Earnings Labs

Sonoco Products Company (SON)

Q2 2015 Earnings Call· Thu, Jul 16, 2015

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. And welcome to the Sonoco 2015 Q2 Preliminary Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Later we will conduct a question-and-answer session and instructions will be given at that time. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. I would now like to introduce your host for today, Vice President of Investor Relations Mr. Roger Schrum. You may begin sir.

Roger Schrum

Analyst

Thank you, Andrew. Good morning and welcome to Sonoco’s conference call to discuss our preliminary results for the second quarter of 2015. This call is being conducted on July 16, 2015. Joining me today are Jack Sanders, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Barry Saunders, Chief Financial Officer. A news release reporting our preliminary results was issued before the market opened today and is available on the Investor Relations section of our website at sonoco.com. Let me remind you that today’s call contains forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations, estimates and projections. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subjected to certain risks and uncertainties. Therefore, actual results may differ materially. Additional information about factors that could cause different results and information about the use by the company of non-GAAP financial measures is available in today’s news release and on the company’s website. With that I’ll turn it over to Barry.

Barry Saunders

Analyst

Thank you, Roger. Earlier this morning we released preliminary earnings estimates for the second quarter and year-to-date 2015. These results are preliminary as earlier last week we were made aware that results at one contract packaging center in Mexico had been overstated. Although, the review was not complete based on the work done to-date, we estimate that the impact on the previously reported first quarter 2015 net income was $3 million, resulting in corrected first quarter GAAP earnings of $0.83 per share and first quarter corrected base earnings of $0.53 per share. In addition, we currently estimate that the cumulative pre-tax earnings correction for the years 2012 to 2014 will be approximately $30 million with the split by year and the tax impact yet to be determined. We have engaged outside accounting and legal consultants to assist us with this review, which we expect to complete over the coming few weeks. Final findings will be fully reflected in the second quarter 10-Q and corrected historical statements when they are filed. The business model at this one particular location is very complex and we will obviously include a complete review of related internal controls to determine what changes need to be made in design or execution to prevent such issues in the future. We realized that you will have many questions. However, because the review is ongoing with a lot more work to do, we’re not in the position to share anymore specific information about this event at this point. Although, not able to finalize results for the current or previous years until the review is complete, we wanted to go ahead and provide an update on our estimate for the quarter rather than delaying the release of any information about the quarter until the review is complete. Based on what…

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Thanks Barry. I want to say upfront this has been a difficult message to deliver, particularly considering our results for the quarter were solid. Sonoco is a company that prides itself for culture of doing the right thing. And unfortunately, we discovered this foundational tenant was apparently not being filed at our operation in Mexico. Let me reemphasize that based upon what we know this is an isolated incident at a single facility, serving a single customer. Let’s to share, we take financial controls seriously and this incident has us redoubling our efforts throughout the organization to ensure this cannot and will not be repeated. I certainly don’t mean to downplay is magnitude, but our customers not impacted and we believe the financial impact is manageable. Reflecting on the second quarter, we’re extremely pleased by the performance of our consumer packaging and protective solutions segments. This includes several of our identified growth businesses and they delivered solid volume and earnings improvement. Consumer packaging achieved record operating profits for the third consecutive quarter and 10.7% operating margin was near the highest ever achieved by this segment. Consumer packaging volume overall was up solid 3.5% and composite can volume was up 3% before Weidenhammer. Flexibles continues to show strong growth of 5.7% and year-over-year margin in this business improved approximately 400 basis points. Rigid plastics continues to grow volume which was up 2% and margins were up year-over-year by 360 basis points. Weidenhammer and Graffo reported continued earnings accretion in the quarter of about $0.25. And on July 3, we finally received a regulatory approval for the Weidenhammer acquisition in the UK. Unfortunately, the seven month delay along with a supplier dispute was laid to capture of some of the synergies into 2016. Our efforts to expand composite cans into emerging markets…

Operator

Operator

Certainly, [Operator Instructions] And our first question or comment comes from the line of George Staphos with Merrill Lynch. Your line is now open.

