second quarter was $95 million compared to $89 million in the second quarter of 2004. The increase reflects the impact of higher average interest rates partially offset by lower average debt outstanding.

During the second quarter, the Company recorded a net charge of $36 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, reflecting a $58 million net loss related to the remeasurement of foreign currency exposures in Europe and a $1 million net loss for the early extinguishments of debt, partially offset by net gains of $14 million on the sale of assets and $9 million related to the reversal of tax valuation allowances. For the 2004 second quarter, the Company reported a net charge of $15 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, related to the remeasurement of foreign currency exposures in Europe.

Net income in the second quarter was $28 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared to net income of $36 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2004.

Total debt decreased by $316 million from March 31, primarily as a result of increased accounts receivable securitization, $86 million of net cash from operating activities, the repurchase of $70 million aggregate principal of the Company's 7.0% senior notes due December 15, 2006 and $69 million from foreign currency translation ($116 million from December 31, 2004). In line with the Company's improving credit profile, a new euro 120 million program to securitize UK and French receivables was entered into during the quarter which replaced a previous receivables factoring program. The remaining principal balance outstanding on the 2006 notes is $165 million.

    Debt and cash amounts were:

                          June 30,    March 31, December 31,     June 30,
                              2005         2005         2004         2004

    Total debt              $3,707       $4,023       $3,872       $3,904
    Cash                       265          340          471          251
                            $3,442       $3,683       $3,401       $3,653

    Receivables
     securitization           $240         $105         $120         $113

    Six Month Results

For the first six months of 2005, net sales increased 7.5% to $3,720 million over the $3,459 million in the first six months of 2004. Americas Division net sales grew 6.4% in the first six months of 2005 over the same period in 2004. European Division and Asia Division net sales were up 6.9% and 23.3%, respectively, compared to the first half of last year.

Gross profit for the six month period grew to $495 million, or 13.3% of net sales, over the $444 million, or 12.8% of net sales in the first six months of 2004. The improvements reflect increased operating efficiencies and productivity throughout the Company, the effects of past restructuring programs and stronger foreign currencies.

Segment income in the first half of 2005 increased 13.4% to $297 million, or 8.0% of net sales, over the $262 million, or 7.6% of net sales in the first six months of 2004.

For the first six months of 2005, interest expense was $189 million compared to $179 million for the same period last year.

In the first half of 2005, the Company recorded a net charge of $53 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, reflecting an $80 million net loss related to the remeasurement of foreign currency exposures in Europe and a $1 million net loss for the early extinguishments of debt, partially offset by a $19 million net gain on the sale of assets and a $9 million gain related to the reversal of tax valuation allowances. During the first six months of 2004, the Company reported a net charge of $19 million or $0.11 per diluted share, reflecting a $16 million net loss from the remeasurement of foreign currency exposures in Europe and a $3 million net loss for the early extinguishments of debt.

The Company reported net income of $18 million, or $0.10 per diluted share for the six month period ended June 30, 2005 compared to net income of $20 million, or $0.12 per diluted share for the same period in 2004.

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 or 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 for planning and evaluating investment opportunities and of its ability to incur and service debt. Segment income and free cash flow are derived from the Company's income and cash flow statements, 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.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call tomorrow, July 19, 2005 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 (773) 681-5826 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, http://www.crowncork.com. A replay of the conference call will be available for a one-week period ending at midnight on July 26. The telephone numbers for the replay are (203) 369-3267 or toll free (800) 391-9845 and the access passcode is 1483.

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 increase revenues by passing through costs, to continue to grow with its customers and to further improve margins and reduce debt. 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, 2004 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, (917) 881-5441.

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          Six Months Ended
                                   June 30,                   June 30,
                              2005         2004         2005         2004
    Net sales               $2,017       $1,836       $3,720       $3,459

    Cost of products sold    1,629        1,475        3,028        2,810
    Depreciation and
     amortization               75           76          147          153
    Pension expense             25           26           50           52
    Gross profit (1)           288          259          495          444
    Selling and administrative
     expense                   102           90          198          182
    Provision for asset
     impairments and gain on
     sale of assets            (17)                       (22)
    Loss from early
     extinguishments of debt     2                          2            4
    Interest expense            95           89          189          179
    Interest income             (2)          (1)          (4)          (3)
    Translation and foreign
     exchange adjustments       65           23           95           27
      Income before income taxes,
       minority interests and
       equity earnings          43           58           37           55
    Provision for income taxes   8           16            8           24
    Minority interests and equity
     earnings                   (7)          (6)         (11)         (11)
      Net income               $28          $36          $18          $20

