EXHIBIT 99.1

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 3, 2007

 

   CONTACT:    Ronald J. Domanico
      Senior Vice President and
      Chief Financial Officer
      (770) 948-3101

CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. REPORTS

SECOND QUARTER 2007 RESULTS

ATLANTA, Georgia - Caraustar Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSAR) today announced that sales for the second quarter ended June 30, 2007 were $235.6 million, a decrease of 10.3 percent compared to sales of $262.7 million for the same quarter in 2006. Included in the second quarter 2006 sales were $21.4 million related to the company’s Rittman, OH and Sprague, CT coated recycled paperboard operations, both of which were exited in 2006. Loss from continuing operations for the second quarter 2007 was $2.3 million, or $0.08 per share, compared to loss from continuing operations of $15.7 million, or $0.55 per share for the same quarter last year. The second quarter 2007 and 2006 results included pretax restructuring and impairment costs of approximately $3.7 million and $15.8 million, or $0.08 and $0.34 per share, respectively.

The second quarter 2007 loss from continuing operations was impacted by noncash asset write-offs of $1.0 million, or $0.02 per share, related to the sale of our Mooresville, NC converting location and $0.7 million, or $0.02 per share, in severance and unemployment taxes.

Total paperboard controlled volume (Caraustar mill tons sold plus outside paperboard purchased) for the second quarter of 2007 decreased approximately 87.0 thousand tons, or 26.7 percent, compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year, as a part of the transformation plan to rationalize underperforming assets, the company exited the Sprague, CT and Rittman, OH mills, and closed the Lafayette, IN and Reading, PA mills. Those four mills, in aggregate, sold 78.8 thousand tons in the second quarter 2006. Excluding these mills, total paperboard controlled in the second quarter 2007 compared to prior year decreased 8.2 thousand tons, or 3.3 percent versus an industry decline of 6.3 percent. The rationalization of ten converting facilities (two folding carton and eight tube and core) over the same time period also adversely impacted volume. Gypsum facing paper volume, including volume at the company’s 50-percent owned unconsolidated Premier Boxboard Limited, LLC (PBL) joint venture, declined 27.9 percent compared to the same quarter last year as the demand for wallboard continued to be soft. Offsetting this shortfall, production at the gypsum facing paper mills exceeded prior year as the company leveraged its flexibility in producing other grades. Quarter-over-quarter, mill margins increased $16 per ton as a fiber cost increase of $38 per ton was more than offset by higher selling prices of $43 per ton and lower fuel and energy costs of $11 per ton. Tube and core margins remained relatively stable compared to the same period last year.

 

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Ÿ    P. O. BOX 115        Ÿ    AUSTELL, GA 30168-0115

AUSTELL THREADMILL COMPLEX        Ÿ    5000 AUSTELL-POWDER SPRINGS ROAD        Ÿ    SUITE 300

AUSTELL, GA 30106-2440        Ÿ    PHONE 770 . 948 . 3101

www.caraustar.com


Caraustar Industries, Inc.

August 3, 2007

Page 2

Six-month period ended June 30, 2007

Sales for the six-month period ended June 30, 2007 were $468.4 million, a decrease of 11.0 percent compared to sales of $526.6 million for the same period in 2006. Included in the six months ended June 30, 2006, sales were $44.3 million related to the company’s Rittman, OH and Sprague, CT coated recycled paperboard operations, both of which were exited in 2006. Loss from continuing operations for the six-month period ended June 30, 2007 was $11.3 million, or $0.39 per share, compared to a gain from continuing operations of $65.8 million, or $2.30 per share for the same period last year. Income from continuing operations for the first half of 2006 included a gain of $135.2 million on the sale of the company’s 50-percent interest in its Standard Gypsum joint venture and a cost of $18.8 million associated with the redemption of its senior subordinated notes. The six-month periods ended 2007 and 2006 results included pretax restructuring and impairment costs of approximately $9.5 million and $20.6 million, or $0.21 and $0.45 per share, respectively.

Michael J. Keough, president and chief executive officer of Caraustar, commented, “Caraustar’s second quarter results improved considerably over first quarter 2007 and year-over-year. Additionally, our mill system operated at 96.6 percent of capacity versus 93.1 percent in the first quarter 2007 and 96.0 percent in the second quarter 2006. We were able to sell out the entire capacity of our PBL joint venture mill in the second quarter 2007, and the mill continues to run full with a product mix of approximately half facing paper and half containerboard.

