Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 5, 2007

 

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

CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. REPORTS

THIRD QUARTER 2007 RESULTS

ATLANTA, Georgia—Caraustar Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSAR) today announced that sales from continuing operations for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007 were $209.6 million, a decrease of 10.7 percent compared to sales of $234.7 million for the same quarter in 2006. The cessation of production at four paper mills accounted for $9.3 million of the decrease in sales. Income from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2007 was $1.1 million, or $0.04 per share, compared to 2006 third quarter loss from continuing operations of $3.8 million, or $0.13 per share. Also included in income from continuing operations for the third quarter 2007 was approximately $500 thousand ($0.01 per share) for expenses related to a transformer failure at the company’s Austell Boxboard Mill Two. In the third quarter 2006 the company incurred accelerated depreciation and other divestiture costs of $2.7 million ($0.06 per share). The third quarter 2007 and 2006 results included pretax restructuring and impairment costs of approximately $157 thousand and $4.8 million, or $0.00 and $0.11 per share, respectively.

On October 2, 2007, Caraustar completed the sale of the assets of its composite can and plastics businesses to the Sonoco Products Company (Sonoco) for $20.2 million dollars. The company recognized a pretax impairment loss of $10.3 million in the third quarter 2007 and reflected the results of these operations in the accompanying financial statements as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Proceeds from the sale of the assets were used to reduce the company’s debt.

Total paperboard controlled volume (Caraustar mill tons sold plus outside paperboard purchased) for the third quarter of 2007 decreased approximately 47.6 thousand tons, or 16.9 percent, compared to the same quarter last year. The volume decrease was in part attributable to the company’s exit of the Sprague, CT mill, the cessation of CRB operations at the Rittman, OH mill, and the closures of the Lafayette, IN and Reading, PA mills. In the aggregate, those four mills contributed 31.1 thousand tons to overall reported volume for the third quarter 2006. Excluding these mills, total paperboard controlled in the third quarter 2007 compared to prior year decreased 16.5 thousand tons, or 6.6 percent, versus an industry decline of 3.0 percent. The rationalization of six converting facilities (two folding carton and four tube and core) over the same time period also adversely impacted volume. Mill margins decreased $7.8 per ton in the third quarter of 2007 compared to third quarter 2006, as a fiber increase of $38.4 per ton more than offset higher selling prices of $25.8 per ton and lower fuel and energy costs of $4.8 per ton. Tube and core margins decreased $2.6 per ton 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 30106-3227    Ÿ     PHONE 770 . 948 . 3101
www.caraustar.com


Caraustar Industries, Inc.

November 5, 2007

Page 2

Gypsum facing paper volume, including volume at the company’s Sweetwater paperboard mill, declined 15.9 percent compared to the same quarter last year. Offsetting this shortfall, overall production at the gypsum facing paper mills exceeded prior year as the company leveraged its flexibility in producing other paperboard grades. Caraustar’s 50-percent interest in the Premier Boxboard Limited (PBL) mill contributed $425 thousand in equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates for the third quarter 2007 compared to $1.5 million for the same period a year ago. This reduction is due to a decline in demand in the wallboard business, the result of a weaker housing market.

Nine-Month Period Ended September 30, 2007

Sales from continuing operations for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 were $650.3 million, a decrease of 10.9 percent compared to sales of $730.0 million for the same period in 2006. Loss from continuing operations for the nine-month period in 2007 was $10.6 million, or a loss of $0.37 per share, compared to income from continuing operations for the nine-month period in 2006 of $62.6 million, or $2.19 per share. Loss from continuing operations for the first nine months of 2007 included restructuring charges of $9.7 million. Income from continuing operations for the first nine months of 2006 included restructuring charges of $25.4 million, a gain of $135.2 million resulting from the sale of the company’s 50-percent interest in its Standard Gypsum joint venture, and a charge of $18.8 million associated with the redemption of the senior subordinated notes ($10.3 million loss on redemption and $8.5 million interest expense). Loss from operations decreased from a loss of $14.2 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006 to a loss of $2.0 million for the same period in 2007. The primary factors for this decrease in loss from operations were lower restructuring and impairment costs of $15.7 million and a reduction in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses from 13.2 percent of sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 to 11.9 percent of sales for the same period in 2007. Lower restructuring and impairment costs, as well as lower SG&A expenses, were partially offset by higher energy prices and higher recovered fiber costs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, Caraustar’s 50-percent share of PBL’s income was $932 thousand compared to $5.1 million for the same period last year. Year-to-date, Caraustar received $1.0 million in cash distributions in 2007 and $8.0 million in 2006.

