..A leading supplier of recycled packaging in Europe

With a turnover in 2011/12 of £2.0 billion and employing more than 20,000 people, DS Smith Plc is an international supplier of recycled packaging for consumer goods.

On 30 June 2012 DS Smith acquired SCA Packaging. On a combined basis, the group is now the second largest manufacturer of corrugated products in Europe. We are also a leading worldwide supplier of bag-in-box packaging and a leading European supplier of plastic returnable transit packaging. The combined Group now has revenues of approximately £4 billion (based on a combination of historically reported figures and a 12 month contribution from both businesses).

DS Smith is a FTSE 250 company listed on the London Stock Exchange and headquartered in Maidenhead.

http://www.dssmith.com/

With a reshuffle round, DS Smith could enter the FTSE 100 next week.

09:50 27/11/2017
Broker Forecast - Jefferies International issues a broker note on Smith (DS) PLC
Jefferies International today reaffirms its hold investment rating on Smith (DS) PLC (LON:SMDS) and raised its price target to 530p (from 475p). Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

Trading statement DS Smith Thursday 7 Dec 17

Proactive investor - Thursday 7 DEC

It has been a stellar year for DS Smith, topped off by its promotion to the FTSE 100, which was confirmed last Wednesday.
Investors will be hoping this recent momentum continues in its half year results, due on Thursday, with the signs looking good in October’s pre-close update, although the mid cap firm didn’t give much away in.
However, all of this, along with a recent broker upgrade, has raised expectations which may be hard to beat, according to Graham Spooner, investment research analyst at The Share Centre.
He said there will also be interest in how the group’s recent US acquisition, Interstate Resources is performing.

Half year results

Highlights
·     Strong organic volume growth(2) of 5.2%
o  All regions in growth
o  E-commerce and pan-European strength
·     In-line performance, delivering against all financial KPIs
·     Recovery of paper price increase progressing as expected
·     Excellent start from Interstate, our first fibre-based US business
o  Integration ahead of expectations with positive employee and customer reaction
o  Benefits of global supply chain validated and being delivered
o  Annualised pre-tax cost synergy target raised to $30 million
·     Continuing to grow the business organically and inorganically
o  Proposed €208 million acquisition of Ecopack and Ecopaper in Romania (completion expected January 2018)
o  Packaging capacity investment programme for Europe and US

Sharecast -t a note on packaging and paper.



Goldman said it likes Smurfit in the packaging space, along with Mondi, which had been trading up earlier. The bank said it expects Smurfit and Mondi to benefit from already achieved price increases throughout 2017 and continuous solid demand.
"Smurfit Kappa Group and DS Smith, two of the biggest box producers in Europe are targeting box prices after rising input costs through 2017 caused margin contraction. At 4Q results, Smurfit highlighted it had achieved a 5% box price increase and remained confident in achieving the 6%-8% it guided for earlier in 2017.
"DS Smith is targeting an 8%-10% increase and had achieved around 3.5% at 1H18 results and price increases are progressing in line with expectations. We expect the recovery to continue in 1H18 and drive a margin expansion in 2018 as producers benefit from already achieved box prices and get additional gains in 1H18 contract negotiations."

Q3 Trading Statement
RNS
RNS Number : 8976G
Smith (DS) PLC
07 March 2018

7 March 2018

DS Smith Plc - Q3 trading statement

DS Smith Plc ("DS Smith"), today issues a trading update in respect of the period since 1 November 2017.

Trading update
We are pleased with the good progress of the business in the period, reflecting the increasing relevance of sustainable packaging and our compelling customer offering.

Box volume growth has remained strong, continuing the positive trend seen in the first half of the year, reflecting on-going good progress with our multi-national and e-commerce customers. Growth was delivered across all our geographies, with our expertise in e-commerce, combined with a strong Christmas trading period for online retail sales, contributing to our continued market share gains.

Integration of our North America business is going very well. The business continues to perform ahead of our initial expectations, with packaging volume growth significantly ahead of the Group average rate and improved paper productivity.

The recovery of recent increases in paper prices is progressing well, as expected. This, together with operational leverage coming from the strong top-line growth, means that return on sales is expected to increase in this H2 period as compared to H1, and the full year return on sales is expected to be in line with that for the prior year, with trading overall in line with our expectations.

Completion of acquisition of Ecopack and Ecopaper in Romania
DS Smith completed the acquisition of Ecopack and Ecopaper, a leading integrated packaging and paper group in Romania, on 6 March 2018. The acquisition will significantly enhance our capacity to serve customers in this high growth region as well as supporting our wider substantial Eastern European presence. The acquisition, for an enterprise value of c. €208 million, is expected to be earnings enhancing immediately and is consistent with the Group's medium term financial targets.

Miles Roberts, Group Chief Executive, said:
"I am very pleased with how our strategy is delivering for customers and producing strong results. We continue to gain market share by delivering packaging that adds value for our customers, as they look to improve the efficiency of their own operations. The excellent reaction from US customers reflects the differentiated offer we bring, including our expertise in retail ready packaging and e-commerce. At the same time, the benefit of a global supply platform for paper and fibre is being seen in the improved operational efficiency of our US assets and greater co-ordination across the Group.

We are excited by the structural drivers supporting the growth of sustainable packaging and the opportunities for DS Smith. Our outlook therefore is positive and we remain confident in the future."

Pre Close Trading Update
RNS
RNS Number : 6553M
Smith (DS) PLC
01 May 2018

1 May 2018
DS Smith Plc - pre close trading statement

DS Smith Plc today issues a pre-close trading update in respect of the year ended 30 April 2018.

Trading
The business continues to perform in line with our expectations, with the industry and business trends consistent with our trading update of 7 March. Volume growth has remained strong with our focus on sustainable solutions and the accelerating e-commerce sector. This and continued growth in multi-national customers has resulted in further gains in our market share. Recovery of increased paper prices, which have risen throughout the year, has continued as expected and we expect return on sales to be in line with the prior year.

Volume growth in the US has been excellent, and we are very pleased with the positive reaction from local and global customers. Integration of Interstate is also progressing well and we now expect synergies to reach an annualised rate of $35 million by the end of the third full year of ownership (a further increase of $5 million on our expectations), driven principally by further anticipated global supply chain benefits.

Our acquisition of Ecopack and Ecopaper completed on 6 March 2018, further building our European network, and we are pleased with the initial progress made, driven by our proven expertise in integration.

Miles Roberts, Group Chief Executive, said:
"We are very pleased with the performance in the year, in particular in the step-up in volumes that we have delivered, and in the successful integration, customer reaction and volume growth within Interstate.

Our success is underpinned by our commitment to sustainable packaging that is innovative and adds value to our customers, throughout their global supply chains and also by a focus on our own global supply chain efficiency. This approach, together with momentum in our business and opportunities to further strengthen our customer offering, gives us confidence in the future."

Forthcoming Dates
Results for the full year to 30 April 2018
28 June 2018
Enquiries

11:40 18/05/2018
Broker Forecast - Davy Research issues a broker note on Smith (DS) PLC
Davy Research today upgrades its investment rating on Smith (DS) PLC (LON:SMDS) to outperform (from neutral). Story provided by StockMarketWire.com Broker Forecasts data provided by www.sharesmagazine.co.uk

Acquisition

PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF EUROPAC AND FULLY UNDERWRITTEN RIGHTS ISSUE

Final results

Highlights
· Strong organic box volume growth of +5.2%
o Growth in all regions
· Continued delivery in line with medium-term targets
o Strong margin performance despite significant input cost headwinds
o Sustainable financial returns
· Continued leadership in e-commerce packaging
· Excellent performance by North American business
o Delivering well ahead of initial expectations
o Returns greater than WACC in initial period of ownership
· Further accretive bolt-ons in Europe and US
o EcoPack and EcoPaper (Romania) in March 2018
o Corrugated Container Corporation (US) in May 2018
· Proposed acquisition of Europac
o Highly compelling strategic rationale and financial returns
· Strategic review of Plastics division underway
· Good momentum into 2018/19

10:00 19/06/2018
Broker Forecast - Berenberg issues a broker note on Smith (DS) PLC
Berenberg today reaffirms its buy investment rating on Smith (DS) PLC (LON:SMDS) and raised its price target to 630p (from 570p). Story provided by StockMarketWire.com Broker Forecasts data provided by www.sharesmagazine.co.uk

DS Smith launches £1bn share issue to fund Papeles y Cartones de Europa deal
StockMarketWire.com
Packaging group DS Smith launched a £1bn share issue help fund its €1.67bn (£1.43bn) acquisition of Papeles y Cartones de Europa.

Three new shares in the company would be issued for each 11 already held at an offer price of 350p each.

The issue price represented a discount of around 30.9% to the theoretical ex-rights price, based on the closing middle-market price of the shares on 18 June, DS Smith said.

The new shares would represent around 21.4% of the enlarged company's share capital. Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

hi dreamcatcher,
do you know when to declare interest? (Interactive investor is not quite sure)
thx

Hope this helps robinhood



3 for 11 Rights Issue at 350 pence per New Share.

Details of the Rights Issue

Pursuant to the Rights Issue, the Company is proposing to offer 293,064,829 New Shares by way of a Rights Issue to qualifying shareholders other than to shareholders with a registered address in one of the Excluded Territories, subject to certain exceptions. The offer is to be made at 350 pence per New Share, payable in full on acceptance by no later than 11.00 a.m. on 24 July 2018. The Rights Issue is expected to raise proceeds of approximately £1,000 million net of expenses. The Issue Price represents a discount of approximately 30.9 per cent. to the theoretical ex-rights price based on the closing middle-market price of 549.6 pence per existing share on 18 June 2018 (being the latest business day before the announcement of the terms of the Rights Issue).
The New Shares, when issued and fully paid, will rank pari passu in all respects with the Existing Shares, including the right to receive dividends or distributions made, paid or declared after the date of the issue of the New Shares. Applications will be made to the FCA and to the London Stock Exchange for the New Shares to be admitted to the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange. It is expected that Admission will occur and that dealings in the New Shares (nil paid) on the London Stock Exchange will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 10 July 2018.
293,064,829 New Shares will be issued, providing approximate net proceeds (after costs and expenses associated with the Rights Issue) of c. £1,000 million to be used to finance the Acquisition.

Thx dreamcatcher

Cheers robinhood.


10:50 27/06/2018
Broker Forecast - Numis issues a broker note on Smith (DS) PLC
Numis today upgrades its investment rating on Smith (DS) PLC (LON:SMDS) to add (from hold). Story provided by StockMarketWire.com Broker Forecasts data provided by www.sharesmagazine.co.uk

ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS OF RIGHTS ISSUE
RNS
RNS Number : 6530V
Smith (DS) PLC
25 July 2018

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO ANY OF THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA, SWITZERLAND, THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES OR ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO THE SAME WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

25 July 2018

For immediate release

DS SMITH PLC
ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS OF RIGHTS ISSUE


DS Smith Plc ("DS Smith" or the "Company") today announces that the 3 for 11 Rights Issue of 293,068,454 New Ordinary Shares at 350 pence per New Ordinary Share announced on 19 June 2018 closed for acceptances at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on 24 July 2018. The Company received valid acceptances in respect of 282,893,119 New Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 96.5 per cent. of the total number of New Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to the fully underwritten Rights Issue.

It is expected that the New Ordinary Shares in uncertificated form will be credited to CREST accounts as soon as practicable after 8.00 a.m on 25 July 2018 and that definitive share certificates in respect of New Ordinary Shares in certificated form will be dispatched to Shareholders by no later than 3 August 2018.

It is expected that the New Ordinary Shares will commence trading, fully paid, on the London Stock Exchange plc's main market for listed securities on 25 July 2018.

In accordance with their obligations under the Underwriting Agreement as Joint Underwriters in respect of the Rights Issue as set out in the Prospectus, Goldman Sachs International, J.P. Morgan Securities plc, which conducts its UK investment banking activities as J.P. Morgan Cazenove and Citigroup Global Markets Limited will endeavour to procure subscribers for the remaining 10,175,335 New Ordinary Shares not validly taken up in the Rights Issue, failing which the Joint Underwriters have agreed to acquire, in proportion to their underwriting commitment, any remaining New Ordinary Shares.

The net proceeds from the placing of such New Ordinary Shares (after the deduction of the Issue Price of 350 pence per New Ordinary Share and the expenses of procuring subscribers including any applicable brokerage and commissions and amounts in respect of VAT which are not recoverable), if any, will be paid (without interest) to those persons whose rights have lapsed in accordance with the terms of the Rights Issue, pro rata to their lapsed provisional allotments, save that individual amounts of less than £5 will not be paid to such persons but will be aggregated and paid to the Company.

A further announcement as to the number of New Ordinary Shares for which subscribers have been procured will be made in due course.

1 Aug
Peel Hunt
N/A
Buy

Anyone in the know why down 3% today?