During the quarter, we were able to achieve a high percentage of the original $50 per ton price increase announced in March, and energy costs were down $11 per ton versus the second quarter last year. Operating results, however, were adversely impacted by company and industry volume shortfalls coupled with a $38 per ton increase in recovered fiber costs. Fiber costs decreased in April and May but began to climb again in June. We expect continued volatility in the cost of fiber given the increased international consumption, primarily by China.

“Our transformation process continued as we further refined our business portfolio through the sale of our Mooresville, NC converting facility, which produced games and picture frames. Our comprehensive initiative to reduce SG&A, including the closure of underperforming assets, led to a $6.4 million reduction in costs versus the second quarter last year. The percent of SG&A to sales declined from 12.6 percent to 11.3 percent.

“As stated last quarter, we were able to increase liquidity despite volume declines that led to lower operating results, and we expect to further improve liquidity in the third quarter. We remain committed to achieving overall improvements in volume, sales and cost reductions.”

Liquidity

The company ended the quarter with a cash balance of $2.3 million compared to $1.0 million at December 31, 2006. For the six month periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, the company used $12.2 million and $3.6 million, respectively, of cash in operating activities. The increase in cash used from operations versus 2006 was primarily due to lower operating results. Capital expenditures decreased year-to-date to $11.6 million in 2007 from $15.8 million in 2006.

 

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Caraustar Industries, Inc.

August 3, 2007

Page 3

As of June 30, 2007, the company had $60.2 million in borrowings outstanding under its $135.0 million senior secured credit facility and had $15.7 million in letters of credit outstanding. As of June 30, 2007, the company had availability under the revolver portion of the Senior Credit Facility of $24.4 million.

Cash restructuring costs related to the closure of facilities were $1.6 million in the second quarter of both 2007 and 2006.

Caraustar, a recycled paperboard and packaging company, is one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of converted recycled paperboard. Caraustar has developed its leadership position in the industry through diversification and integration from raw materials to finished products. Caraustar serves the four principal recycled boxboard product end-use markets: tubes, cores and composite cans; folding cartons; gypsum facing paper; and specialty paperboard products. For additional information on Caraustar, please visit the company’s website at www.caraustar.com.

Caraustar Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSAR) will host a conference call to review second quarter results on Friday, August 3, 2007 beginning at 9:00 a.m. (ET) that will be webcast live. In order to listen to the webcast of its conference call, participants can log on to the Caraustar website at www.caraustar.com and look for the webcast button/icon on the “Investor Relations” page.

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that represent the company’s expectations, anticipations or beliefs about future events, operating results, financial condition, business plans and industry trends and their potential impact on the company’s business and financial results. Statements that are not statements of historical fact, as well as statements including words such as “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from results expressed or implied by such statements. Such risk factors include, among others: fluctuations in raw material prices and energy costs, increases in pension and insurance costs, downturns in industrial production, housing and construction and the consumption of durable and nondurable goods, the degree and nature of competition, the degree of market receptiveness to price increases and energy surcharges, changes in demand for the company’s products, the degree of success achieved by the company’s new product initiatives, uncertainties related to the company’s ability to successfully complete its announced strategic transformation plan, future financing plans and needs, the impact on the company of its results of operation in recent years and the sufficiency of its financial resources to absorb the impact, changes in government regulations, the company’s ability to service its substantial indebtedness, and unforeseen difficulties with the consolidation, integration of the company’s accounting and control operations and IT systems. Additional relevant risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed in the company’s registration statements and its most recent reports on Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, as amended, filed with or furnished to, the Securities Commission. These documents may be accessed through the web site of the Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). The company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements and is not responsible for any changes made to this press release by wire or Internet services.

 

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Caraustar Industries, Inc.

Unaudited Supplemental Data

Volume Sold (tons):

 

     In thousands
     Q2 2007    Q1 2007    Q4 2006    Q3 2006    Q2 2006

CSAR Mill Tons Sold (Market) *

   112.5    117.6    119.7    145.2    189.2

CSAR Mill Tons Converted

   86.4    79.7    77.0    90.9    110.4
                        

Total CSAR Mill Tons *

   198.9    197.3    196.7    236.1    299.6

Outside Paperboard Purchased

   40.3    41.5    41.3    45.2    26.6
                        

Total Paperboard Controlled *

   239.2    238.8    238.0    281.3    326.2
                        

Tube & Core Tons

   77.6    75.6    76.2    81.0    83.3

Folding Carton Tons

   56.8    57.7    56.5    78.5    104.3

Gypsum Paper Tons *

   52.0    50.5    51.3    59.6    72.1

Other Specialty Tons *

   52.8    55.0    54.0    62.2    66.5
                        

Total Paperboard Controlled *

   239.2    238.8    238.0    281.3    326.2
                        

PBL gypsum facing and other specialty paper sold *

   36.3    35.8    35.1    42.0    49.1

Changes in Selling Price and Costs ($/ton):