    Income per average common share:
      Basic                 $ 0.17       $ 0.22       $ 0.11       $ 0.12
      Diluted               $ 0.16       $ 0.22       $ 0.10       $ 0.12


    Weighted average common shares outstanding:
      Basic            165,694,221  165,165,133  165,756,374  165,120,811
      Diluted          171,526,145  167,343,493  171,694,310  167,247,804
    Actual common shares
     outstanding       166,336,672  165,234,044  166,336,672  165,234,044

(1) 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 and provision for restructuring. 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,
                              2005         2004         2005         2004
    Gross profit              $288         $259         $495         $444
    Selling and administrative
     expense                   102           90          198          182
    Segment income            $186         $169         $297         $262


               CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Condensed & Unaudited)
                                  (in millions)
    June 30,                                            2005           2004
    Assets
    Current assets
      Cash and cash equivalents                         $265           $251
      Receivables, net                                   987          1,008
      Inventories                                      1,009            978
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets           72             92
        Total current assets                           2,333          2,329

    Goodwill                                           2,421          2,430
    Property, plant and equipment, net                 1,798          1,992
    Other non-current assets                           1,099          1,117
        Total                                         $7,651         $7,868

    Liabilities and shareholders' equity
    Current liabilities
      Short-term debt                                    $47            $79
      Current maturities of long-term debt                25            116
      Other current liabilities                        1,971          1,897
        Total current liabilities                      2,043          2,092

    Long-term debt, excluding current maturities       3,635          3,709
    Other non-current liabilities and minority
     interests                                         1,812          1,884
    Shareholders' equity                                 161            183

        Total                                         $7,651         $7,868


             Consolidated Supplemental Financial Data (Unaudited)

                       Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
    (in millions)
    Net Sales                 2005         2004         2005         2004

    Americas                  $808         $748       $1,477       $1,388
    Europe                   1,097          996        2,026        1,895
    Asia                       112           92          217          176
                            $2,017       $1,836       $3,720       $3,459

    Segment Income

    Americas                   $65          $60         $107          $87
    Europe                     131          117          211          197
    Asia                        15           14           29           26
    Corporate                  (25)         (22)         (50)         (48)
                              $186         $169         $297         $262



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

    Six months ended June 30,                           2005           2004

    Cash flows from operating activities
      Net income                                         $18            $20
      Depreciation and amortization                      147            153
      Other, net                                        (218)          (239)

        Net cash from operating activities (A)           (53)           (66)

    Cash flows from investing activities
      Capital expenditures                               (71)           (66)
      Proceeds from sales of property, plant and
       equipment                                          22              5
      Other, net                                          (7)            (6)

        Net cash used for investing activities           (56)           (67)

    Cash flows from financing activities
      Net change in debt                                 (45)             1
      Other, net                                         (36)           (16)

        Net cash used for financing activities           (81)           (15)

    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
     equivalents                                         (16)            (2)

    Net change in cash and cash equivalents             (206)          (150)
    Cash and cash equivalents at January 1               471            401

    Cash and cash equivalents at June 30                $265           $251

(A) Free cash flow is defined by the Company as net cash from operating activities less capital expenditures. The Company views free cash flow as a principal measure of performance of its operations and of its ability to incur and service debt. A reconciliation from net cash from operating activities to free cash flow for the six months ended June 30 follows:



    Six months ended June 30,                           2005           2004
    Net cash from operating activities                  ($53)         ($ 66)
    Capital expenditures                                 (71)           (66)

    Free cash flow                                     ($124)         ($132)


SOURCE  Crown Holdings, Inc.
    -0-                             07/18/2005
    /CONTACT:  Timothy J. Donahue, Senior Vice President - Finance,
Crown Holdings, +1-215-698-5088, or Edward Bisno, Bisno Communications,
+1-917-881-5441, for Crown Holdings/
    /Web site:  http://www.crowncork.com /
    (CCK)

CO:  Crown Holdings, Inc.
ST:  Pennsylvania
IN:  ENV FOD
SU:  ERN CCA MAV

MR
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7880 07/18/2005 17:11 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com