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Avery Dennison Reports Third Quarter 2002 Results; Reported Sales Grow 15.3 Percent to Reach Record $1.1 Billion

    PASADENA, Calif.--Oct. 22, 2002--

    Company Posts Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.64, Including a
    Non-Cash Charge to Earnings; Earnings Per Share Are $0.74 Excluding
    Impact of the Charge

    Avery Dennison Corporation today reported third quarter diluted earnings per share of $0.64, including a non-cash charge to earnings, compared with $0.63 for the third quarter a year ago. Excluding the impact of the $15.2 million non-cash, pretax charge, earnings per share were $0.74, reflecting an increase of 17.5 percent over the prior-year third quarter.
    "Our earnings and sales in the third quarter grew year-over-year at double-digit rates, excluding the non-cash charge," said Philip M. Neal, chairman and chief executive officer of Avery Dennison. "Our core pressure-sensitive materials business achieved outstanding sales growth, which demonstrates the effectiveness of our strategies to execute top-line growth. Our businesses performed well and we met our financial projections, despite challenging worldwide economic conditions.
    "We are enthusiastic about the long-term growth opportunities provided by the recently completed acquisition of Jackstadt, which is currently being integrated into our materials business ahead of plan in all key respects, including revenue retention where we are achieving rates of approximately 95 percent," said Neal.

    Key results for the third quarter of 2002 include:

-- Earnings per share, on a diluted basis, were $0.64, compared with $0.63 per share for the same quarter a year ago. A pretax charge to earnings of $15.2 million, or $0.10 per share, was posted in the quarter. This charge is related to the planned disposition of fixed assets and lease cancellation costs associated with the integration of Jackstadt operations and actions related to other businesses. Excluding the charge, earnings were $0.74 per share, an increase of 17.5 percent over the same quarter a year ago. During the quarter, the negative impact on earnings from the Jackstadt acquisition of approximately $0.05 per share was partially offset by a $0.02 per share benefit from a year-to-date tax rate adjustment and a positive impact from currency exchange rates of $0.02 per share.
-- Net income was $63.1 million, compared with $61.7 million in the third quarter of 2001. Excluding the charge to earnings in the third quarter of 2002, net income was $73.8 million, reflecting an increase of 19.6 percent over the year-ago third quarter.
-- Reported sales grew 15.3 percent to $1.1 billion for the third quarter of 2002 compared with $967 million in the third quarter of 2001. Excluding the impact of currency exchange rates, acquisitions and divestitures, core sales increased approximately 5 percent in the third quarter compared with the same quarter a year ago.
-- Operating margin increased approximately 80 basis points over the third quarter of 2001, excluding the impact from the integration of Jackstadt and the third-quarter charge.
-- The year-to-date tax rate declined from 30.5 percent in the previous quarter to 29.5 percent, due to structural and operational changes, the impact of acquisitions, and the changing geographic mix of the Company's income. This tax rate is expected to be sustainable.

    Key results for the first nine months of 2002 include:

    -- Earnings per share, on a diluted basis, were $2.03, compared
    with $1.88 for the same period in 2001. Excluding the impact
    of the charge in the third quarter, earnings per share were
    $2.14, reflecting an increase of 13.8 percent over the first
    nine months in 2001.

    -- Net income grew to $201.7 million, compared with $185.1
    million in the first nine months of 2001. Excluding the charge
    in the third quarter, year-to-date net income was $212.4
    million, reflecting growth of 14.7 percent over the first nine
    months of 2001.

    -- Reported sales expanded 7.3 percent to $3.1 billion, compared
    with $2.9 billion in the first nine months of the prior year.
    Excluding the impact of currency exchange rates, acquisitions
    and divestitures, sales increased approximately 4 percent over
    the first nine months of 2001.

    -- Year-to-date operating margin increased approximately 50 basis
    points from the prior-year level, excluding the impact from
    Jackstadt and the charge in the third quarter of 2002.

    -- Returns on investment were strong, excluding the third-quarter
    charge, with year-to-date annualized return on shareholders'
    equity at 28.4 percent and year-to-date annualized return on
    total capital at 17.4 percent.

