10-Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________________________________________
FORM 10-Q
_______________________________________________
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016
or
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ____________  to ____________
Commission file number 1-15399
_______________________________________________

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware
 
36-4277050
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
 Incorporation or Organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
1955 West Field Court, Lake Forest, Illinois
 
60045
(Address of Prinicpal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
(847) 482-3000
_____________________________________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
¨
Non-accelerated filer
¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x

As of April 29, 2016 the Registrant had outstanding 94,111,081 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share.




Table of Contents
 
PART I
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
PART II
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
Item 1A.
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
Item 5.
 
 
Item 6.
 
 
 

All reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are available free of charge via the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) System on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. We also provide copies of our SEC filings at no charge upon request and make electronic copies of our reports available through our website at www.packagingcorp.com as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material with the SEC.


i


PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Packaging Corporation of America
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
(unaudited, dollars in millions, except per-share data)

 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
2016
 
2015
Statements of Income:
 
 
 
Net sales
$
1,401.0

 
$
1,425.7

Cost of sales
(1,102.4
)
 
(1,148.7
)
Gross profit
298.6

 
277.0

Selling, general, and administrative expenses
(113.9
)
 
(117.3
)
Other expense, net
(3.9
)
 
(2.6
)
Income from operations
180.8

 
157.1

Interest expense, net
(21.6
)
 
(19.2
)
Income before taxes
159.2

 
137.9

Income tax provision
(55.5
)
 
(47.1
)
Net income
$
103.7

 
$
90.8

 
 
 
 
Net income per common share:
 
 
 
Basic
$
1.09

 
$
0.92

Diluted
$
1.09

 
$
0.92

Dividends declared per common share
$
0.55

 
$
0.55

 
 
 
 
Statements of Comprehensive Income:
 
 
 
Net income
$
103.7

 
$
90.8

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment

 
(1.4
)
Reclassification adjustments to cash flow hedges included in net income, net of tax of $0.5 million and $0.6 million
0.9

 
0.8

Amortization of pension and postretirement plans actuarial loss and prior service cost, net of tax of $1.0 million and $1.4 million
1.6

 
2.2

Other comprehensive income
2.5

 
1.6

Comprehensive income
$
106.2

 
$
92.4


See accompanying condensed notes to unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements.


1


Packaging Corporation of America
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited, dollars and shares in millions, except per-share data)
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
162.3

 
$
184.2

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and customer deductions of $10.0 million and $10.3 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively
631.4

 
636.5

Inventories
692.5

 
676.8

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
42.7

 
28.8

Federal and state income taxes receivable

 
28.2

Total current assets
1,528.9

 
1,554.5

Property, plant, and equipment, net
2,817.9

 
2,832.1

Goodwill
544.0

 
544.0

Intangible assets, net
265.1

 
270.8

Other long-term assets
71.4

 
70.9

Total assets
$
5,227.3

 
$
5,272.3

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
$
6.5

 
$
6.5

Capital lease obligations
1.2

 
1.2

Accounts payable
309.0

 
294.2

Dividends payable
52.1

 
53.4

Federal and state income taxes payable
13.3

 

Accrued interest
18.8

 
13.1

Accrued liabilities
144.4

 
193.5

Total current liabilities
545.3

 
561.9

Long-term liabilities:
 
 
 
Long-term debt
2,289.3

 
2,290.4

Capital lease obligations
21.3

 
21.6

Deferred income taxes
357.2

 
347.0

Compensation and benefits
363.0

 
358.6

Other long-term liabilities
60.4

 
59.5

Total long-term liabilities
3,091.2

 
3,077.1

Commitments and contingent liabilities


 


Stockholders' equity:
 
 
 
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 300.0 million shares authorized, 94.2 million and 96.1 million shares issued as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively
0.9

 
1.0

Additional paid in capital
432.8

 
439.9

Retained earnings
1,286.5

 
1,317.3

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(122.4
)
 
(124.9
)
 Common stock held in treasury, at cost, 0.1 million shares as of March 31, 2016
(7.0
)
 

Total stockholders' equity
1,590.8

 
1,633.3

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
5,227.3

 
$
5,272.3


See accompanying condensed notes to unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements.

2


Packaging Corporation of America
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited, dollars in millions)
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
2016
 
2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
103.7

 
$
90.8

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization of intangibles
88.7

 
93.4

Amortization of deferred financing costs
1.9

 
1.9

Share-based compensation expense
5.6

 
4.2

Deferred income tax provision
8.1

 
7.4

Pension and postretirement benefits expense, net of contributions
6.4

 
7.7

Other, net
2.1

 
(5.4
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Decrease (increase) in assets —
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
5.1

 
(31.4
)
Inventories
(15.7
)
 
(22.2
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(13.9
)
 
(4.5
)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities —
 
 
 
Accounts payable
0.3

 
(13.6
)
Accrued liabilities
(43.5
)
 
(48.8
)
Federal and state income taxes payable / receivable
42.2

 
28.8

Net cash provided by operating activities
191.0

 
108.3

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
 
 
 
Additions to property, plant, and equipment
(52.9
)
 
(55.6
)
Additions to other long-term assets
(2.9
)
 
(2.6
)
Other
0.3

 
0.6

Net cash used for investing activities
(55.5
)
 
(57.6
)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
 
 
 
Repayments of debt and capital lease obligations
(1.9
)
 
(1.9
)
Common stock dividends paid
(53.1
)
 
(39.4
)
Repurchases of common stock
(100.3
)
 
(7.6
)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards

 
0.3

Shares withheld to cover employee restricted stock taxes
(2.1
)
 
(0.3
)
Other

 
(0.3
)
Net cash used for financing activities
(157.4
)
 
(49.2
)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(21.9
)
 
1.5

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
184.2

 
124.9

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
162.3

 
$
126.4


See accompanying condensed notes to unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements.

3


Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements

1.     Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

Packaging Corporation of America ("we," "us," "our," PCA," or the "Company") was incorporated on January 25, 1999. In April 1999, PCA acquired the containerboard and corrugated packaging products business of Pactiv Corporation (Pactiv), formerly known as Tenneco Packaging, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tenneco Inc. We are a large diverse manufacturer of both packaging and paper products. We are headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois and we operate primarily in the United States.

We report our business in three reportable segments: Packaging, Paper, and Corporate and Other. Our Packaging segment produces a wide variety of corrugated packaging products. The Paper segment manufactures and sells a range of papers, including communication-based papers and pressure sensitive papers (collectively, white papers) and market pulp. Corporate and Other includes support staff services and related assets and liabilities, transportation assets, and activity related to other ancillary support operations. For more information about our segments, see Note 15 Segment Information.