George Staphos

Analyst

Hi, everyone good morning. I guess the first question I had guys is would it be possible at all to pass what Mexico pension you already gave us, the delay in the synergies in the market factors were both in the quarter and in the change in your guidance, rough numbers based on what you said in your preamble comments in the press release I’m guessing Mexico is maybe $3 million or so in the quarter that maybe $10 million in the year. But could you give us a bit more clarity on that and correct or adjust those figures or confirm those figures today?

Barry Saunders

Analyst

Yes, George. This is Barry. First of all to go ahead and address the impact of the issue in Mexico, if you compare the numbers year-over-year again the first quarter would have been down about $0.03 the second quarter, we have indicated two with another three for the balance of the year roughly split about two in the third quarter and one in the fourth. And then the remaining $0.04 if you are looking at the top or bottom side would be the combination of pension which was roughly $0.02 and then – just the impact of the lower expected synergies as it relates to the timing of the implementation of those synergies.

George Staphos

Analyst

Okay. Thank you for that. So does that suggest then the market really wasn’t that big of a deal? Even though you said it as an issue?

Barry Saunders

Analyst

The market, what do you mean George?

George Staphos

Analyst

Yes, I mean, you said – well, you said of using the language in your press release, I think you said at market factors as part of the guidance revision, but it doesn’t seem like it’s that big of a factor given what Barry just went through in terms of bridging prior guidance to current guidance?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Yes, I think its more about by business segment, I think market factors on the industrial side or more of a – more of a headwinds and perhaps we see on consumer side.

George Staphos

Analyst

Okay. Within industrial actually let’s hold that question for a minute let’s go back, in terms of your cost reduction productivity initiatives, what do you think it will be able to generate over the balance of the year and if you can put a figure on it 2016, and the related question you know as we think about the guidance you’ve just provided, what are the swing factors between lower and upper end and what's really controllable and what's really macro?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Okay. George, I think that we’ve said before that the work that we did to organize, to achieve our mission in 2015 would have about $10 million impact and we’re on target for that, for achieving that and that will continue to roll through and is in our forward projection. And then in 2016 I believe that – it basically doubles that, it goes up to about $20 million when complete through 2016. So that’s how – that’s plays into there. I think when you look at the our swing in guidance as its most of the time for us assuming price cost and mix base, what it is, I mean unless there is spikes, it’s going to be volume. Whatever volume actually is going to be the factor that moves that number the most between that upper and lower end.

George Staphos

Analyst

Last one Jack and I’ll turn it over. Within your business as you pointed out, the performance in protective and the performance in consumer validated lot of that the initiatives you said you’ve been working on the last year and a half and that’s great. But the diversity of Sonoco in this case through industrial came back and to help to undermine that performance. Is there anything that you can do structurally within industrial to make this more of a stable business and recognizing that Sonoco is persuade a diversified portfolio strategy for a number of years, when we look back at the stock performance for Sonoco whether it’s less one year, three year, five year or ten years? It has trailed the market would suggest that diversified approach has nothing work in perhaps as well as you would like. Would you agree with that? And how do you fix that going forward and I will turn it over there. Thank you, guys.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, George let’s say any given period of time, you can look at our portfolio and say perhaps it’s underperformed it’s not been as good, it’s created a drag. But if you go back for the 115 or 117 year history of the company it certainly served us well. And it’s really set up for a long-term return to investors on a consistent basis, we think that’s what it – can actually lever. Now having said that we certainly we’re spending a lot of time looking at the various parts of the industrial business, making sure that – businesses that we’re invest in or returning the rate of return to our shareholders that we expect and if not yes, I think you could expect to see changes in the industrial portfolio. If we don’t think that we can get some of these businesses to a rate of return that – is creating value for shareholders.

George Staphos

Analyst

All right, I’ll turn it over. Thanks guys.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Sure.

Operator

Operator

And our next question or comment comes from the line of Philip Ng with Jefferies. Your line is now open.

Philip Ng

Analyst

Hey Jack, I guess to your point on industrial getting a proper returns with OCC prices going to bouncing from the bottom here and some of the CRB guys with the price increase, can you talk about how you are thinking about pricing down the road on tube and cores?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, certainly we’re watching the coded increase with anticipation. We were out early with an increase. We didn’t get a lot of support. I certainly think is the price begins to firm and move upwards. We’ve got to strongly consider recouping those costs and recouping them quickly. So we’ll be very interested to watch and see what happens on the coded side.

Philip Ng

Analyst

Okay, that’s helpful. And then I guess switching gears to your consumer business demand was quite strong. I think you said volume is north of 3%. How much of that was driven by some of the initiatives you guys been implementing or the broader market. And then more importantly, when you look out in the back half, is that 3% type trajectory sustainable?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, we certainly we’re pleased on the consumer side with some new business that’s coming in on the flexible side as well as some strengthening in some of the composite can businesses. I think our forward projection for the balance of the year is about 2% up just like we have kind of started with more or less and we’d see that. I do think some of the initiatives and how are going to market or creating solid opportunities for us on the consumer side. We’re seeing, we’re getting a lot of looks at opportunities that we’ve never gotten before. So we feel good about what's going on and about the future growth prospects for consumer.

Philip Ng

Analyst

Got you. Okay, that’s helpful. And then on your protective business I know you can kind of harping on that 10% margin number you kind of call that when you first acquired Tegrant certainly hit that threshold. How much of that was price costs when resin kind of pulling back here or some of the other initiatives whether its volume or cost take out. And then how should we be thinking about that 10% number down the road, is that the number you guys get hit on a full year basis.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, Phil, I certainly appreciate you asking that question – talk about it a lot. We feel good about where protected packages was going you could see the trajectory building and yes, we do have some positive price cost in the numbers today. But I will tell you that was built into the number, in other words we knew that we had some pricing that needed to be adjusted. We took both steps win out and adjust it, but I would also tell you the business is really hitting on our shareholders the volume is going, the productivity was strong, cost control was good and then the positive price cost had a bit of an impact as well. The business has to continue to drive that forward, but as I’ve said before I believe it’s a double-digit margin business and we should be able to continue to push it and maintain it at that level.

Philip Ng

Analyst

Okay, thanks, Jack. Good luck in the quarter.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Our next question or comment comes from the line of Scott Gaffner with Barclays. Your line is now open.

Scott Gaffner

Analyst

Thanks, good morning.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Good morning, Scott.

Scott Gaffner

Analyst

Just taking a little bit deeper on consumer for a minute, because I think if I look back the last year in the second quarter, you had a relatively new comparison because the winter weather didn’t really impact you where the customer didn’t destock in the first quarter they kind of waited in for 2Q so and then the comps get a little bit more difficult in the back half of the year. What is it that gives you the confidence that, that segment can continue to grow at percent of the back half of the year up against the more difficult volume comparison.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, you are right Scott. The last – the second quarter of 2014 there were some ease your comparisons if you will particularly on the composite can side I think powdered infant formula was pretty soft in the second quarter of 2014. But we also saw improvement in some general – in some segments that we’ve been waiting for. For example, caulk was up some 6%, now caulk constructions going to improve in the second half caulk should be up. So that’s a positive and then when you look beyond composite can, there is definitely new business flowing into the flexibles business and we see some solid volume improvement in plastics as well. So we’re not projecting for this 3.5% growth, just like we didn’t project the 4%, 5%, we had in the fourth quarter of 2014, I can’t remember exact what that number was. We didn’t project that forward either, but 2% right now it seems reasonable to us looking forward with what we know.

Scott Gaffner

Analyst

Okay. And then on the industrial demand, we can see you highlighted, is there anything in particular within industrial that or do you calling out any end market?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, I think globally if you look at industrial the developed countries tend to be performing better now than the developing countries. We’re seeing declines in Brazil, China, Asia, we are certainly seeing those volumes being impacted on a year-over-year basis. Domestically, I think that paper and the structural changes that occurring in paper or kind of masking some strength in other areas of that business, but that certainly something that we’re dealing with. And Europe was kind of flat more or less on a year-over-year basis, so some of those headwinds are more structural relative to paper.