Michael J. Keough, president and chief executive officer of Caraustar, commented, “Results for the third quarter 2007 were improved both sequentially and year-over-year against a challenging market backdrop. Market demand has softened across all grades. Our mill tons sold decreased 6.6 percent after considering exited facilities. Mill operating capacity was 91.8 percent for third quarter 2007 compared to 92.1 percent for the third quarter 2006, and versus industry operating rates of 93.8 and 90.3 percent, respectively. Rising fiber costs pressured margins in the third quarter. Energy has been relatively flat but recent increases in oil prices could impact fourth quarter results.

“We completed the sale of certain non-core assets during the third quarter, which were funded on October 3 and, thus, the cash impact is not reflected in our third quarter financials. Our liquidity position subsequent to quarter end improved significantly as more fully discussed below.

“We have nearly completed our transformation activities and continue to focus and to invest in our core businesses. I am pleased to report that our two new presses in Charlotte and Grand Rapids are running well and have given us state-of-the-art printing capabilities in our folding carton group while lowering our overall cost structure. Our three new high-speed tube and core winders will also lower costs and offer innovative packaging and paperboard products to our customers. This past quarter we introduced StaSquare 32, an exceptional recycled paperboard grade used in the manufacture of hardbound trade books, juvenile books, library binding books, game boards and point-of-purchase displays.

 

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Caraustar Industries, Inc.

November 5, 2007

Page 3

 

“PBL, our joint venture mill in Indiana, is sold out, and we expect it to remain so through the balance of the year. We are running a mix of roughly 50-percent gypsum and 50-percent containerboard. The product mix at PBL has changed in that we are running less gypsum facing as a result of the housing downturn, but the flexibility of the PBL model and concerted marketing efforts are paying off. We expect to see price improvement this fall in the containerboard segment of about $40 per ton.

“Our SG&A costs were down both as a percent of sales and on a dollar basis sequentially, and when compared to third quarter last year. We continue to aggressively pursue further SG&A reduction with disciplined cost-take-out activities addressing operations and our corporate headquarters.”

Liquidity

The company ended the quarter with a cash balance of $780 thousand compared to $1.0 million at December 31, 2006. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, the company used $5.5 million and provided $3.8 million of cash in operating activities, respectively. The increase in cash used from operations versus 2006 was primarily due to lower operating results. Capital expenditures decreased nine months year-to-date to $20.7 million in 2007 from $27.9 million in 2006.

As of September 30, 2007, the company had $49.4 million in borrowings outstanding under its $135.0 million senior secured credit facility and had $15.4 million in letters of credit outstanding. As of September 30, 2007, the company had availability under the revolving portion of the Senior Credit Facility of $31.7 million. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, asset sale proceeds reduced borrowings outstanding under the senior secured credit facility by approximately $19.9 million. Also, subsequent to the end of the quarter, the company received a $1.0 million distribution from PBL.

Cash restructuring costs related to the closure of facilities were $2.4 million in the third quarter of 2007 compared to $1.5 million in the same quarter in 2006.

Caraustar Industries, Inc. will host a conference call that will be webcast live to review third quarter 2007 results. The call will be on Monday, November 5, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. (EST). 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.

Caraustar Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSAR), a recycled packaging company, is one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of converted recycled paperboard. The company is a socially responsible corporation, is committed to environmentally sound practices and is dedicated to providing customers with outstanding value through innovative products and services. 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 and cores; folding cartons; gypsum facing paper and specialty paperboard products. For additional information on Caraustar, please visit the company’s website at www.caraustar.com.

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

 

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Caraustar Industries, Inc.