    In addition to the third-quarter charge to earnings and consistent with the Company's previous announcements, a charge of approximately $17 million will be taken in the fourth quarter of 2002 for severance costs. This is in addition to approximately $30 million in costs associated with the severance of former Jackstadt employees, which do not result in a charge to earnings. The integration-related headcount reductions total approximately 1,000 positions companywide. The Company said that it does not expect additional severance and asset disposition charges to earnings associated with the Jackstadt integration beyond the fourth quarter of 2002.

    Operations Review

    The Pressure-sensitive Adhesives and Materials sector reported strong growth over the third quarter of 2001 with reported sales for the sector of $687 million. Sales for the sector grew nearly 24 percent over the third quarter of 2001. Excluding the impact of the Jackstadt acquisition, currency exchange rates and divestitures, sales for the sector grew approximately 6.5 percent.
    Before the positive impact of currency exchange rates and the Jackstadt acquisition, virtually all pressure-sensitive materials operations worldwide, with the exception of European markets, achieved double-digit sales growth. The North American pressure-sensitive materials business reported strong results, due to a variety of factors, including innovative new service programs and applications, new product introductions, expanded relationships with major end-users and industry consolidation. The specialty tape business reported strong sales growth, as the business continues to introduce new applications and products for the medical and industrial markets. The strong growth in these businesses was partially offset by flat results in the worldwide graphics and reflective materials business. Operating margin for the sector, excluding the third-quarter charge, was 7.7 percent, compared with 8.6 percent for the same period a year ago. Excluding the impact of the Jackstadt acquisition and the third-quarter charge, operating margin for the sector was approximately 9.5 percent, an improvement of approximately 90 basis points over the third quarter of 2001.
    The Company also announced that it is making a $40 million investment in its pressure-sensitive materials manufacturing operation in Europe. Avery Dennison will expand its existing pressure-sensitive materials plant in Luxembourg with new coating and finishing equipment utilizing state-of-the-art production technology which will result in significant productivity improvement and enhanced distribution throughout Europe.
    The Consumer and Converted Products sector reported modest sales growth over the same quarter a year ago. Reported sales for the sector were $471 million. Sales for the sector increased 1.1 percent from the third quarter of 2001, excluding the impact of currency exchange rates and divestitures. A relatively soft back-to-school retail season in the U.S. market resulted in a modest decline in sales compared with the prior-year third quarter for the Company's office products business. The early strong order patterns that developed in the office products business during the second quarter of 2002 did not continue for the balance of the back-to-school season, reflecting soft economic conditions. In Europe, excluding the impact of currency exchange rates, sales were flat to down modestly for most businesses in the sector, consistent with weakened economic conditions in the region.
    Offsetting the soft office products and European operations, both the Retail Information Services business and the Automotive and Industrial Products business achieved strong sales growth. Retail Information Services, which includes the Company's worldwide ticketing business supplying tags and ticketing products to the apparel and retail industries, reported double-digit sales growth over the prior-year quarter. Automotive and Industrial Products posted growth of nearly 10 percent. Operating margin for the sector, excluding the third-quarter charge, increased 120 basis points from the prior-year third quarter.
    Avery Dennison said that it expects earnings, excluding the impact from the expected charge of approximately $17 million in the fourth quarter, to be in the range of $0.65 to $0.70 per share for the fourth quarter of 2002, projecting annual earnings to be in the range of $2.79 to $2.84 per share, excluding the third and fourth quarter charges. The Company said that these projections for the quarter assume the continuation of current trends, and reflect expectations for revenue growth in the range of 15 percent to 19 percent, and operating margin in the range of 10 percent to 10.5 percent, which includes the previously announced negative impact on earnings of $0.03 per share from the Jackstadt acquisition.
    "We are encouraged by the outlook for our businesses on a worldwide basis as we move into the final quarter of the year," said Neal. "Order patterns across our businesses and geographic markets are strong, with some uncertainty about economic conditions in Europe. We look forward to strengthening our worldwide ticketing business by completing the recently announced acquisitions of RVL Packaging and L&E Packaging, which are subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
    "We are committed to accelerating our growth as we enter 2003, through strategies that capitalize on our technological capabilities, product development expertise and geographic presence in major global markets," said Neal. "Teams of employees throughout the Company are focused on developing new products, and even new businesses, that fulfill immediate market needs, as well as the yet unmet needs of customers three to five years in the future."
    Avery Dennison is a global leader in pressure-sensitive technology and innovative self-adhesive solutions for consumer products and label materials. Based in Pasadena, Calif., the Company had 2001 sales of $3.8 billion. Avery Dennison develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of products for consumer and industrial markets, including Avery-brand office products, Fasson-brand self-adhesive materials, peel-and-stick postage stamps, reflective highway safety products, automated retail tag and labeling systems, and specialty tapes and chemicals.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain information presented in this news release may constitute "forward-looking" statements. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results and trends may differ materially from historical or expected results depending on a variety of factors, including but not limited to price and availability of raw materials, foreign exchange rates, worldwide and local economic conditions, successful integration of new acquisitions, financial condition and inventory strategies of customers, acceptance of new products, fluctuations in demand affecting sales to customers and other matters referred to in the Company's SEC filings.

