UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM 11-K
ý | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) of THE SECURITIES |
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) of THE SECURITIES |
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Transition period from to
Commission file number 001-11261
A. | Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below: |
SONOCO RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS PLAN
B. | Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: |
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
1 N. Second St.
Hartsville, South Carolina 29550
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan
Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule
December 31, 2015 and 2014
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan
Index
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 1 | |
Financial Statements | ||
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits December 31, 2015 and 2014 | 3 | |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 | 4 | |
Notes to Financial Statements | 5 | |
Supplemental Schedule | ||
Schedule H, Part IV, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) December 31, 2015 | 18 | |
NOTE: | All other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, have been omitted because they are not required or are not applicable. |
1Grant Thornton LLP
1320 Main Street, Suite 500
Columbia, SC 29201
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
T 803.231.3100
F 803.231.3057
www.GrantThornton.com
To the Participants and the Employee Benefits Committee of
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan:
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan (the "Plan") as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Grant Thornton LLP
U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd
2The supplemental information in the accompanying schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2015, has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan's financial statements. The supplemental information is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but includes supplemental information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplementary information is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental information reconciles to the basic financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental information. In forming our opinion on the supplemental information in the accompanying schedule, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental information referred to above is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
/s/ Grant Thornton LLP
Columbia, South Carolina
June 24, 2016
Grant Thornton LLP
U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
December 31, 2015 and 2014
(in thousands of dollars) | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Investments, at fair value: | ||||||||
Plan investments | $ | 818,104 | $ | 839,997 | ||||
Receivables: | ||||||||
Notes receivable from participants | 27,512 | 26,842 | ||||||
Employer contributions (Note 2) | 13,592 | 13,217 | ||||||
Total receivables | 41,104 | 40,059 | ||||||
Net assets available for benefits at fair value | 859,208 | 880,056 | ||||||
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for interest in Stable Value Fund relating to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts | (1,883 | ) | (3,719 | ) | ||||
Net assets available for benefits | $ | 857,325 | $ | 876,337 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
3
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
(in thousands of dollars) | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||
Additions to net assets attributed to: | ||||||||
Net (depreciation)/appreciation in fair value of Plan investments | $ | (9,283 | ) | $ | 41,254 | |||
Interest and dividends on Plan investments | 5,478 | 4,918 | ||||||
Net investment (loss)/income (Note 3) | (3,805 | ) | 46,172 | |||||
Interest income on notes receivable from participants | 1,133 | 1,133 | ||||||
Contributions: | ||||||||
Employer | 24,265 | 23,482 | ||||||
Employees | 34,927 | 34,077 | ||||||
Total contributions (Note 2) | 59,192 | 57,559 | ||||||
Total additions | 56,520 | 104,864 | ||||||
Deductions from net assets attributed to: | ||||||||
Distributions to participants | 73,878 | 78,387 | ||||||
Administrative expenses (Note 5) | 1,654 | 1,985 | ||||||
Total deductions | 75,532 | 80,372 | ||||||
(Decrease)/Increase in net assets available for benefits before transfer from/(to) other qualified plans | (19,012 | ) | 24,492 | |||||
Transfers in from other qualified plan (Note 1) | — | 508 | ||||||
(Decrease)/Increase in net assets available for benefits | (19,012 | ) | 25,000 | |||||
Net assets available for benefits: | ||||||||
Beginning of year | 876,337 | 851,337 | ||||||
End of year | $ | 857,325 | $ | 876,337 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
4
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan |
Notes to Financial Statements |
Note 1. Description of the Plan
The following description of the Plan is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan document or the Summary Plan Description, not included herein, for a more complete description of the Plan and its provisions.
General
The Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan (the “Plan”), formerly the Sonoco Savings Plan (the “Savings Plan”), is a defined contribution plan covering a majority of U.S. employees of Sonoco Products Company (the “Company” or “Sonoco”). The Plan is primarily designed to provide a retirement savings vehicle for its participants. Effective December 15, 2012, the Sonoco Investment and Retirement Plan ("SIRP") was merged into the Plan. The participants of the SIRP remained subject to terms of the original SIRP plan document regarding eligibility requirements and employer retirement contributions ("SIRP retirement contributions" or "SRC") calculations, which were integrated in the documents for the current Plan with an amended Plan document effective January 1, 2013.
The Company, a global manufacturer of industrial and consumer packaging products and provider of packaging services, is a South Carolina corporation founded in 1899 in Hartsville, South Carolina and has 330 locations in 34 countries. The Plan is subject to the applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income and Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).