In these consolidated financial statements, certain amounts in prior periods' consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation.

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-03 (Topic 835): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This ASU conforms the presentation of debt issuance costs with that required for debt discounts under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Under the ASU, debt issuance costs are presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related liability rather than as an asset. We applied this guidance retrospectively, as required, and reclassified $12.3 million from "Other long-term assets" to "Long-term debt" on our December 31, 2015 Consolidated Balance Sheet to conform with current period presentation. At March 31, 2016 deferred financing costs were $11.9 million.

The consolidated financial statements of PCA as of March 31, 2016 and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 are unaudited but include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that management considers necessary for a fair presentation of such financial statements. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements involves the use of estimates and accruals. Actual results may vary from those estimates. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with Article 10 of SEC Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete audited financial statements. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PCA and its majority-owned subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany balances and transactions.


4


2.     Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income per common share for the periods presented (dollars and shares in millions, except per share data):
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
2016
 
2015
Numerator:
 
 
 
Net income
$
103.7

 
$
90.8

Less: distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities
(1.1
)
 
(1.2
)
Net income attributable to common shareholders
$
102.6

 
$
89.6

Denominator:
 
 
 
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding
94.1

 
97.1

Effect of dilutive securities
0.1

 
0.1

Diluted common shares outstanding
94.2

 
97.2

Basic income per common share
$
1.09

 
$
0.92

Diluted income per common share
$
1.09

 
$
0.92


3.     Other Expense, Net

The components of other income (expense), net, were as follows (dollars in millions):
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
2016
 
2015
Facilities closure costs (a)
$
(2.0
)
 
$

Integration-related and other costs (b)

 
(3.0
)
Asset disposals and write-offs
(1.8
)
 
(1.0
)
DeRidder restructuring (c)

 
(1.2
)
Refundable state tax credit (d)

 
3.6

Other
(0.1
)
 
(1.0
)
Total
$
(3.9
)
 
$
(2.6
)
___________
(a)
The three months ended March 31, 2016 include $2.0 million of facilities closure costs related to a corrugated products facility and a paper products facility.
(b)
The three months ended March 31, 2015 include Boise acquisition integration-related and other costs. These costs primarily relate to professional fees, severance, retention, relocation, travel, and other integration-related costs.
(c)
The three months ended March 31, 2015 include amounts from restructuring activities at our mill in DeRidder, Louisiana.
(d)
The three months ended March 31, 2015 include a $3.6 million tax credit from the State of Louisiana related to our capital investment and the jobs retained at the DeRidder, Louisiana mill.



5


4.     Income Taxes

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 we recorded $55.5 million and $47.1 million of income tax expense and had an effective tax rate of 34.8% and 34.2%, respectively. Our effective tax rate may differ from the federal statutory income tax rate of 35.0%, due primarily to the effect of the domestic manufacturing deduction and state and local income taxes. The increase in our effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared with the same period in 2015, was primarily due to the favorable closure of a Federal audit for tax years 2010 through 2012 and the resulting release of uncertain tax positions, which occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016 there were no significant changes to our uncertain tax positions. For more information, see Note 6, Income Taxes, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 cash paid for taxes, net of refunds received, was $5.2 million and $9.8 million, respectively.

5.     Inventories

We value our raw materials, work in process, and finished goods inventories using lower of cost, as determined by the average cost method, or market. Supplies and materials are valued at the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost methods.

The components of inventories were as follows (dollars in millions):
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Raw materials
$
272.0

 
$
260.6

Work in process
12.0

 
14.2

Finished goods
190.6

 
189.7

Supplies and materials
217.9

 
212.3

Inventories
$
692.5

 
$
676.8


6.    Property, Plant, and Equipment

The components of property, plant, and equipment were as follows (dollars in millions):
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Land and land improvements
$
146.2

 
$
146.4

Buildings
641.3

 
640.9

Machinery and equipment
4,769.9

 
4,747.1

Construction in progress
148.3

 
119.1

Other
64.8

 
61.3

Property, plant, and equipment, at cost
5,770.5

 
5,714.8

Less accumulated depreciation
(2,952.6
)
 
(2,882.7
)
Property, plant, and equipment, net
$
2,817.9

 
$
2,832.1


Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $80.7 million and $85.2 million, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 we recognized $0.1 million of incremental depreciation expense from shortening the useful lives of assets related to facilities closures. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 we recognized $9.0 million of incremental depreciation expense from shortening the useful lives of assets at our DeRidder, Louisiana mill as a result of restructuring activities.

At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 purchases of property, plant, and equipment included in accounts payable were $29.4 million and $15.0 million.


6


7.     Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired business over the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. At both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 we had $488.8 million of goodwill recorded in our Packaging segment and $55.2 million of goodwill recorded in our Paper segment on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are primarily comprised of customer relationships and trademarks and trade names.

The weighted average remaining useful life, gross carrying amount, and accumulated amortization of our intangible assets were as follows (dollars in millions):
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
Weighted Average Remaining Useful Life (in Years)
 
Gross 
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Weighted Average Remaining Useful Life (in Years)
 
Gross 
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
Customer relationships
13.1
 
$
311.5

 
$
62.4

 
13.3
 
$
311.5

 
$
57.3

Trademarks and trade names
13.5
 
21.8

 
5.8

 
13.6
 
21.8

 
5.2

Other
1.0
 
0.2

 
0.2

 
1.2
 
0.2

 
0.2

Total intangible assets (excluding goodwill)
13.5
 
$
333.5

 
$
68.4

 
13.6
 
$
333.5

 
$
62.7


During both the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, amortization expense was $5.7 million.

8.    Accrued Liabilities

The components of accrued liabilities were as follows (dollars in millions):
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Compensation and benefits
$
64.3

 
$
106.4

Medical insurance and workers’ compensation
30.5

 
31.1

Franchise, property, and sales and use taxes
15.1

 
16.0

Customer volume discounts and rebates
11.9

 
15.3

Environmental liabilities and asset retirement obligations
9.2

 
7.9

Severance, retention, and relocation
4.8

 
7.3

Other
8.6

 
9.5

Total
$
144.4

 
$
193.5


9.    Debt

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, we made a principal payment of $1.6 million on our seven-year term loan due October 2020. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 cash payments for interest were $15.8 million and $15.9 million, respectively.

Included in interest expense, net, are amortization of treasury lock settlements and amortization of financing costs. For both the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 amortization of treasury lock settlements was $1.4 million. For both the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 amortization of financing costs was $0.4 million.

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-03 (Topic 835): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This ASU conforms the presentation of debt issuance costs with that

7


required for debt discounts under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Under the ASU, debt issuance costs are presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related liability rather than as an asset. We applied this guidance retrospectively, as required, and reclassified $12.3 million from "Other long-term assets" to "Long-term debt" on our December 31, 2015 Consolidated Balance Sheet to conform with current period presentation. At March 31, 2016 deferred financing costs were $11.9 million.

For more information on our long-term debt and interest rates on that debt, see Note 10, Debt, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

At March 31, 2016 we had $1,650.0 million of fixed-rate senior notes and $660.4 million of variable-rate term loans outstanding. At March 31, 2016 the fair value of our fixed-rate debt was estimated to be $1,744.6 million. The difference between the book value and fair value is due to the difference between the period-end market interest rate and the stated rate of our fixed-rate debt. We estimated the fair value of our fixed-rate debt using quoted market prices (Level 2 inputs) within the fair value hierarchy, which is further defined in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The fair value of our variable-rate term debt approximates the carrying amount as our cost of borrowing is variable and approximates current market rates.

10.     Employee Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

The components of net periodic benefit cost for our pension plans were as follows (dollars in millions):
 
Pension Plans
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
2016
 
2015
Service cost
$
6.1

 
$
5.9

Interest cost
10.2

 
11.5

Expected return on plan assets
(12.4
)
 
(13.3
)
Net amortization of unrecognized amounts
 
 
 
Prior service cost
1.4

 
1.4

Actuarial loss
1.4

 
2.1

Net periodic benefit cost
$
6.7

 
$
7.6


PCA makes pension plan contributions that are sufficient to fund its actuarially determined costs, generally equal to the minimum amounts required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 payments to our nonqualified pension plans were insignificant. We did not make any contributions to our qualified plans during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. We expect to contribute at least the estimated required minimum contributions to our qualified plans of approximately $27.0 million in 2016.

The components of net periodic benefit cost for our postretirement plans were as follows (dollars in millions):
 
Postretirement Plans
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
2016
 
2015
Service cost
$
0.2

 
$
0.4

Interest cost
0.2

 
0.3

Net amortization of unrecognized amounts
 
 
 
Prior service cost

 

Actuarial loss
(0.2
)
 
0.1

Net periodic benefit cost
$
0.2

 
$
0.8



8


11.     Share-Based Compensation

The Company has a long-term equity incentive plan, which allows for grants of restricted stock, performance awards, stock appreciation rights, and stock options to directors, officers, and employees, as well as others who engage in services for PCA. The Company has not granted option awards since 2007. The plan, as amended, terminates May 1, 2023 and authorizes 10.6 million shares of common stock for grant over the life of the plan. As of March 31, 2016, 1.6 million shares were available for future issuance under the plan. Forfeitures are added back to the pool of shares of common stock available to be granted at a future date.

The following table presents restricted stock and performance unit award activity for the three months ended March 31, 2016:
 
Restricted Stock
 
Performance Units
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average Grant- Date Fair Value
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average Grant- Date Fair Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2016
1,007,794

 
$
49.47

 
175,675

 
$
59.94

Granted
321

 
62.35

 

 

Vested (a)
(74,444
)
 
46.05

 
(20,604
)
 
57.58

Forfeitures
(9,152
)
 
59.46

 

 

Outstanding at March 31, 2016
924,519

 
$
49.66

 
155,071

 
$
60.25

___________
(a)
Upon vesting of the performance unit awards, PCA issued 21,111 shares of its common stock, which included 507 shares for dividends accrued during the vesting period.
    
Compensation Expense

Our share-based compensation expense is recorded in "Selling, general, and administrative expenses". Compensation expense for share-based awards recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income, net of forfeitures, was as follows (dollars in millions):
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
2016
 
2015
Restricted stock
$
4.9

 
$
3.6

Performance units
0.7

 
0.6

Total share-based compensation expense
5.6

 
4.2

Income tax benefit
(2.2
)
 
(1.6
)
Share-based compensation expense, net of tax benefit
$
3.4

 
$
2.6


The fair value of restricted stock and performance units is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. As PCA’s Board of Directors has the ability to accelerate vesting of share-based awards upon an employee’s retirement, the Company accelerates the recognition of compensation expense for certain employees approaching normal retirement age.


9


The unrecognized compensation expense for all share-based awards at March 31, 2016 was as follows (dollars in millions):
 
March 31, 2016
 
Unrecognized Compensation Expense
 
Remaining Weighted Average Recognition Period (in years)
Restricted stock
$
22.1

 
2.4
Performance units
5.4

 
2.6
Total unrecognized share-based compensation expense
$
27.5

 
2.4

12.     Stockholders' Equity

Dividends

During the three months ended March 31, 2016 we paid $53.1 million of dividends to shareholders. On February 25, 2016 PCA's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.55 per share, which was paid on April 15, 2016 to shareholders of record as of March 15, 2016. The April 2016 dividend payment was $51.9 million.

Repurchases of Common Stock

During the three months ended March 31, 2016 we paid $100.3 million to repurchase 1,987,187 shares of common stock fully depleting the July 2015 authorization of $150.0 million. On February 25, 2016 PCA announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $200.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable securities regulations. The timing and amount of repurchases will be determined by the Company in its discretion based on factors such as PCA’s stock price and market and business conditions.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) by component were as follows. Amounts in parentheses indicate losses (dollars in millions):
 
 
Unrealized Loss On Treasury Locks, Net
 
Unrealized Loss on Foreign Exchange Contracts
 
Unfunded Employee Benefit Obligations
 
Total
Balance at January 1, 2016
 
$
(21.2
)
 
$
(0.4
)
 
$
(103.3
)
 
$
(124.9
)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax
 
0.9

(a)

 
1.6

(b)
2.5

Balance at March 31, 2016
 
$
(20.3
)
 
$
(0.4
)
 
$
(101.7
)
 
$
(122.4
)


10


Reclassifications out of AOCI were as follows. Amounts in parentheses indicate expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income (dollars in millions):
 
 
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income is Presented
Details about AOCI Components
 
2016
 
2015
 
Unrealized loss on treasury locks, net
 
$
(1.4
)
 
$
(1.4
)
 
See (a) below
 
 
0.5

 
0.6

 
Tax benefit
 
 
$
(0.9
)
 
$
(0.8
)
 
Net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unfunded employee benefit obligations
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of prior service costs
 
$
(1.4
)
 
$
(1.4
)
 
See (b) below
Amortization of actuarial losses
 
(1.2
)
 
(2.2
)
 
See (b) below
 
 
(2.6
)
 
(3.6
)
 
Total before tax
 
 
1.0

 
1.4

 
Tax benefit
 
 
$
(1.6
)
 
$
(2.2
)
 
Net of tax
____________
(a)
This AOCI component is included in interest expense, net. Amount relates to the amortization of the effective portion of treasury lock derivative instruments recorded in AOCI. The net amount of settlement gains or losses on derivative instruments included in AOCI to be amortized over the next 12 months is a net loss of $5.7 million ($3.5 million after tax). For a discussion of treasury lock derivative instrument activity, see Note 14, Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(b)
These AOCI components are included in the computation of net pension and postretirement benefit costs. See Note 10, Employee Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits, for additional information.

13.     Concentrations of Risk

Our Paper segment has had a long-standing commercial and contractual relationship with Office Depot, our largest customer in the paper business. Office Depot agreed to be acquired by Staples, Inc. on February 4, 2015. The pending acquisition by Staples is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including regulatory approval. This relationship exposes us to a significant concentration of business and financial risk. Our sales to Office Depot represent approximately 9% and 10% of our total Company sales revenue, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and approximately 44% and 46% of our Paper segment sales revenue for both those periods, respectively. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 we had $33.9 million and $39.5 million of accounts receivable due from Office Depot, which represents 5% and 6% of our total Company accounts receivable, respectively.

Our agreement with Office Depot will continue to remain in effect after a merger or acquisition as to the office paper requirements of the legacy Office Depot business. However, we cannot predict how any merger or acquisition will affect the financial condition of the ultimate entity, the paper requirements of the legacy Office Depot business, the purchasing decisions of the ultimate entity or the effects on pricing or competition for office papers. In 2015, sales to Office Depot represented 45% of our Paper segment sales. If these sales are reduced, whether as a result of the future acquisition of Office Depot by Staples or otherwise, we would need to find new customers. We may not be able to fully replace any lost sales, and any new sales may be at lower prices or higher costs. Any significant deterioration in the financial condition of the ultimate entity affecting its ability to pay or any other change that affects its willingness to purchase our products will harm our business and results of operations.

14.     Transactions With Related Parties

Louisiana Timber Procurement Company, L.L.C. (LTP) is a variable-interest entity that is 50% owned by PCA and 50% owned by Boise Cascade Company (Boise Cascade). LTP procures sawtimber, pulpwood, residual chips, and other residual wood fiber to meet the wood and fiber requirements of PCA and Boise Cascade in Louisiana. PCA is the primary beneficiary of LTP, and has the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of LTP. Therefore, we consolidate 100% of LTP in our financial statements in our Corporate and Other segment. The carrying amounts of LTP's assets and liabilities (which relate primarily to noninventory working capital items) on our Consolidated Balance

11


Sheets were $4.5 million at both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 we recorded $22.3 million and $21.9 million, respectively, of LTP sales to Boise Cascade in "Net Sales" in the Consolidated Statements of Income and approximately the same amount of expenses in "Cost of Sales". The sales were at prices designed to approximate market prices.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 fiber purchases from related parties were $4.7 million and $6.3 million, respectively. Most of these purchases related to chip and log purchases by LTP from Boise Cascade's wood products business. These purchases are recorded in "Cost of Sales" in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

15.     Segment Information

We report our business in three reportable segments: Packaging, Paper, and Corporate and Other. These segments represent distinct businesses that are managed separately because of differing products and services. Each of these businesses requires distinct operating and marketing strategies.

Each segment's profits and losses are measured on operating profits before interest expense, net, and income taxes. For many of these allocated expenses, the related assets and liabilities remain in the Corporate and Other segment.

Selected financial information by reportable segment was as follows (dollars in millions):
 
 
Sales, net
 
Operating Income (Loss)
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
Trade
 
Inter-
segment
 
Total
 
 
Packaging
 
$
1,093.8

 
$
1.7

 
$
1,095.5

 
$
159.6

(a)
Paper
 
280.5

 

 
280.5

 
36.1

(a)
Corporate and Other
 
26.7

 
36.0

 
62.7

 
(14.9
)
 
Intersegment eliminations
 

 
(37.7
)
 
(37.7
)
 

 
 
 
$
1,401.0

 
$

 
$
1,401.0

 
180.8

 
Interest expense, net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(21.6
)
 
Income before taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
159.2

 
 
 
Sales, net
 
Operating Income (Loss)
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
Trade
 
Inter-
segment
 
Total
 
 
Packaging
 
$
1,097.9

 
$
1.4

 
$
1,099.3

 
$
141.1

(b)
Paper
 
297.3

 

 
297.3

 
35.6

 
Corporate and Other
 
30.5

 
30.5

 
61.0

 
(19.6
)
(b)
Intersegment eliminations
 

 
(31.9
)
 
(31.9
)
 

 
 
 
$
1,425.7

 
$

 
$
1,425.7

 
157.1

 
Interest expense, net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(19.2
)
 
Income before taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
137.9

 

___________
(a)
The three months ended March 31, 2016 include charges of $2.8 million of facilities closure costs related to a corrugated products facility and a paper products facility. The closure costs are recorded within "Other expense, net" and "Cost of sales", as appropriate.
(b)
The three months ended March 31, 2015 include charges of $10.3 million primarily for accelerated depreciation at our mill in DeRidder, Louisiana.
The three months ended March 31, 2015 include $3.5 million of Boise acquisition integration-related and other costs. These costs primarily relate to professional fees, severance, retention, relocation, travel, and other integration-related costs, and are mostly recorded in "Other expense, net".

16.     New and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-09 (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This ASU is intended to improve the

12


accounting for share-based payment transactions as part of the FASB's simplification initiative. Under the ASU, all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies will be recorded as an income tax benefit or expense in the income statement. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years for public business entities. We are evaluating the timing and effects of the adoption of this ASU on our financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 (Topic 842): Leases. This ASU amends a number of aspects of lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize operating leases with a term greater than one year on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability, measured at the present value of the lease payments. This ASU will be effective for us beginning in our first quarter of 2019 and early adoption is permitted.  This ASU is required to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. We are evaluating the timing and effects of the adoption of this ASU on our financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company adopted ASU 2015-03 (Topic 835): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This ASU conforms the presentation of debt issuance costs with that required for debt discounts under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Under the ASU, debt issuance costs are presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related liability rather than as an asset. We applied this guidance retrospectively, as required, and reclassified $12.3 million from "Other long-term assets" to "Long-term debt" on our December 31, 2015 Consolidated Balance Sheet to conform with current period presentation. At March 31, 2016 deferred financing costs were $11.9 million.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11 (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. This ASU only addresses the measurement of inventory if its value declines or is impaired. The guidance on determining the cost of inventory is not amended. We continue to apply average cost to determine the cost of inventory and will then compare that to the net realizable value to determine if an inventory write-down is necessary. The ASU is effective January 1, 2017, and we do not expect it to have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 (Topic 606): Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This ASU amends the guidance for revenue recognition to replace numerous, industry-specific requirements and converges areas under this topic with those of the International Financial Reporting Standards. The ASU implements a five-step process for customer contract revenue recognition that focuses on transfer of control, as opposed to transfer of risk and rewards. The amendment also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows from contracts with customers. Entities can transition to the standard either retrospectively or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14: Revenue From Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. This ASU defers the effective date of the revenue standard, ASU 2014-09, by one year so that it is now effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are still assessing the impact of ASU 2014-09, but we do not believe it will have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

There were no other accounting standards recently issued that had or are expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

17.     Commitments, Guarantees, Indemnifications and Legal Proceedings

We have financial commitments and obligations that arise in the ordinary course of our business. These include long-term debt, capital commitments, lease obligations, and purchase commitments for goods and services, and legal proceedings, all of which are discussed in Note 10, Debt, and Note 19, Commitments, Guarantees, Indemnifications, and Legal Proceedings, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Guarantees and Indemnifications

We provide guarantees, indemnifications, and other assurances to third parties in the normal course of our business. These include tort indemnifications, product guarantees, environmental assurances, and representations and warranties in commercial agreements. At March 31, 2016 we are not aware of any material liabilities arising from any guarantee, indemnification, or financial assurance we have provided. If we determined such a liability was probable and subject to reasonable determination, we would accrue for it at that time.

13





Legal proceedings

We are party to legal actions arising in the ordinary course of our business. These legal actions include commercial liability claims, premises liability claims, commercial disputes, and employment-related claims, among others. As of the date of this filing, we believe it is not reasonably possible that any of the legal actions against us will, either individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Item 2.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This management's discussion and analysis includes statements regarding our expectations with respect to our future performance, expected business conditions, liquidity, and capital resources. Such statements, along with any other nonhistorical statements in the discussion, are forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as those factors listed in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any of the forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q. Please see "Forward Looking Statements" elsewhere in this Item 2.

Overview

PCA is the fourth largest producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products in the United States and the third largest producer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America, based on production capacity. We operate five containerboard mills, three paper mills, and 92 corrugated products manufacturing plants. Our corrugated products manufacturing plants produce a wide variety of corrugated packaging products, including conventional shipping containers used to protect and transport manufactured goods, multi-color boxes and displays with strong visual appeal that help to merchandise the packaged product in retail locations, and honeycomb protective packaging. In addition, we are a large producer of packaging for meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, processed food, beverages, and other industrial and consumer products. We also manufacture and sell white papers, including both commodity and specialty papers, which may have custom or specialized features such as colors, coatings, high brightness, and recycled content. We operate primarily in the United States.

This Item 2 is intended to supplement, and should be read in conjunction with, "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Executive Summary

Net sales were $1.4 billion in both the first quarters of 2016 and 2015. We reported $104 million of net income, or $1.09 per diluted share, during the first quarter of 2016, compared with $91 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, during the same period in 2015. Excluding the special items discussed below, we recorded $106 million of net income, or $1.11 per diluted share, during the first quarter of 2016, compared with $100 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2015. Increased earnings were driven primarily by higher volumes in our packaging segment and lower costs for maintenance, fiber, and energy in both our packaging and paper segments, partially offset by lower prices and mix in white paper, containerboard, and corrugated products.

Packaging segment income from operations was $160 million in the first quarter of 2016, compared to $141 million in the first quarter of 2015. Packaging segment earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and depletion (EBITDA) excluding special items was $235 million in the first quarter of 2016, compared to $222 million in the first quarter of 2015. Compared to the first quarter of 2015, both containerboard and corrugated products shipments were higher while containerboard and corrugated prices and mix were down due to lower export prices and industry published price decreases. During the first quarter of 2016, we successfully completed scheduled maintenance outages at our Valdosta, DeRidder, and Counce mills.

Paper segment income from operations was $36 million in each of the first quarters of 2016 and 2015. Paper segment EBITDA excluding special items increased to $51 million in the first quarter of 2016, compared to $49 million in the first quarter of 2015. Our office paper shipments, which represent about 70% of our white paper volume, were higher versus the first

14


quarter of 2015. Overall white paper shipments were flat with last year’s first quarter, and pulp shipments were lower. White paper prices and mix were unfavorable to last year’s first quarter; however, our mills ran efficiently and effectively managed costs throughout the quarter, leading to strong margin performance.
 
Special Items and Earnings per Diluted Share, Excluding Special Items

The first quarter of 2016 included $3 million of pre-tax expense for special items, compared with $14 million of pre-tax expense for special items during the same period in 2015. The special items in the first quarter of 2016 were for facilities closure costs related to closing a corrugated manufacturing facility and a paper distribution center. The three months ended March 31, 2015 included $10 million of expenses related to the DeRidder mill restructuring, primarily related to accelerated depreciation, and $4 million of Boise acquisition integration-related and other costs.

A reconciliation of reported earnings per diluted share to earnings per share, excluding special items, for the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
2016
 
2015
Earnings per diluted share, as reported
$
1.09

 
$
0.92

Special items (a):
 
 
 
Facilities closure costs
0.02

 

DeRidder restructuring

 
0.07

Integration-related and other costs

 
0.02

Total special items
0.02

 
0.09

Earnings per diluted share, excluding special items
$
1.11

 
$
1.01

____________
(a)
See "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts" in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for more information on the special items.

Management excludes special items and uses non-GAAP measures to focus on PCA’s on-going operations and assess its operating performance and believes that it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present operating results. A reconciliation of diluted EPS to diluted EPS excluding special items is included above and the reconciliations of other non-GAAP measures used in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, to the most comparable measure reported in accordance with GAAP, are included in Item 2 under "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts." Any analysis of non-GAAP financial measures should be done in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP measures are not intended to be substitutes for GAAP financial measures and should not be used as such.

Industry and Business Conditions

Trade publications reported that industry-wide corrugated products shipments increased 1.4% during the first quarter of 2016, compared with the same quarter in 2015, and remained essentially flat per workday with one less workday in 2015. Reported industry containerboard production was 1.4% higher than the first quarter of 2015, and reported industry containerboard inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2016 were approximately 2.7 million tons, up 3.6% compared to the same period in 2015. Reported containerboard export shipments were up 3.6% compared to the first quarter of 2015. Published open market prices for linerboard and corrugating medium as reported by a trade publication decreased $15 and $20 per ton, respectively, in January 2016. In February 2016, medium decreased an additional $10 per ton.

The market for communication papers competes heavily with electronic data transmission and document storage alternatives. Increasing shifts to these alternatives have reduced usage of traditional print media and communication papers. Trade publications reported that uncoated freesheet paper shipments were up 0.8% in the first quarter of 2016, compared with the same quarter in 2015. Average prices reported by a trade publication for cut size office papers were lower by $27 per ton, or 2.7%, in the first quarter of 2016, compared with the first quarter of 2015.


15


Outlook

Looking ahead to the second quarter of 2016, we expect seasonally higher volumes for containerboard and corrugated products and lower energy costs compared to the first quarter. In addition, we notified our white paper customers of $60 per ton price increases for printing and converting grades and cut-size office papers to take effect in the second quarter of 2016; however, the substantial majority of any price increase is expected to be realized in the third quarter of 2016. Maintenance outage costs are expected to be higher in the second quarter due to four planned mill outages, and we expect lower prices for containerboard as a result of the published price decreases, which are expected to partially offset the benefits described above. Considering these items, we expect second quarter earnings, excluding special items, to be higher than our first quarter earnings.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016, compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

The historical results of operations of PCA for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 are set forth below (dollars in millions):
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
Packaging
$
1,095

 
$
1,099

 
$
(4
)
Paper
281

 
298

 
(17
)
Corporate and Other
63

 
61

 
2

Intersegment eliminations
(38
)
 
(32
)
 
(6
)
Net sales
$
1,401

 
$
1,426

 
$
(25
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Packaging
$
160

 
$
141

 
$
19

Paper
36

 
36

 

Corporate and Other
(15
)
 
(20
)
 
5

Income from operations
$
181

 
$
157

 
$
24

Interest expense, net
(22
)
 
(19
)
 
(3
)
Income before taxes
159

 
138

 
21

Income tax provision
(55
)
 
(47
)
 
(8
)
Net income
$
104

 
$
91

 
$
13

Non-GAAP Measures (a)
 
 
 
 
 
Net income excluding special items
$
106

 
$
100

 
$
6

EBITDA
269

 
250

 
19

EBITDA excluding special items
272

 
255

 
17

Packaging EBITDA
233

 
220

 
13

Packaging EBITDA excluding special items
235

 
222

 
13

Paper EBITDA
50

 
49

 
1

Paper EBITDA excluding special items
51

 
49

 
2

____________
(a)
See "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts" included in this Item 2 for a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measure.

Net Sales

Net sales decreased $25 million, or 1.8%, to $1,401 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared with $1,426 million during the same period in 2015.


16


Packaging. Net sales decreased $4 million, to $1,095 million, compared with $1,099 million in the first quarter of 2015, primarily due to lower export and domestic containerboard and corrugated products price and mix ($13 million) and sales lost due to the divestiture of our Hexacomb operations in Mexico and Europe in 2015 ($11 million). These decreases were partially offset by increased corrugated products sales volumes ($20 million). Domestic and export containerboard prices in the first quarter of 2016 decreased 4.1% and 7.4%, respectively, compared with the same quarter last year, in part due to published price decreases. In the first quarter of 2016, our containerboard outside shipments decreased 1.2%, and corrugated products shipments were up 3.4%, compared with the first quarter of 2015.

Paper. Net sales during the three months ended March 31, 2016 decreased $17 million, or 5.7%, to $281 million, compared with $298 million in the first quarter of 2015. Sales decreased primarily due to changes in price and mix ($10 million) and lower volume ($7 million). Office paper prices and mix in the first quarter of 2016 decreased 3.9% compared with the same period last year. In the first quarter of 2016, our office paper shipments increased slightly, and pressure sensitive shipments were up 3,000 tons. This was more than offset by lower printing and converting paper shipments (4,000 tons) and pulp shipments (10,000 tons) in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015.

Gross Profit

Gross profit increased $22 million, or 7.9%, during the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared with the same period in 2015. The increase was primarily due to higher packaging sales volumes and lower maintenance, fiber, and energy costs, partially offset by lower prices and mix in white paper, containerboard and corrugated products and lower expense for special items in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. In the first quarters of 2016 and 2015, gross profit included special items of $1 million for facilities closure costs and $9 million for DeRidder mill restructuring charges, respectively, most of which related to incremental depreciation expense associated with changing the estimated useful lives of mill assets.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased $3 million, or 2.6%, during the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared with the same period in 2015. The decrease was due primarily to lower administrative employee costs from headcount reductions related to the Boise integration.

Other Expense, Net

Other expense, net, during the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $4 million, compared with $3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015. The first quarter of 2016 included $2 million of facilities closure costs and $2 million of asset disposals and other costs. The first quarter of 2015 included $4 million of income from a refundable state tax credit received related to our investments at DeRidder, which was more than offset by $3 million of Boise integration-related and other costs, $1 million of DeRidder restructuring charges, and $2 million of asset disposals and other costs. We discuss these items in more detail in Note 3, Other Expense, Net of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in "Part I, Item1. Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q.

Income from Operations

Income from operations increased $24 million, or 15.3%, during the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared with the same period in 2015. The first quarter of 2016 included $3 million of expense from special items, compared with $14 million of expense from special items in the first quarter of 2015. First quarter 2016 special items included $3 million of charges related to facilities closure costs. First quarter 2015 special items included $10 million of charges related to restructuring the DeRidder mill and $4 million of integration-related and other costs. Excluding special items, income from operations increased $13 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared with the same period in 2015. The increase was primarily due to increased sales volumes and lower operating costs, partially offset by lower prices and mix in white paper, containerboard and corrugated products.

Packaging. Segment income from operations increased $19 million, or 13.5%, to $160 million, compared with $141 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015. The increase in the first quarter of 2016 related primarily to lower outage costs ($11 million), freight ($6 million), higher volume ($5 million), lower energy ($4 million), and wood ($4 million) costs, and lower expense for special items in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 ($9 million), offset partially by lower containerboard and corrugated products prices and mix ($9 million), increased depreciation ($4 million), and labor ($3 million) costs, and a state incentive received in 2015 related to investments at our DeRidder mill ($4 million). Special

17


items included $2 million of facilities closure costs in the first quarter of 2016 and $10 million of DeRidder restructuring charges and $1 million of integration-related and other costs for the same period in 2015.

Paper. Segment income from operations was flat at $36 million, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015. Cost variances compared to the first quarter of 2015 were primarily related to lower energy ($5 million), fiber ($5 million), freight ($1 million), and labor ($1 million) costs, partially offset by lower white paper prices and mix ($5 million), lower pulp volume ($3 million), facilities closure costs in the first quarter of 2016 ($1 million), and other costs that were individually insignificant.

Interest Expense, Net, and Income Taxes

Interest expense, net, was $22 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared with $19 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to lower interest rebate income related to one of our term loans recorded in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016 we recorded $55 million of income tax expense, compared with $47 million of expense during the three months ended March 31, 2015. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was 34.8% and 34.2%, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources and Uses of Cash

Our primary sources of liquidity are net cash provided by operating activities and available borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility. At March 31, 2016 we had $162 million of cash and $326 million of unused borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility, net of letters of credit. Currently, our primary uses of cash are for operations, capital expenditures, debt service (including voluntary payments of debt), repurchases of common stock, and declared common stock dividends. We believe that net cash generated from operating activities, cash on hand, available borrowings under our revolving credit facility, and available capital through access to capital markets will be adequate to meet our liquidity and capital requirements, including payments of any declared common stock dividends, for the foreseeable future. As our debt or credit facilities become due, we will need to repay, extend, or replace such facilities. Our ability to do so will be subject to future economic conditions and financial, business, and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

Below is a summary table of our cash flows, followed by a discussion of our sources and uses of cash through operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities (dollars in millions):
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
Net cash provided by (used for):
 
 
 
 

Operating activities
$
191

 
$
108

 
$
83

Investing activities
(56
)
 
(57
)
 
1

Financing activities
(157
)
 
(49
)
 
(108
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
$
(22
)
 
$
2

 
$
(24
)

Operating Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2016 net cash provided by operating activities was $191 million, compared with $108 million in the same period in 2015, an increase of $83 million. Cash from operations excluding changes in cash used for operating assets and liabilities increased $17 million, primarily due to higher income as discussed above. The remaining $66 million increase from changes in cash used for operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to the following: (a) a decrease in our accounts receivable in the first quarter of 2016 related to differences in the timing of collections of receivables, primarily in the Paper segment and (b) an increase in taxes payable resulting from higher taxable income levels in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same quarter in the prior period. These factors were offset partially by (a) a decrease in accrued liabilities due primarily to larger compensation and benefits payments made during the first quarter of 2015 and (b) an increase in prepaid expense in the first quarter of 2016 related to mill outage costs. Cash requirements for operating activities are subject to PCA’s

18


operating needs and the timing of collection of receivables and payments of payables and expenses.

Investing Activities

Net cash used for investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2016 decreased $1 million, to $56 million, compared with $57 million during the same period in 2015. We spent $53 million for capital investments during the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared with $56 million during the same period in 2015.

We expect capital investments to be between $250 million and $265 million in 2016, excluding any acquisitions or other strategic activities. These expenditures could increase or decrease as a result of a number of factors, including our financial results, future economic conditions, and our regulatory compliance requirements. We currently estimate capital expenditures to comply with Boiler MACT regulations in 2016 of up to $3 million, and we expect other environmental capital expenditures of about $5 million in 2016. Our estimated environmental expenditures could vary significantly depending upon the enactment of new environmental laws and regulations, including those related to greenhouse gas emissions and industrial boilers. For additional information, see "Environmental Matters" in "Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Financing Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2016 we used $157 million for financing activities, compared with $49 million during the same period in 2015. The increase in cash used for financing activities primarily relates to an increase in share repurchases and a higher dividend payment. In the first three months of 2016, we paid $53 million of dividends compared with the $39 million of dividends paid during the first three months of 2015. On February 26, 2015 PCA's Board of Directors increased the regular quarterly cash dividend to $0.55 per share from the previous $0.40 per share dividend, beginning with the dividend paid on April 15, 2015. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, we paid $100 million to repurchase 1,987,187 shares of common stock, compared with $8 million of share repurchases in the same period in 2015. We also withheld shares from vesting equity awards to cover employee tax liabilities of $2 million in the first quarter of 2016.

As PCA completed share repurchases under its prior authorization, on February 25, 2016 PCA announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $200 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable securities regulations. The timing and amount of repurchases will be determined by the Company in its discretion based on factors such as PCA’s stock price and market and business conditions.

For more information about our debt, see Note 10, Debt, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Contractual Obligations

There have been no material changes to the contractual obligations table disclosed in Item 7. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as disclosed in Note 9, Debt, of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in "Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q.


19


Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts

Income from operations excluding special items, net income excluding special items, EBITDA, and EBITDA excluding special items are non-GAAP financial measures. Management excludes special items and uses non-GAAP measures to focus on on-going operations and assess its operating performance and believes that it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present operating results. Additionally, EBITDA and EBITDA excluding special items measures are presented because they provide a means to evaluate the performance of our segments and our Company on an ongoing basis using the same measures that are used by our management and because these measures are frequently used by investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies and the performance of their segments. Any analysis of non-GAAP financial measures should be done in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP measures are not intended to be substitutes for GAAP financial measures and should not be used as such. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP measures to the most comparable measure reported in accordance with GAAP for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 follow (dollars in millions):
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
2016
 
2015
 
Income
from
Operations
 
Net 
Income
 
Income
from
Operations
 
Net 
Income
As reported in accordance with GAAP
$
181

 
$
104

 
$
157

 
$
91

Special items:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Facilities closure costs (a)
3

 
2

 

 

DeRidder restructuring (b)

 

 
10

 
7

Integration-related and other costs (c)

 

 
4

 
2

Total special items
3

 
2

 
14

 
9

Excluding special items
$
184

 
$
106

 
$
171

 
$
100

________

(a)
The three months ended March 31, 2016 include $3 million of facilities closure costs related to a corrugated products facility and a paper products facility. The closure costs are recorded within "Other expense, net" and "Cost of sales", as appropriate.
(b)
The three months ended March 31, 2015 include $10 million of restructuring charges at our mill in DeRidder, Louisiana. The restructuring charges primarily related to accelerated depreciation and were mostly recorded in "Cost of sales".
(c)
The three months ended March 31, 2015 include $4 million of Boise acquisition integration-related and other costs, mostly recorded in "Other income (expense), net". These costs primarily relate to professional fees, severance, retention, relocation, travel, and other integration-related costs.

