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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
 
Form 10-K
 
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010
 
Commission file number 1-15399
 
 
PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 
     
Delaware
  36-4277050
(State or Other Jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)
  Identification No.)
     
1900 West Field Court, Lake Forest, Illinois
  60045
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  (Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
(847) 482-3000
 
 
 
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
     
    Name of Each Exchange
Title of Each Class   on Which Registered
 
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
  New York Stock Exchange
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
 
None
 
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o     No þ
 
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 þ     No o
 
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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  þ
 
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 þ Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a 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 o     No þ
 
At June 30, 2010, the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the Registrant’s common equity held by nonaffiliates was approximately $2,249,160,212 based on the closing sale price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange. This calculation of market value has been made for the purposes of this report only and should not be considered as an admission or conclusion by the Registrant that any person is in fact an affiliate of the Registrant.
 
On February 18, 2011, there were 102,355,005 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
Specified portions of the Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference to the extent indicated in Part III of this Form 10-K.
 


 

 
INDEX
 
                 
        Page
 
PART I
  Item 1.     Business     3  
  Item 1A.     Risk Factors     9  
  Item 1B.     Unresolved Staff Comments     11  
  Item 2.     Properties     11  
  Item 3.     Legal Proceedings     12  
  Item 4.     Removed and Reserved     12  
  Item 4.1     Executive Officers of the Registrant     12  
 
PART II
  Item 5.     Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities     13  
  Item 6.     Selected Financial Data     16  
  Item 7.     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     16  
  Item 7A.     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk     30  
  Item 8.     Financial Statements and Supplementary Data     30  
  Item 9.     Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures     31  
  Item 9A.     Controls and Procedures     31  
  Item 9B.     Other Information     32  
 
PART III
  Item 10.     Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance     32  
  Item 11.     Executive Compensation     32  
  Item 12.     Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters     33  
  Item 13.     Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence     33  
  Item 14.     Principal Accountant Fees and Services     33  
 
PART IV
  Item 15.     Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules     33  
SIGNATURES     37  
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS     F-1  
 EX-10.22
 EX-12.1
 EX-21.1
 EX-23.1
 EX-24.1
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-32.2
 EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
 EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT


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PART I
 
Item 1.   BUSINESS
 
General
 
Packaging Corporation of America (we, us, our, “PCA” or the “Company”) is the fifth largest producer of containerboard and corrugated products in the United States in terms of production capacity. During 2010, we produced 2.4 million tons of containerboard at our mills, of which about 80% was consumed in PCA’s corrugated products manufacturing plants, 9% was sold to domestic customers and 11% was sold in the export market. Our corrugated products manufacturing plants sold about 31.0 billion square feet (BSF) of corrugated products. Our net sales to third parties totaled $2.4 billion in 2010.
 
Containerboard Production and Corrugated Shipments
 
                                                 
          First
    Second
    Third
    Fourth
    Full
 
          Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Year  
 
Containerboard Production (thousand tons)
    2010       569       589       646       639       2,443  
      2009       515       555       588       600       2,258  
      2008       586       613       621       533       2,353  
Corrugated Shipments (BSF)
    2010       7.6       7.9       7.8       7.7       31.0  
      2009       6.7       7.3       7.5       7.4       28.9  
      2008       7.6       8.0       7.8       6.9       30.3  
 
In 2010, we produced 1.5 million tons of kraft linerboard at our mills in Counce, Tennessee and Valdosta, Georgia, and 0.9 million tons of semi-chemical corrugating medium at our mills in Tomahawk, Wisconsin and Filer City, Michigan. We currently lease the cutting rights to approximately 88,000 acres of timberland located near our Counce and Valdosta mills. We also have supply agreements with third parties on approximately 281,000 acres of timberland.
 
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. In addition, we are a large producer of meat boxes and wax-coated boxes for the agricultural industry.
 
Industry Overview
 
According to the Fibre Box Association, the value of industry shipments of corrugated products was $25.0 billion in 2010.
 
The primary end-use markets for corrugated products are shown below (as reported in the most recent 2009 Fibre Box Association annual report):
 
         
Food, beverages and agricultural products
    51 %
Paper products
    18 %
Petroleum, plastic, synthetic and rubber products
    11 %
Appliances, vehicles, and metal products
    5 %
Miscellaneous manufacturing
    5 %
General retail and wholesale trade
    5 %
Textile mill products and apparel
    2 %
Other
    3 %
 
Corrugated products plants tend to be located in close proximity to customers to minimize freight costs. The U.S. corrugated products industry consists of approximately 585 companies and 1,260 plants.
 
Containerboard, which includes both linerboard and corrugating medium, is the principal raw material used to manufacture corrugated products. Linerboard is used as the inner and outer facings, or liners, of


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corrugated products. Corrugating medium is fluted and laminated to linerboard in corrugator plants to produce corrugated sheets. The sheets are subsequently printed, cut, folded and glued in corrugator plants or sheet plants to produce corrugated products.
 
Containerboard may be manufactured from both softwood and hardwood fibers, as well as from recycled fibers from used corrugated and waste from converting operations. Kraft linerboard is made predominantly from softwoods like pine. Semi-chemical corrugating medium is made from hardwoods such as oak. The finished paper product is wound into large rolls, which are slit to size as required and shipped to converters.
 
PCA Operations and Products
 
Containerboard Mills
 
Our two linerboard mills can manufacture a broad range of linerboard grades ranging from 26 lb. to 96 lb. Our two semi-chemical corrugating medium mills can manufacture grades ranging in weight from 20 lb. to 47 lb. Mill capacities described below are estimated based on expected mix of paper basis weights, and production can exceed estimated capacity if a higher-than-estimated mix of heavier grade paper is produced. All four of our mills have completed an extensive independent review process to become ISO 9002 certified. ISO 9002 is an international quality certification that verifies a facility maintains and follows stringent procedures for manufacturing, sales and customer service.
 
The following four paragraphs describe our containerboard mills’ annual practical maximum capacity, 2010 actual production and production capabilities.
 
Counce.  Our Counce, Tennessee mill is one of the largest kraft linerboard mills in the United States. Its estimated production capacity, as reported to the American Forest and Paper Association (“AF&PA”), is approximately 1,007,000 tons per year. In 2010, we produced 998,000 tons of kraft linerboard on two paper machines at Counce. The mill produces a broad range of basis weights from 26 lb. to 90 lb. The mill also produces a variety of performance and specialty grades of linerboard.
 
Valdosta.  Our Valdosta, Georgia mill is a kraft linerboard mill that has an estimated production capacity of approximately 495,000 tons per year, as reported to the AF&PA. In 2010, our single paper machine at Valdosta produced 482,000 tons of kraft linerboard. Valdosta produces a range of basis weights from 35 lb. to 96 lb.
 
Tomahawk.  Our Tomahawk, Wisconsin mill is one of the largest semi-chemical corrugating medium mills in the United States with an estimated production capacity of 523,000 tons per year, as reported to the AF&PA. In 2010, we produced 529,000 tons of semi-chemical corrugating medium on two paper machines at Tomahawk. The Tomahawk mill produces a broad range of basis weights from 23 lb. to 47 lb. and a variety of performance and specialty grades of corrugating medium.
 
Filer City.  Our Filer City, Michigan mill is a semi-chemical corrugating medium mill with an estimated production capacity of 435,000 tons on three paper machines, as reported to the AF&PA. In 2010, we produced 434,000 tons of corrugating medium at Filer City. Filer City produces corrugating medium grades ranging in basis weight from 20 lb. to 47 lb.
 
Corrugated Products
 
We operate 67 corrugated manufacturing operations, a technical and development center, six regional graphic design centers, a rotogravure printing operation and a complement of packaging supplies and distribution centers. Of the 67 manufacturing facilities, 39 operate as combining operations, commonly called corrugated plants, that manufacture corrugated sheets and finished corrugated containers. The remaining 28 manufacturing facilities, commonly called sheet plants, purchase combined sheets primarily produced at PCA’s combining operations and manufacture finished corrugated containers.
 
We have corrugated manufacturing operations in 26 states in the U.S., with no manufacturing facilities outside of the continental U.S. Each corrugated plant, for the most part, serves a market radius that typically averages 150 miles. Our sheet plants are generally located in close proximity to our larger corrugated plants, which enables us to offer additional services and converting capabilities such as small volume and quick turnaround items.


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We produce a wide variety of products ranging from basic corrugated shipping containers to specialized packaging such as wax-coated boxes for the agriculture industry. We also have multi-color printing capabilities to make high-impact graphics boxes and displays that offer customers more attractive packaging.
 
Timberland
 
We currently lease the cutting rights to approximately 88,000 acres of timberland located near our Counce, Tennessee and Valdosta, Georgia mills. Virtually all of the acres under cutting rights agreements are located within 100 miles of these two mills, which results in lower wood transportation costs and provides a secure source of wood fiber. These leased cutting rights agreements have terms with about 13 years remaining, on average.
 
During 1999 and 2000, PCA sold approximately 800,000 acres of timberland. We currently have in place supply agreements covering approximately 281,000 of the 800,000 acres sold. The majority of the acreage under supply agreement is located in close proximity to our Counce mill.
 
PCA participates in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and is certified under the SFI fiber sourcing standards. These standards are aimed at ensuring the long-term health and conservation of forestry resources. PCA is committed to sourcing wood fiber through environmentally, socially and economically sustainable practices and promoting resource and conservation stewardship ethics.
 
Sales and Marketing
 
Our corrugated products are sold through a direct sales and marketing organization. We have sales representatives and a sales manager at each corrugated manufacturing operation who serve local and regional accounts. We also have corporate account managers who serve large national accounts at multiple customer locations. Additionally, our graphic design centers maintain an on-site dedicated graphics sales force. In addition to direct sales and marketing personnel, we utilize new product development engineers and product graphics and design specialists. These individuals are located at both the corrugated plants and the graphic design centers. General marketing support is located at our corporate headquarters.
 
Our containerboard sales group is responsible for the sale of linerboard and corrugating medium to our corrugated plants, to other domestic customers and to the export market. This group handles order processing for all shipments of containerboard from our mills to our corrugated plants. These personnel also coordinate and execute all containerboard trade agreements with other containerboard manufacturers.
 
Distribution
 
Containerboard produced in our mills is shipped by rail or truck. Rail shipments represent about 50% to 55% of the tons shipped and the remaining 45% to 50% is comprised of truck shipments. Our individual mills do not own or maintain outside warehousing facilities.
 
Our corrugated products are delivered by truck due to our large number of customers and their demand for timely service. Our converting operations typically service customers within a 150 miles radius. We use third-party warehouses for short-term storage of corrugated products.
 
Customers
 
PCA’s corrugated products group sells to over 9,200 customers in over 16,700 locations. About two-thirds of our corrugated products customers are regional and local accounts, which are broadly diversified across industries and geographic locations. The remaining one-third of our customer base consists primarily of national accounts, or those customers with a national presence. These customers typically purchase corrugated products from several of our box plants throughout the United States.


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Major Raw Materials Used
 
Fiber supply.  Fiber is the single largest cost in the manufacture of containerboard. PCA consumes both wood fiber and recycled fiber in its containerboard mills. We have no 100% recycled mills, or those mills whose fiber consumption consists solely of recycled fiber. To reduce our fiber costs, we have invested in processes and equipment to ensure a high degree of fiber flexibility. Our mill system has the capability to shift a portion of its fiber consumption between softwood, hardwood and recycled sources. All of our mills, other than our Valdosta mill, can utilize some recycled fiber in their containerboard production. Our ability to use various types of virgin and recycled fiber helps mitigate the impact of changes in the prices of various fibers. Our corrugated manufacturing operations generate recycled fiber as a by-product from the manufacturing process, which is sold to our mills directly or through trade agreements. During 2010, our containerboard mills consumed approximately 638,000 tons of recycled fiber, and our corrugated converting operations generated approximately 200,000 tons of recycled fiber. As a result, PCA was a net recycled fiber buyer of 438,000 tons, or 18% of PCA’s total fiber requirements.
 
Energy supply.  Energy at the mills is obtained through purchased electricity or through various fuels, which are converted to steam or electricity on-site. Fuel sources include coal, natural gas, oil, internally produced and purchased bark and by-products of the containerboard manufacturing and pulping process, including black liquor. These fuels are burned in boilers to produce steam. Steam turbine generators are used to produce electricity. To reduce our mill energy cost, we have invested in processes and equipment to ensure a high level of purchased fuel flexibility. In recent history, natural gas and fuel oil have exhibited higher costs per thermal unit and more price volatility than coal and bark. During 2010, 11.3 million MMBTU’s (million BTU’s), or approximately 70% of our mills’ purchased fuel needs, were from purchased bark and coal, historically our two lowest cost purchased fuels. For the same period, our mills consumed about 3.6 million MMBTU’s of natural gas (22% of the mills’ total purchased fuels) and 0.3 million MMBTU’s of oil (2% of the mills’ total purchased fuels).
 
Each of PCA’s corrugated plants has a boiler that produces steam which is used by the corrugator. The majority of these boilers burn natural gas, although some also have the ability to burn fuel oil. During 2010, PCA’s corrugated products plants consumed approximately 2.0 million MMBTU’s of natural gas.
 
The following table shows PCA’s purchased fuel consumption by fuel type for 2010:
 
                                                         
    2010 Purchased MMBTU’s  
                                  % of Mill
    % of PCA
 
    1Q     2Q     3Q     4Q     Year     Total     Total  
 
Containerboard Mills
                                                       
Coal
    1,765,530       1,371,556       1,477,052       1,528,919       6,143,057       38 %     34 %
Bark
    1,356,350       1,247,524       1,207,164       1,328,613       5,139,651       32 %     28 %
Steam
    262,050       291,786       216,688       226,068       996,592       6 %     5 %
                                                         
Coal, Bark and Steam
    3,383,930       2,910,866       2,900,904       3,083,600       12,279,300       76 %     67 %
Oil
    173,145       89,590       22,074       21,819       306,628       2 %     2 %
Natural Gas
    946,822       742,378       691,803       1,244,697       3,625,700       22 %     20 %
                                                         
Total Mills Purchased Fuels
    4,503,897       3,742,834       3,614,781       4,350,116       16,211,628       100 %     89 %
Corrugated Products Plants Natural Gas
    656,135       442,230       406,500       528,636       2,033,501               11 %
                                                         
Total Company Purchased Fuels
    5,160,032       4,185,064       4,021,281       4,878,752       18,245,129               100 %
                                                         
 
Approximately 42% of the electricity consumed by our four mills is generated on-site. Our mills purchase approximately 9,300,000 CkWh (hundred kilowatt hours) annually, or the equivalent of 3.2 million MMBTU’s. PCA’s corrugated products plants purchase about 2,276,000 CkWh annually, or the equivalent of 0.8 million MMBTU’s.


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In October 2009, PCA announced that it will undertake major energy optimization projects at the Counce and Valdosta linerboard mills, which are expected to significantly reduce fuel and electricity purchases at these mills and nearly eliminate fossil fuel consumption at these facilities. The projects include a new recovery boiler and turbine generator at the Valdosta mill and a rebuild and upgrade of two existing recovery boilers and a new turbine generator at the Counce mill. The total capital expenditures for these projects are expected to be about $295 million to be spent over two years, and the projects are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2011.
 
Competition
 
According to industry sources, corrugated products are produced by about 585 U.S. companies operating approximately 1,260 plants. Most corrugated products are manufactured to the customer’s specifications. Corrugated producers generally sell within a 150-mile radius of their plants and compete with other corrugated producers in their local market. In fact, the Fibre Box Association tracks industry data by 47 distinct market regions.
 
The larger, multi-plant integrated companies may also solicit larger, multi-plant customers who purchase for all of their facilities on a consolidated basis. These customers are often referred to as national or corporate accounts.
 
Corrugated products businesses seek to differentiate themselves through pricing, quality, service, design and product innovation. We compete for both local and national account business, and we compete against producers of other types of packaging products. On a national level, our primary competitors include International Paper Company, Georgia-Pacific (owned by Koch Industries, Inc.), Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation and Temple-Inland Inc. However, with our strategic focus on local and regional accounts, we also compete with the smaller, independent converters.
 
Our principal competitors with respect to sales of our containerboard produced but not consumed at our own corrugated products plants are a number of large, diversified paper companies, including International Paper Company, Georgia-Pacific, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation and Temple-Inland Inc., as well as other regional manufacturers. Containerboard is generally considered a commodity-type product and can be purchased from numerous suppliers.
 
Employees
 
As of December 31, 2010, we had approximately 8,100 employees. Approximately 2,500 of these employees were salaried and approximately 5,600 were hourly. Approximately 75% of our hourly employees are represented by unions. The majority of our unionized employees are represented by the United Steel Workers (USW), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and the International Association of Machinists (IAM).
 
Based on an agreement reached with the USW in August 2008, the existing labor agreements at our containerboard mills covering USW-represented employees (88% of mill hourly workforce) were extended five years. With this extension, the USW contracts at our mills are currently set to expire between September 2013 and June 2015. Agreements with other union mill employees (12% of mill hourly workforce) expire between June 2012 and October 2014. Based on an agreement reached with the USW in April 2009, the labor agreement at 25 corrugated plants covering USW represented employees was extended up to five years. Contracts for unionized corrugated products plant employees expire between March 2011 and October 2015. We are currently in negotiations to renew or extend any union contracts that have recently expired or are expiring in the near future.
 
During 2010, we experienced no work stoppages and have experienced no instances of significant work stoppages in the five years prior to 2010. We believe we have satisfactory relations with our employees.


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Environmental Matters
 
Compliance with environmental requirements is a significant factor in our business operations. We commit substantial resources to maintaining environmental compliance and managing environmental risk. We are subject to, and must comply with, a variety of federal, state and local environmental laws, particularly those relating to air and water quality, waste disposal and the cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater. The most significant of these laws affecting us are:
 
1. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
 
2. Clean Water Act (CWA)
 
3. Clean Air Act (CAA)
 
4. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know-Act (EPCRA)
 
5. Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA)
 
6. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
 
We believe that we are currently in material compliance with these and all applicable environmental rules and regulations. Because environmental regulations are constantly evolving, we have incurred, and will continue to incur, costs to maintain compliance with these and other environmental laws. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, we spent approximately $24.6 million, $26.4 million and $23.5 million, respectively to comply with the requirements of these and other environmental laws. Additionally, total capital costs for environmental matters were $1.1 million, $0.4 million and $3.5 million for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. We currently estimate 2011 environmental capital expenditures will be $3.3 million. We work diligently to anticipate and budget for the impact of applicable environmental regulations, and do not currently expect that future environmental compliance obligations will materially affect our business or financial condition.
 
As is the case with any industrial operation, we have in the past incurred costs associated with the remediation of soil or groundwater contamination. From 1994 through 2010, remediation costs at our mills and converting plants totaled approximately $3.2 million. We do not believe that any ongoing remedial projects are material in nature. As of December 31, 2010, we maintained an environmental reserve of $9.7 million, which includes funds relating to on-site landfill and surface impoundments as well as ongoing and anticipated remedial projects. Of the $9.7 million reserve, $4.9 million is reserved for our landfill obligations, which are accounted for in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 410, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations.” We believe these reserves are adequate.
 
We could also incur environmental liabilities as a result of claims by third parties for civil damages, including liability for personal injury or property damage, arising from releases of hazardous substances or contamination. We are not aware of any material claims of this type currently pending against us.
 
On April 12, 1999, Pactiv Corporation, formerly known as Tenneco Packaging Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tenneco Inc., sold its containerboard and corrugated products business to PCA, an entity formed by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC, a private equity investment firm. As a part of the April 12, 1999 transaction, Pactiv agreed to retain all liability for all former facilities and all sites associated with pre-closing offsite waste disposal. Pactiv also retained environmental liability for a closed landfill located near the Filer City mill.
 
As of the date of this filing, we believe that it is not reasonably possible that future environmental expenditures above the $9.7 million accrued as of December 31, 2010 will have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
 
While legislation regarding the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions has been proposed at the federal level, it is uncertain whether such legislation will be passed and, if so, what the breadth and scope of such legislation will be. The result of the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions could be an increase in our future environmental compliance costs, through caps, taxes or additional capital expenditures to modify facilities,


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which may be material. However, climate change legislation and the resulting future energy policy could also provide us with opportunities if the use of renewable energy is encouraged. We currently generate a significant portion of our power requirements for our mills using bark, black liquor and biomass as fuel, which are derived from renewable resources. Our energy optimization projects at the Counce and Valdosta linerboard mills are expected to nearly eliminate the use of fossil fuels at those facilities by the end of 2011, while providing more efficient power generation at those facilities. While we believe we are well-positioned to take advantage of any renewable energy incentives, it is uncertain what the ultimate costs and opportunities of any climate change legislation will be and how our business and industry will be affected.
 
Available Information
 
PCA’s internet website address is www.packagingcorp.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, our Code of Ethics may be accessed in the Investor Relations section of PCA’s website. PCA’s website and the information contained or incorporated therein are not intended to be incorporated into this report.
 
Financial Information About Segments
 
We operate as one segment and our revenues are generated primarily in one geographic segment. See “Segment Information” of Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies contained in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”
 
Item 1A.   RISK FACTORS
 
Some of the statements in this report and, in particular, statements found in 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, but are not limited to, the factors described below.
 
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 so, what impact they will have on our results of operations or financial condition. In view of 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.
 
Industry Risks
 
Industry Cyclicality — Imbalances of supply and demand for containerboard could affect the price at which we can sell containerboard and corrugated products, and as a result, could result in lower selling prices and earnings.
 
The price of containerboard could fall if the supply of containerboard available for sale in the market exceeds the demand. The demand for containerboard is driven by market needs for containerboard in the United States and abroad to manufacture corrugated shipping containers. Market needs or demand are driven by both global and U.S. business conditions. If supply exceeds demand, prices for containerboard and corrugated products could decline, resulting in decreased earnings and cash generated from operations.


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Competition — The intensity of competition in the containerboard and corrugated packaging industry could result in downward pressure on pricing and volume, which could lower earnings and cash generated from operations.
 
The containerboard and corrugated products industry is highly competitive, with no single containerboard or corrugated packaging producer having a dominant position. Containerboard cannot generally be differentiated by producer, which tends to intensify price competition. The corrugated packaging industry is also sensitive to changes in economic conditions, as well as other factors including innovation, design, quality and service. To the extent that one or more competitors are more successful with respect to any key competitive factor, our business could be adversely affected. Our products also compete, to some extent, with various other packaging materials, including products made of paper, plastics, wood and various types of metal. The intensity of competition could lead to a reduction in our market share as well as lower sales prices for our products, both of which could reduce our earnings and cash flow.
 
Company Risks
 
Cost of Fiber — An increase in the cost of fiber could increase our manufacturing costs and lower our earnings.
 
PCA has supply agreements at market prices for wood fiber to be consumed at our Counce, Tennessee and Valdosta, Georgia mills on approximately 281,000 acres of timberland. In addition to these supply agreements, PCA also secures wood fiber from various other sources at market prices.
 
PCA purchases recycled fiber for use at three of its four containerboard mills. PCA currently purchases, net of recycled fiber generated at its box plants, approximately 400,000 to 450,000 tons of recycled fiber per year. The amount of recycled fiber purchased each year depends on the prices of both recycled fiber and wood fiber as the company attempts to minimize total fiber costs.
 
The market price of wood fiber varies based upon availability and source. In addition, the increase in demand of products manufactured, in whole or in part, from recycled fiber, on a global basis, has caused an occasional tightening in the supply of recycled fiber. These periods of supply and demand imbalance have tended to create significant price volatility. Periods of above average fiber costs and unusual price volatility have occurred in the past and may occur again in the future, which could result in lower or volatile earnings.
 
Cost of Purchased Energy and Chemicals — An increase in the cost of purchased energy and chemicals could lead to higher manufacturing costs, resulting in reduced earnings.
 
PCA has the capability to use various types of purchased fuels in its manufacturing operations, including coal, bark, natural gas and oil. Energy prices, in particular prices for oil and natural gas, have fluctuated dramatically in the past and have risen substantially in recent years. In addition, costs for key chemicals used in our manufacturing have risen. These fluctuations impact our manufacturing costs and result in earnings volatility. If energy and chemical prices rise, our production costs will increase, which will lead to higher manufacturing costs and reduced earnings.
 
Material Disruption of Manufacturing — A material disruption at one of our manufacturing facilities could prevent us from meeting customer demand, reduce our sales and/or negatively impact our results of operation and financial condition.
 
Our business depends on continuous operation of our facilities, particularly at our mills. Any of our manufacturing facilities, or any of our machines within such facilities, could cease operations unexpectedly for a long period of time due to a number of events, including unscheduled maintenance outages; prolonged power failures; an equipment failure; explosion of a boiler; labor difficulties; natural catastrophes; terrorism; governmental regulations; and other operational problems. These events could lead to higher costs and reduced earnings.


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Environmental Matters — PCA may incur significant environmental liabilities with respect to both past and future operations.
 
We are subject to, and must comply with, a variety of federal, state and local environmental laws, particularly those relating to air and water quality, waste disposal and the cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater. Because environmental regulations are constantly evolving, we have incurred, and will continue to incur, costs to maintain compliance with those laws. See Item 1. “Business — Environmental Matters” for certain estimates of expenditures we expect to make for environmental compliance in the next few years. Although we have established reserves to provide for known environmental liabilities as of the date of this filing, these reserves may change over time due to the enactment of new environmental laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations, which might require additional significant environmental expenditures.
 
Investment Risks
 
Market Price of our Common Stock — The market price of our common stock may be volatile, which could cause the value of your investment to decline.
 
Securities markets worldwide periodically experience significant price declines and volume fluctuations. This market volatility, as well as general economic, market or political conditions, could reduce the market price of our common stock in spite of our operating performance. In addition, our operating results could be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors, and in response, the market price of our common stock could decrease significantly.
 
General Risks
 
Economic Conditions — Our earnings and cash generated from operations could be significantly lower if a severe downturn in the U.S. economy occurs again.
 
Our operations and financial performance are directly impacted by changes in the U.S. economy, and to a lesser extent, by global economic conditions. The significant downturn in the U.S. economy impacted our industry and PCA in the fourth quarter of 2008 and continued into the first half of 2009, lowering the demand for our products and our mill production. This lower demand and production reduced our revenues, increased our unit production costs, and lowered our earnings and our cash generated from operations. Demand for our products and PCA’s mill production improved during the second half of 2009 and continued to improve in 2010. It is unknown whether economic conditions will again deteriorate or continue to improve. In the event that economic conditions deteriorate, our operating and financial performance will be adversely impacted. Lower earnings and reduced cash flow could impact our ability to fund operations, capital requirements, and common stock dividend payments, and another prolonged and severe downturn could possibly impact our ability to comply with our debt covenants.
 
Item 1B.   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
 
None.
 
Item 2.   PROPERTIES
 
The table below provides a summary of our containerboard mills, the principal products produced and each mill’s annual practical maximum capacity based upon all of our paper machines’ production capabilities, as reported to the AF&PA:
 
             
Location   Function   Capacity (tons)  
 
Counce, TN
  Kraft linerboard mill     1,007,000  
Valdosta, GA
  Kraft linerboard mill     495,000  
Tomahawk, WI
  Semi-chemical medium mill     523,000  
Filer City, MI
  Semi-chemical medium mill     435,000  
             
Total
        2,460,000  
             


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We currently own our four containerboard mills and 44 of our corrugated manufacturing operations (37 corrugated plants and seven sheet plants). We also own one warehouse and miscellaneous other property, which includes sales offices and woodlands management offices. These sales offices and woodlands management offices generally have one to four employees and serve as administrative offices. PCA leases the space for two corrugated plants, 21 sheet plants, six regional design centers, and numerous other distribution centers, warehouses and facilities. The equipment in these leased facilities is, in virtually all cases, owned by PCA, except for forklifts and other rolling stock which are generally leased.
 
We lease the cutting rights to approximately 88,000 acres of timberland located near our Valdosta mill (77,000 acres) and our Counce mill (11,000 acres). On average, these cutting rights agreements have terms with approximately 13 years remaining.
 
Our corporate headquarters is located in Lake Forest, Illinois. We will be relocating our corporate headquarters within Lake Forest, IL during the second half of 2011. The headquarters facility that we will be moving into has been leased for a period of eleven years with provisions for two additional five year lease extensions.
 
We currently believe that our owned and leased space for facilities and properties are sufficient to meet our operating requirements for the foreseeable future.
 
Item 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
During September and October 2010, PCA and eight other U.S. and Canadian containerboard producers were named as defendants in five purported class action lawsuits filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleging violations of the Sherman Act. The lawsuits have been consolidated in a single complaint under the caption Kleen Products LLC v Packaging Corp. of America et al. The consolidated complaint alleges that the defendants conspired to limit the supply of containerboard, and that the purpose and effect of the alleged conspiracy was to artificially increase prices of containerboard products during the period from August 2005 to the time of filing of the complaints. The complaint was filed as a purported class action suit on behalf of all purchasers of containerboard products during such period. The complaint seeks treble damages and costs, including attorney’s fees. PCA believes the allegations are without merit and will defend this lawsuit vigorously. However, as the lawsuit is in preliminary stages, PCA is unable to predict the ultimate outcome or estimate a range of reasonably possible losses.
 
PCA is a party to various other legal actions arising in the ordinary course of our business. These legal actions cover a broad variety of claims spanning our entire business. As of the date of this filing, we believe it is not reasonably possible that the resolution of these legal actions will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 
Item 4.   REMOVED AND RESERVED
 
Item 4.1   EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
 
Brief statements setting forth the age at February 22, 2011, the principal occupation, employment during the past five years, the year in which such person first became an officer of PCA, and other information concerning each of our executive officers appears below.
 
Paul T. Stecko is 66 years old and has served as Executive Chairman of PCA since July 2010. He served as Chief Executive Officer from January 1999 through June 2010 and has been Chairman of PCA’s Board of Directors since March 1999. From November 1998 to April 1999, Mr. Stecko served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Tenneco Inc. From January 1997 to November 1998, Mr. Stecko served as Chief Operating Officer of Tenneco. From December 1993 through January 1997, Mr. Stecko served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tenneco Packaging Inc. Prior to joining Tenneco Packaging, Mr. Stecko spent 16 years with International Paper Company. Mr. Stecko is a member of the board of directors of Tenneco Inc., Smurfit Kappa Group Limited and State Farm Mutual Insurance Company.


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Mark W. Kowlzan is 55 years old and has served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of PCA since July 2010. From 1998 through June 2010, Mr. Kowlzan led the company’s containerboard mill system, first as Vice President and General Manager and then as Senior Vice President — Containerboard. From 1996 through 1998, Mr. Kowlzan served in various senior mill-related operating positions with PCA and Tenneco Packaging, including as manager of the Counce linerboard mill. Prior to joining Tenneco Packaging, Mr. Kowlzan spent 15 years at International Paper Company, where he held a series of operational and managerial positions within its mill organization. In February 2011, Mr. Kowlzan was elected to the board of American Forest and Paper Association.
 
Thomas A. Hassfurther is 55 years old and has served as Executive Vice President — Corrugated Products of PCA since September 2009. From February 2005 to September 2009, Mr. Hassfurther served as Senior Vice President — Sales and Marketing, Corrugated Products. Prior to this he held various senior-level management and sales positions at PCA and Tenneco Packaging. Mr. Hassfurther joined the company in 1977. He recently served as chairman of the Fibre Box Association for two terms.
 
Richard B. West is 58 years old and has served as Chief Financial Officer of PCA since March 1999 and as Senior Vice President since March 2002. From April 1999 to June 2007, Mr. West also served as Corporate Secretary. From 1995 through April 1999, Mr. West served in various senior financial positions with PCA and Tenneco Packaging. Prior to joining Tenneco Packaging, Mr. West spent 20 years with International Paper Company in various financial positions.
 
Thomas W.H. Walton is 51 years old and has served as Senior Vice President — Sales and Marketing, Corrugated Products since October 2009. Prior to this, he served as a Vice President and Area General Manager within the Corrugated Products Group since 1998. Mr. Walton joined the company in 1981 and has also held plant positions in production, sales and general management.
 
Stephen T. Calhoun is 65 years old and has served as Vice President — Human Resources of PCA since November 2002. Prior to this, he served in a variety of human resource positions at both the operational and corporate level. Prior to joining the company in 1989, Mr. Calhoun spent 15 years with American Can Company where he held several human resources and manufacturing positions.
 
Charles J. Carter is 51 years old and has served as Vice President — Containerboard Mill Operations since January 2011. From March 2010 to January 2011, Mr. Carter served as PCA’s Director of Papermaking Technology. Prior to joining PCA in 2010, Mr. Carter spent 28 years with various pulp and paper companies in managerial and technical positions of increasing responsibility, most recently as Vice President and General Manager of the Calhoun, Tennessee mill of Abitibi Bowater from 2007 to 2010 and as manager of SP Newsprint’s Dublin, Georgia mill from 1999 to 2007.
 
PART II
 
Item 5.   MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
Market Information
 
PCA’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PKG”. The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices and dividends as reported by the New York Stock Exchange during the last two years.
 
                                                 
    2010     2009  
    Sales Price     Dividends
    Sales Price     Dividends
 
Quarter Ended   High     Low     Declared     High     Low     Declared  
 
March 31
  $ 25.83     $ 20.63     $ 0.15     $ 15.49     $ 9.66     $ 0.15  
June 30
    26.48       20.00       0.15       17.24       12.43       0.15  
September 30
    25.50       21.19       0.15       21.99       15.19       0.15  
December 31
    27.08       22.68       0.15       24.18       18.21       0.15  


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Stockholders
 
As of February 18, 2011, there were 88 holders of record of our common stock.
 
Dividend Policy
 
PCA expects to continue to pay regular cash dividends, although there is no assurance as to the timing or level of future dividend payments because they depend on future earnings, capital requirements and financial condition.
 
Sales of Unregistered Securities
 
No equity securities of PCA were sold by PCA during fiscal year 2010 which were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
Purchases of Equity Securities
 
Stock Repurchase Programs
 
On October 17, 2007, PCA announced that its Board of Directors authorized a $150.0 million common stock repurchase program. There is no expiration date for the common stock repurchase program. Through December 31, 2010, the Company repurchased 5,559,121 shares of common stock, with 1,740,392 shares repurchased for $40.9 million, or an average of $23.47 per share during 2010. Of these shares, 75,000 shares were repurchased for $2.0 million during the last several days of December and were subsequently settled and retired in January 2011. All of the remaining repurchased shares were retired prior to December 31, 2010. As of December 31, 2010, $24.1 million of the $150.0 million authorization remained available for repurchase of the Company’s common stock.
 
The following table summarizes the Company’s stock repurchases in the fourth quarter of 2010:
 
                                 
                      Approximate
 
                Total Number
    Dollar Value
 
                of Shares
    of Shares that
 
                Purchased as
    may yet be
 
    Total Number
    Average
    Part of Publicity
    Purchased Under
 
    of Shares
    Price Paid
    Announced
    the Plan or
 
Period   Purchased     per Share     Plans or Programs     Program  
                      (In Thousands)  
 
October 1, 2010 to October 31, 2010
        $           $ 36,755  
November 1, 2010 to November 30, 2010
    330,000       25.01       330,000       28,503  
December 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010
    166,000       26.38       166,000       24,123  
                                 
Total
    496,000     $ 25.47       496,000     $ 24,123  
                                 
 
Of the 496,000 shares purchased during the fourth quarter of 2010, 75,000 shares settled in January 2011.


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Performance Graph
 
The graph below compares PCA’s cumulative 5-year total shareholder return on common stock with the cumulative total returns of the S&P 500 index; the S&P Midcap 400 index; a New Peer Group that includes five publicly-traded companies, which are International Paper Company, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, Temple Inland Inc., Rock-Tenn Company and Boise Inc.; and an Old Peer Group of three publicly-traded companies, which are International Paper Company, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation and Temple Inland Inc. Peer Group members Rock-Tenn Company and Boise Inc. were added to the New Peer Group because they are primarily domestic integrated paper and packaging companies who, similar to PCA, produce and sell containerboard and corrugated products and report results to the public. In addition, these two companies are included in the competitive group for executive compensation purposes in PCA’s Proxy Statement. Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation has been included in both peer groups since July 2010, when the company emerged from bankruptcy as a new company. The graph tracks the performance of a $100 investment in our common stock, in each index, and in the peer groups (including the reinvestment of all dividends) from December 31, 2005 through December 31, 2010. The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
 
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Packaging Corporation of America, The S&P 500 Index,
The S&P Midcap 400 Index, An Old Peer Group And A New Peer Group
 
(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)
 
 
* $100 invested on 12/31/05 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.
 
Fiscal year ending December 31.
Copyright© 2010 S&P, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
 
                                                 
    Cumulative Total Return
    12/05   12/06   12/07   12/08   12/09   12/10
 
 Packaging Corporation of America
    100.00       100.73       133.83       67.94       120.52       138.73  
S&P 500
    100.00       115.80       122.16       76.96       97.33       111.99  
S&P Midcap 400
    100.00       110.32       119.12       75.96       104.36       132.16  
Old Peer Group
    100.00       104.64       106.83       38.62       99.00       102.33  
New Peer Group
    100.00       106.86       108.73       44.30       106.72       112.55  


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The information in the graph and table above is not deemed “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference in any of PCA’s filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether made before or after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, except to the extent that PCA specifically incorporates such information by reference.
 
Item 6.   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
The following table sets forth the selected historical financial data of PCA. The information contained in the table should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical consolidated financial statements of PCA, including the notes thereto, contained elsewhere in this report.
 
                                         
    For The Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008     2007     2006  
          (In thousands, except per share data)        
 
Statement of Income Data:
                                       
Net sales
  $ 2,435,606     $ 2,147,589     $ 2,360,493     $ 2,316,006     $ 2,187,046  
Net income
    205,435       265,895       135,609       170,066       125,032  
Net income per common share:
                                       
— basic
    2.02       2.62       1.32       1.63       1.21  
— diluted
    2.00       2.60       1.31       1.61       1.20  
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                                       
— basic
    101,678       101,577       102,753       104,483       103,599  
— diluted
    102,608       102,358       103,593       105,459       104,485  
Cash dividends declared per common share
    0.60       0.60       1.20       1.05       1.00  
Balance Sheet Data:
                                       
Total assets
  $ 2,224,274     $ 2,152,840     $ 1,939,741     $ 2,035,857     $ 1,986,976  
Total debt obligations(1)
    680,601       680,878       681,135       677,248       686,917  
Stockholders’ equity
    1,009,001       898,845       683,949       760,861       691,771  
 
 
(1) Total debt obligations include long-term debt, capital lease obligations, short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations.
 
Item 7.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following discussion of historical results of operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes thereto which appear elsewhere in this report.
 
Overview
 
PCA is the fifth largest producer of containerboard and corrugated products in the United States, based on production capacity. We operate four containerboard mills and 67 corrugated products manufacturing plants throughout the United States. Approximately 80% of the containerboard tons produced at our mills are consumed in our corrugated products manufacturing plants. The remaining 20% is sold to domestic customers or the export market. We produce a wide variety of corrugated products ranging from basic corrugated shipping containers to specialized packaging such as wax-coated boxes for the agriculture industry. We also have multi-color printing capabilities to make high-impact graphics boxes and displays that offer our customers more attractive packaging.


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In analyzing our operating performance, we focus on the following factors that affect our business and are important to consider when reviewing our financial and operating results:
 
  •  containerboard and corrugated products demand;
 
  •  corrugated products and containerboard pricing and mix;
 
  •  cost trends and volatility for our major costs, including wood and recycled fiber, purchased fuels, electricity, labor and fringe benefits and transportation costs; and
 
  •  cash flow from operations and capital expenditures.
 
Historically, supply and demand, as well as industry-wide inventory levels, have influenced prices of containerboard and corrugated products. In addition to U.S. shipments, approximately 10% of domestically produced containerboard has been exported for use in other countries.
 
The market for containerboard and corrugated products is generally subject to changes in the U.S. economy. Throughout 2010, the U.S. economy steadily improved after the effects of the severe downturn which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2008 and continued into 2009. Industry-wide corrugated products shipments increased 3.5% in 2010 compared to 2009 and containerboard production was 7.1% higher than in 2009 supported, in part, by strong export demand which, in 2010, was 8.2% above 2009 levels. PCA also experienced continued improvement in demand, and for the year, our corrugated products shipments were up 7.2% compared to 2009, returning to pre-economic downturn levels, and containerboard production increased from 2,258,000 tons to 2,443,000 tons, or up 8.2%. PCA mills ran at almost 100% of capacity and essentially equaled their previous record for annual production. Industry containerboard inventories at the end of December 2010 were 2.3 million tons, more than 150,000 tons below the ten year average for year-ending levels.
 
Prices for containerboard and corrugated products were higher during 2010 compared to 2009, with industry published prices for containerboard increasing twice during the year, up $50 per ton in January 2010 and up an additional $60 per ton in April 2010.
 
Increased pricing and improved demand favorably impacted PCA’s 2010 earnings and were only partially offset by higher fiber, transportation, labor and other input costs. Published recycled fiber costs in 2010 more than doubled, on average, up 122% compared to 2009. At the end of 2010, published recycled fiber prices were up an additional $30 per ton above the 2010 average price. Wood fiber costs in 2010 were higher than they were in 2009, on average, up 7%, compared to the prior year. Early in 2010, poor weather conditions in the U.S. South made it difficult to access wood fiber, driving wood costs to higher levels. As the year progressed, more normal weather patterns prevailed and wood costs in the fourth quarter of 2010 decreased to below fourth quarter 2009 levels. Transportation costs increased 6% from prior year levels as diesel prices increased during the year. Labor related costs increased reflecting annual merit increases and increased incentives associated with the company’s year over year increase in our earnings. Our costs for purchased fuels and electricity averaged approximately 4% lower for the full year 2010 compared to 2009; however, they did increase during the second half of the year as the strengthening U.S. economy drove higher energy costs.
 
As disclosed in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements, PCA is a producer of black liquor, which is considered an alternative fuel when mixed with diesel, making the black liquor an alternative fuel eligible for a $0.50 per gallon refundable alternative fuel mixture tax credit through December 31, 2009. In a Chief Counsel’s Office of the Internal Revenue Service Memorandum AM2010-002 dated June 28, 2010, the IRS concluded that black liquor also qualifies for the taxable cellulosic biofuel producer credit of $1.01 per gallon of biofuel produced in 2009. PCA received the required cellulosic biofuel producer registration code on September 13, 2010. In a Chief Counsel’s Office of the Internal Revenue Service Memorandum AM2010-004 dated October 5, 2010, the IRS concluded that a black liquor producer may claim the alternative fuel mixture credit and the cellulosic biofuel producer credit in the same taxable year for different volumes of black liquor (the same gallon of fuel cannot receive both credits, but different gallons of fuel can be claimed as either the alternative fuel mixture credit or the cellulosic biofuel producer credit).
 
Prior to the IRS’s memorandum and guidance regarding the cellulosic biofuel producer credits and PCA’s registration as a cellulosic biofuel producer, PCA had recorded all tax credits resulting from black liquor


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production before December 31, 2009 as alternative fuel mixture tax credits, resulting in $171.3 million in income in 2009 and an additional $9.2 million in the first quarter of 2010. Based upon both the IRS memoranda and the 2010 guidance regarding the cellulosic biofuel producer credit, PCA analyzed the additional potential benefits from claiming the cellulosic biofuel producer credit for 2009 instead of the alternative fuel mixture credit, or claiming a combination of the two credits for 2009. For the gallons of alternative fuels produced in 2009, PCA claimed about two-thirds of the gallons as cellulosic biofuel producer credits and about one-third of the gallons as alternative fuel mixture credits. This resulted in additional net income of $47.7 million in 2010 and a reserve for uncertain tax positions of $102.0 million. This reserve relates to uncertainty concerning our proprietary biofuel process at our Filer City corrugating medium mill. Because the Filer City mill process is unique and IRS guidelines do not specifically address the process, uncertainty exists. As of December 31, 2010, including the $102.0 million recorded as an uncertain tax position under ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” PCA has as much as $206.1 million of tax credits to be used to offset future cash tax payments. The cellulosic biofuel producer credit is a taxable credit. However, the laws governing the taxability of the alternative fuel mixture credit are not completely defined. The IRS has not issued definitive guidance regarding such taxability. PCA believes that the manner in which the credit was claimed will not subject it to federal or state income taxes on such benefits. If it is determined that any of the credits are subject to taxation, PCA will be required to pay those taxes and take a corresponding charge to its net income. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report for a description of the alternative fuel mixture tax credits and the cellulosic biofuel producer credit.
 
Excluding the impact of the tax credits described above and asset disposal charges relating to our major energy projects at our linerboard mills and other assets no longer in service and facility closure costs, we earned net income of $166.3 million ($1.62 per diluted share) for the full year of 2010 compared with $95.9 million ($0.94 per diluted share) for the comparable period in 2009. Management uses these measures to focus on PCA’s on-going operations and assess our operating performance and believes that it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present operating results. Reconciliations to the most comparable measure reported in accordance with GAAP are included elsewhere in Item 7 under “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts.”
 
In the first quarter of 2011 our Counce and Valdosta linerboard mills will be shut down for approximately one week for their normal maintenance outages. The Valdosta shutdown will continue into April making that mill’s total shutdown 11 days. The maintenance downtime in the first quarter will result in lower production and increased costs. Higher fiber costs, as well as increased energy costs associated with colder weather, a higher effective tax rate and higher timing-related benefit costs are also expected in the first quarter. Considering all these items, we estimate our first quarter earnings before any special items will be lower than our fourth quarter earnings before special items of $53 million, which excludes net income of $5 million from cellulosic biofuel tax credits and a charge of $3 million after tax from asset disposals related to the energy optimization projects and assets no longer in service.


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Results of Operations
 
Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2009
 
The historical results of operations of PCA for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 are set forth below:
 
                         
    For the Year Ended
       
    December 31,        
    2010     2009     Change  
    (In millions)  
 
Net sales
  $ 2,435.6     $ 2,147.6     $ 288.0  
                         
Income from operations
  $ 185.4     $ 352.5     $ (167.1 )
Interest expense, net
    (32.3 )     (35.5 )     3.2  
                         
Income before taxes
    153.1       317.0       (163.9 )
Benefit (provision) for income taxes
    52.3       (51.1 )     103.4  
                         
Net income
  $ 205.4     $ 265.9     $ (60.5 )
                         
 
Net Sales
 
Net sales increased by $288.0 million, or 13.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2010 from the year ended December 31, 2009. Net sales increased primarily as a result of increased sales volumes of corrugated products and containerboard ($176.7 million) and higher sales prices of corrugated products and containerboard ($111.3 million).
 
Total corrugated products volume sold increased 7.2% to 31.0 billion square feet in 2010 compared to 28.9 billion square feet in 2009. On a comparable shipment-per-workday basis, corrugated products sales volume increased 6.8% in 2010 from 2009. Shipments-per-workday is calculated by dividing our total corrugated products volume during the year by the number of workdays within the year. The larger percentage increase, on a total shipments basis, was due to the fact that 2010 had one more workday (251 days), those days not falling on a weekend or holiday, than 2009 (250 days). Containerboard sales volume to external domestic and export customers increased 17.6% to 507,000 tons for the year ended December 31, 2010 from 431,000 tons in 2009.
 
Income from Operations
 
Income from operations decreased by $167.1 million, or 47.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to 2009. As noted in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements, PCA received the cellulosic biofuel producer registration in September 2010. As a result, our 2010 income from operations was reduced primarily due to reversing a portion of our 2009 alternative fuel mixture credits out of income from operations ($96.0 million) in order to claim cellulosic biofuel credits which were recorded in the provision for income taxes ($135.5 million) in 2010. In addition, income from operations included alternative fuel mixture credits in the amounts of $168.4 million and $9.2 million, respectively, in 2009 and 2010. Excluding the impact of tax credits, energy project related asset disposals ($6.2 million in 2010 and $2.0 million in 2009), 2010 charges for two plant closings ($4.2 million) and the 2010 write-off of paper machine assets at the Tomahawk, Wisconsin medium mill ($2.8 million), income from operations increased $99.4 million for full year 2010. This increase was primarily attributable to increased sales prices of corrugated products and containerboard ($111.3 million), higher sales volume ($58.4 million) partially offset by increased costs for fiber ($47.8 million), transportation ($10.6 million), labor and fringe benefits ($7.8 million) and maintenance and building repairs ($7.3 million).
 
Gross profit increased $105.6 million, or 24.8%, for the year ended December 31, 2010 from the year ended December 31, 2009. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased from 19.9% of net sales in the year ended December 31, 2009 to 21.9% of net sales in the year ended December 31, 2010 primarily due to the increases of sales prices and volume described previously.


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Selling and administrative expenses increased $9.0 million, or 5.2% for the year ended December 31, 2010 from the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily as a result of increased salary expense ($6.1 million) including annual merit increases, incentive compensation, and temporary labor, labor related benefits ($1.0 million), travel and meeting costs ($1.1 million) and broker commissions ($0.7 million).
 
Corporate overhead for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased $3.5 million, or 6.4%, from the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily attributable to increased salary and fringe benefit expenses ($2.3 million) and costs for professional services regarding legal, tax and audit matters ($1.2 million).
 
Other expense, net, increased $5.4 million, or 37.4% for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily due to closure costs at two facilities ($4.2 million) and costs related to the write-off of paper machine assets at Tomahawk ($2.8 million), partially offset by reduced expenses related to legal claims ($1.5 million).
 
Interest Expense, Net and Income Taxes
 
Net interest expense decreased by $3.2 million, or 9.0%, for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily as a result of higher capitalized interest ($3.9 million) related to the Counce and Valdosta major energy optimization projects during the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.
 
Due to the impact of recording the fuel tax credits, PCA’s effective tax rate was (-34.2%) for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 16.1% for the year ended December 31, 2009. Excluding the impact of the fuel tax credits, the effective tax rate would have been 34.5% for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 36.3% for the same period in 2009. The effective tax rate varies from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35.0% principally due to the impact of the fuel tax credits, state and local income taxes and the domestic manufacturers’ deduction. PCA recorded a material change in its uncertain tax positions under ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” of $102.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 due to the amendment of the 2009 federal income tax return to claim gallons of alternative fuel produced at the Filer City, Michigan mill. Due to the proprietary nature of the biofuel process at the Filer City mill, uncertainty as to total fuel gallons qualifying for the credit exists, which caused the additional reserve. The Company expects the IRS to review the cellulosic biofuel producer tax credits claimed in the 2009 federal income tax return. Pending the timing and the outcome of the IRS review, which is not determinable at this time, the reserve for uncertain tax positions could change significantly.
 
Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2008
 
The historical results of operations of PCA for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 are set forth below:
 
                         
    For the Year Ended
       
    December 31,        
    2009     2008     Change  
    (In millions)  
 
Net sales
  $ 2,147.6     $ 2,360.5     $ (212.9 )
                         
Income from operations
  $ 352.5     $ 241.8     $ 110.7  
Interest expense, net
    (35.5 )     (31.7 )     (3.8 )
                         
Income before taxes
    317.0       210.1       106.9  
Provision for income taxes
    (51.1 )     (74.5 )     23.4  
                         
Net income
  $ 265.9     $ 135.6     $ 130.3  
                         


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Net Sales
 
Net sales decreased by $212.9 million, or 9.0%, for the year ended December 31, 2009 from the year ended December 31, 2008. Net sales decreased primarily due to the impact of lower sales volume ($145.5 million) and decreased sales prices of corrugated products and containerboard ($67.4 million).
 
Total corrugated products volume sold decreased 4.6% to 28.9 billion square feet in 2009 compared to 30.3 billion square feet in 2008. On a comparable shipment-per-workday basis, corrugated products sales volume decreased 3.8% in 2009 from 2008. Shipments-per-workday is calculated by dividing our total corrugated products volume during the year by the number of workdays within the year. The larger percentage decrease, on a total shipments basis, was due to the fact that 2009 had two fewer workdays (250 days), those days not falling on a weekend or holiday, than 2008 (252 days). Containerboard sales volume to external domestic and export customers decreased 9.9% to 431,000 tons for the year ended December 31, 2009 from 478,000 tons in 2008. Outside sales of both corrugated products and containerboard began 2009 with significantly lower volumes compared to 2008 and steadily improved throughout the year.
 
Income from Operations
 
Income from operations increased by $110.7 million, or 45.8%, for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 2008 primarily attributable to the alternative fuel mixture tax credit of $168.4 million described in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements. Excluding the alternative fuel mixture tax credit and asset disposal charges of $2.0 million, income from operations decreased $57.8 million for full year 2009, which was primarily attributable to decreased sales prices of corrugated products and containerboard ($67.4 million), lower sales volume ($52.5 million) and increased labor and fringe benefit costs ($8.0 million), partially offset by decreased costs of energy ($24.5 million), transportation ($23.7 million), recycled fiber ($18.9 million) and wood fiber costs ($3.5 million).
 
Gross profit decreased $64.8 million, or 13.2%, for the year ended December 31, 2009 from the year ended December 31, 2008. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales decreased from 20.8% of net sales in the year ended December 31, 2008 to 19.9% of net sales in the year ended December 31, 2009 primarily due to the decreases of sales prices and volume described previously.
 
Selling and administrative expenses were essentially unchanged, up 0.1%, for the year ended December 31, 2009 from the year ended December 31, 2008.
 
Corporate overhead for the year ended December 31, 2009 decreased $6.5 million, or 10.6%, from the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower salary and fringe benefit expenses ($5.9 million) and other items which were individually insignificant.
 
Other expense, net, decreased $0.7 million, or 4.7% for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to lower legal related costs ($1.6 million), partially offset by increased fixed asset disposal costs ($0.8 million).
 
Interest Expense, Net and Income Taxes
 
Interest expense, net of interest income, increased by $3.8 million, or 12.0%, for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the year ended December 31, 2008, due to lower interest rates on investments, which reduced interest income by $5.0 million in 2009 compared to 2008.
 
PCA’s total effective tax rate was 16.1% for the year ended December 31, 2009 and 35.5% for the year ended December 31, 2008. Excluding the impact of fuel tax credits, the effective tax rate would have been 36.3% in 2009. The effective tax rate varies from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35.0% principally due to the impact of the alternative fuel mixture tax credit (in 2009), state and local income taxes and the domestic manufacturers’ deduction. PCA had no material changes to its uncertain tax positions under ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” in 2009.


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Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
                         
    For the Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
    (In millions)  
 
Net cash provided by (used for):
                       
Operating activities
  $ 349.9     $ 306.1     $ 269.3  
Investing activities
    (321.3 )     (119.3 )     (134.5 )
Financing activities
    (92.8 )     (75.5 )     (213.5 )
                         
Net increase (decrease) in cash
  $ (64.2 )   $ 111.3     $ (78.7 )
                         
 
Operating Activities
 
Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2010 was $349.9 million compared to $306.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $43.8 million, or 14.3%. Net income, excluding the income from the tax credits (described in Note 16 to the financial statements included in this report) of $47.7 million in 2010 and $171.3 million in 2009, was $157.7 million and $94.6 million, respectively, for 2010 and 2009, an increase of $63.1 million that increased net cash provided by operating activities. Additionally, more alternative fuel mixture and cellulosic biofuel producer tax credits ($24.2 million) were used to reduce federal tax payments during 2010 compared to 2009. During 2010, PCA’s cash taxes paid for both federal and state income taxes were $19.1 million. This was partially offset by higher requirements for operating assets and liabilities ($51.6 million) driven by higher accounts receivable levels in 2010 as a result of both higher 2010 sales volumes and pricing. Cash requirements for operating activities are subject to PCA’s operating needs, the timing of collection of receivables and payments of payables and expenses, and seasonal fluctuations in the our operations.
 
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $36.8 million, or 13.7%, to $306.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. Net income, excluding income from alternative fuel mixture tax credits (described in Note 16 to the financial statements included in this report), was $94.6 million for 2009 compared to $135.6 million for 2008, a decrease of $41.0 million that reduced net cash provided by operating activities by the same amount. This decrease, however, was more than offset by reduced operating cash requirements, including a $48.4 million net reduction in federal tax payments after applying alternative fuel mixture tax credits. During 2009, PCA’s cash taxes paid for both federal and state income taxes were $22.3 million. Additionally, requirements for operating assets and liabilities were lower by $33.9 million in 2009 compared to 2008, driven for the most part by receivables and payables levels, both of which were impacted by the economic downturn. This was partially offset by higher pension contributions in 2009.
 
Investing Activities
 
Net cash used for investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased $202.0 million, or 169.3%, to $321.3 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily related to higher additions to property, plant and equipment of $206.0 million, which included $175.9 million for the major energy optimization projects at our linerboard mills, during the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Partially offsetting this increase was a $3.1 million acquisition completed during the third quarter of 2009 as described in Note 18 to the financial statements.
 
Net cash used for investing activities decreased $15.2 million, or 11.3%, to $119.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease was due to lower additions to property, plant and equipment of $18.8 million in 2009 compared to 2008, which was partially offset by a $3.1 million acquisition completed during the third quarter of 2009.
 
As of December 31, 2010, PCA had commitments for general purpose capital expenditures of $143.3 million for 2011, including $109.2 million for the major energy projects at its Counce and Valdosta mills. PCA believes that cash-on-hand combined with cash flow from operations will be sufficient to fund these commitments.


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Financing Activities
 
Net cash used for financing activities totaled $92.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, a difference of $17.3 million, or 22.9%, compared to the same period in 2009. The difference was primarily attributable to repurchases of PCA common stock of $38.9 million during 2010, partially offset by lower common stock dividends paid of $15.1 million and higher proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $6.5 million during 2010 compared to 2009.
 
Net cash used for financing activities totaled $75.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, a decrease of $138.0 million, or 64.7%, compared to the same period in 2008. The difference was primarily attributable to lower debt payments of $169.7 million in 2009, partially offset by $145.2 million in net proceeds received from PCA’s notes offering in 2008 described below. Additionally, PCA made no common stock repurchases in 2009 compared to $65.7 million in repurchases of PCA common stock during 2008, and lower common stock dividends of $76.9 million paid in 2009 compared to $125.1 million paid in 2008.
 
In connection with the senior notes offering in March of 2008, PCA received proceeds, net of discount, of $149.9 million and paid $4.4 million for settlement of a treasury lock that it entered into to protect against increases in the ten-year U.S. Treasury rate, which served as a reference in determining the interest rate applicable to the notes. PCA also incurred financing costs in the amount of $0.3 million in connection with the senior notes offering. PCA used the proceeds of this offering, together with cash on hand, to repay all of the $150.0 million of outstanding 43/8% senior notes that were due on August 1, 2008.
 
On November 29, 2000, PCA established an on-balance sheet securitization program for its trade accounts receivable. To effectuate this program, PCA formed a wholly-owned limited purpose subsidiary, Packaging Credit Company, LLC, or PCC, which in turn formed a wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote, special-purpose subsidiary, Packaging Receivables Company, LLC, or PRC, for the purpose of acquiring receivables from PCC. Both of these entities are included in the consolidated financial statements of PCA. Under this program, PCC purchases on an ongoing basis substantially all of the receivables of PCA and sells such receivables to PRC. PRC and lenders established a $150.0 million receivables-backed revolving credit facility through which PRC obtains funds to purchase receivables from PCC. The receivables purchased by PRC are and will be solely the property of PRC. In the event of a liquidation of PRC, the creditors of PRC would be entitled to satisfy their claims from PRC’s assets prior to any distribution to PCC or PCA. Credit available under the receivables credit facility is on a borrowing-base formula. As a result, the full amount of the facility may not be available at all times. The facility, which PCA plans on renewing, is scheduled to terminate on March 1, 2011. As of December 31, 2010, $109.0 million was outstanding. The highest outstanding principal balance under the receivables credit facility during fiscal 2010 was $109.0 million.
 
On July 21, 2003, PCA closed its offering and private placement of $150.0 million of 43/8% senior notes due August 1, 2008 and $400.0 million of 53/4% senior notes due August 1, 2013. On March 25, 2008, PCA issued $150.0 million of 61/2% senior notes due March 15, 2018 through a registered public offering. The proceeds of this offering, together with cash on hand, were used to repay all of the $150.0 million of 43/8% senior notes which matured on August 1, 2008.
 
On March 31, 2008, PCA repaid all borrowings under its old senior credit facility. This facility was replaced with a senior credit facility that provides a new $150.0 million revolving credit facility, including a $35.0 million subfacility for letters of credit. The new senior credit facility closed on April 15, 2008. The new revolving credit facility is available to fund PCA’s working capital requirements, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes. The new revolving credit facility will terminate in April 2013.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2010 that would require disclosure under SEC FR-67, “Disclosure in Management’s Discussion and Analysis About Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations.”


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Contractual Obligations
 
The following table summarizes PCA’s contractual obligations at December 31, 2010:
 
                                         
    Payments Due by Period  
          Less Than
                More Than
 
    Total     1 Year     1-3 Years     3-5 Years     5 Years  
    (In thousands)  
 
Receivables credit facility
  $ 109,000     $ 109,000     $     $     $  
53/4% senior notes (due August 1, 2013)
    400,000                   400,000        
61/2% senior notes (due March 15, 2018)
    150,000                         150,000  
                                         
Total short-term and long-term debt
    659,000       109,000             400,000       150,000  
Capital lease obligations
    39,085       2,202       4,404       4,404       28,075  
Operating leases
    117,615       28,613       42,295       16,526       30,181  
Capital commitments
    143,309       143,309                    
Purchase commitments
    38,309       7,387       4,937       2,972       23,013  
Letters of credit
    18,832       18,832                    
Pension contributions
    22,100       22,100                    
                                         
Total contractual obligations
  $ 1,038,250     $ 331,443     $ 51,636     $ 423,902     $ 231,269  
                                         
 
The above table excludes unamortized debt discount of $0.9 million at December 31, 2010 and interest payments on debt outstanding. Based on interest rates in effect and long-term debt balances outstanding as of December 31, 2010, projected contractual interest payments would be approximately $34.5 million in 2011 and for each future year. For the purpose of this disclosure, PCA’s variable and fixed rate long-term debt would be replaced at maturity with similar long-term debt and similar interest rates. This disclosure does not attempt to predict changes in interest rates. See Item 7A. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for the impact of changes in interest rates on PCA’s future cash flows.
 
The operating lease commitments, capital commitments, purchase commitments and letters of credit are not reflected on PCA’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010. See Notes 8 and 13 to the audited consolidated financial statements for additional information. PCA currently does not have any projections for future pension contributions beyond 2011. See Note 6 to the audited consolidated financial statements for additional information.
 
As of December 31, 2010, the Company’s expected payment for significant contractual obligations excludes $7.6 million of obligations for uncertain tax positions because the Company cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the period of cash settlement for such liability. See Note 15 to the audited consolidated financial statements for additional information.
 
PCA’s primary sources of liquidity are net cash provided by operating activities, borrowings under PCA’s revolving credit facility and additional borrowings under PCA’s receivables credit facility. As of December 31, 2010, PCA had $172.2 million in unused borrowing capacity under its existing credit facilities, net of the impact on this borrowing capacity of $18.8 million of outstanding letters of credit. Currently, PCA’s primary uses of cash are for operations, capital expenditures, debt service and declared common stock dividends, which it expects to be able to fund from these sources.


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The following table provides the outstanding balances and the weighted average interest rates as of December 31, 2010 for PCA’s revolving credit facility, the receivables credit facility and the senior notes:
 
                         
    Balance at
          Projected Annual
 
    December 31,
    Weighted Average
    Cash Interest
 
Borrowing Arrangement   2010     Interest Rate     Payments  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
 
Revolving Credit Facility
  $       N/A       N/A  
Receivables Credit Facility
    109,000       1.56 %   $ 1,700  
53/4% Senior Notes (due August 1, 2013)
    400,000       5.75       23,000  
61/2% Senior Notes (due March 15, 2018)
    150,000       6.50       9,750  
                         
Total
  $ 659,000       5.23 %   $ 34,450  
                         
 
The above table excludes unamortized debt discount of $0.9 million at December 31, 2010. It also excludes from the projected annual cash interest payments, the non-cash income from the annual amortization of the $22.8 million received in July 2003 and the non-cash expense from the annual amortization of the $4.4 million paid in March 2008 to settle the treasury locks related to the 53/4% senior notes due 2013 and the 61/2% senior notes due 2018. The amortization is being recognized over the terms of the 53/4% senior notes due 2013 and the 61/2% senior notes due 2018 and is included in interest expense, net.
 
The instruments governing PCA’s indebtedness contain financial and other covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of PCA and its subsidiaries to:
 
  •  enter into sale and leaseback transactions,
 
  •  incur liens,
 
  •  incur indebtedness at the subsidiary level,
 
  •  enter into certain transactions with affiliates, or
 
  •  merge or consolidate with any other person or sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of PCA.
 
These limitations could limit corporate and operating activities.
 
In addition, PCA must maintain minimum net worth and maximum debt to total capitalization and minimum interest coverage ratios under the revolving credit facility. A failure to comply with the restrictions contained in the revolving credit facility could lead to an event of default, which could result in an acceleration of any outstanding indebtedness and/or prohibit PCA from drawing on the revolving credit facility. Such an acceleration may also constitute an event of default under the senior notes indentures and the receivables credit facility. At December 31, 2010, PCA was in compliance with these covenants.
 
PCA currently expects to incur capital expenditures of $255.0 million in 2011, including $115.0 million for major energy optimization projects at its Counce and Valdosta mills and $40.0 million for strategic projects in the box plants. The remaining $100.0 million in expenditures will be used primarily for maintenance capital, cost reduction, business growth and environmental compliance.
 
PCA believes that net cash generated from operating activities, available cash reserves, available borrowings under its committed credit facilities and available capital through access to capital markets will be adequate to meet its liquidity and capital requirements, including payments of any declared common stock dividends, for the foreseeable future. As its debt or credit facilities become due, PCA will need to repay, extend or replace such facilities, which will be subject to future economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond PCA’s control.


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Environmental Matters
 
PCA is subject to, and must comply with, a variety of federal, state and local environmental laws, particularly those relating to air and water quality, waste disposal and the cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater. The most significant of these laws affecting the Company are:
 
  •  Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA);
 
  •  Clean Water Act (CWA);
 
  •  Clean Air Act (CAA);
 
  •  The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know-Act (EPCRA);
 
  •  Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA); and
 
  •  Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
 
PCA believes that it is currently in material compliance with these and all applicable environmental rules and regulations. Because environmental regulations are constantly evolving, the Company has incurred, and will continue to incur, costs to maintain compliance with these and other environmental laws. The Company works diligently to anticipate and budget for the impact of applicable environmental regulations, and does not currently expect that future environmental compliance obligations will materially affect its business or financial condition. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, we spent approximately $24.6 million, $26.4 million and $23.5 million, respectively, to comply with the requirements of these and other environmental laws. Additionally, total capital costs for environmental matters were $1.1 million, $0.4 million and $3.5 million for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and the Company currently estimates 2011 environmental capital expenditures will be $3.3 million.
 
As is the case with any industrial operation, PCA has, in the past, incurred costs associated with the remediation of soil or groundwater contamination, as required by the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, commonly known as the federal “Superfund” law, and analogous state laws. Cleanup requirements arise with respect to properties the Company currently owns or operates, former facilities and off-site facilities where the Company has disposed of hazardous substances. As part of the sale to PCA of the containerboard and corrugated products business of Pactiv Corporation in April 1999, Pactiv agreed to retain all liability for all former facilities and all sites associated with pre-closing off-site waste disposal. Pactiv also retained environmentally impaired real property in Filer City, Michigan unrelated to current mill operations.
 
Because liability for remediation costs under environmental laws is strict, meaning that liability is imposed without fault, joint and several, meaning that liability is imposed on each party without regard to contribution, and retroactive, PCA could receive notifications of cleanup liability in the future and this liability could be material. From 1994 through 2010, remediation costs at PCA’s mills and corrugated plants totaled approximately $3.2 million. As of December 31, 2010, PCA maintained an environmental reserve of $9.7 million relating to on-site landfills and surface impoundments as well as ongoing and anticipated remedial projects. As of this filing, the Company believes that it is not reasonably possible that future environmental expenditures above the $9.7 million accrued as of December 31, 2010 will have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
 
While legislation regarding the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions has been proposed at the federal level, it is uncertain whether such legislation will be passed and, if so, what the breadth and scope of such legislation will be. The result of the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions could be an increase in our future environmental compliance costs, through caps, taxes or additional capital expenditures to modify facilities, which may be material. However, climate change legislation and the resulting future energy policy could also provide us with opportunities if the use of renewable energy is encouraged. We currently generate a significant portion of our power requirements for our mills using bark, black liquor and biomass as fuel, which are derived from renewable resources. Our energy optimization projects at the Counce and Valdosta linerboard


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mills are expected to nearly eliminate the use of fossil fuels at those facilities by the end of 2011, while providing more efficient power generation at those facilities. While we believe we are well-positioned to take advantage of any renewable energy incentives, it is uncertain what the ultimate costs and opportunities of any climate change legislation will be and how our business and industry will be affected.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
Management’s discussion and analysis of PCA’s 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 the Company 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 bad debts, inventories, goodwill and intangible assets, pensions and other postretirement benefits, income taxes, environmental liabilities, stock based compensation, and contingencies and litigation. 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 believes the following critical accounting policies affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements. For a further discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 2 to its consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
 
Accounts Receivable — Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Customer Deductions
 
PCA evaluates the collectibility of its accounts receivable based upon a combination of factors. In circumstances where the Company is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filings, substantial downgrading of credit sources), PCA records a specific reserve for bad debts against amounts due to reduce the net recorded receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes will be collected. For all other customers, the Company recognizes reserves for bad debts based on its historical collection experience. If the Company’s collection experience deteriorates (i.e., higher than expected defaults or an unexpected material adverse change in a major customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations), PCA’s estimates of the recoverability of amounts due could be reduced by a material amount.
 
The customer deductions reserve represents the estimated amount required for customer returns, allowances and earned discounts. Based on PCA’s experience, customer returns, allowances and earned discounts have averaged 1.0% of its gross selling price. Accordingly, the Company reserves 1.0% of its open customer accounts receivable balance for these items.
 
As of December 31, 2010, the balance in the allowance for doubtful accounts reserve was $2.5 million, compared to $3.9 million at December 31, 2009. The change of balance in the allowance for doubtful accounts resulted in income of $0.9 million in 2010, compared to expense of $1.5 million in 2009. The decrease in bad debt expense of $2.4 million was primarily due to a $1.0 million reduction in the allowance for doubtful accounts reserve to reflect the actual average losses over the past three years and a $0.9 million decrease in expense related to customers who had filed for bankruptcy. For the year ended December 31, 2009, bad debt expense was $1.5 million compared to $4.2 million in 2008. The decrease in bad debt expense of $2.7 million was primarily attributable to a $1.4 million decrease in expense related to customers who had filed for bankruptcy and a recovery of $1.4 million from one customer that had previously filed for bankruptcy.
 
Inventories
 
PCA records its inventories at the lower of cost or market and includes all costs directly associated with manufacturing products: materials, labor and manufacturing overhead. The estimated market value is based on assumptions for future demand and related pricing. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those


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projected by management, reductions in the carrying value of inventories may be required. Raw materials, work in process and finished goods valued using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) cost method comprised 65% and 62% of inventories at current cost at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Supplies and materials inventories are valued using a moving average cost.
 
Pension and Postretirement Benefits
 
The Company accounts for defined benefit pension plans and postretirement plans in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 715, “Compensation — Retirement Benefits.”
 
One of the principal assumptions used to calculate net periodic pension cost is the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets may result in recognized returns that are greater or less than the actual returns on those plan assets in any given year. Over time, however, the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is designed to approximate the actual long term returns.
 
The discount rate assumptions used to calculate net periodic pension and postretirement costs reflect the rates available on high-quality, fixed-income debt instruments on December 31. The rate of compensation increase is another significant assumption used to calculate net periodic pension cost and is determined by PCA based upon annual reviews.
 
For postretirement health care plan accounting, PCA reviews external data and its own historical trends for health care costs to determine the health care cost trend rate assumption.
 
Environmental Liabilities
 
PCA accounts for its retirement obligations related to its landfills under ASC 410, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations,” which requires legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets to be recognized at their fair value at the time that the obligations are incurred. Upon initial recognition of a liability, that cost is capitalized as part of the related long-lived asset and amortized to expense over the useful life of the asset.
 
The potential costs for various environmental matters are uncertain due to such factors as the unknown magnitude of possible cleanup costs, the complexity and evolving nature of governmental laws and regulations and their interpretations, and the timing, varying costs and effectiveness of alternative cleanup technologies. Liabilities recorded for environmental contingencies are estimates of the probable costs based upon available information and assumptions. Because of these uncertainties, however, the Company’s estimates may change. PCA believes that any additional costs identified as further information becomes available would not have a material effect on its financial statements.
 
In connection with the sale to PCA of the containerboard and corrugated products business of Pactiv Corporation in April 1999, Pactiv agreed to retain all liability for all former facilities and all sites associated with off-site waste disposal prior to April 12, 1999. Pactiv also retained the environmental liability for a closed landfill located near the Filer City mill.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
PCA recognizes revenue as title to the products is transferred to customers. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales. Shipping and handling billings to a customer are included in net sales. In addition, PCA offers volume rebates to certain of its customers. The total cost of these programs is estimated and accrued as a reduction to net sales at the time of the respective sale.
 
Impairment of Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets
 
Goodwill is tested for impairment annually in the fourth quarter or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may exceed fair value. Recoverability of goodwill is determined by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value, the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to the carrying amount of its goodwill to determine if a write-down to fair value is necessary.


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Long-lived assets other than goodwill are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of any long-lived asset may not be fully recoverable. In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of any long-lived assets may be impaired, an evaluation of recoverability would be performed. If an evaluation were required, the estimated future undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset (or group of assets) would be compared to the asset’s (or group of assets’) carrying amount to determine if a write-down to fair value is required.
 
Stock-Based Compensation
 
PCA measures and records stock-based compensation cost in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation.” Stock compensation cost includes: (a) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not vested as of January 1, 2006, the effective date of ASC 718, and (b) compensation costs for all share-based payments granted subsequent to January 1, 2006. The grant date fair value is estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718.
 
PCA recognizes compensation expense associated with option awards ratably over their vesting periods. The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of each option grant as of the date of grant. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of the Company’s common stock. The expected life of the option is estimated using historical data pertaining to option exercises and employee terminations. Separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise behavior are considered separately for estimating the expected life. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury yields in effect at the time of grant.
 
The fair value of restricted stock awards is determined based on the closing price of PCA’s common stock on the grant date. The Company generally recognizes compensation expense associated with restricted stock awards ratably over their vesting periods. As PCA’s Board of Directors has the ability to accelerate the vesting of restricted stock upon an employee’s retirement, the Company accelerates the recognition of compensation expense for certain employees approaching normal retirement age.
 
Income Taxes
 
PCA’s annual tax rate is determined based on income, statutory tax rates and the tax impacts of items treated differently for tax purposes than for financial reporting purposes. Tax law requires some items to be included in the tax return at different times than the items reflected in the financial statements. As a result, the annual tax rate in the financial statements is different than the rate reported on PCA’s tax return. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses that are not deductible in the tax return, and some differences are temporary, reversing over time, such as depreciation expense. These temporary differences create deferred tax assets and liabilities.
 
Inherent in determining the annual tax rate are judgments regarding business plans, planning opportunities and expectations about future outcomes. Significant management judgments are required for the following items:
 
  •  Management reviews PCA’s deferred tax assets for realizability. Valuation allowances are established when management believes that it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Changes in valuation allowances from period to period are included in the tax provision.
 
  •  PCA establishes accruals for uncertain tax contingencies when, despite the belief that PCA’s tax return positions are fully supported, PCA believes that an uncertain tax position does not meet the recognition threshold of ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” The tax contingency accruals are adjusted in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of tax audits, the expiration of the statute of limitations for the relevant taxing authority to examine a tax return, case law and emerging legislation. While it is difficult to predict the final outcome or timing of resolution for any particular tax matter, PCA believes that the accruals for uncertain tax contingencies at December 31, 2010 reflect the likely outcome of known tax contingencies as of such date in accordance with uncertain tax positions under ASC 740.


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Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts
 
Operating income, net income and diluted earnings per share excluding special items are non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of operating income excluding special items to the most comparable measure reported in accordance with GAAP for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 are presented below. Reconciliations of net income and diluted earnings per share excluding special items to the most comparable measure reported in accordance with GAAP for the three months ended December 31, 2010 and for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 are presented below:
 
                 
    Three Months Ended December 31,  
    2010  
    Net Income     Diluted EPS  
    (In thousands except per share amounts)  
 
As reported in accordance with GAAP
  $ 54,891     $ 0.54  
Special items:
               
Alternative energy tax credits
    (5,032 )     (0.05 )
Asset disposal and facilities closure charges
    3,173       0.03  
                 
Total special items
    (1,859 )     (0.02 )
                 
Excluding special items
  $ 53,032     $ 0.52  
                 
 
                                                 
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    Income from
                Income from
             
    Operations     Net Income     Diluted EPS     Operations     Net Income     Diluted EPS  
    (In thousands except per share amounts)  
 
As reported in accordance with GAAP
  $ 185,382     $ 205,435     $ 2.00     $ 352,454     $ 265,895     $ 2.60  
Special items:
                                               
Alternative energy tax credits
    86,804       (47,697 )     (0.46 )     (168,437 )     (171,271 )     (1.67 )
Asset disposal and facilities closure charges
    13,213       8,557       0.08       1,952       1,240       0.01  
                                                 
Total special items
    100,017       (39,140 )     (0.38 )     (166,485 )     (170,031 )     (1.66 )
                                                 
Excluding special items
  $ 285,399     $ 166,295     $ 1.62     $ 185,969     $ 95,864     $ 0.94  
                                                 
 
Item 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
PCA is exposed to the impact of interest rate changes and changes in the market value of its financial instruments. PCA periodically enters into derivatives in order to minimize these risks, but not for trading purposes. For a discussion of derivatives and hedging activities, see Note 9 to PCA’s consolidated financial statement included elsewhere in the report.
 
The interest rates on approximately 84% 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 $1.1 million annually. In the event of a change in interest rates, management could take actions to mitigate its exposure to the change. However, due to the uncertainty of the specific actions that would be taken and their possible effects, the sensitivity analysis assumes no changes in PCA’s financial structure.
 
Item 8.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
The response to this item is included in a separate section of this report beginning on page F-1, which is incorporated by reference herein.


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Item 9.   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES
 
None.
 
Item 9A.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
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 December 31, 2010. 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 December 31, 2010.
 
During the quarter ended December 31, 2010, 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.
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
PCA’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only with proper authorizations; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, PCA’s internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that objectives of the control system are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate.
 
PCA’s management, under the supervision of and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, assessed the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria for effective control over financial reporting described in “Internal Control — Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, PCA’s management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2010, based on the specified criteria.


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Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited PCA’s financial statements included in this Form 10-K, has also audited the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Their attestation report precedes PCA’s audited financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
 
Item 9B.   OTHER INFORMATION
 
Because this Annual Report on Form 10-K is being filed within four business days after the applicable triggering event, the below disclosure is being made under Part II, Item 9B of this Annual Report on Form 10-K instead of under Item 5.02 (Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers) of Form 8-K.
 
On February 22, 2011, the compensation committee of PCA’s board of directors awarded each of Mark W. Kowlzan, Chief Executive Officer, and Thomas A. Hassfurther, Executive Vice President, Corrugated Products, 100,000 shares of restricted stock. Subject to continued employment, one-third of the shares will vest on each of the first three anniversary dates of the date of the award. Under the terms of the restricted stock award agreement, the form of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.22, each of Mr. Kowlzan and Mr. Hassfurther agreed to customary confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants, which will expire no later than the third anniversary of the date of the award. The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the entire text of such exhibit.
 
PART III
 
Item 10.   DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
 
Information regarding PCA’s executive officers required by this Item 10 is set forth in Item 4.1 of Part I of this report.
 
The following information required by this Item 10 will be included in PCA’s Proxy Statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated by reference herein:
 
  •  Information regarding PCA’s directors included under the caption “Election of Directors”
 
  •  Information regarding PCA’s Audit Committee and financial experts included under the caption “Election of Directors — Audit Committee”
 
  •  Information regarding PCA’s code of ethics included under the caption “Election of Directors — Code of Ethics”
 
  •  Information regarding PCA’s stockholder nominating procedures included under the captions “Election of Directors — Nominating and Governance Committee,” “Other Information — Recommendations for Board — Nominated Director Nominees,” and “Other Information — Procedures for Nominating Directors or Bringing Business Before the 2012 Annual Meeting”
 
  •  Information regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 included under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance”
 
Item 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
Information with respect to executive compensation required by this Item 11 will be included in PCA’s Proxy Statement under the captions “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Executive Officer and Director Compensation” (including all subcaptions and tables thereunder) and “Board Committees — Compensation Committee” and is incorporated herein by reference.


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Item 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
 
Information with respect to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management required by this Item 12 will be included in PCA’s Proxy Statement under the caption “Ownership of Our Stock” and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Authorization of Securities under Equity Compensation Plans.  Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans at December 31, 2010 are as follows:
 
                         
                Number of
 
                Securities
 
    Number of
    Weighted
    Remaining
 
    Securities to
    Average
    Available for
 
    be Issued
    Exercise
    Future
 
    Upon Exercise of
    Price of
    Issuance
 
    Outstanding
    Outstanding
    Under Equity
 
    Options and
    Options and
    Compensation
 
Plan Category   Rights     Rights     Plans(a)  
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
    1,568,384     $ 21.38       1,460,469  
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
                 
                         
Total
    1,568,384     $ 21.38       1,460,469  
                         
 
 
(a) Excludes securities reflected in the first column, “Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options and rights.” Does not include 1,478,000 shares of unvested restricted stock granted pursuant to our Amended and Restated 1999 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan.
 
Item 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
 
Information with respect to certain relationships and related transactions and director independence required by this Item 13 will be included in PCA’s Proxy Statement under the captions “Transactions with Related Persons” and “Election of Directors — Determination of Director Independence,” respectively, and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 14.   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
 
Information with respect to fees and services of the principal accountant required by this Item 14 will be included in PCA’s Proxy Statement under the caption “Ratification of Appointment of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm — Fees to the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
PART IV
 
Item 15.   EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this report:
 
(1) The financial statements listed in the “Index to Financial Statements.”
 
(2) Financial Statement Schedule.
 
The following consolidated financial statement schedule of PCA for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 is included in this report.
Schedule Of Valuation And Qualifying Accounts Disclosure

 
Schedule II — Packaging Corporation of America — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.
 


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    Balance
                Balance
 
    Beginning of
    Charged to
          End of
 
Description   Year     Expenses     Deductions     Year  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
 
Year ended December 31, 2010:
                               
Deducted from assets accounts:
                               
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 3,909     $ (937 )   $ (479 )(1)   $ 2,493  
Reserve for customer deductions
    2,439       27,007       (26,526 )(2)     2,920  
                                 
Total
  $ 6,348     $ 26,070     $ (27,005 )   $ 5,413  
                                 
Year ended December 31, 2009:
                               
Deducted from assets accounts:
                               
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 4,355     $ 1,506     $ (1,952 )(1)   $ 3,909  
Reserve for customer deductions
    2,507       22,683       (22,751 )(2)     2,439  
                                 
Total
  $ 6,862     $ 24,189     $ (24,703 )   $ 6,348  
                                 
Year ended December 31, 2008:
                               
Deducted from assets accounts:
                               
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 2,917     $ 4,162     $ (2,724 )(1)   $ 4,355  
Reserve for customer deductions
    2,734       23,767       (23,994 )(2)     2,507  
                                 
Total
  $ 5,651     $ 27,929     $ (26,718 )   $ 6,862  
                                 
 
 
(1) Consists primarily of uncollectable accounts written off, net of recoveries, during the year.
 
(2) Consists primarily of discounts taken by customers during the year.
 
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions, are inapplicable or not material, or the information called for thereby is otherwise included in the financial statements or the accompanying notes to the financial statements and therefore, have been omitted.
 
(b)   Exhibits
 
         
Exhibit
   
Number   Description
 
  2 .1   Contribution Agreement, dated as of January 25, 1999, among Pactiv Corporation (formerly known as Tenneco Packaging Inc.) (“Pactiv”), PCA Holdings LLC (“PCA Holdings”) and Packaging Corporation of America (“PCA”). (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to PCA’s registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-79511).
  2 .2   Letter Agreement Amending the Contribution Agreement, dated as of April 12, 1999, among Pactiv, PCA Holdings and PCA. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to PCA’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-79511).
  3 .1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of PCA. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to PCA’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-79511).
  3 .2   Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of PCA. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to PCA’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-109437.)
  3 .3   Amended and Restated By-laws of PCA. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to PCA’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 5, 2008, File No. 1-15399.)
  4 .1   Form of certificate representing shares of common stock. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to PCA’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-86963.)
  4 .2   Indenture, dated as of July 21, 2003, between PCA and U.S. Bank National Association. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to PCA’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2003, File No. 1-15399.)

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Exhibit
   
Number   Description
 
  4 .3   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 21, 2003, between PCA and U.S. Bank National Association. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to PCA’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2003, File No. 1-15399.)
  4 .4   Form of Rule 144A Global Note. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to PCA’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2003, File No. 1-15399.)
  4 .5   Officers’ Certificate, dated March 25, 2008, pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture, dated July 21, 2003, by and between PCA and U.S. Bank National Association (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to PCA’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 25, 2008, File No. 1-15399.)
  4 .6   6.50% Senior Notes due 2018. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to PCA’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 25, 2008, File No. 1-15399.)
  10 .1   Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2008, by and among PCA and the lenders and agents named therein. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to PCA’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2010, File No. 1-15399.)
  10 .2   Amended and Restated Credit and Security Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2008, by and among PCA and the lenders and agents named therein. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to PCA’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2010, File No. 1-15399.)
  10 .3   Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Credit and Security Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2009, by and among PCA and the lenders and agents named therein. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to PCA’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 16, 2009, File No. 1-15399.)
  10 .4   Receivables Sale Agreement, dated as of November 29, 2000, between PCC and PCA. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to PCA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, File No. 1-15399.)
  10 .5   Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of November 29, 2000, between PCC and PRC. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to PCA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001. File No. 1-15399)
  10 .6   Not used.
  10 .7   Not used.
  10 .8   Packaging Corporation of America Thrift Plan for Hourly Employees and First Amendment of Packaging Corporation of America Thrift Plan for Hourly Employees, effective February 1, 2000. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to PCA’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-33176.)*
  10 .9   Packaging Corporation of America Retirement Savings Plan , effective February 1, 2000. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to PCA’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-33176.)*
  10 .10   Amended and Restated 1999 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, effective as of May 4, 2005. (Incorporated herein by reference to Appendix B to PCA’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the Commission on March 24, 2005, File No. 1-15399.)*
  10 .11   Form of Stock Option Agreement for employees under the Amended and Restated 1999 Long-term Equity Incentive Plan. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to PCA’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 14, 2006, File No. 1-15399.)*
  10 .12   Form of Stock Option Agreement for non-employee directors under the Amended and Restated 1999 Long-term Equity Incentive Plan. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to PCA’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 14, 2006, File No. 1-15399.)*
  10 .13   Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for employees and non-employee directors under the Amended and Restated 1999 Long-term Equity Incentive Plan. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to PCA’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 14, 2006, File No. 1-15399.)*
  10 .14   Not used.
  10 .15   Packaging Corporation of America Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as Amended and Restated Effective as of January 1, 2005. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to PCA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, File No. 1-15399.)*

35


Table of Contents

         
Exhibit
   
Number   Description
 
  10 .16   Packaging Corporation of America Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of January 1, 2009. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to PCA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, File No. 1-15399.)*
  10 .17   Packaging Corporation of America Amended and Restated Executive Incentive Compensation Plan, effective as of February 28, 2007. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to PCA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, File No. 1-15399.)*
  10 .18   First Amendment of Packaging Corporation of America Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, effective as of January 1, 2008. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to PCA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, file No. 1-15399.)*
  10 .19   Amended and Restated 1999 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, effective as of May 27, 2009. (Incorporated herein by reference to Appendix A to PCA’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the Commission on April 21, 2009, File No 1-15399.)*
  10 .20   PCA Performance Incentive Plan, effective as of May 11, 2010. (Incorporated herein by reference to Appendix A to PCA’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the Commission on March 30, 2010, File No. 1-15399.)*
  10 .21   Employment Agreement, dated June 28, 2010, between Packaging Corporation of America and Paul T. Stecko. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 29, 2010, File No. 1-15399.)*
  10 .22   Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for February 22, 2011 Retention Awards to Mark W. Kowlzan and Thomas A. Hassfurther*†
  12 .1   Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges†
  21 .1   Subsidiaries of the Registrant.†
  23 .1   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.†
  24 .1   Powers of Attorney.†
  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 .1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.†
  32 .2   Certification of 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2010 and 2009, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text and (vi) Financial Statement Schedule-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.
 
 
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
 
Filed herewith.

36


Table of Contents

 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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 on February 22, 2011.
 
Packaging Corporation of America
 
  By: 
/s/  Mark W. Kowlzan
Name:     Mark W. Kowlzan
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer
 
  By: 
/s/   Richard B. West
Name:     Richard B. West
  Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on February 22, 2011.
 
         
Signature   Title
 
     
/s/  Mark W. Kowlzan

Mark W. Kowlzan
  Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Richard B. West

Richard B. West
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
     
*

Paul T. Stecko
  Executive Chairman
     
*

Cheryl K. Beebe
  Director
     
*

Henry F. Frigon
  Director
     
*

Hasan Jameel
  Director
     
*

Samuel M. Mencoff
  Director
     
*

Roger B. Porter
  Director
     
*

Thomas S. Souleles
  Director
     
*

James D. Woodrum
  Director
     
*By: 
/s/   Richard B. West

Richard B. West
(Attorney-In-Fact)
   


37


Table of Contents

 
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
         
Packaging Corporation of America Consolidated Financial Statements
       
    F-2  
    F-4  
    F-5  
    F-6  
    F-7  
    F-8  


F-1


Table of Contents

 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
Packaging Corporation of America
Board of Directors and Stockholders
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Packaging Corporation of America (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Packaging Corporation of America at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
 
As discussed in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements, total comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 included within the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity have been restated.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Packaging Corporation of America’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 22, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
 
/s/  Ernst & Young LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
February 22, 2011


F-2


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
Packaging Corporation of America
Board of Directors and Stockholders
 
We have audited Packaging Corporation of America’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Packaging Corporation of America’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
In our opinion, Packaging Corporation of America maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on the COSO criteria.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Packaging Corporation of America as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, and our report dated February 22, 2011, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
 
/s/  Ernst & Young LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
February 22, 2011


F-3


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2010 and 2009
 
 
                 
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands, except share and per share amounts)  
 
ASSETS
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 196,556     $ 260,727  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and customer deductions of $5,413 and $6,348 as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively
    293,159       243,403  
Inventories
    241,142       213,396  
Alternative fuel mixture tax credits receivable
          127,811  
Federal and state income taxes receivable
          4,707  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    16,952       13,045  
Deferred income taxes
    50,232       22,125  
                 
Total current assets
    798,041       885,214  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    1,337,986       1,182,504  
Goodwill
    38,854       38,854  
Other intangible assets, net
    10,975       11,790  
Other long-term assets
    38,418       34,478  
                 
Total assets
  $ 2,224,274     $ 2,152,840  
                 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
               
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 109,000     $ 109,000  
Capital lease obligations
    670       626  
Accounts payable
    154,130       126,813  
Dividends payable
    15,351       15,451  
Accrued interest
    12,598       12,644  
Federal and state income taxes payable
    2,601        
Accrued liabilities
    111,208       106,423  
                 
Total current liabilities
    405,558       370,957  
Long-term liabilities:
               
Long-term debt
    549,099       548,749  
Capital lease obligations
    21,832       22,503  
Deferred income taxes
    9,190       205,227  
Pension and postretirement benefit plans
    97,914       78,859  
Cellulosic biofuel tax reserve
    102,051        
Other long-term liabilities
    29,629       27,700  
                 
Total long-term liabilities
    809,715       883,038  
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Common stock (par value $0.01 per share, 300,000,000 shares authorized, 102,308,231 and 103,018,358 shares issued as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively)
    1,023       1,030  
Additional paid in capital
    362,248       387,496  
Retained earnings
    690,111       546,355  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
               
Unrealized gain (loss) on treasury locks, net
    2,164       4,512  
Unrealized loss on foreign exchange contracts
    (607 )      
Unfunded employee benefit obligations
    (45,938 )     (40,548 )
                 
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (44,381 )     (36,036 )
                 
Total stockholders’ equity
    1,009,001       898,845  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 2,224,274     $ 2,152,840  
                 
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


F-4


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)  
 
Net sales
  $ 2,435,606     $ 2,147,589     $ 2,360,493  
Cost of sales
    (1,903,406 )     (1,721,012 )     (1,869,135 )
                         
Gross profit
    532,200       426,577       491,358  
Selling and administrative expenses
    (182,489 )     (173,445 )     (173,257 )
Corporate overhead
    (58,100 )     (54,580 )     (61,030 )
Alternative fuel mixture tax credits
    (86,265 )     168,437        
Other expense, net
    (19,964 )     (14,535 )     (15,259 )
                         
Income from operations
    185,382       352,454       241,812  
Interest expense, net
    (32,278 )     (35,483 )     (31,669 )
                         
Income before taxes
    153,104       316,971       210,143  
Benefit (provision) for income taxes
    52,331       (51,076 )     (74,534 )
                         
Net income
  $ 205,435     $ 265,895     $ 135,609  
                         
Weighted average common shares outstanding
                       
Basic
    101,678       101,577       102,753  
Diluted
    102,608       102,358       103,593  
Net income per common share
                       
Basic
  $ 2.02     $ 2.62     $ 1.32  
                         
Diluted
  $ 2.00     $ 2.60     $ 1.31  
                         
Dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.60     $ 0.60     $ 1.20  
                         
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


F-5


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
For the Period January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010
 
                                                 
                            Accumulated
       
                Additional
          Other
    Total
 
    Common Stock     Paid in
    Retained
    Comprehensive
    Stockholders’
 
    Shares     Amount     Capital     Earnings     Income (Loss)     Equity  
 
Balance at January 1, 2008
    105,018,679     $ 1,050     $ 432,916     $ 334,060     $ (7,165 )   $ 760,861  
Common stock repurchases and retirements
    (3,142,600 )     (31 )     (65,635 )                 (65,666 )
Common stock dividends declared
                      (124,219 )           (124,219 )
Restricted stock grants and cancellations
    369,560       4       (84 )                 (80 )
Exercise of stock options
    152,313       1       3,212                   3,213  
Share-based compensation expense
                8,695                   8,695  
Effects of changing the pension and postretirement benefit plans measurement date pursuant to ASC 715-20-65:
                                               
Service cost, interest cost and expected return on plan assets for October 1 — December 31, 2007, net of tax of $1.8 million
                      (2,884 )           (2,884 )
Amortization of prior service cost and net loss for October 1 — December 31, 2007, net of tax of $0.3 million
                      (494 )     494        
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                               
Net income
                      135,609             135,609  
Amortization of treasury locks
                            (2,407 )     (2,407 )
Settlement of treasury lock
                            (4,386 )     (4,386 )
Amortization of unfunded employee benefit obligations, net of tax of $1.3 million
                            1,975       1,975  
Unfunded employee benefit obligations, net of tax of $17.0 million
                            (26,765 )     (26,765 )
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                            3       3  
                                                 
Total comprehensive income (restated, see Note 6)
                                            104,029  
                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2008
    102,397,952       1,024       379,104       342,072       (38,251 )     683,949  
Common stock dividends declared
                      (61,612 )           (61,612 )
Restricted stock grants and cancellations
    434,605       4       (222 )                 (218 )
Exercise of stock options
    185,801       2       2,243                   2,245  
Share-based compensation expense
                6,371                   6,371  
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                               
Net income
                      265,895             265,895  
Amortization of treasury locks
                            (1,846 )     (1,846 )
Amortization of unfunded employee benefit obligations, net of tax of $2.2 million
                            3,304       3,304  
Unfunded employee benefit obligations, net of tax of $0.5 million
                            757       757  
                                                 
Total comprehensive income (restated, see Note 6)
                                            268,110  
                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2009
    103,018,358       1,030       387,496       546,355       (36,036 )     898,845  
Common stock repurchases and retirements
    (1,665,392 )     (17 )     (38,884 )                 (38,901 )
Common stock dividends declared
                      (61,679 )           (61,679 )
Restricted stock grants and cancellations
    560,845       6       507                   513  
Exercise of stock options
    394,420       4       8,033                   8,037  
Share-based compensation expense
                7,006                   7,006  
Other
                (1,910 )                 (1,910 )
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                               
Net income
                      205,435             205,435  
Amortization of treasury locks, net of tax of $0.5 million
                            (1,309 )     (1,309 )
Unrealized losses on treasury locks, net of tax of $1.9 million
                            (1,039 )     (1,039 )
Unrealized losses on foreign currency exchange contracts, net of tax of $0.4 million
                            (607 )     (607 )
Amortization of unfunded employee benefit obligations, net of tax of $2.3 million
                            3,583       3,583  
Unfunded employee benefit obligations, net of tax of $5.7 million
                            (8,973 )     (8,973 )
                                                 
Total comprehensive income
                                  197,090  
                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2010
    102,308,231     $ 1,023     $ 362,248     $ 690,111     $ (44,381 )   $ 1,009,001  
                                                 
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


F-6


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
    (In thousands)  
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
                       
Net income
  $ 205,435     $ 265,895     $ 135,609  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    156,298       151,217       147,769  
Amortization of financing costs
    648       772       685  
Amortization of net gain on treasury lock
    (1,846 )     (1,846 )     (2,407 )
Share-based compensation expense
    7,006       7,261       8,695  
Deferred income tax provision
    (120,579 )     (13,819 )     (10,814 )
Loss on disposals of property, plant and equipment
    8,865       6,605       5,825  
Alternative fuel mixture tax credits receivable
    127,811       (127,811 )      
Changes in operating assets and liabilities (net of effects of acquisitions):
                       
(Increase) decrease in assets —
                       
Accounts receivable
    (50,256 )     13,602       21,023  
Inventories
    (28,352 )     (5,498 )     (2,598 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (3,956 )     (9,458 )     (8 )
Increase (decrease) in liabilities —
                       
Accounts payable
    25,367       22,475       (31,133 )
Accrued liabilities
    11,254       4,764       (9,855 )
Other, net
    12,225       (8,028 )     6,531  
                         
Net cash provided by operating activities
    349,920       306,131       269,322  
                         
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
                       
Additions to property, plant and equipment
    (320,200 )     (114,197 )     (132,972 )
Additions to other long term assets
    (2,627 )     (2,105 )     (3,267 )
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired
          (3,136 )      
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment
    1,513       114       1,703  
                         
Net cash used for investing activities
    (321,314 )     (119,324 )     (134,536 )
                         
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
                       
Proceeds from long-term debt
                149,939  
Payments on long-term debt
    (626 )     (606 )     (170,320 )
Financing costs paid
                (1,176 )
Settlement of treasury lock
                (4,386 )
Common stock dividends paid
    (61,798 )     (76,898 )     (125,057 )
Repurchases of common stock
    (38,901 )           (65,666 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    7,496       1,615       2,410  
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards
    1,052       412       724  
                         
Net cash used for financing activities
    (92,777 )     (75,477 )     (213,532 )
                         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (64,171 )     111,330       (78,746 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    260,727       149,397       228,143  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 196,556     $ 260,727     $ 149,397  
                         
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


F-7


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
 
1.   NATURE OF BUSINESS
 
Packaging Corporation of America (“PCA” or the “Company”) was incorporated on January 25, 1999. On April 12, 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. PCA had no operations from the date of incorporation on January 25, 1999 to April 11, 1999.
 
The Company is comprised of mills and corrugated manufacturing operations. The mill operations (the “Mills”) consist of two kraft linerboard mills located in Counce, Tennessee, and Valdosta, Georgia, and two medium mills located in Filer City, Michigan, and Tomahawk, Wisconsin. The Company leased the cutting rights to approximately 88,000 acres of timberland as of December 31, 2010. The Mills transfer the majority of their containerboard produced to PCA’s corrugated products plants.
 
PCA’s corrugated manufacturing operations consist of 67 plants, with 39 operating as combining operations, or corrugated plants, and 28 as sheet plants; a technical and development center; six graphic design centers; a rotogravure printing operation and a complement of packaging supplies and distribution centers. All plants are located in the continental United States. Corrugated plants combine linerboard and medium into sheets that are converted into corrugated shipping containers, point-of-sale graphics packaging, point-of-purchase displays and other specialized packaging. Sheet plants purchase sheets primarily from PCA corrugated products plants to use in the finished corrugated products converting process. The corrugated manufacturing operations sell to diverse customers primarily in North America.
 
As of December 31, 2010, PCA had approximately 8,100 employees. Approximately 2,500 of these employees were salaried and approximately 5,600 were hourly. Approximately 75% of its hourly employees are represented by unions. The majority of its unionized employees are represented primarily by the United Steel Workers (USW), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), and the International Association of Machinists (IAM).
 
Based on an agreement reached with the USW in August 2008, the existing labor agreements at PCA’s containerboard mills covering USW-represented employees (88% of mill hourly workforce) were extended five years. With this extension, the USW contracts at the Company’s mills are currently set to expire between September 2013 and June 2015. Agreements with other union mill employees (12% of mill hourly workforce) expire between June 2012 and October 2014. Based on an agreement reached with the USW in April 2009, the labor agreement at 25 corrugated plants covering USW represented employees was extended up to five years. Contracts for unionized corrugated products plant employees expire between March 2011 and October 2015. The Company is currently in negotiations to renew or extend any union contracts that have recently expired or are expiring in the near future.
 
2.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Basis of Consolidation
 
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of PCA include all majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The Company has one joint venture that is accounted for under the equity method.
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


F-8


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
Cash and cash equivalents include all cash balances and highly liquid investments with a maturity, when acquired, of three months or less. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market.
 
Accounts Receivable
 
The collectibility of PCA’s accounts receivable is based upon a combination of factors. In circumstances where a specific customer is unable to meet its financial obligations to PCA (e.g., bankruptcy filings, substantial downgrading of credit sources), a specific reserve for bad debts is recorded against amounts due to the Company to reduce the net recorded receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes will be collected. For all other customers, reserves for bad debts are recognized based on historical collection experience. If collection experience deteriorates (i.e., higher than expected defaults or an unexpected material adverse change in a major customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations to the Company), the estimate of the recoverability of amounts due could be reduced by a material amount.
 
The customer deductions reserve represents the estimated amount required for customer returns, allowances and earned discounts. Based on the Company’s experience, customer returns, allowances and earned discounts have averaged 1.0% of gross selling price. Accordingly, PCA reserves 1.0% of its open customer accounts receivable balance for these items.
 
At December 31, 2010 and 2009, the allowance for doubtful accounts was $2.5 million and $3.9 million, respectively. The reserve for customer deductions of $2.9 million and $2.4 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, are also included as a reduction of the accounts receivable balance.
 
Inventories
 
With the exception of inventories at PCA’s Chicago corrugated products plants, which were acquired in 2004 and 2009, raw materials, work in process and finished goods are valued using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) cost method. Inventories at the Chicago plants are valued at the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) cost method. Supplies and materials are valued using a moving average cost. All inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and include all costs directly associated with manufacturing products: materials, labor and manufacturing overhead. Inventories valued using the LIFO method totaled $199.5 million and $169.2 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, compared to total inventory values (before the LIFO inventory reserve) of $309.2 million and $275.9 million for the same respective periods.
 
The components of inventories are as follows:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
 
Raw materials
  $ 126,401     $ 101,429  
Work in process
    6,395       6,600  
Finished goods
    73,710       66,994  
Supplies and materials
    102,720       100,919  
                 
Inventories at FIFO or average cost
    309,226       275,942  
Excess of FIFO or average cost over LIFO cost
    (68,084 )     (62,546 )
                 
Inventories, net
  $ 241,142     $ 213,396  
                 


F-9


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
Property, Plant and Equipment
 
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost, and consist of the following:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
 
Land and land improvements
  $ 98,197     $ 98,066  
Buildings
    350,301       341,344  
Machinery and equipment
    2,753,258       2,665,876  
Construction in progress
    212,931       53,006  
Other
    24,834       25,322  
                 
Property, plant and equipment, at cost
    3,439,521       3,183,614  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (2,101,535 )     (2,001,110 )
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net
  $ 1,337,986     $ 1,182,504  
                 
 
The amount of interest capitalized related to construction in progress was $4.8 million, $0.9 million and $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Depreciation is computed on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Assets under capital leases are depreciated on the straight-line method over the term of the lease or the useful life, if shorter. The following lives are used for the various categories of assets:
 
         
Buildings and land improvements
    5 to 40 years  
Machinery and equipment
    3 to 25 years  
Trucks and automobiles
    3 to 10 years  
Furniture and fixtures
    3 to 20 years  
Computers and hardware
    3 to 7 years  
      Period of the lease or  
Leasehold improvements
    useful life, if shorter  
 
The amount of depreciation expense was $154.0 million, $148.2 million and $143.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.
 
Pursuant to the terms of an industrial revenue bond, title to certain property, plant and equipment was transferred to a municipal development authority in order to receive a property tax abatement. The title of these assets will revert back to PCA upon retirement or cancellation of the bond. The assets are included in the consolidated balance sheet under the caption “Property, plant and equipment, net” as all risks and rewards remain with the Company.
 
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
The Company has capitalized certain intangible assets, primarily customer lists and relationships, covenants not to compete and goodwill, based on their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. Amortization is provided for customer lists and relationships on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from six to 40 years. Covenants not to compete are amortized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the respective agreements.


F-10


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
Goodwill, which amounted to $38.9 million as of both December 31, 2010 and 2009, is not being amortized but is subject to an annual impairment test in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other.” The Company performs the impairment test in the fourth quarter or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may exceed fair value. Recoverability of goodwill is determined by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value, the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to the carrying amount of its goodwill to determine if a write-down to fair value is necessary. The Company concluded that no impairment of goodwill existed at the time of the annual impairment tests in 2010, 2009 and 2008.
 
Other Long-Term Assets
 
PCA has capitalized certain costs related to obtaining its financing. These costs are amortized to interest expense using the effective interest rate method over the terms of the senior credit facilities and senior notes, which range from five to ten years. Unamortized deferred financing costs were $1.3 million and $1.8 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
PCA leases the cutting rights to approximately 88,000 acres of timberland and capitalizes the annual lease payments and reforestation costs associated with these leases. These costs are recorded as depletion when timber is harvested and used in PCA’s business operations or sold to customers. Capitalized long-term lease costs were $24.5 million and $22.9 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The amount of depletion expense was $0.5 million, $1.2 million and $1.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
PCA capitalizes certain costs related to the purchase and development of software which is used in its business operations. The costs attributable to these software systems are amortized over their estimated useful lives based on various factors such as the effects of obsolescence, technology and other economic factors. Net capitalized software costs were $1.5 million as of both December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Software amortization expense was $0.6 million, $0.5 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
 
Long-lived assets other than goodwill are reviewed for impairment in accordance with provisions of ASC 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment.” In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of any long-lived assets may be impaired, an evaluation of recoverability would be performed. If an evaluation is required, the estimated future undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset (or group of assets) would be compared to the asset’s (or group of assets’) carrying amount to determine if a write-down to fair value is required. The Company concluded that no impairment of long-lived assets existed in 2010, 2009 and 2008.
 
Pension and Postretirement Benefits
 
One of the principal assumptions used to calculate net periodic pension cost is the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets may result in recognized returns that are greater or less than the actual returns on those plan assets in any given year. Over time, however, the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is designed to approximate the actual long term returns.
 
The discount rate assumptions used to calculate net periodic pension and postretirement cost reflect the rates available on high-quality, fixed-income debt instruments on December 31st of each year. The rate of compensation increase is another significant assumption used to calculate net periodic pension cost and is determined by the Company based upon annual reviews.


F-11


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
For postretirement health care plan accounting, the Company reviews external data and its own historical trends for health care costs to determine the health care cost trend rate assumption.
 
Environmental Matters
 
Environmental expenditures related to existing conditions resulting from past or current operations from which no current or future benefit is discernible are expensed as incurred. Environmental expenditures that extend the life of the related property or mitigate or prevent future environmental contamination are capitalized. Liabilities are recorded for environmental contingencies when such costs are probable and reasonably estimable. These liabilities are adjusted as further information develops or circumstances change.
 
Asset Retirement Obligations
 
The Company accounts for its retirement obligations related to its landfills under ASC 410, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations,” which requires legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets to be recognized at their fair value at the time that the obligations are incurred. Upon initial recognition of a liability, that cost is capitalized as part of the related long-lived asset and amortized to expense over the useful life of the asset.
 
Income Taxes
 
PCA utilizes the liability method of accounting for income taxes whereby it recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. Deferred tax assets will be reduced by a valuation allowance if, based upon management’s estimates, it is more likely than not that a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized in a future period. The estimates utilized in the recognition of deferred tax assets are subject to revision in future periods based on new facts or circumstances.
 
PCA’s practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
PCA measures the fair value of its financial instruments in accordance with ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.” The guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. It is determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, ASC 820 establishes the following hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation methodologies used to measure fair value:
 
Level 1 — Valuations based on quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets.
 
Level 2 — Valuations based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
 
Level 3 — Valuations based on unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
 
The Company measures the fair value of money market funds based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. See Note 6 for information about PCA’s pension plans’ assets measured at fair value and Note 11 for information about PCA’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value.


F-12


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
Planned Major Maintenance Activities
 
The Company accounts for its planned major maintenance activities in accordance with ASC 360, “Property, Plant, and Equipment,” using the deferral method. All maintenance costs incurred during the year are expensed in the fiscal year in which the maintenance activity occurs.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
The Company recognizes revenue as title to the products is transferred to customers. Shipping and handling billings to a customer are included in net sales. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales. In addition, the Company offers volume rebates to certain of its customers. The total cost of these programs is estimated and accrued as a reduction to net sales at the time of the respective sale.
 
Research and Development
 
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The amount charged to expense was $10.9 million, $9.4 million and $8.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Interest Expense, Net
 
Interest expense, net, includes interest income of $0.04 million, $0.1 million and $5.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and amortization of the net gain on treasury lock settlements in July 2003 and March 2008 of $1.8 million for both 2010 and 2009 and $2.4 million in 2008.
 
Industry Agreements
 
PCA regularly trades containerboard with other manufacturers primarily to reduce shipping costs. Containerboard trade agreements are a long-standing industry practice. These agreements are entered into on an annual basis, in which both parties agree to ship an identical number of tons to each other within the agreement period. These agreements minimize transportation cost by allowing each party’s containerboard mills to ship containerboard to the other party’s closest corrugated products plant. PCA tracks each shipment to ensure that the other party’s shipments to the Company match its shipments to them during the agreement period. Such transfers are possible because containerboard is a commodity product with no distinguishing product characteristics. These transactions are accounted for at carrying value, and revenue is not recorded as the transactions do not represent the culmination of an earnings process. The transactions are recorded into inventory accounts, and no income is recorded until such inventory is converted to a finished product and sold to an end-use customer.
 
Segment Information
 
PCA is engaged in one line of business: the integrated manufacture and sale of packaging materials, boxes and containers for industrial and consumer markets. No single customer accounts for more than 10% of total net sales.
 
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
 
The Company records its derivatives in accordance with ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging.” The guidance requires the Company to recognize derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use and designation of the derivative instrument. For a derivative designated as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss


F-13


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
on the derivative is recognized in earnings in the period of change in fair value together with the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item. For a derivative instrument designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the derivative’s gain or loss is initially reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”) and is subsequently recognized in earnings when the hedged exposure affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss is recognized in earnings.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In December 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-28, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) — When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts.” This ASU modifies Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For such reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. ASU 2010-28 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have any impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820) — Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.” This ASU requires some new disclosures and clarifies some existing disclosure requirements about fair value measurement as set forth in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820. ASU 2010-06 amends ASC 820 to now require: (1) a reporting entity should disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers; and (2) in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs, a reporting entity should present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements. In addition, ASU 2010-06 clarifies the requirements of existing disclosures. ASU 2010-06 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2010. See Note 11 for additional information.
 
In December 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-16, “Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860) — Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets,” which formally codifies FASB Statement No. 166, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets,” into the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. ASU 2009-16 revises the provisions of former FASB Statement No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities,” and will require more information about transfers of financial assets, including securitization transactions, and where entities have continuing exposure to the risks related to transferred financial assets. ASU 2009-16 is effective at the start of a reporting entity’s first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2009. Early application is not permitted. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2010. See Note 8 for additional information.


F-14


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
3.   EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income per common share for the periods presented.
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
 
Numerator:
                       
Net income
  $ 205,435     $ 265,895     $ 135,609  
Denominator:
                       
Basic common shares outstanding
    101,678       101,577       102,753  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                       
Stock options
    238       74       317  
Unvested restricted stock
    692       707       523  
                         
Dilutive common shares outstanding
    102,608       102,358       103,593  
                         
Basic income per common share
  $ 2.02     $ 2.62     $ 1.32  
Diluted income per common share
  $ 2.00     $ 2.60     $ 1.31  
 
Options to purchase 0.6 million shares, 1.8 million shares, and 0.7 million shares at December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted common shares outstanding as their exercise price exceeded the average market price of the Company’s common stock for the respective reporting period.
 
4.   STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
In October 1999, the Company adopted a long-term equity incentive plan, which provides for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and performance awards to directors, officers and employees of PCA, as well as others who engage in services for PCA. Option awards granted to directors, officers and employees have contractual lives of seven or ten years. Options granted to officers and employees vest ratably over a three-year period, and options granted to directors vest immediately. Restricted stock awards granted to employees vest at the end of a four-year period, and restricted stock awards granted to directors vest at the end of a six-month period. The plan, which will terminate on October 19, 2014, provides for the issuance of up to 8,550,000 shares of common stock over the life of the plan. As of December 31, 2010, options and restricted stock for 7,089,531 shares have been granted, net of forfeitures. Forfeitures are added back to the pool of shares of common stock available to be granted at a future date.


F-15


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
Compensation expense for both stock options, which were fully vested at June 30, 2010, and restricted stock recognized in the consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was as follows:
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
    (In thousands)  
 
Stock options
  $ 226     $ 720     $ 1,457  
Restricted stock
    6,780       6,541       7,238  
                         
Impact on income before income taxes
    7,006       7,261       8,695  
Income tax benefit
    (2,721 )     (2,827 )     (3,382 )
                         
Impact on net income
  $ 4,285     $ 4,434     $ 5,313  
                         
 
The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of each option grant as of the date of grant. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of the Company’s common stock. The expected life of the option is estimated using historical data pertaining to option exercises and employee terminations. Separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise behavior are considered separately for estimating the expected life. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury yields in effect at the time of grant. The fair value of restricted stock is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. There were no option grants in 2010, 2009 or 2008.
 
A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information follows:
 
                                 
                Weighted-
       
                Average
       
          Weighted-
    Remaining
    Aggregate
 
          Average
    Contractual
    Intrinsic
 
    Options     Exercise Price     Term (years)     Value  
                      (In thousands)  
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2007
    2,396,096     $ 19.62                  
Exercised
    (152,313 )     16.00                  
Forfeited
    (16,751 )     22.38                  
                                 
Outstanding at December 31, 2008
    2,227,032       19.85                  
Exercised
    (185,801 )     8.69                  
Forfeited
    (67,930 )     19.11                  
                                 
Outstanding at December 31, 2009
    1,973,301       20.92                  
Exercised
    (394,420 )     19.01                  
Forfeited
    (10,497 )     24.62                  
                                 
Outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2010
    1,568,384     $ 21.38       2.4     $ 6,992  
                                 
 
The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 was $2.4 million, $1.7 million, and $1.4 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, there is no unrecognized compensation cost related to stock option awards granted under the Company’s equity incentive plan as all outstanding awards have vested.


F-16


Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
A summary of the Company’s restricted stock activity follows:
 
                                                 
    2010     2009     2008  
          Fair Market
          Fair Market
          Fair Market
 
          Value at
          Value at
          Value at
 
          Date of
          Date of
          Date of
 
    Shares     Grant     Shares     Grant     Shares     Grant  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
 
Restricted stock at January 1
    1,235,505     $ 24,718       1,038,270     $ 23,023       764,705     $ 17,490  
Granted
    573,440       12,693       444,985       6,995       374,455       7,947  
Vested
    (318,350 )     (6,563 )     (237,370 )     (5,079 )     (95,995 )     (2,304 )
Cancellations
    (12,595 )     (248 )     (10,380 )     (221 )     (4,895 )     (110 )
                                                 
Restricted stock at December 31
    1,478,000     $ 30,600       1,235,505     $ 24,718       1,038,270     $ 23,023  
                                                 
 
As of December 31, 2010, there was $15.3 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to the restricted stock awards. The Company expects to recognize the cost of these stock awards over a weighted-average period of 2.8 years.
 
5.   ACCRUED LIABILITIES
 
The components of accrued liabilities are as follows:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
 
Bonuses and incentives and related payroll taxes
  $ 34,929     $ 30,189  
Customer volume discounts and rebates
    17,631       18,367  
Medical insurance and workers’ compensation
    16,242       17,779  
Vacation and holiday pay
    16,012       15,379  
Franchise, property, sales and use taxes
    8,615       9,002  
Current portion of pension and postretirement benefits
    5,253       4,448  
Payroll and payroll taxes
    5,138       4,495  
Other
    7,388       6,764  
                 
Total
  $ 111,208     $ 106,423  
                 
 
6.   EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
 
In connection with the acquisition from Pactiv, PCA and Pactiv entered into a human resources agreement which, among other items, granted PCA employees continued participation in the Pactiv pension plan for a period of up to five years following the closing of the acquisition for an agreed upon fee.
 
Effective January 1, 2003, PCA adopted a mirror-image pension plan for eligible hourly employees to succeed the Pactiv pension plan in which PCA hourly employees had participated though December 31, 2002. The PCA pension plan for hourly employees recognizes service earned under both the PCA plan and the prior Pactiv plan. Benefits earned under the PCA plan are reduced by retirement benefits earned under the Pactiv plan through December 31, 2002. All assets and liabilities associated with benefits earned through December 31, 2002 for hourly employees and retirees of PCA were retained by the Pactiv plan.
 
Effective May 1, 2004, PCA adopted a grandfathered pension plan for eligible salaried employees who had previously participated in the Pactiv pension plan. The benefit formula for the new PCA pension plan for


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
salaried employees is comparable to that of the Pactiv plan except that the PCA plan uses career average base pay in the benefit formula in lieu of final average base pay. The PCA pension plan for salaried employees recognizes service earned under both the PCA plan and the prior Pactiv plan. Benefits earned under the PCA plan are reduced by retirement benefits earned under the Pactiv plan through April 30, 2004. All assets and liabilities associated with benefits earned through April 30, 2004 for salaried employees and retirees of PCA were retained by the Pactiv plan.
 
PCA maintains a supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”), which augments pension benefits for eligible executives earned under the PCA pension plan for salaried employees. Benefits are determined using the same formula as the PCA pension plan but in addition to counting career average base pay, the SERP also recognizes bonuses and any pay earned in excess of IRS qualified plan compensation limits. Benefits earned under the SERP are reduced by benefits paid from the PCA salaried pension plan and any prior qualified pension and SERP benefits earned under the Pactiv plan.
 
PCA previously maintained a separate SERP for its former CEO and current Executive Chairman which was paid out and terminated on March 15, 2009. The terminated plan was replaced by a lower cost deferred compensation benefit plan.
 
PCA provides certain medical benefits for retired salaried employees and certain medical and life insurance benefits for certain hourly employees. For salaried employees, the plan covers employees retiring from PCA on or after attaining age 58 who have had at least 10 years of full-time service with PCA after attaining age 48. For hourly employees, the postretirement medical coverage, where applicable, is available according to the eligibility provisions in effect at the employee’s work location. Per the human resources agreement referred to above, Pactiv retained the liability relating to retiree medical and life benefits for PCA employees who had retired on or before April 12, 1999 or who were eligible to retire within two years of that date. On January 1, 2003, the Company adopted a new plan design for salaried employees incorporating annual dollar caps in determining the maximum amount of employer contributions made towards the total cost of postretirement medical coverage.


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
The following tables provide information related to the Company’s pension and postretirement benefit plans.
 
                                                 
    Pension Plans     Postretirement Plans  
    2010     2009     2008     2010     2009     2008  
    (In thousands)  
 
Change in Benefit Obligation
                                               
Benefit obligation at beginning of period
  $ 203,292     $ 178,455     $ 129,913     $ 20,080     $ 17,300     $ 13,342  
Service cost(1)
    18,315       17,955       22,224       1,399       1,341       1,334  
Interest cost(1)
    12,091       10,208       9,785       1,130       1,022       985  
Plan amendments
    837       7,168       14,570                   616  
Actuarial loss (gain)
    15,153       701       3,442       1,931       987       1,877  
Participant contributions
                      838       656       575  
Benefits paid
    (2,703 )     (11,195 )     (1,479 )     (2,163 )     (1,226 )     (1,429 )
                                                 
Benefit obligation at plan year end
  $ 246,985     $ 203,292     $ 178,455     $ 23,215     $ 20,080     $ 17,300  
                                                 
Accumulated benefit obligation portion of above
  $ 214,676     $ 171,384     $ 143,773                          
                                                 
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets
                                               
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of period
  $ 140,065     $ 97,248     $ 87,321     $     $     $  
Actual return on plan assets
    14,457       18,590       (16,116 )                  
Company contributions
    15,214       35,422       27,522       1,325       570       854  
Participant contributions
                      838       656       575  
Benefits paid
    (2,703 )     (11,195 )     (1,479 )     (2,163 )     (1,226 )     (1,429 )
                                                 
Fair value of plan assets at plan year end
  $ 167,033     $ 140,065     $ 97,248     $     $     $  
                                                 
 
 
(1) Service cost and interest cost for 2008 include amounts for the period October 1 — December 31, 2007.
 
                                 
    Pension Plans     Postretirement Plans  
    December 31,
    December 31,
    December 31,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
 
Development of Net Amount Recognized
                               
Benefit obligation in excess of plan assets at December 31
  $ (79,952 )   $ (63,227 )   $ (23,215 )   $ (20,080 )
                                 
Amounts Recognized in Statement of Financial Position
                               
Current liabilities
  $ (4,107 )   $ (3,586 )   $ (1,146 )   $ (862 )
Noncurrent liabilities
    (75,845 )     (59,641 )     (22,069 )     (19,218 )
                                 
Accrued benefit recognized at December 31
  $ (79,952 )   $ (63,227 )   $ (23,215 )   $ (20,080 )
                                 
Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax
                               
Prior service cost
  $ 25,957     $ 28,897     $ (734 )   $ (988 )
Actuarial loss
    15,714       8,608       5,001       4,031  
                                 
Total
  $ 41,671     $ 37,505     $ 4,267     $ 3,043  
                                 
 
The 2009 and 2008 prior year presentation of total comprehensive income incorrectly omitted the change in unfunded employee benefit obligations of $0.8 million and $26.8 million, respectively. The Company restated the previously reported total comprehensive income herein to correct for this error. The correction has no impact on the consolidated balance sheets, statements of income or total stockholders’ equity previously reported.


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
                                                 
    Pension Plans     Postretirement Plans  
    2010     2009     2008     2010     2009     2008  
    (In thousands)  
 
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
                                               
Service cost for benefits earned during the year
  $ 18,315     $ 17,955     $ 17,779     $ 1,399     $ 1,341     $ 1,067  
Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation
    12,091       10,208       7,828       1,130       1,022       788  
Expected return on plan assets
    (11,207 )     (8,573 )     (8,578 )                  
Net amortization of unrecognized amounts
                                               
Prior service cost
    5,685       4,903       3,326       (416 )     (416 )     (472 )
Actuarial loss
    247       803       3,676       342       328       233  
Other
          (126 )                        
                                                 
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 25,131     $ 25,170     $ 24,031     $ 2,455     $ 2,275     $ 1,616  
                                                 
 
For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company expects to recognize in net periodic benefit cost $5.8 million ($3.5 million net of tax) and $(0.4) million ($0.3 million net of tax) of prior service cost for pension and postretirement plans, respectively, and $0.4 million ($0.3 million net of tax) of actuarial loss for both the pension and postretirement plans, which is included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31, 2010.
 
                                                 
    Pension Plans     Postretirement Plans  
    2010     2009     2008     2010     2009     2008  
 
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligations at December 31
                                               
Discount rate
    5.50 %     6.00 %     6.00 %     5.25 %     5.75 %     6.00 %
Rate of compensation increase
    4.00 %     4.00 %     4.00 %     N/A       N/A       N/A  
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost for the Years Ended December 31
                                               
Discount rate
    6.00 %     6.00 %     6.00 %     5.75 %     6.00 %     6.00 %
Expected return on plan assets
    7.75 %     8.25 %     8.25 %     N/A       N/A       N/A  
Rate of compensation increase
    4.00 %     4.00 %     4.00 %     N/A       N/A       N/A  
 
The expected return on pension plan assets reflects the expected long-term rates of return for the categories of investments currently held in the plan as well as anticipated returns for additional contributions made in the future. The expected long-term rate of return is adjusted when there are fundamental changes in expected returns on the plan investments.
 
The discount rate assumptions used to calculate the present value of pension and postretirement benefit obligations reflect the rates available on high-quality, fixed-income debt instruments on December 31st beginning in 2008. Prior to 2008, the discount rate assumptions were based on rates as of September 30th of each year. The rate of compensation increase is another significant assumption used for pension accounting and is determined by the Company based upon annual reviews.
 
In determining net pension and postretirement benefit costs, the Company elected to amortize prior service cost on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of employees expected to receive benefits under the plans. A 10% corridor is used to determine the amount of the unrecognized net gain or loss to be amortized. The excess, if any, of the unrecognized net gain or loss over 10% of the greater of the


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
projected benefit obligation or the market-related value of plan assets is amortized over the average remaining service period until retirement for active participants and included in the net periodic benefit cost.
 
The Company assumed health care cost trend rates for its postretirement benefits plans were as follows:
 
                         
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year
    7.50 %     7.50 %     7.50 %
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)
    5.00 %     5.00 %     5.00 %
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate
    2016       2015       2014  
 
A one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects on the 2010 postretirement benefit obligation and the 2010 net post retirement benefit cost:
 
                 
    1-Percentage
  1-Percentage
    Point Increase   Point Decrease
    (In thousands)
 
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation
  $ 681     $ (606 )
Effect on net postretirement benefit cost
    69       (60 )
 
PCA has retained the services of a professional advisor to oversee pension investments and provide recommendations regarding investment strategy. PCA’s overall strategy and related apportionments between equity and debt securities may change from time to time based on market conditions, external economic factors, and the funding status of the plans. Pension plans’ assets were invested in the following classes of securities at December 31, 2010 and 2009:
 
                 
    Percentage
 
    of Fair Value  
    2010     2009  
 
Equity securities
    39 %     39 %
Debt securities
    60 %     60 %
Other
    1 %     1 %


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
The fair values of PCA’s pension plans’ assets at December 31, 2010 and 2009, measured on a recurring basis, by asset category are as follows:
 
                                 
    Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2010  
          Quoted Prices in Active
    Significant Other
    Significant
 
          Markets for identical
    Observable
    Unobservable
 
Asset Category   Total     Assets (Level 1)     Inputs (Level 2)     Inputs (Level 3)  
    (In thousands)  
 
Short-term investments
  $ 1,320     $     $ 1,320     $  
Equity securities:
                               
U.S. large value
    10,594       10,594                  
U.S. large growth
    8,519       8,519                  
U.S. mid-cap value
    1,871       1,871                  
U.S. mid-cap growth
    3,486       3,486                  
U.S. small blend
    3,394               3,394          
Foreign large blend
    26,616       26,616                  
Diversified emerging markets
    5,219       5,219                  
Real estate
    5,095       5,095                  
Debt securities:
                               
Government bonds
    21,088               21,088          
Corporate bonds
    79,831       33,240       46,591          
                                 
Total
  $ 167,033     $ 94,640     $ 72,393     $  
                                 
 
                                 
    Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009  
          Quoted Prices in Active
    Significant Other
    Significant
 
          Markets for identical
    Observable
    Unobservable
 
Asset Category   Total     Assets (Level 1)     Inputs (Level 2)     Inputs (Level 3)  
    (In thousands)  
 
Short-term investments
  $ 1,212     $     $ 1,212     $  
Equity securities:
                               
U.S. large value
    8,573       8,573                  
U.S. large growth
    7,287       7,287                  
U.S. mid-cap value
    2,948       2,948                  
U.S. mid-cap growth
    2,994       2,994                  
U.S. small blend
    1,519               1,519          
Foreign large blend
    21,310       21,310                  
Diversified emerging markets
    5,854       5,854                  
Real estate
    4,416       4,416                  
Debt securities:
                               
Government bonds
    12,761               12,761          
Corporate bonds
    71,191       41,161       30,030          
                                 
Total
  $ 140,065     $ 94,543     $ 45,522     $  
                                 
 
The Company 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). However, from time to time the Company may make discretionary contributions in excess of the


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
required minimum amounts. PCA currently expects to make pension contributions of $22.1 million and record pension plan expense of $25.9 million in 2011.
 
The following are estimated benefit payments to be paid to current plan participants by year:
 
                 
    Pension Plans     Postretirement Plans  
    (In thousands)  
 
2011
  $ 4,107     $ 1,146  
2012
    5,406       1,113  
2013
    6,787       1,232  
2014
    8,236       1,378  
2015
    9,801       1,535  
2016 — 2020
    75,123       9,804  
 
The Company has two defined contribution 401(k) benefit plans that cover all full-time salaried employees and certain hourly employees at several of the Company’s facilities. Employees can make voluntary contributions in accordance with the provisions of their respective plan. The Company made employer-matching contributions of $9.6 million, $9.4 million and $9.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Salaried employees who are not participants in the grandfathered pension plan (generally those hired on or after April 12, 1999) receive a service-related Company retirement contribution to their 401(k) account in addition to any employer matching contribution. This contribution increases with years of service and ranges from 3% to 5% of base pay. The Company expensed $3.1 million, $2.8 million and $2.5 million for this retirement contribution during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
7.   OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
The components of other intangible assets are as follows:
 
                                         
    Weighted
                         
    Average
    As of December 31, 2010     As of December 31, 2009  
    Remaining
    Gross Carrying
    Accumulated
    Gross Carrying
    Accumulated
 
    Life     Amount     Amortization     Amount     Amortization  
          (In thousands)  
 
Customer lists and relations
    31.6 years     $ 17,441     $ 6,466     $ 17,441     $ 5,651  
Covenants not to compete
          2,292       2,292       2,292       2,292  
                                         
Total other intangible assets
          $ 19,733     $ 8,758     $ 19,733     $ 7,943  
                                         
 
The amount of amortization expense was $0.8 million, $0.9 million, and $1.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Estimated amortization of intangible assets over the next five years is expected to approximate $0.6 million (2011), $0.5 million (2012), $0.4 million (2013), $0.3 million (2014) and $0.3 million (2015).


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
8.   DEBT
 
A summary of debt is set forth in the following table:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
 
Receivables credit facility, effective interest rate of 1.56% and 1.97% as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, due March 1, 2011
  $ 109,000     $ 109,000  
Senior notes, net of discount of $857 and $1,200 as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, interest at 5.75% payable semi-annually, due August 1, 2013
    399,143       398,800  
Senior notes, net of discount of $44 and $51 as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, interest at 6.50% payable semi-annually, due March 15, 2018
    149,956       149,949  
                 
Total
    658,099       657,749  
Less current portion
    109,000       109,000  
                 
Total long-term debt
  $ 549,099     $ 548,749  
                 
 
On July 21, 2003, PCA closed its offering and private placement of $150.0 million of 4.375% senior notes which were due 2008 and $400.0 million of 5.75% senior notes due 2013. On March 25, 2008, PCA issued $150.0 million of 6.50% senior notes due March 15, 2018 through a registered public offering. PCA used the proceeds of this offering, together with cash on hand, to repay all of the $150.0 million of outstanding 4.375% senior notes on August 1, 2008.
 
On April 15, 2008, PCA replaced its existing senior credit facility that was scheduled to expire later in 2008, with a new five-year $150.0 million senior revolving credit facility. The Company had $18.8 million of outstanding letters of credit under this facility, resulting in $131.2 million in unused borrowing capacity as of December 31, 2010.
 
On April 14, 2010, the Company extended its receivables-backed credit facility through March 1, 2011. The Company had $41.0 million in additional borrowing capacity available under this facility as of December 31, 2010.
 
The instruments governing PCA’s indebtedness contain financial and other covenants that limit the ability of PCA and its subsidiaries to enter into sale and leaseback transactions, incur liens, incur indebtedness at the subsidiary level, enter into certain transactions with affiliates, merge or consolidate with any other person or sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets. The senior credit facility also requires PCA to comply with certain financial covenants, including maintaining minimum net worth and maximum debt to total capitalization and minimum interest coverage ratios. A failure to comply with these restrictions could lead to an event of default, which could result in an acceleration of any outstanding indebtedness and/or prohibit the Company from drawing on the senior credit facility. Such an acceleration may also constitute an event of default under the senior notes indenture and the receivables credit facility. At December 31, 2010, the Company was in compliance with these covenants.


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
Additional information regarding PCA’s variable rate debt is shown below:
 
                                 
    Weighted-Average
             
    Reference Interest Rate     Applicable Margin  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Receivables credit facility
    0.26 %     0.27 %     1.30 %     1.70 %
 
As of December 31, 2010, annual principal maturities for debt, excluding unamortized debt discount, are: $109.0 million (2011), $400.0 million (2013) and $150.0 million (2018).
 
Interest payments in connection with the Company’s debt obligations for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, amounted to $35.3 million, $35.7 million, and $38.9 million, respectively.
 
PCA has an on-balance sheet securitization program for its trade accounts receivable that is accounted for as a secured borrowing under ASC 860, “Transfers and Servicing.” To effectuate this program, the Company formed a wholly owned limited purpose subsidiary, Packaging Credit Company, LLC (“PCC”), which in turn formed a wholly owned, bankruptcy-remote, special-purpose subsidiary, Packaging Receivables Company, LLC (“PRC”), for the purpose of acquiring receivables from PCC. Both of these entities are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. Under this program, PCC purchases on an ongoing basis substantially all of the receivables of the Company and sells such receivables to PRC. PRC and lenders established a $150.0 million receivables-backed revolving credit facility (“Receivables Credit Facility”) through which PRC obtains funds to purchase receivables from PCC. The receivables purchased by PRC are solely the property of PRC. In the event of liquidation of PRC, the creditors of PRC would be entitled to satisfy their claims from PRC’s assets prior to any distribution to PCC or the Company. Credit available under the receivables credit facility is on a borrowing-base formula. As a result, the full amount of the facility may not be available at all times. At December 31, 2010, $109.0 million was outstanding and included in “Short — term debt and current maturities of long — term debt” on the consolidated balance sheet. Substantially all accounts receivable at December 31, 2010 have been sold to PRC and are included in “Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and customer deductions” on the consolidated balance sheet. The highest outstanding principal balance under the receivables credit facility during 2010 was $109.0 million.
 
A summary of the Company’s drawings under credit facilities, including the impact of $18.8 million of outstanding letters of credit, as of December 31, 2010 follows:
 
                         
    Commitments     Utilized     Available  
    (In thousands)  
 
Receivables credit facility
  $ 150,000     $ 109,000     $ 41,000  
Senior revolving credit facility
    150,000       18,832       131,168  
                         
    $ 300,000     $ 127,832     $ 172,168  
                         
 
PCA is required to pay commitment fees on the unused portions of the credit facilities. The Company’s outstanding letters of credit of $18.8 million at December 31, 2010 are for workers’ compensation.
 
9.   DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
 
Hedging Strategy
 
PCA is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing operations. When appropriate, the Company uses derivatives as a risk management tool to mitigate the potential impact of certain market risks. The primary risks managed by using derivative financial instruments are interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate risks. PCA does not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
The Company has historically used treasury lock derivative instruments to manage interest costs and the risk associated with changing interest rates. On June 12, 2003 and January 17, 2008, in connection with contemplated issuances of ten-year debt securities, PCA entered into interest rate protection agreements with counterparties to protect against increases in the ten-year U.S. Treasury Note rate. These treasury rates served as references in determining the interest rates applicable to the debt securities the Company issued in July 2003 and March 2008, respectively. As a result of changes in the interest rates on those treasury securities between the time PCA entered into the agreements and the time PCA priced and issued the debt securities, the Company: (1) received a payment of $22.8 million from the counterparty upon settlement of the 2003 interest rate protection agreement on July 21, 2003; and (2) made a payment of $4.4 million to the counterparty upon settlement of the 2008 interest rate protection agreement on March 25, 2008. The Company recorded the settlements in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), which are amortized over the terms of the respective notes.
 
On May 25, 2010, in connection with a contemplated issuance of ten-year debt securities to eventually refinance PCA’s currently outstanding $400.0 million of senior notes that mature in 2013, PCA entered into interest rate protection agreements with counterparties to protect against increases in the ten-year U.S. Treasury Note rate. The treasury rate will serve as a reference in determining the interest rate applicable to the new debt securities the Company expects to issue in the future. The interest rate protection agreements were properly documented and designated as cash flow hedges at inception. At December 31, 2010, the Company had a notional value of $400.0 million in interest rate protection agreements outstanding that are expected to settle by the end of 2012.
 
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
 
In connection with the energy optimization project at its Valdosta, Georgia mill and Counce, Tennessee mill, the Company entered into foreign currency forward contracts on July 27, 2010 and September 30, 2010 to hedge its exposure to forecasted purchases of machinery and equipment denominated in foreign currencies. The foreign currency forward contracts were properly documented and designated as cash flow hedges at inception. At December 31, 2010, the Company had a notional value of $4.5 million in foreign currency exchange contracts outstanding that are expected to settle by the end of the third quarter 2011.
 
Counterparty Credit Risk
 
The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of non-performance by counterparties to these derivative financial instruments. The amount of counterparty credit exposure is the unrealized gains, if any, on such derivative contracts. To minimize credit risk, the Company only enters into these types of transactions with investment grade counterparties. On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates each hedge’s net position relative to the counterparty’s ability to cover its position. Although no assurances can be given, the Company does not expect any of the counterparties to these derivative financial instruments to fail to meet its obligations.
 
Derivative Instruments
 
The fair value of the Company’s treasury locks at December 31, 2010 was $0.8 million, which is included in “Other long-term assets” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2010. The fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts was nominal at December 31, 2010.


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
The impact of derivative instruments on the consolidated statements of income and OCI is as follows:
 
                 
    Amount of Net Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion) December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
 
Treasury locks, net of tax
  $ 2,164     $ 4,512  
Foreign currency exchange contracts, net of tax
    (607 )      
                 
Total
  $ 1,557     $ 4,512  
                 
 
                         
    Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified
    from Accumulated OCI into Income
    (Effective Portion)
    Year Ended December 31,
Location   2010   2009   2008
 
Interest expense, net
  $ 1,846     $ 1,846     $ 2,407  
 
The amount of gain recognized from accumulated OCI into income is associated with settlements of treasury locks in 2003 and 2008. The net amount of settlement gains or losses on derivative instruments included in accumulated OCI to be realized during the next 12 months is a net gain of $1.8 million ($1.1 million after tax) at December 31, 2010. Mark to market gains and losses on derivative instruments included in accumulated OCI will be reclassified into earnings in the same periods during which the hedged transactions affect earnings. There were no ineffective portions of these contracts during the period.
 
10.   FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
The carrying and estimated fair values of PCA’s financial instruments at December 31, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:
 
                                 
    2010   2009
    Carrying
      Carrying
   
    Amount   Fair Value   Amount   Fair Value
    (In thousands)
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 196,556     $ 196,556     $ 260,727     $ 260,727  
Long-term debt —
                               
5.75% senior notes
    (399,143 )     (430,464 )     (398,800 )     (427,000 )
6.50% senior notes
    (149,956 )     (158,800 )     (149,949 )     (163,500 )
Receivables credit facility
    (109,000 )     (109,000 )     (109,000 )     (109,000 )
Capital lease obligation
    (22,502 )     (22,502 )     (23,129 )     (23,129 )
 
The fair value of cash and cash equivalents approximates its carrying amounts due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.
 
The fair value of the receivables credit facility approximates its carrying amount due to the variable interest-rate feature of the instruments. The fair values of the senior notes are based on quoted market prices. The fair value of the capital lease obligation was estimated to not be materially different from the carrying amount.


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
11.   FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
 
The following presents information about PCA’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value and the valuation techniques used to determine those fair values. The inputs used in the determination of fair values are categorized according to the fair value hierarchy as being Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 in accordance with ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.” The valuation techniques are as follows:
 
(a) Market approach — prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities
 
(b) Cost approach — amount that would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset (replacement cost)
 
(c) Income approach — techniques to convert future amounts to a single present amount based on market expectations (including present value techniques, option-pricing and excess earnings models)
 
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows:
 
                                                 
    As of December 31, 2010        
            Measurement
   
            Approach   As of December 31, 2009
    Carrying
  Fair
      Valuation
  Carrying
  Fair
    Value   Value   Level   Technique   Value   Value
    (In thousands)
 
Current Assets
                                               
Money market funds
  $ 196,058     $ 196,058       1       (a )   $ 260,230     $ 260,230  
Foreign currency exchange contracts
    12       12       2       (a )            
Long-Term Assets
                                               
Treasury locks
    872       872       2       (a )            
 
The money market funds PCA invests in include funds comprised of U.S. Treasury obligations or backed by U.S. Treasury obligations. The Company measures the fair value of money market funds based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.
 
The Company calculates the fair value of its treasury locks and foreign currency forward contracts using quoted treasury rates and currency spot rates, respectively, plus or minus forward points to calculate forward rates.
 
There were no changes in the Company’s valuation techniques used to measure fair values on a recurring basis as a result of adopting ASC 820. PCA had no assets or liabilities that were measured on a nonrecurring basis.
 
12.   STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM
 
On October 17, 2007, PCA announced that its Board of Directors authorized a $150.0 million common stock repurchase program. There is no expiration date for the common stock repurchase program. Through December 31, 2010, the Company repurchased 5,559,121 shares of common stock, with 1,740,392 shares repurchased for $40.9 million, or an average of $23.47 per share during 2010. Of these shares, 75,000 shares were repurchased for $2.0 million during the last several days of December and were subsequently settled and retired in January 2011. All of the remaining repurchased shares were retired prior to December 31, 2010. As of December 31, 2010, $24.1 million of the $150.0 million authorization remained available for repurchase of the Company’s common stock.


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
13.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
Capital Commitments
 
The Company had authorized capital commitments of approximately $143.3 million and $198.0 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, in connection with the expansion and replacement of existing facilities and equipment. Included in authorized capital commitments are $109.2 million and $156.3 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, for the major energy optimization projects at its Counce and Valdosta mills.
 
Lease Obligations
 
PCA leases space for certain of its facilities and cutting rights to approximately 88,000 acres of timberland under long-term leases. The Company also leases equipment, primarily vehicles and rolling stock, and other assets under long-term leases with a duration of two to seven years. The minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases with lease terms in excess of one year are as follows:
 
         
    (In thousands)  
 
2011
  $ 28,613  
2012
    24,592  
2013
    17,703  
2014
    10,702  
2015
    5,824  
Thereafter
    30,181  
         
Total
  $ 117,615  
         
 
Total lease expense, including base rent on all leases and executory costs, such as insurance, taxes, and maintenance, for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $42.0 million, $41.3 million and $41.6 million, respectively. These costs are included in cost of goods sold and selling and administrative expenses.
 
PCA was obligated under capital leases covering buildings and machinery and equipment in the amount of $22.5 million and $23.1 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company entered into a capital lease relating to buildings and machinery, totaling $23.9 million, payable over 20 years. This capital lease amount is a non-cash transaction and, accordingly, has been excluded from the consolidated statements of cash flows. Assets held under capital lease obligations are included in property, plant and equipment as follows:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
 
Buildings
  $ 250     $ 250  
Machinery and equipment
    23,602       23,602  
                 
Total
    23,852       23,852  
Less accumulated amortization
    (3,481 )     (1,934 )
                 
Total
  $ 20,371     $ 21,918  
                 
 
Amortization of assets under capital lease obligations is included in depreciation expense.


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Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
The future minimum payments under capitalized leases at December 31, 2010 are as follows:
 
         
    (In thousands)  
 
2011
  $ 2,202  
2012
    2,202  
2013
    2,202  
2014
    2,202  
2015
    2,202  
Thereafter
    28,075  
         
Total minimum capital lease payments
    39,085  
Less amounts representing interest
    16,583  
         
Present value of net minimum capital lease payments
    22,502  
Less current maturities of capital lease obligations
    670  
         
Total long-term capital lease obligations
  $ 21,832  
         
 
Interest paid as part of the capital lease obligations was $1.6 million, $1.6 million, and $0.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Purchase Commitments
 
The Company has entered into various purchase agreements for minimum amounts of pulpwood processing and energy over periods ranging from one to twenty years at fixed prices. Total purchase commitments are as follows:
 
         
    (In thousands)  
 
2011
  $ 7,387  
2012
    3,451  
2013
    1,486  
2014
    1,486  
2015
    1,486  
Thereafter
    23,013  
         
Total
  $ 38,309  
         
 
These purchase agreements are not marked to market. The Company purchased $32.8 million, $37.3 million, and $29.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, under these purchase agreements.
 
Litigation
 
During September and October 2010, PCA and eight other U.S. and Canadian containerboard producers were named as defendants in five purported class action lawsuits filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleging violations of the Sherman Act. The lawsuits have been consolidated in a single complaint under the caption Kleen Products LLC v Packaging Corp. of America et al.. The consolidated complaint alleges that the defendants conspired to limit the supply of containerboard, and that the purpose and effect of the alleged conspiracy was to artificially increase prices of containerboard products during the period from August 2005 to the time of filing of the complaints. The complaint was filed as a purported class action suit on behalf of all purchasers of containerboard products during such period. The


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
complaint seeks treble damages and costs, including attorney’s fees. PCA believes the allegations are without merit and will defend this lawsuit vigorously. However, as the lawsuit is in preliminary stages, PCA is unable to predict the ultimate outcome or estimate a range of reasonably possible losses.
 
PCA is a party to various other legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. These legal actions cover a broad variety of claims spanning our entire business. As of the date of this filing, the Company believes it is not reasonably possible that the resolution of these legal actions will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
 
Environmental Liabilities
 
The potential costs for various environmental matters are uncertain due to such factors as the unknown magnitude of possible cleanup costs, the complexity and evolving nature of governmental laws and regulations and their interpretations, and the timing, varying costs and effectiveness of alternative cleanup technologies. From 1994 through 2010, remediation costs at the Company’s mills and corrugated plants totaled approximately $3.2 million. As of December 31, 2010, the Company maintained an environmental reserve of $9.7 million relating to on-site landfills (see Note 14) and surface impoundments as well as ongoing and anticipated remedial projects. Liabilities recorded for environmental contingencies are estimates of the probable costs based upon available information and assumptions. Because of these uncertainties, PCA’s estimates may change. As of the date of this filing, the Company believes that it is not reasonably possible that future environmental expenditures and asset retirement obligations above the $9.7 million accrued as of December 31, 2010, will have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
 
In connection with the sale to PCA of its containerboard and corrugated products business, Pactiv agreed to retain all liability for all former facilities and all sites associated with pre-closing off-site waste disposal and all environmental liabilities related to a closed landfill located near the Company’s Filer City mill.
 
14.   ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
 
Asset retirement obligations consist primarily of landfill capping and closure and post-closure costs. PCA is legally required to perform capping and closure and post-closure care on the landfills at each of the Company’s mills. In accordance with ASC 410, ‘‘Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations,” PCA recognizes the fair value of these liabilities as an asset retirement obligation for each landfill and capitalizes that cost as part of the cost basis of the related asset. The liability is accreted to its estimated value of the asset retirement obligation over time, and the related assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their useful lives. Upon settlement of the liability, PCA will recognize a gain or loss for any difference between the settlement amount and the recorded liability.
 
The following table describes changes to PCA’s asset retirement obligation liability:
 
                 
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
 
Asset retirement obligation, January 1
  $ 4,521     $ 4,188  
Accretion expense
    363       405  
Payments
          (72 )
                 
Asset retirement obligation, December 31
  $ 4,884     $ 4,521  
                 


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
15.   INCOME TAXES
 
Following is an analysis of the components of the consolidated income tax provision:
 
                         
    2010     2009     2008  
    (In thousands)  
 
Current —
                       
U.S. 
  $ 44,595     $ 52,704     $ 74,399  
State and local
    23,653       12,191       10,949  
                         
Total current provision for taxes
    68,248       64,895       85,348  
                         
Deferred —
                       
U.S. 
    (117,945 )     (11,745 )     (10,098 )
State and local
    (2,634 )     (2,074 )     (716 )
                         
Total deferred provision for taxes
    (120,579 )     (13,819 )     (10,814 )
                         
Total provision (benefit) for taxes
  $ (52,331 )   $ 51,076     $ 74,534  
                         
 
The effective tax rate varies from the U.S. Federal statutory tax rate principally due to the following:
 
                         
    2010     2009     2008  
          (In thousands)        
 
Provision computed at U.S. Federal statutory rate of 35%
  $ 53,586     $ 110,939     $ 73,550  
Alternative fuel mixture and cellulosic biofuel producer credits
    (104,785 )     (61,673 )      
State and local taxes, net of federal benefit
    7,694       4,566       6,212  
Domestic manufacturers deduction
    (7,540 )     (2,956 )     (4,413 )
Other
    (1,286 )     200       (815 )
                         
Total
  $ (52,331 )   $ 51,076     $ 74,534  
                         
 
 
The $104.8 million benefit in 2010 includes the reallocation of gallons from the alternative fuel mixture credit to the cellulosic biofuel producer credit claimed in the 2009 federal tax return, and includes a reserve for uncertain tax positions of $102.0 million. For further discussion regarding the alternative fuel mixture and cellulosic biofuel producer credits recorded during 2010 and 2009, see Note 16.


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December 31 are summarized as follows:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
 
Deferred tax assets:
               
Accrued liabilities
  $ 2,063     $ 2,720  
Employee benefits and compensation
    8,729       7,502  
Inventories
    6,114       13,665  
Stock options and restricted stock
    7,485       7,795  
Pension and postretirement benefits
    42,465       35,305  
Cellulosic biofuel tax credit carryforward
    200,334        
                 
Total deferred tax assets
  $ 267,190     $ 66,987  
                 
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
Property, plant and equipment
  $ (197,367 )   $ (221,559 )
Investment in joint venture
    (27,827 )     (28,530 )
Derivatives
    (954 )      
                 
Total deferred tax liabilities
  $ (226,148 )   $ (250,089 )
                 
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
  $ 41,042     $ (183,102 )
                 
 
The net deferred tax assets (liabilities) at December 31 are classified in the balance sheet as follows:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
 
Current deferred tax assets
  $ 50,232     $ 22,125  
Non-current deferred tax liabilities
    (9,190 )     (205,227 )
                 
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
  $ 41,042     $ (183,102 )
                 
 
Cash payments for income taxes were $19.1 million, $22.3 million and $89.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. In 2010 and 2009, cash payments for income taxes were lower due to the alternative fuel mixture and cellulosic biofuel producer credits offsetting federal income taxes payable.
 
As of December 31, 2010, the Company had federal income tax credit carryforwards included in deferred taxes of $200.3 million which can be used to offset federal taxes payable through December 31, 2015. The $200.3 million recognizes the full benefit of federal tax credit carryforwards as claimed on PCA’s amended federal tax return for the cellulosic biofuel credits before an adjustment of $102.0 million for uncertain tax positions under ASC 740. The deferred tax asset from the cellulosic biofuel producer credit carryforwards of $200.3 million is described in more detail in Note 16.


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
The following table summarizes the changes related to PCA’s gross uncertain tax positions excluding interest:
 
                 
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
 
Balance as of January 1
  $ (9,041 )   $ (10,426 )
Increases related to prior years’ tax positions
    (104,721 )     (949 )
Increases related to current year tax positions
    (692 )     (619 )
Settlements with taxing authorities
    424       248  
Expiration of the statute of limitations
    1,719       2,705  
                 
Balance at December 31
  $ (112,311 )   $ (9,041 )
                 
 
During the third quarter of 2010, the statue of limitations for the federal tax year of 2006 expired. During the third and fourth quarters of 2010, various state statutes of limitations expired. As a result of these events, the reserve for uncertain tax positions was decreased by $1.7 million gross or $1.3 million net of the federal benefit for state taxes during the third and fourth quarters of 2010. At December 31, 2010, PCA had recorded a $112.3 million reserve for uncertain tax positions excluding interest. Of the total, $107.6 million (net of the federal benefit for state taxes) would impact the effective tax rate if recognized. The increase in reserve in 2010 is attributable to alternative energy tax credits as described in Note 16.
 
During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, PCA recorded $0.2 million gross ($0.09 million net) and $0.1 million gross ($0.06 million net), respectively, in its statement of income, increasing the accrual for interest to $2.0 million gross ($1.2 million net) and $1.8 million gross ($1.1 million, net) at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. No accrual for penalties was made.
 
PCA and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income taxes, as well as income taxes of multiple state and city jurisdictions. A federal examination of the tax years 2002 and 2004 has been concluded. The tax years 2007 — 2010 remain open to federal examination. The tax years 2002 — 2010 remain open to state examinations. PCA expects the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to review the cellulosic biofuel producer tax credits claimed in the 2009 federal income tax return. Pending the timing and outcome of the IRS review, which is not determinable at this time, PCA expects the reserve for uncertain tax positions to change significantly. PCA estimates the change in uncertain tax positions to be between $0 and $104.7 million due to potential changes upon IRS examination.
 
16.   ALTERNATIVE ENERGY TAX CREDITS
 
The Company generated black liquor as a by-product of its pulp manufacturing process and used it in a mixture with diesel fuel during 2009 to produce energy at its Counce, Tennessee, Valdosta, Georgia, and Tomahawk, Wisconsin mills. Through December 31, 2009, the U.S. Internal Revenue Code provided a $0.50 per gallon refundable tax credit for taxpayers who used alternative fuels in their trade or business. As a registered alternative fuel mixer, the Company believes the use of black liquor as an alternative fuel through December 31, 2009 qualified for this tax credit. After December 31, 2009, the alternative fuel mixture credit for a mixture of black liquor and diesel fuel used is no longer available. During the first quarter of 2010, the Chief Counsel’s Office of the Internal Revenue Service released Memorandum AM2010-001, which provided clarification about the calculation of the alternative fuel mixture credit for black liquor. As a result, during the first quarter of 2010 the Company released the reserve of $9.2 million that was established in 2009 due to the ambiguity in the calculation of the credit. This reserve release resulted in additional income of $9.2 million, which was recorded in Alternative Fuel Mixture Tax Credits on the income statement in the first quarter of 2010.


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Table of Contents

Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
The total alternative fuel mixture credits earned by PCA in 2008 and 2009 were $185.4 million, which was recorded as income with a corresponding receivable on its balance sheet during 2009 when the Company received their registration as a producer of alternative fuels. As federal cash taxes became due, PCA applied these credits against the taxes due. The laws governing the taxability of the alternative fuel mixture credit are not completely defined. The IRS has not issued definitive guidance regarding such taxability. PCA believes that the manner in which the credit was claimed will not subject the Company to federal or state income taxes on such benefits. If it is determined that any of the credits are subject to taxation, PCA will be required to pay those taxes and take a corresponding charge to its income.
 
In a Chief Counsel’s Office of the Internal Revenue Service Memorandum AM2010-002 dated June 28, 2010, the IRS concluded that black liquor also qualifies for the taxable cellulosic biofuel producer credit of $1.01 per gallon of biofuel produced in 2009. PCA received the required cellulosic biofuel producer registration code on September 13, 2010. In a Chief Counsel’s Office of the Internal Revenue Service Memorandum AM2010-004 dated October 5, 2010, the IRS concluded that a black liquor producer may claim the alternative fuel mixture credit and the cellulosic biofuel producer credit in the same taxable year for different volumes of black liquor (the same gallon of fuel cannot receive both credits but can be claimed as either alternative fuel mixture credit or the cellulosic biofuel producer credit).
 
Based upon both the IRS memoranda and guidance regarding the cellulosic biofuel producer credit, during the quarter ended September 30, 2010 and upon receipt of the cellulosic biofuel registration, the Company analyzed the additional potential benefits from claiming the cellulosic biofuel producer credit for 2009 instead of the alternative fuel mixture credit, or claiming a combination of the two credits for 2009. For the gallons of alternative fuels produced in 2009 at three of our four mills, PCA claimed about two-thirds of the gallons as cellulosic biofuel producer credits and about one-third of the gallons as alternative fuel mixture credits. As a result, during the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded a charge of $(111.9) million in Other Expense, Net due to the reversal of a portion of the income previously recorded from alternative fuel mixture credits and a $145.8 million benefit in the Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes to reflect the reallocation of gallons to the cellulosic biofuel producer credit. The net impact of the reallocation of the gallons between the two credits resulted in additional net income impact of $33.4 million in the third quarter of 2010. Additional expenses of $0.8 million ($0.5 million after tax) related to the cellulosic biofuel producer credit were also recorded.
 
During the quarter ended December 31, 2010, the Company determined that its proprietary biofuel process at the Filer City, Michigan mill would likely qualify for the 2009 cellulosic biofuel producer credit. The Company amended the 2009 federal return in December 2010 to claim these gallons, resulting in $107.0 million of cellulosic biofuel producer credits. Due to the unique and proprietary nature of the Filer City mill process, IRS guidelines do not specifically address the process and uncertainty exists. As a result, the Company increased the reserve for uncertain tax positions under ASC 740 by $102.0 million, which resulted in a fourth quarter net benefit of $5.0 million. The Company expects the IRS to review the cellulosic biofuel producer tax credits claimed in the 2009 federal income tax return. Similar to the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the Company analyzed the appropriate combination of the cellulosic biofuel producer credit and the alternative fuel mixture credit. As a result, the Company recorded income of $16.4 million in Other Expense, Net, representing gallons reallocated to the alternative fuel credits per the amended 2009 federal return.
 
The amount of credits that the Company can apply against future federal taxes owed will be dependent upon the timing and amount of PCA’s future taxable income. As of December 31, 2010, including $102.0 million recorded as a reserve for uncertain tax positions under ASC 740, PCA has as much as $206.1 million of tax credits (of which $200.3 million is related to cellulosic biofuel tax credits and recorded


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Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
in deferred tax assets and $5.8 million related to alternative fuel mixture credits and recorded as an offset to accrued federal and state income tax liabilities) to be used to offset future cash tax payments. The cellulosic biofuel producer credit carryforward must be utilized to offset federal taxes owed by December 31, 2015, at which time the credit carryforward expires. A valuation allowance was not recorded against the deferred tax asset for this credit carryforward since the Company believes the credit can be fully utilized before expiration. If it is determined that any of the credit carryforward will become subject to expiration, PCA will reduce the deferred tax asset and record a corresponding charge to income.
 
17.   RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
At December 31, 2010 and 2009, PCA owned approximately 29% of Southern Timber Venture, LLC (“STV”) and had not guaranteed the debt of STV and has no future funding requirements. There is no carrying value of the Company’s investment in STV under the equity method at December 31, 2010 and 2009. PCA did not receive any dividends from STV in 2010, 2009 or 2008.
 
PCA purchased pulpwood directly from STV for its Valdosta mill until November 2010, when STV sold its timberlands to another entity. PCA purchased $2.7 million, $3.4 million and $3.0 million of pulpwood for its Valdosta, Georgia mill from STV during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Unaudited Financial information for STV is as follows:
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
    (In thousands)  
 
Net sales
  $ 4,547     $ 5,172     $ 5,910  
Gross profit (loss)
    (1,177 )     (450 )     (632 )
Gain from sale of timberlands
    13,285             364  
Net income (loss)
    6,221       (5,912 )     (4,947 )
 
18.   ACQUISITIONS
 
On July 2, 2009, the Company acquired a specialty sheet business located in Chicago, Illinois for approximately $3.1 million, net of cash acquired. The purchase method of accounting was used to account for the acquisition. Goodwill of $1.7 million (which is deductible for income tax purposes) was recorded in connection with the acquisition. Sales and total assets of the acquisition were not material to the Company’s overall sales and total assets prior to the acquisition. Operating results of the plant subsequent to the date of acquisition are included in the Company’s operating results.
 
19.   SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the filing date of this Form 10-K and determined there were no events to disclose.


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Packaging Corporation of America
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2010
 
20.   QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
 
                                         
    Fiscal Quarter
    First   Second   Third   Fourth   Total
        (In thousands, except per share amounts)    
 
2010:
                                       
Net sales
  $ 550,732     $ 615,459     $ 642,764     $ 626,651     $ 2,435,606  
Gross profit
    86,799       131,665       166,452       147,284       532,200  
Income from operations
    33,616       67,746       (12,342 )     96,362       185,382  
Net income
    19,194       38,030       93,320       54,891       205,435  
Basic earnings per share
    0.19       0.37       0.92       0.54       2.02  
Diluted earnings per share
    0.19       0.37       0.91       0.54       2.00  
Stock price — high
    25.83       26.48       25.50       27.08       27.08  
Stock price — low
    20.63       20.00       21.19       22.68       20.00  
2009:
                                       
Net sales
  $ 512,378     $ 549,381     $ 553,573     $ 532,257     $ 2,147,589  
Gross profit
    110,008       118,499       110,532       87,538       426,577  
Income from operations
    49,607       135,717       96,331       70,799       352,454  
Net income
    25,676       108,881       72,655       58,683       265,895  
Basic earnings per share
    0.25       1.07       0.71       0.58       2.62  
Diluted earnings per share
    0.25       1.07       0.71       0.57       2.60  
Stock price — high
    15.49       17.24       21.99       24.18       24.18  
Stock price — low
    9.66       12.43       15.19       18.21       9.66  
 
 
Note:  The sum of the quarters may not equal the total of the respective year’s earnings per share on either a basic or diluted basis due to changes in the weighted average shares outstanding throughout the year.
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2010, income from operations was decreased by $111.9 million due to the reversal of a portion of income previously recorded from alternative fuel mixture tax credits in order to claim the cellulosic biofuel producer credits that are recorded as a benefit in the provision for income taxes.
 
For the three months ended March 31, September 30, and December 31, 2010, net income was increased by $9.2 million or $0.09 per share, $33.4 million or $0.33 per share, and $5.0 million or $0.05 per share, respectively, due to the alternative energy tax credits.
 
For the three months ended March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, net income was decreased by $2.5 million or $0.02 per share, $1.1 million or $0.01 per share, $1.8 million or $0.02 per share, and $3.2 million or $0.03 per share, respectively, due to asset disposal and facilities closure charges.
 
For the three months ended June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2009, net income was increased by $80.2 million or $0.79 per share, $47.3 million of $0.46 per share, and $43.7 million of $0.43 per share, respectively, due to the alternative fuel mixture tax credits.
 
For the three months ended December 31, 2009, net income was decreased by $1.2 million or $0.01 per share due to asset disposals related to the major energy projects at the Counce and Valdosta mills.


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