Reparco USA, Inc. was acquired by the Company on December 31, 2013. In connection with the acquisitions, the assets from the Norske Skog 401(k) plan, totaling approximately $508, were transferred into the Plan on May 1, 2014. No such transactions occurred during the 2015 Plan year.
Participation
Most of the Company’s employees are eligible to participate with respect to Plan benefits other than SRCs upon completion of 30 days of service. However, employees at certain union locations may participate after 30 days of service, but are eligible to receive the Company’s matching and discretionary contributions only after 60 days of service, or after attaining age 21 and completing 1 year of service in which the employee worked a minimum of 1,000 hours, depending on the location.
An employee who was eligible under the terms of the SIRP is eligible to participate in Plan benefits with respect to SRCs from the Company. This includes those employees previously in the Sonoco Pension Plan (the “Pension Plan”), a separate plan sponsored by the Company, who elected to transfer into the SIRP under a one-time option effective January 1, 2010 and non-union employees hired on or after January 1, 2004, as they were ineligible for coverage under the Pension Plan.
5
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan |
Notes to Financial Statements |
Note 1. Description of the Plan (Continued)
Contributions
Participants could elect to defer up to 30% of eligible gross pay through payroll deductions through December 15, 2010 and 100% thereafter. Employee contributions may be pre-tax, after-tax, Roth, or a combination thereof. The maximum annual employee pre-tax contribution for any participant was $18,000 in 2015 and 17,500 in 2014. Participants over age 50 could contribute additional pre-tax contributions up to $6,000 in 2015 and $5,500 in 2014 subject to certain catch-up rules as defined under the Internal Revenue Code. Each participant’s total annual contributions, including employer matching contributions and excluding catch-up contributions, were limited to the lesser of $53,000 or 100% of gross pay in both 2015 and 2014. Under the Plan, participants may elect to have their account balances invested in 1% increments in any combination of ten index funds, a Company stock fund (the “Sonoco Stock Fund”), and a Stable Value Fund. Participants have the option to reinvest Sonoco Stock Fund dividends within the Plan or to receive these dividends in cash. Once a participant’s total account balance has been established and certain criteria are met, the participant can also invest funds in a Self-Managed Account.
The Company provides matching and SRC contributions. Matching contributions are made in cash or the Company's common stock in amounts determined annually by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). For 2015 and 2014, the Company matching contributions were equal to 50% on the first 4% of a non-union participant’s pre-tax contributions. For union participants, the Company matching contributions are determined in accordance with collectively bargained agreements. All matching contributions were paid in cash and invested in accordance with the participants’ chosen investment allocations. The Board may elect to provide additional matching contributions at its discretion; however, the Board elected no such contributions in 2015 or 2014. SRCs are made by the Company and equal 4% of eligible pay plus 4% of eligible pay in excess of the Social Security wage base to eligible participant accounts. Participants may direct J.P. Morgan (“JPM”), the Trustee, to invest any portion of SRCs in the available investment options.
Participant Accounts
For those eligible without respect to Plan benefits other than SRCs, each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contributions, the Company’s matching contributions, and an allocation of Plan earnings and losses. Each participant eligible with respect to SRCs is credited with the annual contribution for service in the previous year and Plan earnings and losses in his or her account. The allocation is based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined in the Plan. Net appreciation or depreciation of investments and investment earnings of each fund are allocated to participant accounts in proportion to each participant’s account balance within each fund. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.
Vesting
The majority of participants are vested immediately in both the participant-funded contributions and the Company’s matching contributions and SRCs, plus actual earnings thereon. However, at certain union locations, participants vest in employer matching and discretionary contributions after completing a minimum number of years of service, ranging from two to five years, as specified by the union contract. Vesting in the Company’s SRCs and earnings thereon are based on years of service. A participant is 100% vested after three years of service or upon reaching age fifty-five, if earlier. The participant’s account is fully payable at retirement with respect to all contributions, including participant and employer matching contributions and SRCs.
6
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan |
Notes to Financial Statements |
Note 1. Description of the Plan (Continued)
Payment of Benefits
The Plan provides for benefits payable upon retirement, death, termination, or total and permanent disability. Benefits are distributed through lump-sum payments in cash or Company common stock, or in quarterly or annual installments of not less than $1,000.
For vested retirement contribution accounts, distribution is made as a single lump-sum payment as soon as administratively practicable upon cessation of employment for amounts of $5,000 or less. If the vested value is greater than $5,000, distributions may be deferred until the participant reaches the age of 70 ½. If the participant dies and the balance is less than $5,000, the vested account balance is distributed to the beneficiary as soon as administratively practicable. If the balance is greater than $5,000, the beneficiary may elect to defer distribution of the vested account balance to a later date (distribution cannot be postponed beyond the age of 70 ½ for a spouse or one year for a non-spousal beneficiary). Alternatively, the beneficiary can make an election for a payment option for a complete distribution within five years of the participant’s death.
Notes Receivable from Participants
Participants may borrow from their fund accounts up to an amount no greater than the lesser of 50% of the vested account balance - excluding the portion attributable to SRCs - or $50,000 minus the highest outstanding note balance during the previous 12-month period. Notes are secured by the balances in the participant’s accounts, excluding any balances related to the SRCs. Interest is charged at a fixed rate for the full term of the note. The rate is based on the prime rate at the end of the fiscal quarter prior to note origination plus 1% (4.25% at both December 31, 2015 and 2014). Principal and interest is paid through payroll deductions over a period of no more than five years for a personal use note or twenty years for a residential home note.
Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan provides for various investment options. Investments are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risk. Due to the nature of most investment securities, it is likely that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and it is reasonably possible that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the “Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits.”
Forfeitures
When certain terminations of participation in the Plan occur, the non-vested portion of the participant’s account, as defined by the Plan, represents a forfeiture. Forfeitures of account balances are used to reduce future employer matching contributions and SRCs. For the year ended December 31, 2015, forfeitures totaling approximately $98,000 and $250,000 were used to reduce employer matching contributions and SRCs, respectively. During 2014, forfeitures totaling approximately $90,000 were used to reduce employer matching contributions and $300,000 were used to reduce SRCs. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the remaining balance in the forfeitures account totaled approximately $48,000 and $52,000, respectively.
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Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan |
Notes to Financial Statements |
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting
The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("US GAAP").
Investment contracts held by a defined-contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value. However, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined-contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the plan. The Plan invests in investment contracts through a Stable Value Fund. The “Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits” presents the fair value of the investments in the Stable Value Fund, as well as the adjustment of the investment in the Stable Value Fund from fair value to contract value relating to the investment contracts. The “Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits” is prepared on a contract value basis.
Contributions
Contributions from the Company are recorded in the year and in the amount authorized by the Board. The contribution receivable from the Company represents amounts authorized at year-end, but not yet received by the Plan, and includes both matching contributions and SRCs. As of December 31, matching contributions and SRCs receivable - net of forfeitures - were approximately $240,000 and $13,352,000, respectively, in 2015, and approximately $296,000 and $12,921,000, respectively, in 2014. Contributions from employees of the Company are recorded in the year in which the employee contributions are withheld from employee pay. All contributions from the Company are in the form of cash payments or Company common stock, as elected by the Board. The investment allocations of all employee and employer contributions are participant directed.
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value. Shares of collective trusts are valued at the net asset value of units held at year end. Shares of common stock in the Sonoco Stock Fund are valued at open market values published by the respective stock exchange markets. Individual assets of the Stable Value Fund are comprised of synthetic investment contracts (“SIC”) and are valued at representative quoted market prices. The fair value of the wrap contracts for the SIC is determined using the market approach discounting methodology which incorporates the difference between current market level rates for contract level wrap fees and the wrap fee being charged. The difference is calculated as a dollar value and discounted by the prevailing interpolated swap rate as of period end. All SIC investments are held in the Stable Value Fund (see Note 3). The Self-Managed Account includes shares of common stock valued at open market values published by the respective stock exchange markets and mutual funds valued at quoted net asset values in their respective active markets.
Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates that affect the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Notes Receivable from Participants
Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Delinquent notes are reclassified as distributions based upon the terms of the Plan document.
Payment of Benefits
Benefits are recorded as distributions to participants when paid.
8
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan |
Notes to Financial Statements |
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
Administrative Expenses
Most trust and custodial expenses and investment management fees are paid by the Plan. These expenses are deducted from the investment returns in the accompanying “Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.” Certain trust and custodial expenses and investment management fees are paid by the Company in accordance with the plan documents. In addition, the Plan pays certain recordkeeping and other expenses which are included in administrative expenses in the “Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.”
New Accounting Pronouncements
During the year ended December 31, 2015, there were no newly issued nor newly applicable accounting pronouncements that have had, or are expected to have, a material impact on the Plan's financial statements.
In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-07, Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent) - a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force, which exempts investments measured using the net asset value (NAV) practical expedient in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, from categorization within the fair value hierarchy and related disclosures. The guidance requires retrospective application and is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. For all other entities, the guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. Management does not expect the new accounting pronouncement to have a material impact on the Plan's financial statements.
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-12 Plan Accounting: Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Topic 960), Defined Contribution Pension Plans (Topic 962), and Health and Welfare Benefit Plans (Topic 965): Part (I) Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts, Part (II) Plan Investment Disclosures, Part (III) Measurement Date Practical Expedient, which simplifies employee benefit plan reporting with respect to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts and plan investment disclosures, and provides for a measurement-date practical expedient for plans with a fiscal year-end that does not coincide with a month-end. The guidance in this ASU does not apply to the financial reporting for the plan sponsor; it applies only to the plan’s financial statements. The amendments under ASU 2015-12 are effective for the Plan effective January 1, 2016. The amendments in Parts I and II are required to be applied retrospectively for all financial statements presented and the amendments in Part III, prospectively. The Company is still assessing the impact of ASU 2015-12 on the Plan's financial statements.
Note 3. Investments
The Sonoco Products Company Master Trust (the “Master Trust”) was established for the investment of assets of both the Savings Plan and the SIRP Plan. The plans were merged on December 15, 2012, and the Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan holds the sole interest in the Trust, and the assets of the Plan were and continue to be held by JPM. Although the Master Trust was not legally dissolved and still existed, the Plan has elected to report investments at the Plan level instead of the Master Trust level as of and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. JPM served as trustee of the Plan in both 2015 and 2014. StateStreet Global Advisors (“SSGA”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Bank and Trust (“SSBT”) that manages several of the investment funds held by the Plan. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, all investments represent specific interests of the Plan, as the Plan was the sole owner of the investments. Investment options in which the Plan participates include the S&P 500 Index Fund, Bond Market Index Fund, Russell 2000 Index Fund, International Stock Index Fund, S&P Mid-Cap Fund, SSGA Retirement Income Fund, SSGA Retirement 2010 Fund, SSGA Retirement 2020 Fund, SSGA Retirement 2030 Fund, SSGA Retirement 2040 Fund, SSGA Retirement 2050 Fund, the Self-Managed Account, Sonoco Stock Fund, and the Stable Value Fund. The Plan participated in the same investments for the year ended December 31, 2015, however, the funds invested in the SSGA Retirement 2010 Fund were migrated into the SSGA Retirement Income Fund.
9
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan |
Notes to Financial Statements |
Note 3. Investments (Continued)
S&P 500 Index Fund
The S&P 500 Index Fund invests in all 500 common stocks included in the S&P 500 Index.
Bond Market Index Fund
The Bond Market Index Fund invests primarily in government, corporate, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities intended to approximate the Barclay's Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
Russell 2000 Index Fund
The Russell 2000 Index Fund invests in the 2000 small cap equities that comprise the Russell 2000 Index.
International Stock Index Fund
The International Stock Index Fund invests in the stocks in the Morgan Stanley Capital International EAFE Index, a compilation of international equities.
S&P Mid-Cap Fund
The S&P Mid-Cap Fund invests in all stocks in the S&P Mid-Cap 400 Index in proportion to their weighting in the Index.
Self-Managed Account
The Self-Managed Account allows employees to invest in a wide variety of highly diversified mutual funds, common stocks, and cash equivalents held for liquidity purposes. To invest in the Self-Managed Account, participants must transfer funds from other investment options. The initial investment must be at least $2,500 and the total amount in the Self-Managed Account cannot exceed 50% of the participant’s vested account balance.
SSGA Retirement Income Fund
The SSGA Retirement Income Fund is the option in the Target Retirement series with a focus on income generation as opposed to wealth accumulation. The strategy seeks to address the needs of investors who have reached their retirement date and is comprised mainly of bonds with a reduced exposure to equities to provide greater stability and income. The fund has a target mix of 26% equity funds and 74% bond and money market funds.
SSGA Retirement 2010 Fund (year ended December 31, 2014 only)
The SSGA Retirement 2010 Fund starts out with an equity and bond allocation suitable for retirement in the present time. As of December 31, 2014, this fund had a mix of 26% equities and 74% bond and money market funds. Having met its target date, the investments in the 2010 Fund were integrated into the SSGA Retirement Income Fund.
SSGA Retirement 2020 Fund
The SSGA Retirement 2020 Fund starts out with an equity and bond allocation suitable from now until the year 2020 and beyond. As of December 31, 2015, this fund has a mix of 51% equities and 49% bond and money market funds. Each year, professional managers then adjust the index funding mix, gradually decreasing the equity allocations and increasing the bond and money market fund allocations as the retirement date approaches until the asset mix is approximately the same as the SSGA Retirement Income Fund.
SSGA Retirement 2030 Fund
The SSGA Retirement 2030 Fund starts out with an equity and bond allocation suitable from now until the year 2030 and beyond. As of December 31, 2015, this fund has a mix of 72% equities and 28% bond and money market funds. Each year, professional managers then adjust the index funding mix, gradually decreasing the equity allocations and increasing the bond and money market fund allocations as the retirement date approaches until the asset mix is approximately the same as the SSGA Retirement Income Fund.
10
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan |
Notes to Financial Statements |
Note 3. Investments (Continued)
SSGA Retirement 2040 Fund
The SSGA Retirement 2040 Fund starts out with an equity and bond allocation suitable for the full time horizon - from now until the year 2040 and beyond. As of December 31, 2015, this fund has a mix of 84% equities and 16% bond and money market funds. Each year, professional managers then adjust the index funding mix, gradually decreasing the equity allocations and increasing the bond and money market fund allocations as the retirement date approaches until the asset mix is approximately the same as the SSGA Retirement Income Fund.
SSGA Retirement 2050 Fund
The SSGA Retirement 2050 Fund starts out with an equity and bond allocation suitable for the full time horizon - from now until the year 2050 and beyond. As of December 31, 2015, this fund has a mix of 86% equities and 14% bond and money market funds. Each year, professional managers then adjust the index funding mix, gradually decreasing the equity allocations and increasing the bond and money market fund allocations as the retirement date approaches until the asset mix is approximately the same as the Retirement Income Fund.
Sonoco Stock Fund
Employees may also elect to invest in the Sonoco Stock Fund that consists solely of investments in Company common stock and cash equivalents held for liquidity purposes.
Stable Value Fund
The Stable Value Fund (the “Fund”) is a separately managed fund that invests in fully benefit-responsive SICs, which are supported by underlying assets owned by the Plan, including a pooled separate account and collective trusts. Assets underlying the pooled separate account and collective trusts include government securities, private and public mortgage-backed securities, investment grade corporate obligations and cash equivalents held for liquidity purposes. The fully benefit-responsive investment contracts are included in the financial statements of the Plan at fair value, with an adjustment to contract value as reported to the Plan by the issuers. Contract values reflect contributions made under the contract, plus earnings, less benefit withdrawals and administrative expenses. Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment at contract value.
The average yield earned by the Fund was 2.02% and 1.54% at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. This represents the annualized earnings of all investments in the Fund divided by the fair value of all investments in the Fund at December 31 of both years. The yield earned by the Fund with an adjustment to reflect the actual interest rate credited to participants in the Fund was 2.11% and 1.82% at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. This represents the annualized earnings credited to participants in the Fund divided by the fair value of all investments in the Fund at December 31, 2015 and 2014.
11
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan |
Notes to Financial Statements |
Note 3. Investments (Continued)
Stable Value Fund (Continued)
Security-backed SIC contracts generally provide for withdrawals associated with certain events which are not in the ordinary course of issuers’ operations. These withdrawals are paid with a market value adjustment applied to the withdrawal as defined in the investment contract. Each contract issuer specifies the events which may trigger a market value adjustment; however, such events may include all or a portion of the following:
• | material amendments to the Plan’s structure or administration; |
• | changes to the participating plans’ competing investment options including the elimination of equity wash provisions; |
• | complete or partial termination of the Plan, including a merger with another Plan; |
• | the failure of the Plan to qualify for exemption from federal income taxes or any required prohibited transaction exemption under ERISA; |
• | the redemption of all or a portion of the interests in the Plan held by a participating plan at the direction of the participating plan sponsor, including withdrawals due to the removal of a specifically identifiable group of employees from coverage under the participating plan (such as a group layoff or early retirement incentive program), the closing or sale of a subsidiary, employing unit, or affiliate, the bankruptcy or insolvency of a plan sponsor, the merger of the plan with another plan, or the plan sponsor’s establishment of another tax qualified defined contribution plan; |
• | any change in law, regulation, ruling, administrative or judicial position, or accounting requirement, applicable to the Plan or participating plans; |
• | the delivery of any communication to plan participants designed to influence a participant not to invest in the Plan. |
At this time, the Plan does not believe that the occurrence of any such market value event, which would limit the Plan’s ability to transact at contract value with participants, is probable. Security-backed contracts generally are evergreen contracts that contain termination provisions, allowing the Plan or the contract issuer to terminate with notice, at any time at fair value, and providing for automatic termination of the contract if the contract value or the fair value of the underlying portfolio equals zero. The issuer is obligated to pay the excess contract value when the fair value of the underlying portfolio equals zero. In addition, if the Plan defaults in its obligations under the security-backed contract (including the issuer’s determination that the agreement constitutes a non-exempt prohibited transaction as defined under ERISA), and such default is not corrected within the time permitted by the contract, then the contract may be terminated by the issuer and the Plan will receive the fair value as of the date of termination. There is no contractual waiting period for the Plan to exit the Fund; therefore, if the Plan chose to exit the Fund it would happen as soon as administratively possible.
12
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan |
Notes to Financial Statements |
Note 3. Investments (Continued)
The following table presents the investments held by the Plan and Master Trust as of December 31:
(in thousands of dollars) | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||
Common Stock and Mutual Funds | |||||||||
Sonoco Stock Fund | $ | 55,277 | * | $ | 60,678 | * | |||
Self-Managed Account | 5,831 | 5,683 | |||||||
Collective Trusts | |||||||||
S&P 500 Index Fund | 184,530 | * | 191,965 | * | |||||
S&P Mid-Cap Fund | 71,754 | * | 73,884 | * | |||||
International Stock Index Fund | 69,298 | * | 67,846 | * | |||||
Bond Market Index Fund | 68,824 | * | 64,225 | * | |||||
Russell 2000 Index Fund | 46,300 | * | 51,930 | * | |||||
SSgA Retirement 2030 Fund | 40,326 | 39,939 | |||||||
SSgA Retirement 2020 Fund | 32,075 | 33,731 | |||||||
SSgA Retirement 2040 Fund | 27,854 | 27,040 | |||||||
SSgA Retirement 2050 Fund | 10,153 | 7,731 | |||||||
SSgA Retirement Income Fund | 6,832 | 2,682 | |||||||
SSgA Retirement 2010 Fund | — | 5,516 | |||||||
Stable Value Fund | |||||||||
Wells Fargo Fixed Income Fund F | 90,817 | * | 101,603 | * | |||||
Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. Separate Account #613 | 42,419 | 43,579 | |||||||
Wells Fargo Fixed Income Fund L | 41,222 | 42,279 | |||||||
Wells Fargo Stable Return Fund W | 20,108 | 13,799 | |||||||
Wells Fargo Short-Term Investment Fund S | 4,484 | 5,887 | |||||||
Total investments at fair value | $ | 818,104 | $ | 839,997 | |||||
*Investments or investments in a fund representing more than 5% of the Plan’s net assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014
The components of net (depreciation)/appreciation in fair value of Plan investments for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:
(in thousands of dollars) | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||
Net (depreciation)/appreciation in fair value of Plan investments: | ||||||||
Collective Trusts | $ | (5,160 | ) | $ | 38,271 | |||
Company Common Stock | (4,028 | ) | 2,664 | |||||
Mutual Funds, Common Stock, and Cash Equivalents | (95 | ) | 319 | |||||
$ | (9,283 | ) | $ | 41,254 | ||||
13
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan |
Notes to Financial Statements |
Note 4. Fair Value Measurements
The following table sets forth information regarding the Plan’s financial assets that are measured at fair value in a three-tier value hierarchy to prioritize the inputs in measuring fair value as follows:
Level 1 | – | Observable inputs such as quoted market prices in active markets; |
Level 2 | – | Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and |
Level 3 | – | Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions. |
December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of dollars) | 2015 | (Level 1) | (Level 2) | (Level 3) | ||||||||||||
Description | ||||||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||
Company Common Stock (a) | $ | 55,277 | $ | 55,277 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Mutual Funds, Common Stock, and Cash Equivalents (b) | 5,831 | 5,831 | — | — | ||||||||||||
Collective Trusts (c) | 557,946 | — | 557,946 | — | ||||||||||||
SIC - Collective Trusts - Wells Fargo | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed Income Funds F (d) | 90,817 | — | 90,817 | — | ||||||||||||
Fixed Income Funds L (d) | 41,222 | — | 41,222 | — | ||||||||||||
Collective Trust - Wells Fargo | ||||||||||||||||
Stable Return Fund W (d) | 20,108 | — | 20,108 | — | ||||||||||||
Short-Term Investment Fund S (d) | 4,484 | — | 4,484 | — | ||||||||||||
SIC - Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. Separate Account #613 (d) | 42,419 | — | 42,419 | — | ||||||||||||
Total fair value of investments | $ | 818,104 | $ | 61,108 | $ | 756,996 | $ | — | ||||||||
14
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan |
Notes to Financial Statements |
Note 4. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)
December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of dollars) | 2014 | (Level 1) | (Level 2) | (Level 3) | ||||||||||||
Description | ||||||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||
Company Common Stock (a) | $ | 60,678 | $ | 60,678 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Mutual Funds, Common Stock, and Cash Equivalents (b) | 5,683 | 5,683 | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
Collective Trusts (c) | 566,489 | — | 566,489 | — | ||||||||||||
SIC - Collective Trusts - Wells Fargo | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed Income Funds F (d) | 101,603 | — | 101,603 | — | ||||||||||||
Fixed Income Funds L (d) | 42,279 | — | 42,279 | — | ||||||||||||
Collective Trust - Wells Fargo | ||||||||||||||||
Stable Return Fund G (d) | 13,799 | — | 13,799 | — | ||||||||||||
Short-Term Investment Fund S (d) | 5,887 | — | 5,887 | — | ||||||||||||
SIC - Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. Separate Account #613 (d) | 43,579 | — | 43,579 | — | ||||||||||||
Total fair value of investments | $ | 839,997 | $ | 66,361 | $ | 773,636 | $ | — | ||||||||
(a) Company Common Stock includes investment of shares of Sonoco Stock in the Sonoco Stock Fund, which is a publicly traded instrument valued using stated market value and, in some instances, the dividends receivable to the Plan as instrument holder on the day of record.
(b) Mutual Funds, Common Stock, and Cash Equivalents include investments held in the Self-Managed Account. In addition to common stock, the Self-Managed Account Fund is also comprised of highly diversified mutual funds and cash equivalents held for liquidity purposes. These investments are all publicly traded instruments valued using stated market values and, in some instances, the dividends receivable to the Plan as instrument holder on the day of record.
(c) The Collective Trusts consist of the Plan’s investment for all funds not specifically listed elsewhere in the chart. The underlying investments consist of equity investments, short term investments, collective investment funds, and fixed income securities. Each Collective Trust fund provides for daily redemptions by the Plan at reported net asset values per share with no advance notice requirement. The underlying investments are valued based on the respective Collective Trust's net asset values.
(d) These investments are all components of the Plan’s ownership of the Stable Value Fund. They represent fully benefit-responsive Synthetic Investment Contracts ("SIC"). The SIC wraps investments in a pooled separate account and collective trusts whose underlying investments are primarily fixed income instruments. These instruments are valued based on the underlying investments’ fair market value.
The Plan currently has no nonfinancial assets or liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis. Changes in the fair value of investments held at the end of the period are reported in “Net (depreciation)/appreciation in fair value of Plan investments” in the “Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.” See Note 3 for the components of the change in depreciation or appreciation.
Changes in economic conditions or valuation techniques may require the transfer of financial instruments from one fair value level to another. In such instances, the transfer is reported at the beginning of the reporting period. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, there were no transfers in or out of levels 1, 2, or 3.
15
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan |
Notes to Financial Statements |
Note 5. Related Party Transactions
Certain Plan investments, including investments in the collective trusts and money market funds, are managed by SSGA and SSBT. Underlying investments in the Stable Value Fund are sponsored by the investment manager for the fund, Wells Fargo, N.A., which qualifies as a party-in-interest. As the Plan Trustee and recordkeeper, JPM issued, managed, or had custodial relationships with certain Plan investments. Therefore, transactions related to these investments qualify as party-in-interest transactions. In addition, JPM was paid administrative fees throughout the year. Fees paid by the Plan to these related parties amounted to approximately $1,654,000 and $1,985,000 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Plan held approximately 1,350,000 and 1,387,000 shares, respectively, of common stock of the Company with a fair value of approximately $55,277,000 and $60,678,000, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Plan recorded dividend income on the common stock of the Company of approximately $1,886,000 and $1,825,000, respectively.
Note 6. Tax Status
The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has determined and informed Sonoco ("Plan Administrator") by a letter dated September 17, 2013, that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, the Plan Administrator believes the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC. Also, during the previous plan year, the Plan Administrator determined that certain Plan operations were not in accordance with the Plan document or not in accordance with the IRC. As necessary, the Plan Administrator utilized a corrective program available by the IRS rules and regulations to correct issues of non-compliance and thus they believe the Plan remained in compliance with the IRC and will remain tax exempt. Accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements. A request by the Plan for a new determination letter was made, as required.
US GAAP requires Plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan Administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2015, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan Administrator believes it is no longer subject to federal income tax examinations prior to 2012.
Note 7. Plan Termination
Although it has not expressed any intention to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions set forth in ERISA.
16
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan |
Notes to Financial Statements |
Note 8. Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements at December 31 to the Form 5500:
(in thousands of dollars) | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements | $ | 857,325 | $ | 876,337 | ||||
Plus: | ||||||||
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts | ||||||||
1,883 | 3,719 | |||||||
Net assets available for benefits per Form 5500 | $ | 859,208 | $ | 880,056 | ||||
The following is a reconciliation of the increase in net assets available for benefits per the financial statements for the year ended December 31 to the Form 5500:
Year ended | ||||
December 31, | ||||
(in thousands of dollars) | 2015 | |||
Decrease in net assets available for benefits | ||||
$ | (19,012 | ) | ||
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts | ||||
(1,836 | ) | |||
Decrease in net assets available for benefits | ||||
$ | (20,848 | ) | ||
17
Supplemental Schedule
Sonoco Savings and Retirement Plan
Schedule H, Part IV, Line 4i—Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2015
(in thousands of dollars) | Description of Investment Including Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Collateral, and Par or Maturity Value | Number of Shares or Units | Current or Market Value | |||||
Identity of Issuer, Borrower, Lessor, or Similar Party | ||||||||
Common Stock and Mutual Funds | ||||||||
Sonoco Products Company* | Sonoco Stock Fund | 1,349,999 | $ | 55,277 | ||||
JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.* | Self-Managed Account | ** | 5,831 | |||||
Collective Trusts | ||||||||
StateStreet Global Advisors* | S&P 500 Index Fund | 4,228,089 | 184,530 | |||||
StateStreet Global Advisors* | S&P Mid-Cap Fund | 2,787,367 | 71,754 | |||||
StateStreet Global Advisors* | International Stock Index Fund | 3,779,237 | 69,298 | |||||
StateStreet Global Advisors* | Bond Market Index Fund | 5,201,763 | 68,824 | |||||
StateStreet Global Advisors* | Russell 2000 Index Fund | 2,178,854 | 46,300 | |||||
StateStreet Global Advisors* | SSgA Retirement 2030 Fund | 2,025,059 | 40,326 | |||||
StateStreet Global Advisors* | SSgA Retirement 2020 Fund | 1,709,787 | 32,075 | |||||
StateStreet Global Advisors* | SSgA Retirement 2040 Fund | 1,386,671 | 27,854 | |||||
StateStreet Global Advisors* | SSgA Retirement 2050 Fund | 506,280 | 10,153 | |||||
StateStreet Global Advisors* | SSgA Retirement Income Fund | 461,693 | 6,832 | |||||
Stable Value Fund | ||||||||
Prudential Insurance Company of America | Synthetic Investment Contract, 2.03% | |||||||
Transamerica Premier Life Ins. Co. | Synthetic Investment Contract, 2.49% | |||||||
Voya Ret. Ins. and Annuity Co. | Synthetic Investment Contract, 1.81% | |||||||
Wells Fargo, N.A.* | Fixed Income Fund F | 90,817 | ||||||
Wells Fargo Fixed Income Funds L | ||||||||
Prudential Insurance Company of America | Synthetic Investment Contract, 2.03% | |||||||
Transamerica Premier Life Ins. Co. | Synthetic Investment Contract, 2.49% | |||||||
Voya Ret. Ins. and Annuity Co. | Synthetic Investment Contract, 1.81% | |||||||
Wells Fargo, N.A.* | Fixed Income Fund L | 41,222 | ||||||
Metropolitan Separate Account | ||||||||
Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. | Synthetic Investment Contract, 3.08% (a) | |||||||
Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. | Separate Account #613 | 42,419 | ||||||
Wells Fargo, N.A.* | Collective trust, Wells Fargo Stable Return Fund W | 382,568 | 20,108 | |||||
Wells Fargo, N.A.* | Collective trust, Wells Fargo Short-Term Investment Fund S | 4,476,201 | 4,484 | |||||
$ | 818,104 | |||||||
Notes receivable from participants* | Notes receivable from participants have interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 10.5%, with varying maturity dates from 2016 to 2035 | 27,512 | ||||||
$ | 845,616 | |||||||
* Represents a party-in-interest to the Plan
(a) Represents the aggregate value of the segregated portfolio held by the contract issuer for the benefit of the Fund
** Comprised of a mix of mutual funds, common stocks, and cash equivalents that are converted into units of the Self-Managed Account
19
SIGNATURES
The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
SONOCO RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS PLAN | ||||
By: | Sonoco Products Company as Plan Administrator | |||
June 24, 2016 | By: | /s/ Barry L. Saunders | ||
Date | Barry L. Saunders | |||
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number | Description | |
23-1 | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm to Incorporation by Reference of Independent Registered Accounting Firm’s Report with Respect to Form 11-K for the Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan | |