<PAGE> 1
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14A-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission
Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[X] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
</TABLE>
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
<PAGE> 2
[SONOCO LOGO]
April 9, 1999
IMPORTANT NOTICE
----------------
As of the date of this notice, we have not received your vote for our
upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Your vote is very important to us.
PLEASE MARK THE PROXY CARD ENCLOSED, SIGN IT, AND RETURN IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
IN THE POSTAGE-PAID RETURN ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
Thank you for your vote and your support.
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
Shareholder Relations
Enclosures
<PAGE> 3
APPENDIX A
[X] PLEASE MARK VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
------------------
SONOCO
PRODUCTS COMPANY
------------------
1. Election of Directors:
Nominees - Three-Year Terms:
C.J. Bradshaw, R.J. Brown, J.L. Coker, Paul Fulton, H.L. McColl, Jr.
Nominee - One-Year Term:
C.D. Spangler, Jr.
[ ] For All Nominees [ ] Withhold On All Nominees [ ] For All Except
NOTE: If you do not wish your shares voted "FOR" a particular nominee,mark
the "FOR ALL EXCEPT" box and strike a line through the name(s) of the
nominee(s). Your shares will be voted for the remaining nominee(s).
2. Proposal to approve an amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation
to increase authorized shares of Common Stock.
[ ] For [ ] Against [ ] Abstain
3. Proposal to approve the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Certified
Public Accountants, as the independent auditors of the corporation.
[ ] For [ ] Against [ ] Abstain
4. In their discretion the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
DIRECTORS RECOMMEND VOTING FOR 1, 2 AND 3
Please be sure to sign and date this Proxy. Date
---------------------
- ---------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Shareholder Sign Here Co-Owner Sign Here
Mark box at right if an address change or comment
has been noted on the reverse side of this card. [ ]
DETACH CARD DETACH CARD
MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT!
Please mark this proxy card to indicate how your
shares should be voted. Please sign, detach, and
return the card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
POST OFFICE BOX 160 - NORTH SECOND STREET -
HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA 29551-0160
The undersigned hereby appoints Charles W. Coker, Chairman, or F. Trent Hill,
Jr., Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, as Proxies, each with the power
to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote,
as designated below, all the shares of Common Stock of Sonoco Products Company
held of record by the undersigned on February 26, 1999, at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on April 21, 1999, or at any adjournment thereof.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN
BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE VOTE, DATE, SIGN ON REVERSE AND
RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When shares are held by
joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as an attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a
corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized
officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by an authorized
person.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED? DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