 

     Q2 2007 vs. Q2 2006     Q2 2007 vs. Q1 2007  

Mill Average Selling Price

   $ 43.4     $ 33.4  

Mill Average Fiber Cost

     38.3       11.9  

Mill Average Fuel & Energy Cost

     (10.9 )     (5.7 )
                

Net Increase (Decrease)

   $ 16.0     $ 27.2  
                

Tubes and Cores Average Selling Price

   $ 61.9     $ 16.8  

Tubes & Cores Average Paperboard Cost

     62.4       34.8  
                

Net Increase (Decrease)

   ($ 0.5 )   ($ 18.0 )
                

Reconciliation of Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Operations to Earnings Before Interest,

Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (as defined by our Senior Credit Facility Agreement):

 

     In thousands  
     Q2 2007     Q1 2007     Q4 2006     Q3 2006     Q2 2006  

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

   $ (4,381 )   $ (7,847 )   $ (6,963 )   $ 7,399     $ 1,717  

Changes in working capital items and other

     7,211       2,400       6,914       (3,575 )     13,686  

Benefit for income taxes

     (1,533 )     (3,290 )     (8,069 )     (1,609 )     (8,521 )

Change in deferred taxes

     1,616       3,414       6,009       (1,134 )     678  

Interest expense

     4,829       4,650       4,391       4,397       6,962  

Return of investment in unconsolidated affiliates

     —         —         —         1,536       1,384  
                                        

EBITDA **

   $ 7,742     $ (673 )   $ 2,282     $ 7,014     $ 15,906  
                                        

* Includes gypsum facing and other specialty paper sold by Caraustar’s 50%-owned, unconsolidated Premier . Boxboard (“PBL”) joint venture.

 

** This item is not a financial measure under generally accepted accounting principals (GAAP) in the United States. Because this item is not a GAAP financial measure, other companies may present similarly titled items determined with differing adjustments. Accordingly, this measure as presented should not be used to evaluate the Company’s performance by comparison to any similarly titled measures presented by other companies. The Company has included this non-GAAP financial measure because it uses this measure, and believes this measure is useful in evaluating the Company’s ongoing comparable operating results, cash position and its ability to generate cash. The tables above include a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure with the most comparable GAAP measurement. Investors are strongly urged to review these reconciliations. In addition, the exclusion of certain adjustment items in the calculation of these non-GAAP measures does not imply that such items are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual. The Company has experienced such items in prior periods, and may experience similar items in future periods.


CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 

     For The Three Months Ended
June 30,
    For The Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Sales

   $ 235,644     $ 262,673     $ 468,389     $ 526,554  

Cost of goods sold

     204,688       224,184       410,025       450,735  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     26,716       33,117       56,149       68,624  
                                

Income from operations before restructuring and impairment costs

     4,240       5,372       2,215       7,195  

Restructuring and impairment costs

     3,736       15,798       9,524       20,608  
                                

Income (loss) from operations

     504       (10,426 )     (7,309 )     (13,413 )

Other (expense) income:

        

Interest expense

     (4,829 )     (6,962 )     (9,479 )     (17,125 )

Interest income

     48       1,445       102       3,625  

Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates

     355       2,060       514       3,651  

Loss on redemption of debt

     —         (10,272 )     —         (10,272 )

Gain on sale of interest in Standard Gypsum, L.P.

     —         —         —         135,247  

Other, net

     81       19       97       114  
                                
     (4,345 )     (13,710 )     (8,766 )     115,240  
                                

(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

     (3,841 )     (24,136 )     (16,075 )     101,827  

Benefit (provision) for income taxes

     1,533       8,481       4,823       (35,897 )

Minority interest in income

     —         (69 )     —         (83 )
                                

(Loss) income from continuing operations

     (2,308 )     (15,724 )     (11,252 )     65,847  
                                

Discontinued operations:

        

Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes

     —         (72 )     —         (1,483 )

Benefit for income taxes of discontinued operations

     —         40       —         532  
                                

Loss from discontinued operations

     —         (32 )     —         (951 )
                                

Net (loss) income

   $ (2,308 )   $ (15,756 )   $ (11,252 )   $ 64,896  
                                

Basic (loss) income per common share

        

