Sealed Air Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Results

Full Year 2010 EPS of $1.44 and Adjusted EPS of $1.60
Fourth Quarter 2010 EPS of $0.29 and Adjusted EPS of $0.46
Fourth Quarter 2010 Volumes Increased 7%

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Highlights

• Fourth quarter volumes increased in all segments and all regions 

• Full year volumes increased 5% with growth achieved in all segments and regions  

• Full year free cash flow of $342 million  

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J., Monday, January 24, 2011 - For full year 2010, Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE:SEE) reported diluted net earnings per common share (EPS) of $1.44, compared with $1.35 in 2009. Adjusted EPS was $1.60 in 2010, compared with $1.44 in 2009.  (See attached supplements for non-GAAP reconciliations and information.) Sales increased 6% to $4.49 billion.  Gross profit increased 3% to $1.25 billion while operating profit increased 9% to $535 million.   The 2010 adjusted operating profit was $549 million, or 12.2% of net sales.  This compares with $509 million, or 12.0%, in 2009.  

Fourth quarter 2010 EPS was $0.29, compared with $0.37 in 2009, primarily due to the loss on debt redemption of our 12% Senior Notes. Adjusted EPS increased 15% to $0.46, compared with $0.40 in 2009. Sales increased 6% to $1.21 billion.  Fourth quarter gross profit held relatively steady at $332 million, while operating profit increased 9% to $135 million.  The 2010 adjusted operating profit was $145 million, or 12.0% of net sales.  This compares with $132 million, or 11.5%, in 2009.

Commenting on our operating performance, William V. Hickey, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated:  

"As we conclude Sealed Air's 50th anniversary year and look ahead to 2011, I am pleased with the good volume momentum that our businesses achieved in all regions this year, resulting in solid fourth quarter volume performance.  During the year, we remained focused on growth by successfully launching over 55 new solutions, including expanding our service-based offerings, and by completing four early-stage strategic investments.  

In 2010, we achieved approximately $100 million of productivity benefits by leveraging our World Class Manufacturing principles, implementing new, patented technologies, and successfully completing our Global Manufacturing Strategy program.  These productivity gains, as well as tight control of expenses and pricing actions, contributed to our steady profitability performance despite the timing of price/cost spreads.

All of these achievements contributed to solid free cash flow, which enabled us to invest in our extensive product pipeline, expand our geographic footprint and return $90 million to shareholders in dividend payments and share buybacks.  Today, we remain well positioned to fund near term obligations and continue to invest in our future."

Fourth Quarter Segment Review
The following year-over-year net sales discussions exclude the impact of currency translation, which we define as "constant dollar," a non-U.S. GAAP measure.  The balance of the discussion is presented on a U.S. GAAP basis.  See "Components of Change in Net Sales - Business Segments and Other," attached, for further details.

In the following segment discussions, the 2010 fourth quarter operating profit results for each segment include lower incentive compensation expenses, as we did not fully achieve our 2010 performance goals.  

Food Packaging Segment
Sales increased 6% on a constant dollar basis, with 6% higher volumes as all regions grew, reflecting seasonality in the holiday period and increased demand for our solutions.  Volume growth was primarily driven by a 7% increase in North America and a 9% increase in Europe.  Despite the benefits of price increases and formula contract adjustments in the quarter, price/mix was negatively affected by the volatility of the foreign currency environment in Venezuela and selectively lower pricing associated with higher customer volume commitments.  Adjusting for the foreign currency effect, price/mix would have been positive for the quarter.  Operating profit increased 17% to $78 million, or 14.7% of net sales, compared with 13.3% in 2009.  

Food Solutions Segment

Sales increased 6% on a constant dollar basis, with 6% higher volumes, which were primarily driven by an 11% increase in Europe.  Price/mix was relatively steady as the mix effect in volume growth from some lower priced products offset benefits from our prior pricing actions. Operating profit increased 43% to $28 million, or 11.2% of net sales, compared with 8.2% in 2009.  The increase in operating profit is primarily due to leveraging higher volumes and tight control of expenses.  