The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA and EBITDA excluding special items for the periods indicated (dollars in millions):
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
2016
 
2015
Net income
$
104

 
$
91

Interest expense, net
22

 
19

Income tax provision
55

 
47

Depreciation, amortization, and depletion
88

 
93

EBITDA
$
269

 
$
250

Special items:
 
 
 
Facilities closure costs
$
3

 
$

DeRidder restructuring

 
1

Integration-related and other costs

 
4

EBITDA excluding special items
$
272

 
$
255



20


The following table reconciles segment income (loss) to EBITDA and EBITDA excluding special items (dollars in millions):
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
2016
 
2015
Packaging
 
 
 
Segment income
$
160

 
$
141

Depreciation, amortization, and depletion
73

 
79

EBITDA
233

 
220

Facilities closure costs
2

 

DeRidder restructuring

 
1

Integration-related and other costs

 
1

EBITDA excluding special items
$
235

 
$
222

 
 
 
 
Paper
 
 
 
Segment income
$
36

 
$
36

Depreciation, amortization, and depletion
14

 
13

EBITDA
50

 
49

Facilities closure costs
1

 

EBITDA excluding special items
$
51

 
$
49

 
 
 
 
Corporate and Other
 
 
 
Segment loss
$
(15
)
 
$
(20
)
Depreciation, amortization, and depletion
1

 
1

EBITDA
(14
)
 
(19
)
Integration-related and other costs

 
3

EBITDA excluding special items
$
(14
)
 
$
(16
)
 
 
 
 
EBITDA
$
269

 
$
250

 
 
 
 
EBITDA excluding special items
$
272

 
$
255


Market Risk and Risk Management Policies

PCA is exposed to the impact of interest rate changes and changes in the market value of its financial instruments. We periodically enter into derivatives to minimize these risks, but not for trading purposes. At March 31, 2016 we had no derivative instruments outstanding. For a discussion of derivatives and hedging activities, see Note 14, Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The interest rates on approximately 70% of PCA’s debt are fixed. A one percent increase in interest rates related to variable-rate debt would have resulted in an increase in interest expense and a corresponding decrease in income before taxes of approximately $7 million annually.

Off-Balance-Sheet Activities

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2016.


21


Environmental Matters

There have been no material changes to the disclosure set forth in Item 7. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Environmental Matters" filed with our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, PCA evaluates its estimates, including those related to pensions and other postretirement benefits, goodwill and intangible assets, long-lived asset impairment, and income taxes, among others. PCA bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

PCA has included in its 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K a discussion of its critical accounting policies and estimates which require management's most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements. PCA has not had any changes to these critical accounting estimates during the first three months of 2016.

New and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

For a listing of our new and recently adopted accounting standards, see Note 16, New and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards, of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in "Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and in particular, statements found in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are often identified by the words "will," "should," "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "hope," or similar expressions. These statements reflect management’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond our control. These factors, risks and uncertainties include the following:
the impact of general economic conditions;
the impact of the Boise acquisition and risks and uncertainties relating to the integration of Boise’s business into our business;
containerboard, corrugated products, and white paper general industry conditions, including competition, product demand, product pricing, and input costs;
fluctuations in wood fiber and recycled fiber costs;
fluctuations in purchased energy costs;
the possibility of unplanned outages or interruptions at our principal facilities; and
legislative or regulatory actions or requirements, particularly concerning environmental or tax matters.
Our actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements, and accordingly, we can give no assurances that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do occur, what impact they will have on our results of operations or financial condition. Given these uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements that have been made to reflect the occurrence of events after the date hereof. For a discussion of other factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect our business, see Item 1A. Risk Factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

22



Item 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

For a discussion of market risks related to PCA, see Part I, Item 2, "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Market Risk and Risk Management Policies" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Item 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

PCA maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in PCA’s filings under the Securities Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to PCA’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Prior to filing this report, PCA completed an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of PCA’s management, including PCA’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of PCA’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2016. The evaluation of PCA’s disclosure controls and procedures included a review of the controls’ objectives and design, PCA’s implementation of the controls, and the effect of the controls on the information generated for use in this report. Based on this evaluation, PCA’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that PCA’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of March 31, 2016.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2016 there were no changes in internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, PCA’s internal control over financial reporting.


23


PART II
OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The disclosure set forth under the caption "Legal Proceedings" in Note 17, Commitments, Guarantees, Indemnifications and Legal Proceedings, of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in "Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1A.
RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in "Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Item 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table presents information related to our repurchases of common stock made under share repurchase authorizations approved by our board of directors on July 21, 2015 and February 25, 2016 and shares withheld to cover taxes on vesting of equity awards, during the three months ended March 31, 2016:
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
Period
 
Total
Number
of Shares
Purchased (a)
 
Average Price Paid Per Share
 
Total Number
of Shares 
Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
 
Approximate
Dollar Value
of Shares
That May Yet
Be Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs
(in millions)
 
January 1-31, 2016
 
274,626

(a)
$
50.12

 
234,000

 
$
81.7

 
February 1-29, 2016
 
1,634,487

 
49.95

 
1,634,487

 
200.0

(b)
March 1-31, 2016
 
119,076

(a)
59.00

 
118,700

 
193.0

 
Total
 
2,028,189

 
$
50.50

 
1,987,187

 
$
193.0

 
 ____________
(a)
41,002 shares were withheld from employees to cover income and payroll taxes on equity awards that vested during the period.
(b)
As PCA completed repurchases under prior authorizations, on February 25, 2016 PCA announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $200 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable securities regulations. The timing and amount of repurchases will be determined by the Company in its discretion based on factors such as PCA’s stock price and market and business conditions.

Item 3.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

Item 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

Item 5.
OTHER INFORMATION

None.


24


Item 6.
EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number 
 
Description
31.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. †
31.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. †
32
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. †
101
 
The following financial information from Packaging Corporation of America’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, (ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, and (iv) the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements. †
____________
Filed herewith.


25


SIGNATURES
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 thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
Packaging Corporation of America
 
 
 
 
/s/    MARK W. KOWLZAN
 
 
Mark W. Kowlzan
 
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ ROBERT P. MUNDY
 
 
Robert P. Mundy
 
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date: May 6, 2016


26