SONOCO PRODUCTS CO
8-K, 1999-11-12
PAPERBOARD MILLS
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<PAGE>   1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              Washington, DC 20549


                                   ----------


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                   ----------


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 12, 1999


                             SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY




<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>                             <C>
Incorporated under the laws     Commission File No. 1-11261     I.R.S. Employer Identification
     of South Carolina                                                No. 57-0248420
</TABLE>



                               Post Office Box 160

                      Hartsville, South Carolina 29551-0160

                             Telephone: 843-383-7000




<PAGE>   2

Item 7.       Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Statements and Exhibits

              The following exhibits are filed herewith:

              Exhibit 12 - Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges


<PAGE>   3

                   S O N O C O  P R O D U C T S  C O M P A N Y


                                    SIGNATURE




         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.



                                                     SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
                                                           (Registrant)



Date:  November 12, 1999                             By: /s/ F. T. Hill, Jr.
     --------------------------                         --------------------
                                                        F. T. Hill, Jr.
                                                        Vice President and
                                                        Chief Financial Officer




<PAGE>   1

                                                                      EXHIBIT 12

                             SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

                Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
                             (Dollars in Thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     Nine Months
                                                        Ended                        Years Ended December 31,
                                                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Sept. 26,
                                                        1999          1998          1997         1996         1995         1994
                                                      --------      --------      --------     --------     --------     --------
<S>                                                    <C>           <C>            <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>
EARNINGS
     Pretax income - as reported                       210,525       339,598        63,719      280,075      270,790      210,930

     Less: (Gain) or Loss on assets held for sale       (3,500)     (100,354)      226,358         --           --           --
                                                      --------      --------      --------     --------     --------     --------

     Pretax income - adjusted                          207,025       239,244       290,077      280,075      270,790      210,930

     Add:  Fixed charges                                46,385        68,380        69,484       69,223       54,537       45,494
           Amortization of capitalized interest            422           634           498          378          378          378
                                                      --------      --------      --------     --------     --------     --------

Total Earnings                                         253,832       308,258       360,059      349,676      325,705      256,802
                                                      ========      ========      ========     ========     ========     ========


FIXED CHARGES
     Interest expense                                   37,230        54,779        57,194       55,481       44,004       35,861
     Capitalized interest                                 --           1,353          --          1,200         --           --
     Amortization of bond discounts                        155           248           290          209          200          300
     Portion of rents representative of the
        interest factor                                  9,000        12,000        12,000       12,333       10,333        9,333
                                                      --------      --------      --------     --------     --------     --------

Total Fixed Charges                                     46,385        68,380        69,484       69,223       54,537       45,494
                                                      ========      ========      ========     ========     ========     ========


RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES                        5.47          4.51*         5.18         5.05         5.97         5.64
                                                      ========      ========      ========     ========     ========     ========
</TABLE>


* Pretax income includes $41,336 of one-time charges. Excluding these charges
the ratio would be 5.09.



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