Protective Packaging Segment

Sales increased 7% on a constant dollar basis, with 8% higher volumes reflecting improving industrial production rates in North America and Europe and strength in fulfillment/e-commerce applications.  Price/mix was 1% lower due to selective pricing actions, the introduction of new thinner profile products and the timing of our December 1st price increase. Operating profit decreased 9% to $38 million, or 11.0% of net sales, compared with 12.9% in 2009.  The decline in operating profit primarily reflects charges associated with the December announcement of the closure of a small factory in Europe.  Adjusting for the costs of the closure, operating profit would have been $41 million, or 12.0% of net sales.

Other Category

Sales increased 6% on a constant dollar basis, with 8% higher volumes reflecting growth in both Specialty Materials and Medical Applications. Price/mix was 2% lower primarily due to volume rebates in our Medical Applications business.  We recognized an operating loss of $2 million, primarily from our new ventures investments.  This compares with a 1.7% operating profit margin in 2009.

Fourth Quarter Other Matters

In December, we completed an early redemption of $150 million of the outstanding $300 million principal amount of our 12% Senior Notes due February 14, 2014.  The aggregate redemption price was approximately $196 million, including approximately $5 million of accrued interest, and was funded with available cash.   As a result, we recorded a charge to net earnings of approximately $24 million, or $0.14 per common share, in the fourth quarter of 2010, which includes a gain resulting from the termination of a related interest rate swap.  The annual interest expense savings from this redemption are $18 million, or $0.06 per common share, beginning in December 2010 through February 2014.

In our Global Manufacturing Strategy, or GMS program, we recognized an additional $4 million of charges in the fourth quarter.  This includes $3 million in restructuring resulting from additional headcount reductions identified during the completion of the program.  The additional $1 million of charges in cost of sales relates to our previously announced plan to cease certain operations at one of our German locations.  This compares to $8 million of charges, primarily in restructuring, in 2009.  These charges mark the completion of projects related to GMS.  We realized a $55 million annual benefit run rate from this program in 2010 and expect these benefits to continue in 2011.

The effective income tax rate in the fourth quarter was 13.3% compared to 25.3% in the prior year period.  On a full year basis, the 2010 effective tax rate was 25.5% compared to 25.9% in 2009.  Our most recent 2010 guidance of 28% was noted to be without the benefit of certain U.S. tax credits, which had previously expired.  Those tax credits were retroactively extended in December and our favorable rates reflect that retroactive extension.  Additionally, our rate was further reduced by a higher mix of foreign earnings due to the net loss associated with the premium we paid to redeem the 12% Senior Notes discussed above.

 2011 Outlook and Earnings Guidance

Commenting on our outlook, Mr. Hickey stated:

"Through the strengths of our extensive global footprint, customers' solid reception of our new products and services, a strong new product pipeline that leverages differentiated, patented technologies, and a leaner cost structure, we are well positioned to capture the many opportunities ahead of us.  As our revenue grows we expect ongoing margin expansion, which will bring us a step closer to our goal of a 15% operating margin."  

In 2011, we are anticipating an ongoing modest rate of economic recovery and an average constant dollar sales growth rate in the 5% to 7% range. Presently, our full year 2011 guidance also assumes:

• a low-to-mid single-digit percent average increase in resin costs over the year compared to our 2010 average cost;  

• a slightly unfavorable impact on net sales from foreign currency translation;  

• depreciation and amortization of property and equipment of $145 million; 

• amortization of non-cash, long-term, share-based compensation of $30 million;  

• interest expense of $150 million; and 

• an effective income tax rate of 27.0%.  

As a result, we anticipate full year 2011 EPS to be in the range of $1.75 to $1.90.  

In addition, capital expenditures in 2011 are estimated to be $150 to $175 million and free cash flow is expected to once again exceed $300 million.

