UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-K

 

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 001-33988

Graphic Packaging Holding Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

(770) 644-3000

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

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 o  No þ

 

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 o  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 the 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.  o

 

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):

 

 

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

 

The aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates at June 30, 2009 was $142.5 million.

 

As of February 19, 2010 there were approximately 343,247,088 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

 

Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 20, 2010 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF FORM 10-K

 

Certain statements regarding the expectations of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (“GPHC” and, together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”), including, but not limited to, statements regarding the effect of deflation of certain input costs, price increases for coated paperboard and cartons, cost savings from its continuous improvement programs, capital investment, depreciation and amortization, interest expense, debt reduction and pension plan contributions in this report constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s historical experience and its present expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company’s substantial amount of debt, inflation of and volatility in raw material and energy costs, continuing pressure for lower cost products, the Company’s ability to implement its business strategies, including productivity initiatives and cost reduction plans, currency movements and other risks of conducting business internationally, and the impact of regulatory and litigation matters, including those that could limit the Company’s ability to utilize its net operating losses to offset taxable income and those that impact the Company’s ability to protect and use its intellectual property. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, as such statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements. Additional information regarding these and other risks is contained herein under “Item 1A., Risk Factors.”

 

 

Overview

 

Graphic Packaging Holding Company (“GPHC” and, together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) is committed to providing packaging solutions that improve the world in which we live. The Company is a leading provider of packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to food, beverage and other consumer products companies. Additionally, the Company is the largest U.S. producer of folding cartons and holds a leading market position in coated unbleached kraft paperboard, coated-recycled boxboard and multi-wall bags.

 

The Company’s customers include some of the world’s most widely recognized companies and well-known brands and they generally hold prominent market positions in the beverage, food and other consumer products industries. The Company strives to provide its customers with packaging solutions designed to deliver marketing and performance benefits at a competitive cost by capitalizing on its low-cost paperboard mills and converting plants, proprietary carton and packaging designs, and its commitment to customer service.

 

On March 10, 2008, the businesses of Graphic Packaging Corporation (“GPC”) and Altivity Packaging, LLC (“Altivity”) were combined through a series of transactions. A new publicly-traded parent company, GPHC, was formed and all of the equity interests in Bluegrass Container Holdings, LLC (“BCH”), Altivity’s parent company, were contributed to GPHC in exchange for shares of GPHC’s common stock. Subsequently, all of the equity interests in BCH were contributed to GPHC’s primary operating company, Graphic Packaging International, Inc. (“GPII”). Together, these transactions are referred to herein as the “Altivity Transaction.” For additional information on the Altivity Transaction, see Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein under “Item 8., Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

GPHC was incorporated on June 21, 2007 under the laws of the State of Delaware, under the name New Giant Corporation. GPHC did not conduct any material activities until after the closing of the Altivity Transaction.

 

Products

 

The Company reports its results in three business segments: paperboard packaging, multi-wall bag and specialty packaging. As a result of the Altivity Transaction, the Company’s business segments were revised and the segment disclosures for 2007 results were reclassified. The Company operates in four geographic areas: the United States (“U.S.”)/Canada, Central/South America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For business segment and geographic area information for each of the last three fiscal years, see Note 18 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein under “Item 8., Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

Paperboard Packaging

 

The Company’s paperboard packaging products deliver marketing and performance benefits at a competitive cost. The Company supplies paperboard cartons and carriers designed to protect and contain products while providing:

 

 

The Company provides a wide range of paperboard packaging solutions for the following end-use markets:

 

 

The Company’s packaging applications meet the needs of its customers for:

 

Strength Packaging.  The Company provides sturdiness to meet a variety of packaging needs, including tear and wet strength, puncture resistance, durability and compression strength (providing stacking strength to meet store display packaging requirements).

 

Promotional Packaging.  The Company offers a broad range of promotional packaging options that help differentiate its customers’ products. These promotional enhancements improve brand awareness and visibility on store shelves.

 

Convenience Packaging.  These packaging solutions improve package usage and food preparation:

 

 

Barrier Packaging.  The Company provides packages that protect against moisture, grease, oil, oxygen, sunlight, insects and other potential product-damaging factors.

 

The Company produces paperboard at its mills; prints, cuts and glues (“converts”) the paperboard into folding cartons at its converting plants; and designs and manufactures specialized, proprietary packaging machines that package bottles and cans and, to a lesser extent, non-beverage consumer products. The Company also installs its packaging machines at customer plants and provides support, service and advanced performance monitoring of the machines.

 

The Company offers a variety of laminated, coated and printed packaging structures that are produced from its coated unbleached kraft (“CUK”), coated-recycled board (“CRB”) and uncoated-recycled board (“URB”), as well as other grades of paperboard that are purchased from third-party suppliers.

 

Below is the paperboard production at each of the Company’s mills during 2009:

 

 

The Company consumes most of its coated board output in its carton converting operations, which is an integral part of its low-cost converting strategy. In 2009, excluding containerboard, 82% of mill production was consumed internally.

CUK Production.  The Company is the larger of two worldwide producers of CUK. CUK is a specialized high-quality grade of coated paperboard with excellent wet and dry tear strength characteristics and printability for high resolution graphics that make it particularly suited for a variety of packaging applications.

 

CRB Production.  The Company is the largest domestic producer of CRB. CRB is manufactured entirely from recycled fibers, primarily old corrugated containers (“OCC”), doubled-lined kraft cuttings from corrugated box plants (“DLK”), old newspapers (“ONP”), and box cuttings. The recycled fibers are re-pulped, formed on paper machines, and clay-coated to provide an excellent printing surface for superior quality graphics and appearance characteristics.

 

URB Production.  URB is an uncoated 100% recycled paperboard used in the manufacture of chipboard for folding cartons, gift boxes, trays and file folders, and tube stock for manufacture of tubes, cores, cans and composite containers.

 

Containerboard.  The Company manufactures corrugated medium and kraft paper for sale in the open market. Corrugated medium is combined with linerboard to make corrugated containers. Kraft paper is used primarily to make grocery bags and sacks.

 

The Company converts CUK and CRB, as well as other grades of paperboard, into cartons at converting plants the Company operates in various locations across North America and internationally, converting plants associated with its joint ventures in Japan and China, contract converters and at licensees outside the U.S. The converting plants print, cut and glue paperboard into cartons designed to meet customer specifications.

 

Multi-wall Bag

 

The Company’s multi-wall bag business is the leading supplier of multi-wall bags in North America. This business has traditionally provided packaging for low-cost, bulk-type commodity products. However, with the continuing evolution of materials management, bag construction, and distribution systems, the Company has gained access to end-markets in which higher-value products are now being packaged in multi-wall bags. Key end-markets include food and agriculture, building materials, chemicals, minerals and pet food.

 

The Company’s multi-wall bag facilities are strategically located throughout the U.S., allowing it to provide a high level of service to customers, minimize freight and logistics costs, improve order turnaround times and improve supply chain reliability.

 

Specialty Packaging

 

The Company’s specialty packaging business includes flexible packaging and labels.

 

The Company’s flexible packaging business operates modern and technologically competitive manufacturing plants in North America and has an established position in end-markets for food products, pharmaceutical and medical products, personal care, industrial, pet food and pet care products. Products include retort pouches (such as meals ready to go), medical test kits, multi-layer laminations for hard-to-hold products (such as iodine), batch inclusion bags and film, shingle wrap and plastic bags and films for building materials (such as ready-mix concrete). Approximately 17% of the plastics produced are consumed internally.

 

The Company’s label business focuses on heat transfer labels and lithographic labels and provides customers with high-quality labels utilizing multiple technology applications. The Company operates dedicated label plants which produce labels for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, automotive, household and industrial products, detergents, and the health and beauty markets.

 

Joint Ventures

 

The Company is a party to joint ventures with Rengo Riverwood Packaging, Ltd. (in Japan) and Graphic Hung Hing Packaging Ltd. (in China), in which it holds a 50% and 60% ownership interest, respectively. The joint venture agreements cover CUK supply, use of proprietary carton designs and marketing and distribution of packaging systems.

Marketing and Distribution

 

The Company markets its paperboard and paperboard-based products principally to multinational beverage, food, and other well-recognized consumer product companies. The multinational beverage companies include Anheuser-Busch InBev, MillerCoors Brewing Company, PepsiCo and The Coca-Cola Company. Non-beverage consumer product customers include Kraft Foods, Inc., General Mills, Inc., Nestlé Group, Kellogg Company, HAVI Global Solutions, and Kimberly-Clark Corporation, among others. The Company also sells paperboard in the open market to independent and integrated paperboard converters.

 

Distribution of the Company’s principal products is primarily accomplished through direct sales offices in the U.S., Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom, and, to a lesser degree, through broker arrangements with third parties.

 

During 2009, the Company did not have any one customer that represented 10% or more of its net sales.

 

Competition

 

Although a relatively small number of large competitors hold a significant portion of the paperboard packaging market, the Company’s business is subject to strong competition. There are only two major CUK producers in the U.S., MeadWestvaco Corporation and the Company.

 

In beverage packaging, cartons made from CUK compete with substitutes such as plastics and corrugated packaging for packaging glass or plastic bottles, cans and other primary containers. Although plastics and corrugated packaging are typically priced lower than CUK, the Company believes that cartons made from CUK offer advantages over these materials in areas such as distribution, high-quality graphics, carton designs, package performance, package line speed, environmental friendliness and design flexibility.