November 5, 2007

Page 4

 

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
     Q3 2007    Q2 2007    Q1 2007    Q4 2006    Q3 2006

CSAR Mill Tons Sold (Market) *

   111.4    112.5    117.6    119.7    145.2

CSAR Mill Tons Converted

   83.7    86.4    79.7    77.0    90.9
                        

Total CSAR Mill Tons *

   195.1    198.9    197.3    196.7    236.1

Outside Paperboard Purchased

   38.6    40.3    41.5    41.3    45.2
                        

Total Paperboard Controlled *

   233.7    239.2    238.8    238.0    281.3
                        

Tube & Core Tons

   77.4    77.6    75.6    76.2    81.0

Folding Carton Tons

   55.4    56.8    57.7    56.5    78.5

Gypsum Paper Tons *

   50.1    52.0    50.5    51.3    59.6

Other Specialty Tons *

   50.8    52.8    55.0    54.0    62.2
                        

Total Paperboard Controlled *

   233.7    239.2    238.8    238.0    281.3
                        

PBL gypsum facing and other specialty paper sold *

   35.0    36.3    35.8    35.1    42.0

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

 

     Q3 2007 vs. Q3 2006     Q3 2007 vs. Q2 2007  

Mill Average Selling Price

   $ 25.8     $ 1.2  

Mill Average Fiber Cost

     38.4       12.5  

Mill Average Fuel & Energy Cost

     (4.8 )     (2.2 )
                

Net Decrease

   $ (7.8 )   $ (9.1 )
                

Tubes and Cores Average Selling Price

   $ 60.5     $ 0.5  

Tubes & Cores Average Paperboard Cost

     63.1       8.6  
                

Net Decrease

   $ (2.6 )   $ (8.1 )
                

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  
     Q3 2007     Q2 2007     Q1 2007     Q4 2006     Q3 2006  

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ 6,755     $ (4,381 )   $ (7,847 )   $ (6,963 )   $ 7,399  

Changes in working capital items and other

     (2,188 )     7,211       2,400       6,914       (3,575 )

Benefit for income taxes

     (1,289 )     (1,533 )     (3,290 )     (8,069 )     (1,609 )

Change in deferred taxes

     1,438       1,616       3,414       6,009       (1,134 )

Interest expense

     4,880       4,829       4,650       4,391       4,397  

Return of investment in unconsolidated affiliates

     —         —         —         —         1,536  
                                        

EBITDA **

   $ 9,596     $ 7,742     $ (673 )   $ 2,282     $ 7,014  
                                        

* 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)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Sales

   $ 209,631     $ 234,736     $ 650,304     $ 730,011  

Cost of goods sold

     180,638       200,930       565,299       622,832  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     22,777       30,600       77,338       96,008  
                                

Income from operations before restructuring and impairment costs

     6,216       3,206       7,667       11,171  

Restructuring and impairment costs

     157       4,820       9,667       25,399  
                                

Income (loss) from operations

     6,059       (1,614 )     (2,000 )     (14,228 )

Other (expense) income:

        

Interest expense

     (4,880 )     (4,397 )     (14,359 )     (21,522 )

Interest income

     56       109       158       3,734  

Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates

     430       1,455       944       5,106  

Loss on redemption of senior subordinated notes

     —         —         —         (10,272 )

Gain on sale of interest in unconsolidated affiliates

     19       —         19       135,247  

Other, net

     76       (14 )     174       70  
                                
     (4,299 )     (2,847 )     (13,064 )     112,363  
                                

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

     1,760       (4,461 )     (15,064 )     98,135  

(Provision) benefit for income taxes

     (652 )     730       4,436       (35,414 )

Minority interest in income

     —         (19 )     —         (102 )
                                

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     1,108       (3,750 )     (10,628 )     62,619  
                                

Discontinued operations:

        

Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes

     (9,539 )     (2,201 )     (8,790 )     (4,453 )

Benefit for income taxes of discontinued operations

     1,941       879       1,676       1,658  
                                

Loss from discontinued operations

     (7,598 )     (1,322 )     (7,114 )     (2,795 )
                                

Net (loss) income

   $ (6,490 )   $ (5,072 )   $ (17,742 )   $ 59,824  
                                

Basic income (loss) per common share

        

Continuing operations

   $ 0.04     $ (0.13 )   $ (0.37 )   $ 2.19  
                                

Discontinued operations

   $ (0.27 )   $ (0.05 )   $ (0.25 )   $ (0.10 )
                                

Net (loss) income

   $ (0.23 )   $ (0.18 )   $ (0.62 )   $ 2.09  
                                

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

     28,626       28,584       28,615       28,568  
                                

Diluted income (loss) per common share

        

Continuing operations

   $ 0.04     $ (0.13 )   $ (0.37 )   $ 2.19  
                                

Discontinued operations

   $ (0.26 )   $ (0.05 )   $ (0.25 )   $ (0.10 )
                                

Net (loss) income

   $ (0.22 )   $ (0.18 )   $ (0.62 )   $ 2.09  
                                

Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding

     28,872       28,584       28,615       28,606  
                                


CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands)

 

     September 30,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 780     $ 1,022  

Receivables, net of allowances

     95,419       85,577  

Inventories

     64,594       75,041  

Refundable income taxes

     1,296       172  

Current deferred tax assets

     5,819       9,272  

Other current assets

     9,651       8,354  

Assets of discontinued operations held for sale

     19,800       —    
                

Total current assets

     197,359       179,438  

Property, plant and equipment:

    

Land

     9,586       10,316  

Buildings and improvements

     84,167       93,275  

Machinery and equipment

     405,853       436,705  

Furniture and fixtures

     32,105       29,975  
                
     531,711       570,271  

Less accumulated depreciation

     (284,590 )     (306,666 )
                

Property, plant and equipment, net

     247,121       263,605  
                

Goodwill

     122,542       127,574  
                

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

     41,252       41,574  
                

Other assets

     11,536       12,084  
                
   $ 619,810     $ 624,275  
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Current maturities of debt

   $ 12,835     $ 5,830  

Accounts payable

     66,356       65,033  

Accrued interest

     6,022       1,482  

Accrued compensation

     10,689       10,127  

Capital lease obligations

     205       544  

Other accrued liabilities

     24,605       27,458  
                

Total current liabilities

     120,712       110,474  
                

Long-term debt, less current maturities

     272,362       260,092  
                

Long-term capital lease obligations

     21       91  
                

Deferred income taxes

     25,593       43,315  
                

Pension liability

     32,365       38,854  
                

Other liabilities

     24,872       9,863  
                

Shareholders’ equity

    

Common stock

     2,945       2,909  

Additional paid-in capital

     192,454       191,411  

Retained deficit

     (28,353 )     (7,502 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (23,161 )     (25,232 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     143,885       161,586  
                
   $ 619,810     $ 624,275  
                

 

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CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)

 

     For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007     2006  

Operating activities:

    

Net (loss) income

   $ (17,742 )   $ 59,824  

Depreciation and amortization

     15,256       16,884  

Write-off of deferred debt costs

     —         155  

Equity-based compensation expense

     872       867  

Loss on redemption of senior subordinated notes

     —         10,272  

Restructuring and impairment costs

     9,995       20,723  

Deferred income taxes

     (6,468 )     29,260  

Gain on sale of interest in unconsolidated affiliates

     (19 )     (135,247 )

Loss on sale of assets held for sale

     —         2,073  

Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates

     (944 )     (5,106 )

Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates

     1,000       5,080  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions

     (7,423 )     (936 )
                

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

     (5,473 )     3,849  
                

Investing activities:

    

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (20,677 )     (27,881 )

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

     6,003       712  

Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale

     —         22,390  

Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired

     —         (11,059 )

Changes in restricted cash

     (115 )     10,610  

Net proceeds from the sale of interest unconsolidated affiliates

     161       148,460  

Return of investment in unconsolidated affiliates

     41       2,920  

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

     (78 )     —    
                

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (14,665 )     146,152  
                

Financing activities:

    

Proceeds from senior credit facility—revolver

     107,436       35,332  

Repayments of senior credit facility—revolver

     (89,781 )     (34,520 )

Proceeds from short and long-term debt

     7,005       35,000  

Repayments of short and long-term debt

     (4,375 )     (275,570 )

Deferred debt costs

     —         (1,139 )

Payments for capital lease obligations

     (409 )     (373 )

Issuances of stock, net of forfeitures

     20       92  
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     19,896       (241,178 )
                

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     (242 )     (91,177 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     1,022       95,152  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 780     $ 3,975  
                

Supplemental Disclosures:

    

Cash payments for interest

   $ 11,583     $ 23,122  
                

Income tax payments, net of refunds

   $ 247     $ 2,453  
                

Property acquired under capital leases

   $ —       $ 36  
                

 

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