Scott Gaffner

Analyst

Okay, thank you.

Operator

Operator

And our next question or comment comes from the line of Chip Dillon with Vertical Research. Your line is now open.

Chip Dillon

Analyst

Yes, and good morning, I don’t wanted to get too nitpicky I just want to make sure, I understand something, if I take just the midpoint of the guidance ranges and I guess you could say before it was around 265 and now its 253, I believe you said Mexico was eight – so that’s a $0.12 reduction. So Mexico’s $0.08 pensions $0.02, so that only leaves you with $0.02 to account for, and I just – and maybe I miss this but, I would imagine that $0.02 would have to account for all of the changes in this synergy timing as well as the market conditions, is that right? In other words – or those two items alone just got a total $0.02?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Yes, that’s – essentially have that number.

Chip Dillon

Analyst

Okay, okay. I see, all right. So, almost really small numbers, okay that’s very helpful. And then as you talk about the – maybe two – I will ask you both place, if you look at the strength in composite cans, I mean, certainly 3.6 I think is what you said is, is a very solid number, is there any organically, is there any reason that should stay at such an elevated level. And then I guess as you look at industrial packaging are there any particular, and maybe in both cases you can point out or point to specific end markets that might be helping in composite cans and hurting in industrial packaging?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

When you look at the number globally, certainly the improvements that are occurring around the globe with the new capacity that we’ve installed is impacting that number on a global basis. And that will continue as we continue to ramp up production around the globe, the impact of that new capacity. Domestically or in the established markets of the U.S. and Europe it’s in this particular case as I said earlier there was a comparison the Q2 was – there was a little weakness in Q2, 2014 that you saw, that came through in the strong number for North America. In 2014, and in Europe I think it’s more or less steady to slight to flat, so. You know, going forward is 2% of reasonable number for this business, I think it’s going to be more consistent with growth of package goods over a longer term.

Chip Dillon

Analyst

Okay. And then I guess the last question is, on the issue with Mexico, is that – does that have any impact on either by your cash flow as you reported at or your net debt, it would seem like, it wouldn’t but could you just, is that fair?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

That’s correct. The correction had no impact on cash flow and certainly nothing to do with our debt position or net debt if you’re netting cash against it.

Chip Dillon

Analyst

Okay and I guess – is there any reason you feel confident that maybe this situation, I don’t know if you have other similar facilities in Mexico. Is that true and is there anyway to know that may be this doesn’t happen elsewhere in your system or does it seem to be very much geographically targeted to this one location?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, this event – as we said earlier it is isolated, it’s a single facility serving a single customer in Mexico.

Chip Dillon

Analyst

Okay, okay that’s helpful. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

And our next question or comment comes from the line of Adam Josephson with KeyBanc Capital. Your line is now open.

Adam Josephson

Analyst

Jack, Barry, good morning.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Good morning, Adam.

Adam Josephson

Analyst

Jack one on resin. Obviously oil prices have fallen a fair bit recently. Do you expect resin to come down in the second half?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

That’s fall in outages, doesn't it Adam? Actually I think polypropylene is experiencing some fairly tight supplier right now and it’s actually trended up. But what I’m hearing is that overall lower gas, oil prices as the year progress it should help trend resin prices down assuming there are no outages.

Adam Josephson

Analyst

Got it. And Jack, you talked about paper operations facing challenging markets in the press release. I assume you’re referring at least partly do your corrugated business. I appreciate your small producer. But could you talk about containerboard conditions at the moment, at least for you?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Yes, Adam I would tell you – small is a gracious word relative to our position in corrugated industry. Now I would simply tell you it’s been a little sluggish what we really seeing is – kind of a mix shift to where we have to send a little more export and that’s kind of what we projected forward.

Adam Josephson

Analyst

Okay, that the sluggish – the challenging markets relate to price more than anything else I assume.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, the challenging market in paper overall was that – for our paper operations they were kind of face with rising those you see prices, they were seeing some of that. So they were having to deal with that, they’ve ran fairly well. The mills ran well and their costs were controllable but it was more around some of their input cost relative to the selling price that they were experiencing and then the corrugated issue.

Adam Josephson

Analyst

Right, right. In terms of the industrial business, obviously there have been a number of pre-announcements and negative comments by several U.S. industrial companies really since late May. And I know talked about some sluggishness in your industrial business. But in the U.S. are you experiencing any slowdown similar to what many of these other companies have talked about over the last two months or so?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, I would think that our tube and core volume was down slightly on a year-over-year basis and I think that’s a result of what you hear these other companies kind of talking about. I continue to be optimistic that that should hopefully correct itself but quite honestly, we’ve not felt that yet.

Adam Josephson

Analyst

Got it. And just lastly, I know your consumer volume was good, but that was, a lot of that was related to composite cans. What’s your read on package food volume in the U.S. more broadly, just given in light of what some of the large CPG/package food companies I’ve talked about so far in the second quarter?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, I can only speak to the data I’ve seen show that they were definitely down on a year-over-year basis, for the two or three companies that have actually seen the data. But it wasn’t only composite cans, I mean, we had a strong volume in Flexibles and even our Plastics volumes saw some improvement as well. Some of that being new one volume so that for us that’s positive.

Adam Josephson

Analyst

Got it. Thanks a lot, Jack. I appreciate it.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

You bet.

Operator

Operator

Our next question or comment comes from the line of Mark Wilde with BMO. Your line is now open.

Mark Wilde

Analyst

Good morning, Jack. Good morning, Barry.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Good morning, Mark.

Barry Saunders

Analyst

Good morning.

Mark Wilde

Analyst

Hey Jack, I wanted to just come back on this Consumer Packaging business a little bit. I think I’ve heard you say that the Flexibles volumes were up north of 5% in the quarter, is that right?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Yes.

Mark Wilde

Analyst

Can you share a little more wide on what drove that?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, I’d say that’s been consistent. Mark for the last several quarters, we’ve experienced some solid volume wins in that business and have been just commercializing the new one volume over the past several quarters and continue to do well in that business.

Mark Wilde

Analyst

Are there any particular niches you’d want to call out there Jack?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

I would appreciate not doing that. I’ll also tell you that we serve cookie and cracker segment that’s done quite well over the past several years, as well.

Mark Wilde

Analyst

Okay, then I wanted to just turn over to the Industrial market, I think, I heard you say that your Industrial volumes were down in both Brazil and China, is that right?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Yes.

Mark Wilde

Analyst

Can you give us any color, I guess, particularly on what you are seeing in the China market right now?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, for us it’s been sluggish in some of our markets that combined with, I would say, an active program on our own behalf to really focus on the profitability of those facilities versus volume through those facilities, so those two things combined and kind of impacted China.

Mark Wilde

Analyst

Okay. What about Brazil?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Brazil has been strictly more market driven and market related and what's actually going on inside their economy.

Mark Wilde

Analyst

Okay. And then if I look at the industrial business in North America, how much of that business in a rough sense is tied to housing?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

I…

Mark Wilde

Analyst

I mean – you know I think about carpet cores and linoleum cores and all that kind of stuff. In total, do you have any sense of that?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, we’ve never really been able to piece that together because we don’t know what happens to the products after they weld on a core where they actually go, but certainly paper products, film products, textile products, all of those wind up in construction in some fashion. But we can’t really put our finger on how much is there, but it’s definitely – their construction does impact the cores, there is no doubt about it.

Mark Wilde

Analyst

Okay. And the last question I had is just one more around the industrial as the corrugating medium exports that you mentioned. Is that a significant chunky or your output right now going into export markets?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

No, not really, but it’s a bit of swing market for us that if we – it’s like domestically we swing some volume to export.

Mark Wilde

Analyst

Okay, all right, that’s helpful. Thanks, Jack.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Certainly.

Operator

Operator

Our next question or comment comes from the line of Ghansham Panjabi with Robert Baird. Your line is now open.

Matthew Krueger

Analyst

Hi, this is actually Matt Krueger sitting in for Ghansham. How are you?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Hey, Matt. Good, how are you?

Matthew Krueger

Analyst

Hey, good, good. First, can you guys provide some additional color on the acquisition synergy delays said in the press release? Has the supplier dispute been resolved? And does that affect the timeline or size of your synergy targets at all?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Yes, it affects the timeline and that we would hope that the negotiation with the supplier when we began would have already been implemented and that both of us would be benefiting from the new arrangement. The supplier took a very aggressive stands. And so, we’ve chose to go in different directions to try to – to handle that particular situation. Consequently, it takes us a little bit longer to look for alternatives and do things a little bit differently. So when those synergies actually begin accruing, has been delayed. But even in the short-term, the reaction of not having those synergy savings are perhaps even higher cost than we anticipated has been part of what we’ve – part of what we’ve experienced in that particular case. The issue relative to the UK market has to do with, we had some cost savings activity plan for the UK and we needed to get it accomplish before the business moved into what has historically its very busy season. If the agreement had been approved out of the box, we could have done that, but now because that that took about seven months to get that finally approved. It’s pushed us too close to the busy season to actually get those savings in this year. So all this will be pushed into 2016 both the savings from the supply of materials as well as the activities in the UK.

Matthew Krueger

Analyst

Okay, that’s helpful. And then a little more broadly, what are your thoughts on the recent consolidation efforts in brand divestiture activities on the customer level in terms of how it will affect your business and then the packaging industry as a whole kind of moving forward?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, certainly is trading very large companies that are cost effective, I guess you will are cost effectively managed in very large brands, in some cases building the brands off, they actually help us, and in some cases consolidation may actually work against this. In the final analysis, the pressure that’s going to be put on suppliers to be more cost effective I think is going to rise; I think that’s a net income of those types of consolidations. But in some of the cases of divestiture, it may actually create opportunities for us and even some of the consolidations we may see activity for innovation or other types of packaging innovations that could lower costs.

Matthew Krueger

Analyst

Okay, that’s helpful. And then is that – I guess summing that up, is that a net negative or a net positive for you?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Stewart, I’d say it’s neutral to us.

Matthew Krueger

Analyst

Okay, thanks a lot. That’s it.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Okay.

Operator

Operator

Our next question or comment is coming from the line of Chris Manuel…

Jack Sanders

Analyst

I’m sorry, Andrew…

Operator

Operator

Yes.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

We can’t hear you very well.

Operator

Operator

I apologize. Our next question or comment comes from the line of Chris Manuel with Wells Fargo. Your line is now open.

Chris Manuel

Analyst

Good morning, Jack.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Good morning, Chris.

Chris Manuel

Analyst

Couple questions for you. It looks like or if – I look at some press releases, right, you’ve started to raise some prices for URB in Europe where I think is as effective this month, have you begun to see any traction from that?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Probably a little bit too early to tell, but specifically into Italy and to Spain, yes.

Chris Manuel

Analyst

Okay. If we kind of file a suite back to, I think, there was $40 a ton for URB you’d look that back early on the spring time, since then OCC to come up a reasonable chunk and if we get towards the $100 you talked about, what would be the dynamics that looks like demand here has been steady in the U.S. if you were down 1.5 globally when you talked about some other regions where it was particularly soft South America and Asia would kind of suggest maybe your volumes in North America have been relatively flat in the industrial side here. What sorts of conditions would kind of put you back in the marketplace to revisit that increase?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, Chris, I think your points were made continued upward pressure on OCC, another movement up certainly I think the best cost it has to be recovered in the system. And we are watching and that’s occurring. I think the coated market may give us a window into how the markets will react and that’s why we’re watching that so closely.

Chris Manuel

Analyst

That’s helpful. And then just a couple other quick ones. You mentioned that the flexible margins were up 400 basis points I think year-over-year, did that now put the flexibles margin sort of in the double-digit range?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

It puts. Our consumer margins are in the double-digit range. And I would tell you that simply flexibles has improved over the years and solid business – over the solid…

Chris Manuel

Analyst

Okay. And the last question is regarding synergies. And I don’t remember the exact targets you guys were after; I thought it was maybe in the $5 million to $10 million range out of Weidenhammer. But what have you got year-to-date and then what’s left for 2016, I think you’ve said some of these get pushed out to 2016. So what's kind of the number you’re targeting for 2016 there?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

I thought was happened.

Chris Manuel

Analyst

Yes, I can…

Jack Sanders

Analyst

I don’t have those specific numbers in front of me, Chris. I knew that we were tracking on those numbers, but obviously we’re going to delay some of those back into 2016, but we can – we get those for you.

Chris Manuel

Analyst

Okay.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

I’ll get that back to you.

Chris Manuel

Analyst

Okay, thank you. That’s all I had. Good luck guys.

Operator

Operator

And our next question or comment comes from the line of Alex Ovshey with Goldman Sachs. Your line is now open.

Alex Ovshey

Analyst

Thank you. Good morning, Jack and team.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Good morning, Alex.

Alex Ovshey

Analyst

Couple ones for you. At the Analyst Day, you talked about a number of the standalone businesses including thermoform that you were talking a look at. I believe the closure is metal closure piece which is the smallest part of that – that has been sold. Any update on what may happen with the businesses over the next couple of quarters and the next 12 months?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Alex, I think, I can’t say as we continue to take a hard look at it, we’re looking at not only the businesses that you mentioned, but we’re looking at some of the – all of our businesses really in. It’s about generating the return that we need for shareholders and if we don’t think that we can get those businesses there we need to look at other options for them. So that’s continuing. And I think we’re getting a pretty good picture of what we need to be doing.

Alex Ovshey

Analyst

Okay Jack. And I may have missed this, but can you say what your composite can, as well as industrial tube and core volumes did in the quarter, in North America?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

In North America, I think, composite can volume in North America for the quarter…

Barry Saunders

Analyst

Tubes…

Jack Sanders

Analyst

In terms of unit volume?

Barry Saunders

Analyst

Yeah.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

For composite can in North America it was up 2.5%.

Barry Saunders

Analyst

Yeah.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

And that was really driven by the strong performance in the powdered and formula category, which was up about 19% year-over-year. We also saw a good growth in fiber caulk, which is up 6% and coffee up 5%, then that was just partially offset by lower volume and not send the continue decline in concentrate.

Barry Saunders

Analyst

And tube and core, I think, was domestically was about down a percent…

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Not quite a percent.

Barry Saunders

Analyst

Yes that’s correct.

Alex Ovshey

Analyst

Got it, got it, thank you Barry for that. And just one last one from me, so in the industrial paper business it sounds like there is somewhat of a margin squeeze that’s playing out with pricing being under some pressure and then OCC moving up. Is there an OCC pariah and it sounds like you guys are expecting some upward pressure on OCC? So is there an OCC price where it makes it a lot less economical to ultimately run some of those industrial paper assets?

Barry Saunders

Analyst

Well, no, I think, part of that, when we talk about that part of margin squeeze is internal, in other words we shifted the profitability to some of the paper buying companies because of internal transport pricing, et cetera. So it’s captured within the company. But certainly raising those you see prices need to be recaptured all the way due to the customer. And on that price reset mechanisms they can do that, move but in the quarter is a little more difficult for us because that’s when the Paper division actually would absorb that increase offset to a degree by the improvement in the recycling business. But the converting companies don’t necessarily see a change until their price mechanism kicks in, so that would create that pricing squeeze if you will internally. I think that rising OCC prices and getting up above a 100 is good as going to be solid for the business in general, because it makes our recycling business move toward profitability.

Alex Ovshey

Analyst

Got you. And just on the medium side, there is no mechanism to ultimately be able to change the price outside of just open market pricing right on the actual medium part of the business?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

No, it’s just kind of a market price that exists in the market.

Alex Ovshey

Analyst

Okay, got it. All right, thank you very much Jack, I appreciate it.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Okay.

Operator

Operator

Our next question or comment comes from the line Mark Wilde with BMO. Your line is now open.

Mark Wilde

Analyst

Yes, Jack, just one more kind of OCC question, I’m curious does the weakness in the Euro, mean that we’re seeing more OCC exported out of Europe and that puts more pressure on OCC in Europe rather than what we see in North America?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Mark, I believe that the weakness in the Euro probably brought China into Europe and we did see OCC prices rise in Europe and that was part of the emphasis for the increase or that you heard us – we’ve been out for in Italy and in Spain. So do you think it has an impact by the other countries in the world going based upon a weak in Euro.

Mark Wilde

Analyst

Yes, that’s what I’m asking. Okay, all right sounds good. Thanks.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Yes.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] And our next question or comment comes from the line of George Staphos with Merrill Lynch. Your line is now open.

George Staphos

Analyst

Thanks. One last question from me on the portfolio guys, you mentioned that you are not only within thermoforming and some other businesses that you look at or discussed during Analyst Day, you’re looking at the whole portfolio in terms of evaluating returns and whether you can get them to, the levels you’d like or not. Jack, when do you think you conclude that analysis, recognizing its never over? And do you think by Analyst Day you will either have announcements and/or targets for the investment community to think about in terms of portfolio improvement and divestitures or remedies to fixing returns. Thanks guys and good luck in the quarter.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Yes, George that’s really a difficult question for me to answer, I can only say that we are looking at it and that we’re doing a strong evaluation of it and that we will make decisions when we feel comfortable that is the best decision for us to make. So, I can’t say that will be our Analyst Day, I can’t say that will be in three weeks. I mean, we are working on it and we’re making the hard decisions that we think need to be made about the portfolio.

George Staphos

Analyst

Okay, thanks. I appreciate the thoughts.

Operator

Operator

And our next question or comment comes from the line of Adam Josephson with KeyBanc Capital. Sir, your line is now open.

Adam Josephson

Analyst

Jack and Barry, thanks for taking my follow-up. Just two; one on M&A. Jack, can you just talk about the multiples you’re seeing out there the prices you’re looking at, how reasonable you think they are, and what your appetite for a decent sized dealers at this juncture?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Well, obviously, the multiples were pretty strong from a selling perspective. We’ve been – we’re always active. We’re always looking. So we’re seeing some multiples that for a strategic probably make a lot less sense. But our appetite for acquisition remains as it always has. We’re focused on where we want to grow. We set flexibles. We’re looking at protective solutions as for growth opportunities as well for acquisition we’re looking Brazil, Southeast Asia and continuing to run the process inside out. We know what we want, so going and finding those companies as we did with Graffo is how we’re driving that forward.

Adam Josephson

Analyst

Thanks, Jack. And just one follow-up on corrugated. Can you just talk about what exactly you’re exporting and is it going mainly to Latin America or elsewhere?

Jack Sanders

Analyst

No, I think some of it goes into the Middle East and in other areas and all we do is make medium. Primarily, we’re a medium producer and that’s – that’s really all we export.

Adam Josephson

Analyst

Great, thanks a lot Jack.

Jack Sanders

Analyst

Yes.

Operator

Operator

And I’m showing no further questions or comments at this time. So with that said, I would like to turn the conference back over to Vice President of Investor Relations, Mr. Roger Schrum.

Roger Schrum

Analyst

Thank you again, Andrew. Again, let me thank everyone for joining us today. We certainly appreciate your interest in the company. As always, if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you again.

Operator

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for participating in today’s conference. This concludes the program. You may now disconnect.