 

In non-beverage consumer packaging, the Company’s paperboard also competes with MeadWestvaco’s CUK, as well as CRB and solid bleached sulfate (“SBS”) from numerous competitors, and internationally, folding boxboard and white-lined chip. CUK and CRB have generally been priced in a range that is lower than SBS board. There are a large number of producers in the paperboard markets. Suppliers of paperboard compete primarily on the basis of price, strength and printability of their paperboard, quality and service.

 

The Company’s multi-wall bag business competes with a small number of large competitors. Additionally, the Company faces increasing competition from products imported primarily from Asia.

 

The U.S. specialty packaging industry is highly fragmented, comprised of over 500 companies operating 800 converting facilities. Participants range from small, private companies to multinational firms.

 

Raw Materials

 

Paperboard Packaging

 

The paperboard packaging produced by the Company comes from pine trees. Pine pulpwood, paper and recycled fibers (including DLK and OCC) and energy used in the manufacture of paperboard, as well as poly sheeting, plastic resins and various chemicals used in the coating of paperboard, represent the largest components of the Company’s variable costs of paperboard production.

 

For its West Monroe, LA and Macon, GA mills, the Company relies on private landowners and the open market for all of its pine pulpwood and recycled fiber requirements, supplemented by CUK clippings that are obtained from its converting operations. The Company believes that adequate supplies from both private landowners and open market fiber currently are available to meet its fiber needs at these mills.

 

The Kalamazoo, MI mill produces coated 100% recycled paperboard made primarily from OCC, ONP, and boxboard clippings. The market price of each of the various recycled fiber grades fluctuates with supply and demand. The Company has many sources for its fiber requirements and believes that the supply is adequate to satisfy its needs.

The coated- and uncoated-recycled board produced at the Battle Creek, MI; Middletown, OH; Santa Clara, CA; and Pekin, IL mills is made from 100% recycled fiber. The Company procures its recycled fiber from both a large national corporation and local independent fiber suppliers. The internalization of the Company’s recycled fiber procurement function enables the Company to attain the lowest market price for its recycled fiber given the Company’s highly fragmented supplier base. The Company believes there are adequate supplies of recycled fiber to serve its mills.

 

In addition to paperboard that is supplied to its converting operations from its own mills, the Company converts a variety of other paperboard grades such as SBS. The Company purchases such paperboard requirements, including additional CRB and URB, from outside vendors. The majority of external board purchases are acquired through long term arrangements with other major industry suppliers.

 

Multi-wall Bag

 

The multi-wall bag operations use a combination of natural kraft, high performance, bleached, metallic and clay-coated papers in its converting operations. The paper is supplied directly through North American paper mills, under supply agreements that are typically reviewed annually.

 

Specialty Packaging

 

The flexible packaging group currently purchases the majority of its primary raw material of polyethylene resins or additives from a number of major industry suppliers. Other key material purchases include various films, aluminum foil, inks and adhesives that are secured through a variety of agreements, generally with terms of one to six years.

 

The label group purchases its primary raw materials, which include heat transfer papers and coated one-side and two-side papers, from a limited number of suppliers. In addition, the group purchases wet strength and metalized paper for specific, niche label applications and shrink sleeve film substrates through a variety of agreements, generally with terms of one to six years.

 

Energy

 

Energy, including natural gas, fuel oil and electricity, represents a significant portion of the Company’s manufacturing costs. The Company has entered into contracts designed to manage risks associated with future variability in cash flows and price risk related to future energy cost increases for a portion of its natural gas requirements, primarily at its U.S. mills. The Company’s hedging program for natural gas is discussed in Note 10 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein under “Item 8., Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

Backlog

 

Orders from the Company’s principal customers are manufactured and shipped with minimal lead time. The Company did not have a material amount relating to backlog orders at December 31, 2009 or 2008.

 

Seasonality

 

The Company’s net sales, income from operations and cash flows from operations are subject to moderate seasonality, with demand usually increasing in the late spring through early fall due to the beverage, folding carton, housing and construction markets.

 

Research and Development

 

The Company’s research and development staff works directly with its sales and marketing personnel to understand long-term consumer and retailer trends and create relevant new packaging. These innovative solutions provide customers with differentiated packaging to meet customer needs. The Company’s development efforts include, but are not limited to, extending the shelf life of customers’ products; reducing

production costs; enhancing the heat-managing characteristics of food packaging; and refining packaging appearance through new printing techniques and materials.

 

Sustainability represents one of the strongest trends in the packaging industry. The Company’s strategy is to combine sustainability with innovation to create new solutions for its customers. The Company’s goal is that over the next three years, 75% of the Company’s new product sales will come from more sustainable packaging solutions.

 

For more information on research and development expenses see Note 1 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein under “Item 8., Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

Patents and Trademarks

 

As of December 31, 2009, the Company had a large patent portfolio, presently owning, controlling or holding rights to more than 1,300 U.S. and foreign patents, with more than 900 U.S. and foreign patent applications currently pending. The Company’s patent portfolio consists primarily of patents relating to packaging machinery, manufacturing methods, structural carton designs, microwave packaging technology, barrier protection packaging, multi-wall packaging and manufacturing methods. These patents and processes are significant to the Company’s operations and are supported by trademarks such as Cap-Sac^®, DI-NA-CAL^®, Fridge Vendor^®, IntegraPak^tm, Kitchen Master^®, Micro Flex^® Q, MicroRite^®, Peel Pak^®, Quilt Wave^tm, Quick Crisp^®, Soni-Lok^®, Soni-Seal^®, The Yard Master^®, and Z-Flute^®. The Company takes significant steps to protect its intellectual property and proprietary rights.

 

Culture and Employees

 

The Company’s corporate vision — to provide packaging solutions that improve the world in which we live — and values of respect, integrity, relationships, teamwork and accountability guide employee behavior, expectations and relations. In 2009, the Company completed its second company-wide culture survey, in which 80% of employees participated. The survey is part of the Company’s ongoing efforts to build a high-performance culture and improve the manner in which work is done across the Company. This effort is in line with the Company’s focus on continuous improvement utilizing processes like Lean Sigma and Six Sigma.

 

As of December 31, 2009, the Company had approximately 13,100 employees worldwide (excluding employees of joint ventures), of which approximately 51% were represented by labor unions and covered by collective bargaining agreements. As of December 31, 2009, approximately 200 of the Company’s employees were working under an expired contract, which is currently being negotiated, and 1,600 were covered under collective bargaining agreements that expire within one year. The Company considers its employee relations to be satisfactory.

 

Environmental Matters

 

The Company is subject to federal, state and local environmental regulations and employs a team of professionals in order to maintain compliance at each of its facilities. For additional information on such regulation and compliance, see “Environmental Matters” in “Item 7., Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein under “Item 8., Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

Available Information

 

The Company’s website is located at http://www.graphicpkg.com. The Company makes available, free of charge through its website, its Annual Report 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(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Company also makes certain investor presentations and access to analyst conference calls available through its website. The

information contained or incorporated into the Company’s website is not a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

The following risks could affect (and in some cases have affected) the Company’s actual results and could cause such results to differ materially from estimates or expectations reflected in certain forward-looking statements:

 

The Company’s substantial indebtedness may adversely affect its financial health, its ability to obtain financing in the future, and its ability to react to changes in its business.

 

As of December 31, 2009, the Company had an aggregate principal amount of $2,800.2 million of outstanding debt. Because of the Company’s substantial debt, the Company’s ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or general corporate purposes may be restricted in the future. The Company is also exposed to the risk of increased interest costs because approximately $181 million of its debt is at variable rates of interest. A significant portion of the Company’s cash flow from operations must be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on its indebtedness, thereby reducing the funds available for other purposes. In 2010, the Company estimates it will pay between $170 million and $190 million in interest on its outstanding debt obligations.

 

Additionally, the Company’s Credit Agreement dated May 16, 2007, as amended (the “Credit Agreement”) and the indentures governing its 9.5% Senior Notes due 2017 and 9.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the “Indentures”) contain covenants that prohibit or restrict, among other things, the disposal of assets, the incurrence of additional indebtedness (including guarantees), payment of dividends, loans or advances and certain other types of transactions. The Credit Agreement also requires compliance with a maximum consolidated secured leverage ratio. The Company’s ability to comply in future periods with these covenants will depend on its ongoing financial and operating performance.

 

The substantial debt and the restrictions under the Credit Agreement and the Indentures could limit the Company’s flexibility to respond to changing market conditions and competitive pressures. The material outstanding debt obligations and the restrictions may also leave the Company more vulnerable to a downturn in general economic conditions or its business, or unable to carry out capital expenditures that are necessary or important to its growth strategy and productivity improvement programs.

 

The Company’s reliance on a large number of financial institutions for a significant portion of its cash requirements could adversely affect the Company’s liquidity and cash flow.

 

The Company has exposure to many companies in the financial services industry, particularly commercial and investment banks that participate in its revolving credit facilities and that are counterparties to the Company’s interest rate swaps and natural gas and currency hedges. The failure of these financial institutions, or their inability or unwillingness to fund the Company’s revolving credit facility or fulfill their obligations under swaps and hedges, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity position and cash flow.

 

Significant increases in prices for raw materials, energy, transportation and other necessary supplies and services could adversely affect the Company’s financial results.

 

Limitations in the availability of — and increases in — the costs of raw materials, including petroleum-based materials, energy, wood, transportation and other necessary goods and services, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial results. The Company is also limited in its ability to pass along such cost increases to customers, due to contractual provisions and competitive reasons.

