Transaction Expands Company’s Paperboard Container Presence in Europe

06/07/2011 — HARTSVILLE, S.C. — (BUSINESS WIRE)

Sonoco UK Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonoco (NYSE: SON), one of
the largest diversified global packaging companies and the world’s
largest producer of paperboard cans, has completed the acquisition of
the assets of Robinson Paperboard Packaging Ltd., a division of Robinson
PLC (LSE: RBN).

The acquisition will add approximately $10 million in annual sales and
includes customer contracts, as well as other business assets of
Robinson Paperboard Packaging. As part of the transaction, Sonoco will
assume operation of Robinson’s Chesterfield paperboard can plant located
on Goyt Side Road. Employees at the Chesterfield plant will be retained.

“The purchase of Robinson Paperboard Packaging is a good strategic fit
with Sonoco’s growing global rigid paper container operations”, said
Sean Cairns, general manager of Sonoco Rigid Paper and Closures, Europe.
“We believe Robinson’s proven expertise in innovative paper bottom
technology and unique, patented processes provide a strong platform for
our continued development and growth in the United Kingdom and Europe.”

Cairns added, “This agreement is a win for Robinson, Sonoco and our
packaging customers, who are increasingly recognizing the proven
advantages that rigid paper containers bring in terms of reducing costs
and minimizing the impact on the environment – without compromising
quality. Packaging made from rigid paper reduces package weight, makes
more efficient use of raw materials and conserves energy.”

With origins dating back to 1839, Robinson Paperboard Packaging
manufactures rigid paperboard tubes and boxes for the food, drink,
toiletries, cosmetics and the gift/presentation markets. The
Chesterfield plant is ISO 14001 environmentally accredited, and also has
British Retail Consortium/IoP Food Hygiene and ISO 9001 accreditation.
Sonoco will continue to work with other parts of Robinson, including its
plastics packaging division for the supply of plastic overcaps.

Sonoco has been operating in the UK since 1923 and now has more than 600
employees engaged in consumer and industrial packaging operations at 10
locations. Sonoco operates 44 facilities throughout 15 European
countries with annualized sales of more than $700 million and more than
5,000 employees. The Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of
rigid paperboard containers, producing a variety of round and shaped
spiral-wound, recycled paperboard cans, fiber cartridges and single-wrap
paperboard containers, serving a variety of food and non-food markets.
Sonoco’s rigid paperboard operations include operations in North
America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

About Sonoco

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a $4.1 billion global manufacturer of
industrial and consumer products and provider of packaging services,
with more than 300 operations in 34 countries, serving customers in some
85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the Dow Jones Sustainability
World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.

About Robinson PLC

With a 150 year plus history, Robinson PLC is a leading provider of
custom injection molded plastic packaging solutions and paperboard tubes
& boxes for customers in the UK and internationally. Robinson, whose
customer service reflects its history as a family business, has a
distinguished reputation for innovation and environmental
responsibility. Visit www.robinsonpackaging.com
for more information.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements included herein that are not historical in nature, are
intended to be, and are hereby identified as “forward-looking
statements” for purposes of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of
the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

The words “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,”
“consider,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “objective,” “goal,” “guidance” and
similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding
adequacy of cash flows, anticipated amounts and uses of cash flows,
financial strategies and the results expected from them, continued
payments of dividends, stock repurchases and producing improvements in
earnings.

These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations,
estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and
assumptions made by management. Such information includes, without
limitation, discussions as to guidance and other estimates,
expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies and objectives concerning our
future financial and operating performance. These statements are not
guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties
and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results
may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in such
forward-looking statements.

The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.

Additional information concerning some of the factors that could cause
materially different results is included in the Company’s reports on
forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Such reports are available from the Securities and Exchange
Commission’s public reference facilities and its Web site, http://www.sec.gov,
the Company’s investor relations department and the Company’s Web site, http://www.sonoco.com.

CONTACT:

Sonoco
Robin Montgomery, 843-383-7509
robin.montgomery@sonoco.com

KEYWORDS: United Kingdom, United States, Europe, North America, South Carolina

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Manufacturing, Chemicals/Plastics, Packaging, Other Manufacturing, Natural Resources, Forest Products, Environment, Retail, Food/Beverage, Other Retail

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