    For more information and to listen to a live broadcast or an audio replay of the 3rd Quarter conference call with analysts, visit the Avery Dennison Web site at www.investors.averydennison.com



                            AVERY DENNISON
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
                (In millions, except per share amounts)
                              (Unaudited)

                                      Three Months  Nine Months Ended
                                          Ended

                                    Sep. 28, Sep.29  Sep. 28, Sep. 29,
                                      2002    2001     2002     2001

Net sales                           $1,114.5 $966.7 $3,101.6 $2,890.7

Cost of products sold                  761.3  653.9  2,093.0  1,947.1

Gross profit                           353.2  312.8  1,008.6    943.6

Marketing, general & administrative
 expense                               239.5  209.6    676.6    627.2

Other expense (1)                       15.2     --     15.2       --

Interest expense                        11.8   12.4     30.7     39.7

  Income before taxes                   86.7   90.8    286.1    276.7

Taxes on income                         23.6   29.1     84.4     91.4

  Income before accounting change       63.1   61.7    201.7    185.3

Cumulative effect of accounting
 change, net of tax (2)                   --     --       --     (0.2)

  Net income                        $   63.1 $ 61.7 $  201.7 $  185.1

Diluted earnings per share:
  Before accounting change          $   0.64 $ 0.63 $   2.03 $   1.88
  Cumulative effect of accounting
   change                                 --     --       --       --

Net income per common share,
 assuming dilution                  $   0.64 $ 0.63 $   2.03 $   1.88

Average common shares outstanding,
 assuming dilution                      99.3   98.6     99.2     98.6

Common shares outstanding at period
 end                                    98.5   97.8     98.5     97.8

(1) Other expense includes asset impairment charges and lease
    cancellation costs.

(2) As required, the Company adopted SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for
    Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" and related
    amendments in the first quarter of 2001.


                            AVERY DENNISON
                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
                            (In millions)
                             (Unaudited)

                                       Third Quarter Ended

                                NET SALES    OPERATING     OPERATING
                                             INCOME (1)     MARGINS

                                2002   2001  2002  2001  2002    2001

Pressure-sensitive Adhesives
 and Materials                $687.2 $554.6 $41.8 $47.6   6.1%    8.6%
Consumer and Converted
 Products                      470.8  461.9  65.3  62.5  13.9%   13.5%
Intersegment Sales             (43.5) (49.8)  N/A   N/A   N/A     N/A
Corporate Expense                N/A    N/A  (8.6) (6.9)  N/A     N/A
Interest Expense                 N/A    N/A (11.8)(12.4)  N/A     N/A

TOTAL                       $1,114.5 $966.7 $86.7 $90.8   7.8%    9.4%

Note (1): Operating income for the third quarter of 2002 includes
asset impairment charges and lease cancellation costs of $15.2
million, of which the Pressure-sensitive Adhesives and Materials
segment recorded $11 million and the Consumer and Converted Products
segment recorded $4.2 million.


                            AVERY DENNISON
                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
                            (In millions)
                             (Unaudited)

                                     Nine Months Year-to-Date

                              NET SALES       OPERATING    OPERATING
                                              INCOME (1)    MARGINS
                             2002     2001    2002   2001  2002 2001

Pressure-sensitive
 Adhesives and Materials $1,877.6 $1,649.2  $153.5 $138.9   8.2%  8.4%
Consumer and Converted
 Products                 1,351.0  1,362.6   191.5  196.3  14.2% 14.4%
Intersegment Sales         (127.0)  (121.1)    N/A    N/A   N/A   N/A
Corporate Expense             N/A      N/A   (28.2) (18.8)  N/A   N/A
Interest Expense              N/A      N/A   (30.7) (39.7)  N/A   N/A

TOTAL                    $3,101.6 $2,890.7  $286.1 $276.7   9.2%  9.6%

Note (1): Operating income for 2002 includes asset impairment charges
and lease cancellation costs of $15.2 million, of which the Pressure-
sensitive Adhesives and Materials segment recorded $11 million and the
Consumer and Converted Products segment recorded $4.2 million.


                            AVERY DENNISON
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                            (In millions)
                             (Unaudited)

ASSETS                                              Sep. 28,  Sep. 29,
                                                      2002      2001

Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                        $    28.9 $   17.5
  Trade accounts receivable, net                       742.0    616.4
  Inventories, net                                     341.0    292.4
  Other current assets                                 129.6    126.2

   Total current assets                              1,241.5  1,052.5

Property, plant and equipment, net                   1,133.6  1,077.4
Goodwill, net                                          446.1    303.6
Intangibles resulting from business
 acquisitions, net                                     129.2    122.5
Other assets                                           351.7    290.6

                                                   $ 3,302.1 $2,846.6

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
  Short-term and current portion of long-term debt $   268.9 $  187.9
  Accounts payable                                     388.6    350.0
  Other current liabilities                            559.4    391.4

    Total current liabilities                        1,216.9    929.3

Long-term debt                                         768.7    701.7
Other long-term liabilities                            296.3    285.3
Shareholders' equity:
  Common stock                                         124.1    124.1
  Capital in excess of par value                       740.2    601.0
  Retained earnings                                  1,649.0  1,534.3
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss                (173.2)  (107.8)
  Cost of unallocated ESOP shares                      (13.7)   (15.3)
  Employee stock benefit trusts                       (667.8)  (572.6)
  Treasury stock at cost                              (638.4)  (633.4)

    Total shareholders' equity                       1,020.2    930.3

                                                   $ 3,302.1 $2,846.6

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the
current year presentation.


                            AVERY DENNISON
            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                            (In millions)
                             (Unaudited)

                                                  Nine Months Ended

                                                  Sep. 28,    Sep. 29,
                                                    2002        2001

Operating Activities:

Net income                                     $    201.7  $    185.1

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
 provided by operating activities:

  Depreciation                                       94.6        93.1
  Amortization                                       16.6        23.9
  Deferred taxes                                      4.8         1.9
  Asset impairment and lease cancellation costs      15.2          --
Cash provided by operations                         332.9       304.0

  Changes in assets and liabilities                 (12.2)      (59.6)

Net cash provided by operating activities           320.7       244.4

Investing Activities:

Purchase of property, plant and equipment           (71.3)      (96.6)
Proceeds from sale of assets                          9.9        11.0
Payments for acquisitions                          (220.9)      (63.9)
Purchase of software                                (14.4)      (42.3)
Other                                               (10.3)      (13.9)
Net cash used by investing activities              (307.0)     (205.7)

Financing Activities:

Additional borrowings                               404.8       416.5
Payments of debt                                   (326.0)     (356.7)
Dividends paid                                     (108.7)      (99.1)
Purchase of treasury stock                           (5.0)      (17.8)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options              20.3        14.6
Other                                                11.4         9.9
Net cash used by financing activities                (3.2)      (32.6)
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash
 balances                                            (0.7)         --
Increase in cash and cash equivalents                 9.8         6.1
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period       19.1        11.4
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period       $     28.9  $     17.5