Our guidance excludes the payment of the W. R. Grace settlement, as the exact timing of the settlement is unknown, although it is possible that a confirmation order and final payment could occur sometime in the first half of 2011.  Final payment of the W. R. Grace settlement is expected to be accretive to EPS by approximately $0.12 to $0.14 annually following the payment date under the assumption of using a substantial portion of cash on hand for the payment and ceasing to accrue interest on the settlement amount.  Additionally, our guidance excludes any non-operating gains or losses that may be recognized in 2011 due to currency fluctuations in Venezuela.

Web Site and Conference Call Information
William V. Hickey, our CEO, and David H. Kelsey, our CFO, will conduct an investor conference call today at 11:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss our earnings results.  The conference call will be webcast live on our web site at www.sealedair.com in the Investor Information section. The link to the event can be found on the Investor Information home page as well as under the Presentations & Events tab.  Listeners should go to the web site prior to the call to register and to download and install any necessary audio software.  A replay of the webcast will also be available on the Company's web site.  

Investors who cannot access the webcast may listen to the conference call live via telephone by dialing (888) 679-8035 (domestic) or (617) 213-4848 (international) and use the participant code 96942854.  Telephonic replay will be available beginning today at 2:00 p.m. (ET) and ending on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. (ET).  To listen to the replay, please dial (888) 286-8010 (domestic) or (617) 801-6888 (international) and use the confirmation code 53209481.

Business

For over fifty years, Sealed Air has been a leading global innovator and manufacturer of a wide range of packaging and performance-based materials and equipment systems that now serve an array of food, industrial, medical, and consumer applications.  Operating in 51 countries, Sealed Air's international reach generated revenue of $4.5 billion in 2010. With widely recognized brands such as Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning, Jiffy® protective mailers, Instapak® foam-in-place systems and Cryovac® packaging technology, Sealed Air continues to identify new trends, foster new markets, and deliver innovative solutions to its customers.  For more information about Sealed Air, please visit the Company's web site at www.sealedair.com.

Non-U.S. GAAP Information
In this press release, we have included several non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EPS, net sales on a "constant dollar" basis, adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating profit, adjusted net earnings, free cash flow and EBIT, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA.  We present results and guidance, adjusted to eliminate the effects of specified items that would otherwise be included under U.S. GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods or prior guidance.  We may use adjusted EPS, net sales on a constant dollar basis, adjusted net earnings, adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating profit, measures of cash flow, and EBITDA figures to determine performance-based compensation.  Our management uses financial measures excluding the effects of foreign currency translation in evaluating operating performance.  Management believes that this information may be useful to investors.  For important information on our use of non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, see the attached supplementary information entitled "Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP Diluted Net Earnings per Common Share to Non-U.S. GAAP Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings per Common Share," "Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP Gross Profit and Operating Profit to Non-U.S. GAAP Adjusted Gross Profit and Operating Profit," "Non-U.S. GAAP Free Cash Flow," "Reconciliation of Net Earnings Available to Common Stockholders to Non-U.S. GAAP EBIT, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA," "Components of Change in Net Sales - Business Segments and Other" and "Percentage Changes in Net Sales by Geographic Region."

Forward-Looking Statements
Sealed Air has provided certain forward-looking statements in this press release such as those above in the Fourth Quarter Other Matters section, where we discuss currency fluctuations and outline the benefits that we expect from GMS, and in the Outlook and Earnings Guidance section, where we discuss our expectations for 2011, including our expected 2011 EPS performance.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by such words as "anticipates," "assumes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "will" and similar expressions. A variety of factors may cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations, including general economic conditions affecting packaging utilization; changes in our raw material and energy costs and our sales terms; currency translation and devaluation effects; and regulatory and legal matters. For more extensive information, see "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements," which appear in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as they may be revised and updated by our Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K.

Contact
Amanda Butler
Director of Investor Relations
Tel: 201-703-4210
investor.relations@sealedair.com