Continuing operations

   $ (0.08 )   $ (0.55 )   $ (0.39 )   $ 2.30  
                                

Discontinued operations

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ (0.03 )
                                

Net (loss) income

   $ (0.08 )   $ (0.55 )   $ (0.39 )   $ 2.27  
                                

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

     28,615       28,570       28,609       28,559  
                                

Diluted (loss) income per common share

        

Continuing operations

   $ (0.08 )   $ (0.55 )   $ (0.39 )   $ 2.30  
                                

Discontinued operations

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ (0.03 )
                                

Net (loss) income

   $ (0.08 )   $ (0.55 )   $ (0.39 )   $ 2.27  
                                

Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding

     28,615       28,570       28,609       28,615  
                                


CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands)

 

    

June 30,

2007

    December 31,
2006
 
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,281     $ 1,022  

Receivables, net of allowances

     94,190       85,577  

Inventories

     72,001       75,041  

Refundable income taxes

     1,515       172  

Current deferred tax assets

     5,967       9,272  

Other current assets

     12,007       8,354  
                

Total current assets

     187,961       179,438  

Property, plant and equipment:

    

Land

     10,043       10,316  

Buildings and improvements

     89,495       93,275  

Machinery and equipment

     439,392       436,705  

Furniture and fixtures

     32,245       29,975  
                
     571,175       570,271  

Less accumulated depreciation

     (309,190 )     (306,666 )
                

Property, plant and equipment, net

     261,985       263,605  
                

Goodwill

     127,574       127,574  
                

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

     42,125       41,574  
                

Other assets

     11,759       12,084  
                
   $ 631,404     $ 624,275  
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Current maturities of debt

   $ 5,830     $ 5,830  

Accounts payable

     69,883       65,033  

Accrued interest

     1,956       1,482  

Accrued compensation

     9,132       10,127  

Capital lease obligations

     335       544  

Other accrued liabilities

     24,284       27,458  
                

Total current liabilities

     111,420       110,474  
                

Long-term debt, less current maturities

     283,507       260,092  
                

Long-term capital lease obligations

     27       91  
                

Deferred income taxes

     26,842       43,315  
                

Pension liability

     35,636       38,854  
                

Other liabilities

     24,547       9,863  
                

Shareholders’ equity

    

Common stock

     2,911       2,909  

Additional paid-in capital

     192,109       191,411  

Retained deficit

     (21,863 )     (7,502 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (23,732 )     (25,232 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     149,425       161,586  
                
   $ 631,404     $ 624,275  
                


CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)

 

     For the Six Months
Ended June 30,
 
     2007     2006  

Operating activities:

    

Net (loss) income

   $ (11,252 )   $ 64,896  

Depreciation and amortization

     10,570       11,162  

Write-off of deferred debt costs

     —         155  

Equity-based compensation expense

     554       547  

Loss on redemption of senior subordinated notes

     —         10,272  

Restructuring and impairment costs

     3,055       19,189  

Deferred income taxes

     (5,030 )     28,126  

Gain on sale of interest in Standard Gypsum, L.P.

     —         (135,247 )

Loss on sale of assets held for sale

     —         2,073  

Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates

     (514 )     (3,651 )

Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates

     —         3,616  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

     (9,611 )     (4,688 )
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (12,228 )     (3,550 )
                

Investing activities:

    

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (11,600 )     (15,799 )

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

     1,369       353  

Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale

     —         7,195  

Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired

     —         (11,059 )

Changes in restricted cash

     (75 )     10,712  

Net proceeds from sale of interest in Standard Gypsum, L.P.

     —         148,460  

Return of investment in unconsolidated affiliates

     41       1,384  

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

     (78 )     —    
                

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (10,343 )     141,246  
                

Financing activities:

    

Proceeds from senior credit facility - revolver

     83,954       30,000  

Repayments of senior credit facility - revolver

     (56,954 )     (15,000 )

Proceeds from senior credit facility - term loan

     —         35,000  

Repayments of short and long-term debt

     (2,917 )     (274,110 )

Deferred debt costs

     —         (1,135 )

Payments for capital lease obligations

     (273 )     (248 )

Issuances of stock, net of forfeitures

     20       92  
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     23,830       (225,401 )
                

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     1,259       (87,705 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     1,022       95,152  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 2,281     $ 7,447  
                

Supplemental Disclosures:

    

Cash payments for interest

   $ 9,513     $ 22,303  
                

Income tax payments, net of refunds

   $ 174     $ 2,865  
                

Property acquired under capital leases

   $ —       $ 36