There is no guarantee that the Company’s efforts to reduce costs, or to maintain current level run rates for realized cost synergies and operating efficiencies, will be successful.

 

The Company utilizes a global continuous improvement initiative that uses statistical process control to help design and manage many types of activities, including production and maintenance. In addition, the Company has accelerated and achieved cost synergies and operating efficiencies resulting from the Altivity Transaction sooner than expected. The Company’s ability to implement successfully its business strategies and to realize anticipated savings, in addition to maintaining current level run rates for these cost synergies and operating efficiencies is subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. If the Company cannot successfully implement the strategic cost reductions or other cost savings plans, or maintain current level run rates for realized cost synergies and operating efficiencies, it may not be able to continue to compete successfully against other manufacturers. In addition, any failure to generate the anticipated efficiencies and savings could adversely affect the Company’s financial results.

 

If a material percentage of the ownership interests in the Company’s stockholders who own five percent or more of the Company’s common stock are sold or transferred, the Company’s ability to use its net operating losses to offset its future taxable income may be limited under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

As of December 31, 2009, the Company had approximately $1.3 billion of net operating losses (“NOLs”) available to offset future income for U.S. federal tax liability purposes. The Company’s ability to use such NOLs to offset income can be limited, however, if the Company undergoes an “ownership change” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 382”). In general, an ownership change occurs whenever the aggregate percentage of the Company’s common stock owned directly or indirectly by its stockholders who own five percent or more of the Company’s common stock (“Significant Stockholders”) increases by more than 50 percentage points over the lowest aggregate percentage of the Company’s common stock owned directly or indirectly by such Significant Stockholders at any time during the preceding three years. In addition, under certain circumstances, issuances, sales or other dispositions or acquisitions of the ownership interests in the Company’s Significant Stockholders can be deemed an ownership change for the Company.

 

Although the Stockholders Agreement dated as of July 7, 2007 among the Company, the Coors family trusts and foundation, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Fund V Limited Partnership, Old Town, S.A. (formerly known as EXOR Group, S.A.), Field Holdings, Inc., and certain affiliates of TPG Capital L.P. contains certain restrictions and limitations on purchasing additional shares of the Company’s common stock or selling the shares of the Company’s common stock owned by such Significant Stockholders as of the date of the agreement, the Company has little control over changes in the ownership interests of such Significant Stockholders.

 

If an ownership change occurs, Section 382 establishes an annual limitation on the amount of deferred tax assets attributable to previously incurred NOLs that may be used to offset taxable income in future years. As a result, the Company’s tax liability for such years could increase significantly. The magnitude of the annual limitation on the use of deferred tax assets and the effect of such limitation on the Company is difficult to assess and depends in part on the market value of the Company at the time of the ownership change and prevailing interest rates.

 

Work stoppages and other labor relations matters may make it substantially more difficult or expensive for the Company to manufacture and distribute its products, which could result in decreased sales or increased costs, either of which would negatively impact the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

Approximately 51% of the Company’s workforce is represented by labor unions, whose goals and objectives may differ significantly from the Company’s. The Company may not be able to successfully negotiate new union contracts covering the employees at its various sites without work stoppages or labor

difficulties. These events may also occur as a result of other factors. A prolonged disruption at any of the Company’s facilities due to work stoppages or labor difficulties could have a material adverse effect on its net sales, margins and cash flows. In addition, if new union contracts contain significant increases in wages or other benefits, the Company’s margins would be adversely impacted.

 

The Company may not be able to adequately protect its intellectual property and proprietary rights, which could harm its future success and competitive position.

 

The Company’s future success and competitive position depend in part upon its ability to obtain and maintain protection for certain proprietary carton and packaging machine technologies used in its value-added products, particularly those incorporating the Cap-Sac, DI-NA-CAL, Fridge Vendor, IntegraPak, Kitchen Master, MicroFlex Q, MicroRite, Peel Pak, Quilt Wave, Qwik Crisp, Soni-Lok, Soni-Seal, The Yard Master and Z-Flute technologies. Failure to protect the Company’s existing intellectual property rights may result in the loss of valuable technologies or may require it to license other companies’ intellectual property rights. It is possible that any of the patents owned by the Company may be invalidated, rendered unenforceable, circumvented, challenged or licensed to others or any of its pending or future patent applications may not be issued within the scope of the claims sought by the Company, if at all. Further, others may develop technologies that are similar or superior to the Company’s technologies, duplicate its technologies or design around its patents, and steps taken by the Company to protect its technologies may not prevent misappropriation of such technologies.

 

Competition for sales of the Company’s products could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial results.

 

The Company competes with other manufacturers, both domestically and internationally. The Company’s products also compete with other manufacturers’ CUK board and other substrates, SBS and recycled clay-coated news (“CCN”). Substitute products also include plastic, shrink film and corrugated containers. In addition, while the Company has long-term relationships with many of its customers, the underlying contracts may be re-bid or renegotiated from time to time, and the Company may not be successful in renewing on favorable terms or at all. The Company works to maintain market share through efficiency, product innovation and strategic sourcing to its customers; however, pricing and other competitive pressures may occasionally result in the loss of a customer relationship.

 

The Company is subject to environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, and costs to comply with such laws and regulations, or any liability or obligation imposed under such laws or regulations, could negatively impact its financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Company is subject to a broad range of foreign, federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing discharges to air, soil and water, the management, treatment and disposal of hazardous substances, the investigation and remediation of contamination resulting from releases of hazardous substances, and the health and safety of employees. Additionally, the Company cannot currently assess the impact that future emission standards, climate control initiatives and enforcement practices will have on the Company’s operations and capital expenditure requirements. Environmental liabilities and obligations may result in significant costs, which could negatively impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein under “Item 8., Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

The Company’s working capital, cash flow and profitability could be adversely impacted by the current economic downturn, changes in governmental regulations, and the global consolidation of the businesses of the Company’s customers.

 

Reduced availability of credit, lower profitability resulting from the current economic downturn, and increased costs as a result of changes in governmental regulations may adversely affect the ability of some of the Company’s customers and suppliers to obtain funds for operations and capital expenditures. This could negatively impact the Company’s ability to collect receivables in a timely manner and to obtain raw materials

and supplies. In addition, increased global consolidation of the Company’s customer base could lead to increased pressure on the Company to concede to less favorable price and payment terms. Without the Company’s ability to counter such customer concessions by obtaining favorable price and payment term concessions from its own suppliers, the Company’s working capital, cash flow and profitability could be negatively impacted.

 

The Company’s cash flows may also be adversely impacted by the Company’s pension funding obligations. The Company’s pension funding obligations are dependent upon multiple factors resulting from actual plan experience and assumptions of future experience. The Company has unfunded obligations under its domestic and foreign defined benefit pension plans, and the funded status of these plans is dependent upon various factors, including returns on invested assets, the level of certain market interest rates and the discount rate used to determine pension obligations. Unfavorable returns on the plan assets or unfavorable changes in applicable laws or regulations could materially change the timing and amount of required plan funding, which would reduce the cash available for the Company.

 

 

None.

 

 

Headquarters

 

The Company leases its principal executive offices in Marietta, GA.

 

Operating Facilities

 

A listing of the principal properties owned or leased and operated by the Company is set forth below. The Company’s buildings are adequate and suitable for the business of the Company. The Company also leases certain smaller facilities, warehouses and office space throughout the U.S. and in foreign countries from time to time. The operating locations include 7 paperboard mills and 39 paperboard converting, 12 multi-wall bag and 11 specialty plants.

 

Notes:

 

 

 

The Company is a party to a number of lawsuits arising in the ordinary conduct of its business. Although the timing and outcome of these lawsuits cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not believe that disposition of these lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein under “Item 8., Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2009.

 

Pursuant to General Instruction G (3) of Form 10-K, the following list is included as an unnumbered item in Part I of this Report in lieu of being included in the definitive proxy statement that will be filed within 120 days after December 31, 2009.

 

David W. Scheible, 53, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of GPHC. He was appointed to GPHC’s Board upon its formation (under the name New Giant Corporation) in June 2007. Prior to the Altivity Transaction, he had served as a director, President and Chief Executive Officer of GPC since January 1, 2007. Prior to that time, Mr. Scheible had served as Chief Operating Officer of GPC since October 2004. Mr. Scheible served as Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations from August 2003 until October 2004. Mr. Scheible served as Graphic Packaging International Corporation’s (“GPIC”) Chief Operating Officer from 1999 until August 2003. He also served as President of GPIC’s Flexible Division from January to June 1999. Previously, Mr. Scheible was affiliated with the Avery Dennison Corporation, working most recently as its Vice President and General Manager of the Specialty Tape Division from 1995 through 1999 and Vice President and General Manager of the Automotive Division from 1993 to 1995.

 

Daniel J. Blount, 54, is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of GPHC. Prior to the Altivity Transaction, he had served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of GPC since September 2005. From October 2003 until September 2005, he was the Senior Vice President, Integration of GPC and from August 2003 until October 2003, he was the Senior Vice President, Integration, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. From June 2003 until August 2003, he was Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Riverwood Holding, Inc. From September 1999 until June 2003, Mr. Blount was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Riverwood Holding, Inc. Mr. Blount was named Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Riverwood Holding, Inc. in September 1998. Prior to joining Riverwood Holding, Inc., Mr. Blount spent 13 years at Montgomery Kone, Inc., an elevator, escalator and moving ramp product manufacturer, installer and service provider, most recently serving as Senior Vice President, Finance.

 

Cynthia A. Baerman, 47, is the Senior Vice President, Human Resources of GPHC. Mrs. Baerman joined GPHC in March 2009 from JohnsonDiversey, a global leader in sanitation products and services, where she served as Vice President and General Manager of its Food and Beverage Division from September 2006 until February 2009, and as Vice President, Human Resources from March 2005 until January 2007. From January 2004 until January 2005, Mrs. Baerman was Vice President of Human Resources at Barilla America. Mrs. Baerman previously held senior leadership positions in human resources at top companies in the food and beverage sector, including Kraft Foods, Miller Brewing Company and Anheuser-Busch Companies.

 

John C. Best, 50, is the Vice President, Business Development of GPHC. Prior to the Altivity Transaction, he had served as Vice President, Business Development of GPC since January 2006, with responsibility for Marketing, Research and Development and the successful sale of value-added products into the marketplace.

Previously, he had served as Vice President of Sales for GPC from August 1999 to December 2005. Mr. Best joined GPC in 1994 as the Business Unit Manager for the Folding Carton Division.

 

Michael P. Doss, 43, is the Senior Vice President, Consumer Packaging Division of GPHC. Prior to the Altivity Transaction, he had served as Senior Vice President, Consumer Products Packaging of GPC since September 2006. From July 2000 until September 2006, he was the Vice President of Operations, Universal Packaging Division. Since joining GPIC in 1990, Mr. Doss held positions of increasing management responsibility, including Plant Manager at the Gordonsville, TN and Wausau, WI plants. Mr. Doss was Director of Web Systems for the Universal Packaging Division prior to his promotion to Vice President of Operations.

 

Kristopher L. Dover, 45, is the Senior Vice President, Flexible Group of GPHC. Prior to the Altivity Transaction, Mr. Dover served as Vice President and General Manager, Multi-wall Bag from August 2007 until March 2008 and as Vice President — Operations from December 2006 until August 2007 for Altivity Packaging. Mr. Dover was Vice President, Global Operations — Beverage from January 2006 until December 2006 and Vice President, Operations — Europe from August 2004 until January 2006 and Director of Operations from August 2003 until August 2004 for GPC. Mr. Dover joined GPIC in 1999 and held various management positions in its U.S. and European operations.

 

Deborah R. Frank, 49, is the Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of GPHC. Prior to the Altivity Transaction, she served as Vice President and Controller of GPC since April 2005. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Frank held various positions of increasing responsibility in the finance, accounting, audit, international and corporate areas at Kimberly Clark Corporation, most recently serving as Assistant Controller.

 

Philip H. Geminder II, 53, is the Vice President and Chief Integration Officer of GPHC. Prior to the Altivity Transaction, he served as the Vice President, Integration of GPC from September 2007 through March 2008. Prior to that time, he had served as Vice President, Finance of GPC since August 2003 and Vice President, Financial Services of GPIC since January 2000. Before joining GPIC, Mr. Geminder served as Director of Finance with Avery Dennison Corporation after spending 18 years in various positions with Honeywell International Inc.

 

Stephen A. Hellrung, 62, is the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of GPHC. Prior to the Altivity Transaction, he had served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of GPC since October 2003. He was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Lowe’s Companies, Inc., a home improvement specialty retailer, from April 1999 until June 2003. Prior to joining Lowe’s Companies, Mr. Hellrung held similar positions with Pillsbury Company and Bausch & Lomb, Incorporated.

 

Alan R. Nichols, 47, is the Senior Vice President, Mills Division of GPHC. He served as Vice President, Mills from August 2008 until March 2009. From March 2008 until August 2008, Mr. Nichols was Vice President, CRB Mills. Prior to the Altivity Transaction, Mr. Nichols served as Vice President, CRB Mills for Altivity Packaging from February 2007 until March 2008 and was the Division Manufacturing Manager, Mills for Altivity Packaging and the Consumer Products Division of Smurfit-Stone from August 2005. From February 2001 until August 2005, Mr. Nichols was the General Manager of the Wabash Mill for Smurfit-Stone.

 

Michael R. Schmal, 56, is the Senior Vice President, Beverage Packaging Division of GPHC. Prior to the Altivity Transaction, he had served as Senior Vice President, Beverage of GPC since August 2003. From October 1996 until August 2003, Mr. Schmal was the Vice President and General Manager, Brewery Group of Riverwood Holding, Inc. Prior to that time, Mr. Schmal held various positions with Riverwood Holding, Inc. since 1981.

 

Joseph P. Yost, 42, is the Senior Vice President, Supply Chain of GPHC. From 2006 to 2009, he served as Vice President, Operations Support — Consumer Packaging Division. Mr. Yost has also served in the following positions with Graphic Packaging legacy companies — Director, Finance and Centralized Services from 2003 to 2006 with GPII, Director, Finance and Centralized Services from 2000 to 2003 with GPC, Manager, Operations Planning and Analysis — Consumer Products Division from 1999 to 2000 and other management positions from 1997 to 1999 with Fort James Corporation.

 

 

GPHC’s common stock (together with the associated stock purchase rights) is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GPK.” The historical range of the high and low sales price per share for each quarter of 2009 and 2008 are as follows:

 

 

No cash dividends have been paid during the last three years to the Company’s common stockholders. The Company’s intent is not to pay dividends at this time. Additionally, the Company’s credit facilities and the indentures governing its debt securities place substantial limitations on the Company’s ability to pay cash dividends on its common stock (see “Covenant Restrictions” in “Item 7., Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein under “Item 8., Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”).

 

On February 19, 2010, there were approximately 2,359 stockholders of record and approximately 4,090 beneficial holders of GPHC’s common stock.

 

Total Return to Stockholders

 

The following graph compares the total returns (assuming reinvestment of dividends) of the common stock of the Company and its immediate predecessor, GPC, the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Stock Index and the Dow Jones (“DJ”) U.S. Container & Packaging Index. The graph assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2004 in GPC’s common stock and each of the indices. The stock price performance on the following graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

 

 

 

The selected consolidated financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with “Item 7., Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein under “Item 8., Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

This management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is intended to provide investors with an understanding of the Company’s past performance, its financial condition and its prospects. The following will be discussed and analyzed:

 

Overview of Business

 

Overview of 2009 Results

 

Results of Operations

 

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

New Accounting Standards

 

Business Outlook

 

OVERVIEW OF BUSINESS

 

The Company’s objective is to strengthen its position as a leading provider of packaging solutions. To achieve this objective, the Company offers customers its paperboard, cartons and packaging machines, either as an integrated solution or separately. Cartons and carriers are designed to protect and contain products. Product offerings include a variety of laminated, coated and printed packaging structures that are produced from the Company’s CUK, CRB and URB, as well as other grades of paperboard that are purchased from third party suppliers. Innovative designs and combinations of paperboard, films, foils, metallization, holographics and embossing are customized to the individual needs of the customers.

 

The Company is also a leading supplier of multi-wall bags and in addition to a full range of products, provides customers with value-added graphical and technical support, and packaging workshops to help educate customers.

 

The Company’s specialty packaging business has an established position in end-markets for food products, pharmaceutical and medical products, personal care, industrial, pet food and pet care products. In addition, the Company’s label business focuses on two product lines: heat transfer labels and lithographic labels.

 

The Company is implementing strategies (i) to expand market share in its current markets and to identify and penetrate new markets; (ii) to capitalize on the Company’s customer relationships, business competencies, and mills and converting assets; (iii) to develop and market innovative, sustainable products and applications; and (iv) to continue to reduce costs by focusing on operational improvements. The Company’s ability to fully implement its strategies and achieve its objective may be influenced by a variety of factors, many of which are beyond its control, such as inflation of raw material and other costs, which the Company cannot always pass through to its customers, and the effect of overcapacity in the worldwide paperboard packaging industry.

 

Significant Factors That Impact The Company’s Business

 

Impact of Inflation.  The Company’s cost of sales consists primarily of energy (including natural gas, fuel oil and electricity), pine pulpwood, chemicals, recycled fibers, purchased paperboard, paper, aluminum foil, ink, plastic films and resins, depreciation expense and labor. Although the Company is currently experiencing some deflation of certain input costs, its cost of goods sold during 2009 reflects the higher costs associated with the inventory on hand at December 31, 2008. Deflation decreased year over year costs by $0.2 million in 2009, while inflation increased year over year costs by $126.3 million and $39.3 million in 2008 and 2007, respectively. The lower costs in 2009 are primarily related to fiber, wood and corrugated shipping containers ($22.4 million); chemical-based inputs ($21.6 million); energy ($19.5 million), mainly due

to the price of natural gas; and freight ($5.1 million). These lower costs were partially offset by labor and related benefits ($30.7 million); the December 31, 2008 inventory sold during the first quarter of 2009 ($19.5 million); outside board purchases ($15.9 million); and other costs ($2.3 million).

 

As the price of natural gas has experienced significant variability, the Company has entered into contracts designed to manage risks associated with future variability in cash flows caused by changes in the price of natural gas. As of December 31, 2009, the Company has hedged approximately 52% of its expected natural gas usage for the year 2010. Since negotiated sales contracts and the market largely determine the pricing for its products, the Company is at times limited in its ability to raise prices and pass through to its customers any inflationary or other cost increases that the Company may incur.

 

Substantial Debt Obligations.  The Company has $2,800.2 million of outstanding debt obligations as of December 31, 2009. This debt can have significant consequences for the Company, as it requires a significant portion of cash flow from operations to be used for the payment of principal and interest, exposes the Company to the risk of increased interest rates and restricts the Company’s ability to obtain additional financing. Covenants in the Company’s Credit Agreement and Indentures also prohibit or restrict, among other things, the disposal of assets, the incurrence of additional indebtedness (including guarantees), payment of dividends, loans or advances and certain other types of transactions. These restrictions could limit the Company’s flexibility to respond to changing market conditions and competitive pressures. The Credit Agreement also requires compliance with a maximum consolidated secured leverage ratio. The Company’s ability to comply in future periods with the financial covenant will depend on its ongoing financial and operating performance, which in turn will be subject to many other factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. See “Covenant Restrictions” in “Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources” for additional information regarding the Company’s debt obligations.

 

The substantial debt and the restrictions under the Credit Agreement and the Indentures could limit the Company’s flexibility to respond to changing market conditions and competitive pressures. The material outstanding debt obligations and the restrictions may also leave the Company more vulnerable to a downturn in general economic conditions or its business, or unable to carry out capital expenditures that are necessary or important to its growth strategy and productivity improvement programs.

 

Commitment to Cost Reduction.  In light of increasing margin pressure throughout the packaging industry, the Company has programs in place that are designed to reduce costs, improve productivity and increase profitability. The Company utilizes a global continuous improvement initiative that uses statistical process control to help design and manage many types of activities, including production and maintenance. This includes a Six Sigma process focused on reducing variable and fixed manufacturing and administrative costs. The Company expanded the continuous improvement initiative to include the deployment of Lean Sigma principles into manufacturing and supply chain services. As the Company strengthens the systems approach to continuous improvement, Lean Sigma supports the efforts to build a high performing culture. During 2009, the Company achieved $60.8 million in cost savings as compared to 2008, through its continuous improvement programs and manufacturing initiatives.

 

In addition, the Company has accelerated and achieved cost synergies and operating efficiencies resulting from the Altivity Transaction sooner than expected. The Company’s ability to implement successfully its business strategies and to realize anticipated savings, in addition to maintaining current level run rates for these cost synergies and operating efficiencies is subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. If the Company cannot successfully implement the strategic cost reductions or other cost savings plans, or maintain current level run rates for realized cost synergies and operating efficiencies, it may not be able to continue to compete successfully against other manufacturers. In addition, any failure to generate the anticipated efficiencies and savings could adversely affect the Company’s financial results.

 

Competition and Market Factors.  As some products can be packaged in different types of materials, the Company’s sales are affected by competition from other manufacturers’ CUK board and other substrates such as SBS and CCN. Substitute products also include plastic, shrink film and corrugated containers. In addition, while the Company has long-term relationships with many of its customers, the underlying contracts may be

re-bid or renegotiated from time to time, and the Company may not be successful in renewing on favorable terms or at all. The Company works to maintain market share through efficiency, product innovation and strategic sourcing to its customers; however, pricing and other competitive pressures may occasionally result in the loss of a customer relationship.

 

In addition, the Company’s sales historically are driven by consumer buying habits in the markets its customers serve. Continuing increases in the costs of living, conditions in the residential real estate market, rising unemployment rates, reduced access to credit and declining consumer confidence, as well as other macroeconomic factors, may significantly negatively affect consumer spending behavior, which could have a material adverse effect on demand for the Company’s products. New product introductions and promotional activity by the Company’s customers and the Company’s introduction of new packaging products also impact its sales. The Company’s containerboard business is subject to conditions in the cyclical worldwide commodity paperboard markets, which have a significant impact on containerboard sales. In addition, the Company’s net sales, income from operations and cash flows from operations are subject to moderate seasonality, with demand usually increasing in the late spring through early fall due to the beverage, folding carton, housing and construction markets.

 

OVERVIEW OF 2009 RESULTS

 

This management’s discussion and analysis contains an analysis of Net Sales, Income from Operations and other information relevant to an understanding of results of operations. To enhance the understanding of continuing operations, this discussion and analysis excludes discontinued operations for all periods presented. Information on discontinued operations can be found in Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein under “Item 8., Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The Company’s results of operations and cash flows for 2008 include the results of Altivity from March 10, 2008, the date of the Altivity Transaction, through December 31, 2008. The results of operations for 2007 represent the results of the Company’s operations prior to the Altivity Transaction.

 

Segment Information

 

The Company reports its results in three business segments: paperboard packaging, multi-wall bag and specialty packaging. Prior segment results have been reclassified for the allocation of certain corporate costs.

 

 

2009 COMPARED WITH 2008

 

Net Sales

 

 

The components of the change in Net Sales by segment are as follows:

 

 

Paperboard Packaging

 

The Company’s Net Sales from paperboard packaging in 2009 increased by $46.1 million, or 1.4%, to $3,423.5 million from $3,377.4 million in 2008 as a result of the Altivity Transaction, improved pricing in beverage and consumer products, as well as higher volume/mix in beverage. Beverage volumes were up in the

beer market, primarily in the sub-premium category, but remained down in soft drink. Beer sales also benefited by the move to 30-pack. The increase in Net Sales was partially offset by lower volume in consumer products, containerboard and European open market, and the impact of the two coated-recycled board mills divested in September 2008. The lower consumer products sales were due to a decision to exit lower margin business as well as the general market conditions in which volume has remained steady in staples (e.g., dry mixes, cereal, pizza) and continues to be down in discretionary items (e.g., candy, eating out). Management idled the corrugated medium machine at the West Monroe, LA mill for 36 days during the first six months of 2009 due to softness in that market. Unfavorable currency exchange rate changes, primarily in Europe, also negatively impacted Net Sales.

 

Multi-wall Bag

 

The Company’s Net Sales from multi-wall bag in 2009 decreased by $6.5 million as the volume increase from the Altivity Transaction was offset by lower volumes due to market declines in the building products, chemicals, minerals, and agriculture and food industries, lower pricing due to negotiated deflationary pass throughs, and the impact of the divested business.

 

Specialty Packaging

 

The Company’s Net Sales from specialty packaging in 2009 decreased by $23.2 million compared to 2008 as the volume increase from the Altivity Transaction was offset by lower volumes due to market declines in the building products, chemicals, and food and pharmaceutical industries, the impact of the divested business, and lower pricing due to negotiated deflationary pass throughs.

 

Income (Loss) from Operations

 

 

Note:

 

 

The components of the change in Income (Loss) from Operations by segment are as follows:

 

 

Note:

 

 

Paperboard Packaging

 

The Company’s Income from Operations from paperboard packaging in 2009 increased by $67.4 million, or 30.5%, to $288.3 million from $220.9 million in 2008 as a result of cost savings and synergies, the Altivity Transaction and the improved pricing. These increases were partially offset by the lower volume, higher inflation and depreciation expense and higher unabsorbed fixed costs, including the 36 days of downtime of the corrugated medium machine. The inflation was primarily related to labor and related benefits, primarily pension expense, ($29.8 million); outside board purchases ($20.4 million); and the December 31, 2008 inventory sold during the first quarter of 2009 ($19.5 million); partially offset by lower costs primarily for secondary fiber, energy and wood ($50.7 million). In 2008, the Company recorded a charge for the permanent shutdown of the #2 coated board machine at the West Monroe, LA mill.

 

Multi-wall Bag

 

The Company’s Income from Operations from multi-wall bag in 2009 decreased by $22.0 million as a result of the lower pricing and volume, lower fixed cost absorption due to downtime for inventory control, and higher depreciation and work force reduction expenses. The higher costs were partially offset by lower inflation, primarily for external board and chemical-based inputs.

 

Specialty Packaging

 

The Company’s Income from Operations from specialty packaging in 2009 decreased by $11.0 million as a result of the lower volume and pricing. In addition, in the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company recorded an $11.5 million impairment charge relating to its flexible packaging facility in Ontario, Canada. These decreases were offset by lower costs, primarily for chemical-based inputs, the volume increase from the Altivity Transaction and the gain on the sale of the ink business.

 

Corporate

 

The Company’s Loss from Operations from corporate was $8.1 million in 2009 compared to $106.5 million in 2008. The improvement resulted primarily from the alternative fuel tax credit (net of expenses) of $137.8 million. The improvement was partially offset by higher merger-related expenses of $22.7 million, excluding an $18.8 million noncash charge related to excess maintenance, repair and overhaul (“MRO”) inventory, and higher incentive expense. As part of the integration strategy, control over MRO inventory was centralized and the current on hand/replenishment strategy was reviewed. As a result of the review, the Company determined that $18.8 million of inventory on hand was excess and recorded a noncash charge. Results for 2008 included $24.4 million of expense related to the step-up in inventory basis to fair value, partially offset by a favorable $10.4 million mark-to-market adjustment for an interest rate swap.

 

INTEREST EXPENSE, INCOME TAX EXPENSE, AND EQUITY IN NET EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest Expense decreased by $19.9 million to $196.8 million in 2009 from $216.7 million in 2008. Interest Expense decreased due to lower average rates on the unhedged portion of the Company’s debt. During the fourth quarter 2009, the Company recorded a non-cash credit to interest expense of $13.8 million related to the interest rate swap mentioned above. The Company should have been amortizing the fair value of the swap as of the date of hedge designation on a straight line basis to reduce interest expense since August 2008. The effect on prior periods was not material to the consolidated financial statements in those periods. The swap expired in January 2010. As of December 31, 2009, approximately 7% of the Company’s total debt was subject to floating interest rates.

Income Tax Expense

 

During 2009, the Company recognized Income Tax Expense of $24.1 million on Income before Income Taxes and Equity in Net Earnings of Affiliates of $79.2 million. During 2008, the Company recognized Income Tax Expense of $34.4 million on Loss before Income Taxes and Equity in Net Earnings of Affiliates of $65.5 million. Income Tax Expense for 2009 and 2008 primarily relates to the noncash expense of $31.6 million and $29.4 million, respectively, associated with the amortization of goodwill for tax purposes. In addition, in 2009, the Company determined that a valuation allowance for its U.K. operations was no longer required. The Company has approximately $1.3 billion of NOLs for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which may be used to offset future taxable income.

 

Equity in Net Earnings of Affiliates

 

Equity in Net Earnings of Affiliates was $1.3 million in 2009 and $1.1 million in 2008 and is related to the Company’s equity investment in the joint venture, Rengo Riverwood Packaging, Ltd.

 

2008 COMPARED WITH 2007

 

Net Sales

 

 

Note:

 

 

The components of the change in Net Sales by segment are as follows:

 

 

Paperboard Packaging

 

The Company’s Net Sales from paperboard packaging in 2008 increased by $1,036.8 million, or 44.3%, to $3,377.4 million from $2,340.6 million in 2007 as a result of the Altivity Transaction, improved pricing across all product lines, as well as improved product mix primarily in North American food and consumer cartons, beverage and Europe. The improvement in pricing reflects negotiated inflationary cost pass throughs and other contractual increases, as well as price increases on open market roll stock. The Company implemented a $50 per ton price increase for its CRB and URB effective with shipments on or after July 28, 2008, and a $40 per ton price increase for CUK grades, effective with shipments on or after August 1, 2008. The improvement in product mix was primarily in the soft drink, retail carryout, cereal and dry foods product lines, as well as the introduction of new beer promotion items and the introduction of 18 multi-packs which were previously packaged in containerboard. Also contributing to the increase was favorable currency exchange rates, primarily in Europe, Japan, Australia and Brazil. The improved mix was more than offset by lower volume as the result of the Company exiting lower margin business and lower open market sales in

Europe. Beverage sales volume decreased in the fourth quarter and impacted the full year due to continued softness in the soft drink market due to price increases as well as downtime taken in the beer market.

 

Multi-wall Bag

 

The Company’s Net Sales from multi-wall bag in 2008 increased by $397.5 million as a result of the Altivity Transaction, as well as improved pricing and volume. The improved pricing was due to negotiated cost pass through increases. The Altivity sales were attributable to price and volume primarily in the bag packaging markets.

 

Specialty Packaging

 

The Company’s Net Sales from specialty packaging in 2008 increased by $223.9 million compared to 2007 as a result of the acquisition of the specialty packaging segment in the Altivity Transaction.

 

Income (Loss) from Operations

 

 

Note:

 

 

The components of the change in Income (Loss) from Operations by segment are as follows:

 

 

Note:

 

 

Paperboard Packaging

 

The Company’s Income from Operations from paperboard packaging in 2008 increased by $43.1 million, or 24.2%, to $220.9 million from $177.8 million in 2007 as a result of $52.2 million of continuing cost reduction initiatives, the Altivity transaction, the improved pricing, and improved product mix. These increases more than offset inflationary pressures of $120.9 million, primarily related to chemical-based inputs ($40.3 million); fiber and outside board purchases ($38.5 million); energy costs ($26.9 million), mainly due to the price of natural gas; labor and related benefits ($15.5 million); and freight ($5.8 million), partially offset by other lower costs of $6.1 million. The Company also recorded a charge for the previously announced permanent shutdown of the #2 coated board machine at the West Monroe, LA mill. Results in 2007 included charges related to the continued infrastructure updates at this mill, accelerated depreciation for assets taken out

of service due to efficiency improvements, and higher expenses in Europe, primarily relating to the start up costs for a new converting facility in France.

 

Multi-wall Bag

 

The Company’s Income from Operations from multi-wall bag in 2008 increased by $19.6 million to $25.9 million from $6.3 million in 2007 as a result of the Altivity Transaction, the improved pricing and cost saving initiatives of $1.6 million. These increases were partially offset by inflation costs. The segment’s Income from Operations was attributable to volume primarily in the bag packaging markets.

 

Specialty Packaging

 

The Company’s Income from Operations from specialty packaging in 2008 increased by $9.6 million compared to 2007 as a result of the acquisition of the specialty packaging segment in the Altivity Transaction.

 

Corporate

 

The Company’s Loss from Operations from corporate was $106.5 million in 2008 compared to a loss of $32.9 million in 2007. This $73.6 million increase was due primarily to Altivity Transaction related expenses of $28.1 million and the inclusion of Altivity Corporate expenses of $11.8 million. In addition, the Company recorded $24.4 million of expense related to the step-up in inventory basis to fair value. These expenses were offset by a favorable $10.4 million fair value adjustment for an interest rate swap and lower bonus accruals, partially offset by a net foreign currency loss of $9.6 million. The swap was assumed in the Altivity Transaction. Results for 2007 were positively impacted by the reversal of a $3.0 million liability recorded at the time of the merger of GPII and Riverwood Holdings, Inc. in 2003.

 

INTEREST EXPENSE, INCOME TAX EXPENSE, AND EQUITY IN NET EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest Expense increased by $48.5 million to $216.7 million in 2008 from $168.2 million in 2007. Interest Expense increased due to the additional debt acquired as a result of the Altivity Transaction. As of December 31, 2008, approximately 22% of the Company’s total debt was subject to floating interest rates.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

During 2008, the Company recognized Income Tax Expense of $34.4 million on Loss before Income Taxes and Equity in Net Earnings of Affiliates of $65.5 million. During 2007, the Company recognized Income Tax Expense of $23.9 million on Loss before Income Taxes and Equity in Net Earnings of Affiliates of $26.1 million. Income Tax Expense for 2008 and 2007 primarily relates to the noncash expense associated with the amortization of goodwill for tax purposes, benefits related to losses in certain foreign countries and tax withholding in foreign jurisdictions. Income tax expense for 2007 also increased due to a liability related to a judgment received in a Swedish tax court.

 

Equity in Net Earnings of Affiliates

 

Equity in Net Earnings of Affiliates was $1.1 million in 2008 and $0.9 million in 2007 and is related to the Company’s equity investment in the joint venture, Rengo Riverwood Packaging, Ltd.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

The Company broadly defines liquidity as its ability to generate sufficient funds from both internal and external sources to meet its obligations and commitments. In addition, liquidity includes the ability to obtain appropriate debt and equity financing and to convert into cash those assets that are no longer required to meet existing strategic and financial objectives. Therefore, liquidity cannot be considered separately from capital resources that consist of current or potentially available funds for use in achieving long-range business objectives and meeting debt service commitments.

Cash Flows

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities in 2009 totaled $502.9 million, compared to $184.2 million in 2008. The increase was primarily due to cash received from the alternative fuel tax credit of $134.8 million; improved working capital of $117.1 million primarily as a result of lower inventory levels; higher net income when adjusted for noncash items such as depreciation and amortization and, in 2008, the $24.4 million inventory step-up related to Altivity, the $12.6 million write-off of the #2 coated board machine at the West Monroe, LA mill, and lower postemployment contributions of $15.2 million.

 

Net cash used in investing activities in 2009 totaled $124.1 million, compared to $143.8 million in 2008. This year over year change was due primarily to a decrease in capital spending of $53.4 million in 2009, the $60.2 million of cash acquired by the Company in the Altivity Transaction, and higher proceeds from the sales of assets in 2008, partially offset by $30.3 million in acquisition costs in 2008.

 

Net cash used in financing activities in 2009 totaled $399.2 million, compared to $119.8 million provided by financing activities in 2008. This change was primarily due to higher net debt repayments in 2009, as well as the repayment of funds borrowed under the Company’s revolving credit facilities in 2008 when the credit and securities markets were more volatile and the Company felt it necessary to maintain sufficient cash to meet any foreseeable liquidity needs.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company’s liquidity needs arise primarily from debt service on its substantial indebtedness and from the funding of its capital expenditures, ongoing operating costs and working capital. Principal and interest payments under the term loan facility and the revolving credit facility, together with principal and interest payments on the Company’s 9.5% Senior Notes due 2017 and 9.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (“Notes”), represent significant liquidity requirements for the Company. Based upon current levels of operations, anticipated cost savings and expectations as to future growth, the Company believes that cash generated from operations, together with amounts available under its revolving credit facility and other available financing sources, will be adequate to permit the Company to meet its debt service obligations, necessary capital expenditure program requirements and ongoing operating costs and working capital needs, although no assurance can be given in this regard. The Company’s future financial and operating performance, ability to service or refinance its debt and ability to comply with the covenants and restrictions contained in its debt agreements (see “Covenant Restrictions”) will be subject to future economic conditions, including conditions in the credit markets, and to financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, and will be substantially dependent on the selling prices and demand for the Company’s products, raw material and energy costs, and the Company’s ability to successfully implement its overall business and profitability strategies.

 

As of December 31, 2009, the Company had approximately $1.3 billion of NOLs for U.S. federal income tax purposes. These NOLs generally may be used by the Company to offset taxable income earned in subsequent taxable years. However, the Company’s ability to use these NOLs to offset its future taxable income may be subject to significant limitations as a result of certain shifts in ownership due to direct or indirect transfers of the Company’s common stock by one or more five percent stockholders, or issuance or redemption of the Company’s common stock, which, when taken together with previous changes in ownership of the Company’s common stock, constitute an ownership change under Section 382. Imposition of any such limitation of the use of NOLs could have an adverse effect on the Company’s future after tax free cash flow.

Covenant Restrictions

 

The Credit Agreement and the Indentures limit the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness. Additional covenants contained in the Credit Agreement and the Indentures, among other things, restrict the ability of the Company to dispose of assets, incur guarantee obligations, prepay other indebtedness, make dividends and other restricted payments, create liens, make equity or debt investments, make acquisitions, modify terms of the indentures under which the Notes are issued, engage in mergers or consolidations, change the business conducted by the Company and its subsidiaries, and engage in certain transactions with affiliates. Such restrictions, together with the highly leveraged nature of the Company and recent disruptions in the credit markets, could limit the Company’s ability to respond to changing market conditions, fund its capital spending program, provide for unexpected capital investments or take advantage of business opportunities.

 

Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company must comply with a maximum consolidated secured leverage ratio, which is defined as the ratio of: (a) total long-term and short-term indebtedness of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”), plus the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company and its subsidiaries from any receivables or other securitization but excluding therefrom (i) all unsecured indebtedness, (ii) all subordinated indebtedness permitted to be incurred under the Credit Agreement, and (iii) all secured indebtedness of foreign subsidiaries to (b) Adjusted EBITDA, which we refer to as Credit Agreement EBITDA⁽¹⁾. Pursuant to this financial covenant, the Company must maintain a maximum consolidated secured leverage ratio of less than the following:

 

 

Note:

 

 

At December 31, 2009, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenant in the Credit Agreement and the ratio was as follows:

 

Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio — 2.94 to 1.00

 

The Company’s management believes that presentation of the consolidated secured leverage ratio and Credit Agreement EBITDA herein provides useful information to investors because borrowings under the Credit Agreement are a key source of the Company’s liquidity, and the Company’s ability to borrow under the Credit Agreement is dependent on, among other things, its compliance with the financial ratio covenant. Any failure by the Company to comply with this financial covenant could result in an event of default, absent a waiver or amendment from the lenders under such agreement, in which case the lenders may be entitled to declare all amounts owed to be due and payable immediately.

 

Credit Agreement EBITDA is a financial measure not calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and is not a measure of net income, operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Credit Agreement EBITDA should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for or superior to U.S. GAAP results. In addition, Credit Agreement EBITDA may not be comparable to EBITDA or similarly titled measures utilized by other companies because other companies may not calculate Credit Agreement EBITDA in the same manner as the Company does.

The calculations of the components of the maximum consolidated secured leverage ratio for and as of the period ended December 31, 2009 are listed below:

 

 

 

Notes:

 

 

The terms of the Credit Agreement limit the amount of projected run rate cost savings that may be used in calculating Credit Agreement EBITDA by stipulating that such amount may not exceed the lesser of (i) ten percent of EBITDA as defined in the Credit Agreement for the last twelve-month period (before giving effect to projected run rate cost savings) and (ii) $100 million. As a result, in calculating Credit Agreement EBITDA above, the Company used projected run rate cost savings of $60.1 million or ten percent of EBITDA as calculated in accordance with the Credit Agreement, which amount is lower than total projected cost savings identified by the Company, net of actual benefits realized for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2009. Projected run rate cost savings were calculated by the Company solely for its use in calculating Credit Agreement EBITDA for purposes of determining compliance with the maximum consolidated secured leverage ratio contained in the Credit Agreement and should not be used for any other purpose.

 

 

The Senior Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes are rated B- by Standard & Poor’s and B3 by Moody’s Investor Services. The Company’s indebtedness under the Credit Agreement is rated BB by Standard & Poor’s and Ba3 by Moody’s Investor Services. As of December 31, 2009, Moody’s Investor Services’ ratings on the Company remain on negative outlook, while Standard & Poor’s ratings on the Company have a positive outlook. During 2009, cash paid for interest was $219.5 million.

 

If inflationary pressures on key inputs resume, or depressed selling prices, lower sales volumes, increased operating costs or other factors have a negative impact on the Company’s ability to increase its profitability, the Company may not be able to maintain its compliance with the financial covenant in its Credit Agreement. The Company’s ability to comply in future periods with the financial covenant in the Credit Agreement will depend on its ongoing financial and operating performance, which in turn will be subject to economic

conditions and to financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, and will be substantially dependent on the selling prices for the Company’s products, raw material and energy costs, and the Company’s ability to successfully implement its overall business strategies, and meet its profitability objective. If a violation of the financial covenant or any of the other covenants occurred, the Company would attempt to obtain a waiver or an amendment from its lenders, although no assurance can be given that the Company would be successful in this regard. The Credit Agreement and the indentures governing the Notes have certain cross-default or cross-acceleration provisions; failure to comply with these covenants in any agreement could result in a violation of such agreement which could, in turn, lead to violations of other agreements pursuant to such cross-default or cross-acceleration provisions. If an event of default occurs, the lenders are entitled to declare all amounts owed to be due and payable immediately. The Credit Agreement is collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s domestic assets.

 

Capital Investment

 

The Company’s capital investment in 2009 was $129.9 million compared to $183.3 million (including $38.1 million for Altivity) in 2008. During 2009, the Company had capital spending of $102.1 million for improving process capabilities, $21.0 million for capital spares, $6.6 million for manufacturing packaging machinery and $0.2 million for compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

 

Environmental Matters

 

Some of the Company’s current and former facilities are the subject of environmental investigations and remediations resulting from historical operations and the release of hazardous substances or other constituents. Some current and former facilities have a history of industrial usage for which investigation and remediation obligations may be imposed in the future or for which indemnification claims may be asserted against the Company. Also, potential future closures or sales of facilities may necessitate further investigation and may result in future remediation at those facilities. The Company has established reserves for those facilities or issues where liability is probable and the costs are reasonably estimable.

 

For further discussion of the Company’s environmental matters, see Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein under “Item 8., Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

 

A summary of our contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2009 is as follows:

 

 

Notes:

 

 

International Operations

 

For 2009, before intercompany eliminations, net sales from operations outside of the U.S. represented approximately 10% of the Company’s net sales. The Company’s revenues from export sales fluctuate with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. At December 31, 2009, approximately 7% of its total assets were denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Company has significant operations in countries that use the British pound sterling, the Australian dollar, the Japanese yen or the euro as their functional currencies. The effect of a generally stronger U.S. dollar against these currencies produced a net currency translation adjustment gain of $7.8 million, which was recorded as an adjustment to Shareholders’ Equity for the year ended December 31, 2009. The magnitude and direction of this adjustment in the future depends on the relationship of the U.S. dollar to other currencies. The Company cannot predict major currency fluctuations. The Company pursues a currency hedging program in order to limit the impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuations on financial results. See “Financial Instruments” below.

 

Financial Instruments

 

The functional currency of the Company’s international subsidiaries is the local currency for the country in which the subsidiaries own their primary assets. The translation of the applicable currencies into U.S. dollars is performed for balance sheet accounts using current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for revenue and expense accounts using a weighted average exchange rate during the period. Any related translation adjustments are recorded directly to shareholders’ equity. Gains and losses on foreign currency transactions are included in Other (Income) Expense, Net for the period in which the exchange rate changes.

 

The Company pursues a currency hedging program which utilizes derivatives to limit the impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuations on its consolidated financial results. Under this program, the Company has entered into forward exchange contracts in the normal course of business to hedge certain foreign currency denominated transactions. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on these forward contracts are included in the measurement of the basis of the related foreign currency transaction when recorded. The Company also pursues a hedging program which utilizes derivatives designed to manage risks associated with future variability in cash flows and price risk related to future energy cost increases. Under this program the Company has entered into natural gas swap contracts to hedge a portion of its natural gas requirements through December 2010. Realized gains and losses on these contracts are included in the financial results concurrently with the recognition of the commodity purchased. The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risks on future income caused by interest rate changes on its variable rate term loan facility. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of market and credit risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. See “Item 7A., Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk.”

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and changes in these estimates are recorded when known. The critical accounting policies used by management in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements are those that are important both to the presentation of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and require significant judgments by management with regard to estimates used. The critical judgments by management relate to pension benefits, retained insurable risks, future cash flows associated with impairment testing for goodwill and long-lived assets, and deferred income taxes.

 

• Pension Benefits

 

The Company sponsors defined benefit pension plans (the “Plans”) for eligible employees in North America and certain international locations. The funding policy for the qualified defined benefit plans is to, at

a minimum, contribute assets as required by the Internal Revenue Code Section 412. Nonqualified U.S. plans providing benefits in excess of limitations imposed by the U.S. income tax code are not funded.

 

The Company’s pension expense for defined benefit pension plans was $47.9 million in 2009 compared with $19.7 million in 2008. Pension expense is calculated based upon a number of actuarial assumptions applied to each of the defined benefit plans. The weighted average expected long-term rate of return on pension fund assets used to calculate pension expense was 7.91% and 7.96% in 2009 and 2008, respectively. The expected long-term rate of return on pension assets was determined based on several factors, including historical rates of return, input from our pension investment consultants and projected long-term returns of broad equity and bond indices. The Company evaluates its long-term rate of return assumptions annually and adjusts them as necessary.

 

The Company determined pension expense using both the fair value of assets and a calculated value that averages gains and losses over a period of years. Investment gains or losses represent the difference between the expected and actual return on assets. As of December 31, 2009, the net actuarial loss was $189.6 million. These net losses may increase future pension expense if not offset by (i) actual investment returns that exceed the assumed investment returns, or (ii) other factors, including reduced pension liabilities arising from higher discount rates used to calculate pension obligations, or (iii) other actuarial gains, including whether such accumulated actuarial losses at each measurement date exceed the “corridor” determined under the Compensation — Retirement Benefits topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification^tm (“the FASB Codification”).

 

The discount rate used to determine the present value of future pension obligations at December 31, 2009 was based on a yield curve constructed from a portfolio of high-quality corporate debt securities with maturities ranging from 1 year to 30 years. Each year’s expected future benefit payments were discounted to their present value at the appropriate yield curve rate thereby generating the overall discount rate for the Company’s pension obligations. The weighted average discount rate used to determine the pension obligations was 6.10% and 6.28% in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

The Company’s pension expense is estimated to be approximately $32 million in 2010. The estimate is based on a weighted average expected long-term rate of return of 7.95%, a weighted average discount rate of 6.10% and other assumptions. Pension expense beyond 2010 will depend on future investment performance, the Company’s contribution to the plans, changes in discount rates and other factors related to covered employees in the plans.

 

If the discount rate assumptions for the Company’s U.S. plans were reduced by 0.25%, pension expense would increase by approximately $3 million and the December 31, 2009 pension funding obligation would increase by about $22 million.

 

The fair value of assets in the Company’s plans was $622.2 million at December 31, 2009 and $489.0 million at December 31, 2008. The projected benefit obligations exceed the fair value of plan assets by $236.7 million and $323.1 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Primarily due to the lower discount rates, the accumulated benefit obligation (“ABO”) exceeded plan assets by $219.1 million at the end of 2009. At the end of 2008, the ABO exceeded the fair value of plan assets by $295.7 million.

 

• Retained Insurable Risks

 

The Company is self-insured for certain losses relating to workers’ compensation claims and employee medical and dental benefits. Provisions for expected losses are recorded based on the Company’s estimates, on an undiscounted basis, of the aggregate liabilities for known claims and estimated claims incurred but not reported. The Company has purchased stop-loss coverage or insurance with deductibles in order to limit its exposure to significant claims. The Company also has an extensive safety program in place to minimize its exposure to workers’ compensation claims. Self-insured losses are accrued based upon estimates of the aggregate uninsured claims incurred using certain actuarial assumptions and loss development factors followed in the insurance industry and historical experience.

• Goodwill

 

The Company evaluates goodwill for potential impairment annually as of October 1 of each year, as well as whenever events or changes in circumstances suggest that the fair value of a reporting unit may no longer exceed its carrying amount. Potential impairment of goodwill is measured at the reporting unit level by comparing the reporting unit’s carrying amount including goodwill, to the estimated fair value of the reporting unit.

 

A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment (referred to as a component). A component of an operating segment is a reporting unit if the component constitutes a business for which discrete financial information is available and senior management regularly reviews the operating results of that component. The Company’s reporting units are all one level below the reported segments except for the multi-wall bag reporting unit which is also an operating segment. As of October 1, 2009, the Company had eleven reporting units, of which six of the units had goodwill.

 

The estimated fair value of each reporting unit is determined by utilizing a discounted cash flow analysis based on the Company’s forecasts discounted using a weighted average cost of capital and market indicators of terminal year cash flows based upon a multiple of EBITDA. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, goodwill is considered potentially impaired. In determining fair value, management relies on and considers a number of factors, including but not limited to, operating results, business plans, economic projections, forecasts including anticipated future cash flows, and market data and analysis, including market capitalization. Fair value determinations are sensitive to changes in the factors described above. There are inherent uncertainties related to these factors and judgments in applying them to the analysis of goodwill recoverability.

 

The Company performed its annual goodwill impairment test as of October 1, 2009. In performing the annual impairment test, the Company utilized a number of assumptions. The assumed revenue growth rates of the reporting units were consistent with historic growth rates. Projected margins were based on the current cost structure including synergies achieved from the Altivity Transaction, as well as on-going cost savings initiatives. Other assumptions included a weighted average cost of capital of 8.0% as of October 1, 2009.

 

The Company performed sensitivity analyses related to the weighted average cost of capital and concluded that the weighted average cost of capital could increase by 150 basis points and all of the reporting units would continue to have estimated fair value in excess of carrying value.

 

The Company concluded that the fair value of its reporting units exceeded their carrying values including goodwill at October 1, 2009 and, therefore, that goodwill was not impaired.

 

The assumptions used in the goodwill impairment testing process could be adversely impacted by certain of the risks discussed in “Item 1A., Risk Factors” and thus could result in future goodwill impairment charges.

 

• Recovery of Long-Lived Assets

 

The Company reviews long-lived assets (including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets) for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such long-lived assets may not be fully recoverable by undiscounted cash flows. Measurement of the impairment loss, if any, is based on the fair value of the asset, which is determined by an income, cost or market approach. The Company evaluates the recovery of its long-lived assets by analyzing operating results and considering significant events or changes in the business environment that may have triggered impairment. See Note 13 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein under “Item 8., Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

• Deferred Income Taxes and Potential Assessments

 

As of December 31, 2009, the Company, in accordance with the Income Taxes topic of the FASB Codification, has determined that $83.8 million of undistributed foreign earnings are not intended to be reinvested indefinitely by its non-U.S. subsidiaries. Deferred income tax was recorded as a reduction to the

Company’s NOLs on these undistributed earnings as well as the financial statement carrying value in excess of tax basis in the amount of $32.0 million. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had determined that $68.4 million of undistributed foreign earnings were not intended to be reinvested indefinitely. Deferred income tax was recorded as a reduction to the Company’s NOLs on these undistributed earnings, as well as the financial statement carrying value in excess of tax basis in the amount of $30.5 million. The Company periodically determines whether the non-U.S. subsidiaries will invest their undistributed earnings indefinitely and reassesses this determination as appropriate.

 

The Company records current liabilities for potential assessments. The accruals relate to uncertain tax positions in a variety of taxing jurisdictions and are based on what management believes will be the most likely outcome of these positions. These liabilities may be affected by changing interpretations of laws, rulings by tax authorities, or the expiration of the statute of limitations.

 

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

For a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements impacting the Company, see Note 1 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein under “Item 8., Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

BUSINESS OUTLOOK

 

The Company expects to realize between $80 million and $100 million of year over year operating cost savings from its continuous improvement programs, including Lean Sigma manufacturing projects and synergies.

 

Total capital investment for 2010 is expected to be between $130 million and $150 million and is expected to relate principally to the Company’s process capability improvements (approximately $113 million), acquiring capital spares (approximately $20 million), and producing packaging machinery (approximately $7 million).

 

The Company also expects the following in 2010:

 

 

 

The Company does not trade or use derivative instruments with the objective of earning financial gains on interest or currency rates, nor does it use leveraged instruments or instruments where there are no underlying exposures identified.

 

Interest Rates

 

The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates, primarily as a result of its short-term and long-term debt, which bear both fixed and floating rate debt. The Company uses interest rate swap agreements effectively to fix the LIBOR rate on variable rate borrowings. At December 31, 2009, the Company had interest rate swap agreements with a notional amount of $2,170.0 million, including $400.0 million in forward starting interest rate swaps.

 

The table below sets forth interest rate sensitivity information related to the Company’s debt.

Long-Term Debt Principal Amount by Maturity-Average Interest Rate

 

 

Total Interest Rate Swaps-Notional Amount by Expiration-Average Swap Rate

 

 

Note:

 

 

Foreign Exchange Rates

 

The Company enters into forward exchange contracts to effectively hedge substantially all accounts receivable resulting from transactions denominated in foreign currencies. The purpose of these forward exchange contracts is to protect the Company from the risk that the eventual functional currency cash flows resulting from the collection of these accounts receivable will be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates. At December 31, 2009, multiple foreign currency forward exchange contracts existed, with maturities ranging up to three months. Those forward currency exchange contracts outstanding at December 31, 2009, when aggregated and measured in U.S. dollars at December 31, 2009 exchange rates, had net notional amounts totaling $10.1 million. The Company continuously monitors these forward exchange contracts and adjusts accordingly to minimize the exposure.

 

The Company also enters into forward exchange contracts to hedge certain other anticipated foreign currency transactions. The purpose of these contracts is to protect the Company from the risk that the eventual functional currency cash flows resulting from anticipated foreign currency transactions will be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, no amounts were reclassified to earnings in connection with forecasted transactions that were no longer considered probable of occurring and there was no amount of ineffectiveness related to changes in the fair value of foreign currency forward contracts. Additionally, there were no amounts excluded from the measure of effectiveness during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

Foreign Exchange Rates Contractual Amount by Expected
Maturity-Average Contractual Exchange Rate

 

 

Natural Gas Contracts

 

The Company entered into natural gas swap contracts to hedge prices for approximately 52% of its expected natural gas usage through December 2010 with a weighted average contractual rate of $5.68 per MMBTU. The carrying amount and fair value of the natural gas swap contracts is an asset of $0.3 million as of December 31, 2009, and is recorded as Other Current Assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Such contracts are designated as cash flow hedges and are accounted for by deferring the quarterly change in fair value of the outstanding contracts in Shareholders’ Equity. On the date a contract matures, the resulting gain or loss is reclassified into Cost of Sales concurrently with the recognition of the commodity purchased. The ineffective portion of the swap contracts change in fair value, if any, would be recognized immediately in earnings.

 

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

GRAPHIC PACKAGING HOLDING COMPANY

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS