HARTSVILLE, S.C. (News release) -- Sonoco announced its Board of Directors has approved the termination of the Sonoco U.S. Pension Plan for Inactive Participants effective September 30, 2019. This action will not reduce any retirement benefits earned by the approximately 11,000 participants in the Inactive Plan. Sonoco made a contribution earlier this year, bringing the funded level of the Inactive Plan to 97%, and the remaining funding of the Inactive Plan is expected to occur by the end of 2020.

Sonoco previously closed participation in its U.S. defined benefit pension plans, including the Inactive Plan, to new participants and ceased all additional benefit accruals at year-end 2018 (with only limited exceptions). Consistent with the trend of more than 80 percent of other U.S. businesses, Sonoco shifted to providing its employee retirement benefits in the form of defined contribution plans instead. However, the Company continues to be committed to and responsible for funding the large pension obligations that have accumulated over the years. Because these funding obligations are affected by the investment return of pension plan assets and the related unpredictability of market conditions, this led the Company to approve the termination of the Inactive Plan.

When asked about the Board's action today, John Florence, Vice President of Human Resources and General Counsel said, "Sonoco is committed to protecting the pension benefits earned by its employees and retirees. This commitment is demonstrated by the recent $190 million voluntary contributions which increased the funded status of the plans, including an increased funding of the Inactive Plan to almost 100 percent. Today's action by the Board is better described as a 'transition of obligations and related assets' which, once executed, will result in the full funding of the Inactive Plan's benefit obligations. The Company will be taking actions in the coming months to prepare for the transition of the Inactive Plan's obligations and assets which is expected to occur in 2020. I want to emphasize that these actions will not reduce any retirement benefits earned by the Inactive Plan's participants and will instead have the impact of making those benefits more secure."

Impacted Inactive Plan participants are not required to take any action at this time and will be receiving a written letter mailed to their homes with detailed information, answers to frequently asked questions and the required regulatory notices. Once these materials are received, participants who have any questions will be able to contact the Sonoco Pension Transition Center at 866-820-4111 for further information.

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