PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

(a) General Development of Business

General

The Company is a leading global producer of industrial packaging products with manufacturing facilities located in over 40 countries. The Company offers a comprehensive line of industrial packaging products, such as steel, fibre and plastic drums, intermediate bulk containers, closure systems for industrial packaging products, and polycarbonate water bottles, which are complemented with a variety of value-added services, including blending, packaging, logistics and warehousing. The Company also produces containerboard and corrugated products for niche markets in North America. The Company sells timber to third parties from its timberland in the southeastern United States that it manages to maximize long-term value. The Company also sells, from time to time, timberland and special use land, which consists of surplus land, higher and better use (“HBU”) land, and development land. The Company also owns timberland in Canada that it does not actively manage. The Company’s customers range from Fortune 500 companies to medium and small-sized companies in a cross section of industries.

The Company was founded in 1877 in Cleveland Ohio, as "Vanderwyst and Greif," a cooperage shop co-founded by one of four Greif brothers. One year after its founding, the other three Greif brothers were invited to join the business, renamed Greif Bros. Company, making wooden barrels, casks and kegs to transport post-Civil War goods nationally and internationally. The Company later purchased nearly 300,000 acres of timberland to provide raw materials for the cooperage plants. The Company still owns forests located in the southeastern United States and in Canada. In the latter half of the 1900s, the Company transitioned from its keg and barrel heading mills, stave mills and cooperage facilities to the manufacturing of fibre, steel, and plastic drums; corrugated containers; intermediate bulk containers; corrugated products for transit protection; multiwall shipping bags; and containerboard. In 1926, the Company incorporated as a Delaware corporation and made its public offering as The Greif Bros. Cooperage Corporation. In 1951, the Company moved its headquarters from Cleveland, Ohio to Delaware, Ohio, which is in the Columbus metro-area,

where its corporate headquarters are currently located. Following the Van Leer acquisition in 2001, the Company changed its name from Greif Bros. Corporation to Greif, Inc.

(b) Financial Information about Segments

The Company operates in three business segments: Industrial Packaging & Services; Paper, Packaging & Services; and Timber. Information related to each of these segments is included in Note 15 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, which Note is incorporated herein by reference.

(c) Narrative Description of Business

Products and Services

In the Industrial Packaging & Services segment, the Company offers a comprehensive line of industrial packaging products, such as steel, fibre and plastic drums, intermediate bulk containers, closure systems for industrial packaging products, and polycarbonate water bottles, which are complemented with a variety of value-added services, including blending, packaging services, logistics and warehousing. The Company sells its industrial packaging products to customers in over 40 countries in industries such as chemicals, paints and pigments, food and beverage, petroleum, industrial coatings, agricultural, pharmaceutical and mineral, among others. In addition, the Company provides a variety of blending and packaging services, logistics and warehousing to customers in many of these same industries in North America.

In the Paper, Packaging & Services segment, the Company sells containerboard, corrugated sheets and other corrugated products and multiwall bags to customers in North America in industries such as packaging, automotive, food and building products. The Company’s corrugated container products are used to ship such diverse products as home appliances, small machinery, grocery products, building products, automotive components, books and furniture, as well as numerous other applications. The Company’s industrial and consumer multiwall bag products are used to ship a wide range of industrial and consumer products, such as fertilizers, chemicals, concrete, flour, sugar, feed, seed, pet foods, popcorn, charcoal and salt, primarily for the agricultural, chemical, building products and food industries.

In the Timber segment, the Company is focused on the active harvesting and regeneration of its United States timber

properties to achieve sustainable long-term yields. While timber sales are subject to fluctuations, the Company seeks to maintain a consistent cutting schedule, within the limits of market and weather conditions. We also sell, from time to time, timberland and special use land, which consists of surplus land, HBU land, and developmental land.

As of October 31, 2006, the Company owned approximately 266,700 acres of timber properties in the southeastern United States and approximately 37,400 acres of timber properties in Canada.

Customers

Due to the variety of its products, the Company has many customers buying different types of its products and, due to the scope of the Company’s sales, no one customer is considered principal in the total operation of the Company.

Backlog

The business of the Company is not seasonal to any significant extent. Because the Company supplies a cross section of industries, such as chemicals, food products, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals and metal products, and must make spot deliveries on a day-to-day basis as its products are required by its customers, the Company does not operate on a backlog to any significant extent and maintains only limited levels of finished goods. Many customers place their orders weekly for delivery during the week.

Competition

The markets in which the Company sells its products are highly competitive and comprised of many participants. Although no single company dominates, the Company faces significant competitors in each of its businesses. The Company’s competitors include large vertically integrated companies as well as numerous smaller companies. The industries in which the Company competes are particularly sensitive to price fluctuations caused by shifts in industry capacity and other cyclical industry conditions. Other competitive factors include design, quality and service, with varying emphasis depending on product line.

In the industrial packaging industry, the Company competes by offering a comprehensive line of products on a global basis. In

the paper and paper packaging industry, the Company competes by concentrating on providing value-added, higher-margin corrugated products to niche markets. In addition, over the past several years the Company has closed higher cost facilities and otherwise restructured its operations, which it believes has significantly improved its cost competitiveness.

Environmental Matters; Governmental Regulations

The Company’s operations are subject to extensive federal, state, local and international laws, regulations, rules and ordinances relating to pollution, the protection of the environment, the generation, storage, handling, transportation, treatment, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances and waste materials and numerous other environmental laws and regulations. In the ordinary course of business, the Company is subject to periodic environmental inspections and monitoring by governmental enforcement authorities. In addition, certain of the Company’s production facilities require environmental permits that are subject to revocation, modification and renewal.

Based on current information, the Company believes that the probable costs of the remediation of company-owned property will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations. The Company believes that its liability for these matters was adequately reserved as of October 31, 2006.

The Company does not believe that compliance with federal, state, local and international provisions, which have been enacted or adopted regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, has had or will have a material effect upon the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company. The Company does not anticipate any material capital expenditures related to environmental control in 2007.

See also Item 7 of this Form 10-K and Note 14 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information concerning environmental expenses and cash expenditures for 2006, 2005 and 2004, and the Company’s reserves for environmental liabilities at October 31, 2006.

Raw Materials

Steel, resin and containerboard are the principal raw materials for the Industrial Packaging & Services segment, and pulpwood, old corrugated containers for recycling and containerboard are

the principal raw materials for the Paper, Packaging & Services segment. The Company satisfies most of its needs for these raw materials through purchases on the open market or under short-term supply agreements. All of these raw materials are purchased in highly competitive, price-sensitive markets, which have historically exhibited price and demand cyclicality. From time to time, some of these raw materials have been in short supply, but to date these shortages have not had a significant effect on the Company’s operations.

Research and Development

While research and development projects are important to the Company’s continued growth, the amount expended in any year is not material in relation to the results of operations of the Company.

The Company’s business is not materially dependent upon patents, trademarks, licenses or franchises.

Employees

As of October 31, 2006, the Company had approximately 9,025 full time employees. Unions represent a significant number of the Company’s full time employees. The Company believes that its employee relations are generally good.

(d) Financial Information about Geographic Areas

The Company’s operations are located in North America, Europe and various other regions throughout the world. Information related to each of these areas is included in Note 15 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, which Note is incorporated herein by reference. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, included in Item 7A of this Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.

(e) Available Information

The Company maintains an Internet Web site at www.greif.com. The Company files reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and makes available, free of charge, on or through this Internet Web site, its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy and information statements and amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably possible after the Company electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC.

Any of the materials the Company files with the SEC may also be read and/or copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549. Information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet Web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

(f) Other Matters

The Company’s common equity securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbols GEF and GEF.B. Michael J. Gasser, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has timely certified to the NYSE that, at the date of the certification, he was unaware of any violation by the Company of the NYSE’s corporate governance listing standards. In addition, Mr. Gasser and Donald S. Huml, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, have provided certain certifications in this Form 10-K regarding the quality of the Company’s public disclosures. See Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to this Form 10-K.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Statements contained in this Form 10-K may be “forward-looking” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s operating results to differ materially from those projected. The following factors, among others, in some cases have affected, and in the future could affect, the Company’s actual financial performance. The terms “Greif,” “our company,” “we,” “us” and “our” as used in this discussion refer to Greif, Inc. and subsidiaries.

Our business is sensitive to changes in general economic or business conditions.

Our customers generally consist of other manufacturers and suppliers who purchase industrial packaging products and containerboard and related corrugated products for their own containment and shipping purposes. Because we supply a cross section of industries, such as chemicals, food products, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals and metal products, and have operations in many countries, demand for our industrial packaging products and containerboard and related corrugated products has historically corresponded to changes in general economic and business conditions of the industries and countries in which we operate. Accordingly, our financial performance is substantially dependent upon the general economic conditions existing in these industries and countries, and any prolonged or substantial economic downturn could have a material adverse affect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Our foreign operations are subject to currency exchange and political risks that could adversely affect our results of operations.

We have operations in over 40 countries. As a result of our international operations, we are subject to certain risks that could disrupt our operations or force us to incur unanticipated costs.

Our operating performance is affected by devaluations and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates by:

We are subject to various other risks associated with operating in international countries, such as the following:

We operate in highly competitive industries.

Each of our business segments operates in highly competitive industries. The most important competitive factors we face are price, quality and service. To the extent that one or more of our competitors become more successful with respect to any of these key competitive factors, we could lose customers and our sales could decline. In addition, due to the tendency of certain customers to diversify their suppliers, we could be unable to increase or maintain sales volumes with particular customers. Certain of our competitors are substantially larger and have significantly greater financial resources.

Our business is sensitive to changes in industry demands.

Industry demand for containerboard in the United States and certain of our industrial packaging products in our United States and international markets has varied in recent years causing competitive pricing pressures for those products. We compete in industries that are capital intensive, which generally leads to continued production as long as prices are sufficient to cover marginal costs. As a result, changes in industry demands, including industry over-capacity, may cause substantial price competition and, in turn, negatively impact our financial performance.

The continuing consolidation of our customer base for industrial packaging, containerboard and corrugated products may intensify pricing pressures and may negatively impact our financial performance.

Over the last few years, many of our large industrial packaging, containerboard and corrugated products customers have acquired, or been acquired by, companies with similar or complementary product lines. This consolidation has increased the concentration of our largest customers, and resulted in increased pricing pressures from our customers. The continuing consolidation of our customer base may negatively impact our financial performance.

Raw material and energy price fluctuations and shortages could adversely affect our ability to obtain the materials needed to manufacture our products and could adversely affect our manufacturing costs.

The principal raw materials used in the manufacture of our products are steel, resin, pulpwood, old corrugated containers for recycling, and containerboard, which we purchase in highly competitive, price sensitive markets. These raw materials have historically exhibited price and demand cyclicality. Some of these materials have been, and in the future may be, in short supply. However, we have not recently experienced any significant difficulty in obtaining our principal raw materials. We do not have long-term supply contracts or hedging arrangements in place for obtaining our principal raw materials.

The cost of producing our products is also sensitive to the price of energy. We have, from time to time, entered into short-term contracts to hedge certain of our energy costs. Energy prices, in particular oil and natural gas, have fluctuated in recent years, with a corresponding effect on our production costs.

Environmental and health and safety matters and product liability claims could negatively impact our operations and financial performance.

We must comply with extensive rules and regulations regarding federal, state, local and international environmental matters, such as air and water quality and waste disposal. We must also comply with extensive rules and regulations regarding safety and health matters. The failure to materially comply with such rules and regulations could adversely affect our operations and financial performance. Furthermore, litigation or claims against

us with respect to such matters could adversely affect our financial performance. We may also become subject to product liability claims, which could adversely affect our operations and financial performance.

Our business may be adversely impacted by work stoppages and other labor relations matters.

We are subject to risk of work stoppages and other labor relations matters because a significant number of our employees are represented by unions. We have experienced work stoppages and strikes in the past, and there may be work stoppages and strikes in the future. Any prolonged work stoppage or strike at any one of our principal manufacturing facilities could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

We may encounter difficulties arising from acquisitions.

During recent years, we have invested a substantial amount of capital in acquisitions. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including the failure to retain key customers, employees and contracts, the inability to integrate businesses without material disruption, unanticipated costs incurred in connection with integrating businesses and the incurrence of liabilities greater than anticipated or operating results that are less than anticipated. In addition, acquisitions and integration activities require time and attention of management and other key personnel, and other companies in our industries have similar acquisition strategies. There can be no assurance that any future acquisitions will be successfully integrated into our operations, that competition for acquisitions will not intensify or that we will be able to complete such acquisitions on acceptable terms and conditions. The costs of unsuccessful acquisition efforts may adversely affect our financial performance.

We may be subject to losses that might not be covered in whole or in part by existing insurance reserves or insurance coverage. These uninsured losses could adversely affect our financial performance.

We are self-insured for certain of the claims made under our employee medical and dental insurance programs and for certain of our workers’ compensation claims. We establish reserves for estimated costs related to pending claims, administrative fees and claims incurred but not reported.

Because establishing reserves is an inherently uncertain process involving estimates, currently established reserves may not be adequate to cover the actual liability for claims made under our employee medical and dental insurance programs and for certain of our workers’ compensation claims. If we conclude that our estimates are incorrect and our reserves are inadequate for these claims, we will need to increase our reserves, which could adversely affect our financial performance.

We carry comprehensive liability, fire and extended coverage insurance on most of our facilities, with policy specifications and insured limits customarily carried for similar properties. However, there are certain types of losses, such as losses resulting from wars, acts of terrorism, or natural disasters, that generally are not insured because they are either uninsurable or not economically insurable. Should an uninsured loss or a loss in excess of insured limits occur, we could lose capital invested in that property, as well as the anticipated future revenues derived from the manufacturing activities conducted at that property, while remaining obligated for any mortgage indebtedness or other financial obligations related to the property. Any such loss would adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We purchase insurance policies covering general liability and product liability with substantial policy limits. However, there can be no assurance that any liability claim would be adequately covered by our applicable insurance policies or it would not be excluded from coverage based on the terms and conditions of the policy. This could also apply to any applicable contractual indemnity.

The frequency and volume of our timber and timberland sales will impact our financial performance.

We have a significant inventory of standing timber and timberland and approximately 63,050 acres of special use properties in the United States and Canada. The frequency and volume of sales of timber, timberland and special use properties will have an effect on our financial performance. In addition, volatility in the real estate market and a reduction in demand for special use properties could negatively affect our results of operations.

ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

The Company also owns a substantial number of scattered timber tracts comprising approximately 266,700 acres in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi and approximately 37,400 acres in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec in Canada as of October 31, 2006.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company has no pending material legal proceedings.

From time to time, various legal proceedings arise at the country, state or local levels involving environmental sites to which the Company has shipped, directly or indirectly, small amounts of toxic waste, such as paint solvents, etc. The Company, to date, has been classified as a “de minimis” participant and, as such, has not been subject, in any instance, to sanctions of $100,000 or more.

In addition, from time to time, but less frequently, the Company has been cited for violations of environmental regulations. None of these violations involve or are expected to involve sanctions of $100,000 or more, except for a notice of violation received by the Company from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for alleged clean-air violations at its steel drum facility in Alsip, Illinois. The alleged violations relate to two industrial process cooling towers at the facility that have been monitored by a third party for many years and involve the chemicals supplied and used by that third party in connection with treating the cooling system. The sanctions for such alleged violations could exceed $100,000, but are not expected to be material to the Company.

ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Shares of the Company’s Class A and Class B Common Stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols GEF and GEF.B, respectively.

Financial information regarding the Company’s two classes of common stock, as well as the number of holders of each class and the high, low and closing sales prices for each class for each quarterly period for the two most recent fiscal years, is included in Note 16 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, which Note is incorporated herein by reference.

The Company pays quarterly dividends of varying amounts computed on the basis described in Note 9 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, which Note is incorporated herein by reference. The annual dividends paid for the last two fiscal years are as follows:

2006 fiscal year dividends per share – Class A $1.20; Class B $1.79

2005 fiscal year dividends per share – Class A $0.80; Class B $1.19

The terms of both the Company’s Credit Agreement and the Indenture for the Company’s Senior Subordinated Notes limit the ability of the Company to make “restricted payments,” which include dividends and purchases, redemptions and acquisitions of equity interests of the Company. The payment of dividends and other restricted payments are subject to the condition that certain defaults not exist under the terms of those agreements and are limited in amount by a formula based on the consolidated net income of the Company. See “Borrowing Arrangements” in Item 7 of this Form 10-K.

The following tables set forth the Company’s purchases of its Class A and Class B Common Stock during 2006:

Issuer Purchases of Class A Common Stock

Issuer Purchases of Class B Common Stock

CorrChoice, Inc., which had been a joint venture of the Company, redeemed all of the outstanding shares of its minority shareholders on September 30, 2003. As a result of this transaction, the results of CorrChoice, Inc. and its subsidiaries were fully consolidated, net of intercompany eliminations, in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income for 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003. In 2003, the Company recorded a minority interest deduction through September 30, 2003. In 2002, the Company recorded a 63.24 percent equity interest in the net income of CorrChoice, Inc.

The results of operations include the effects of pretax restructuring charges of $33.2 million, $35.7 million, $54.1 million, $60.7 million and $2.8 million for 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, a $2.8 million and $10.3 million pretax debt extinguishment charge for 2005 and 2002, respectively, and large timberland gains of $41.3 and $56.3 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively.

In 2003, the Company recorded income of $4.8 million related to a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle resulting from the adjustment of its unamortized negative goodwill in accordance with the transition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141, “Business Combinations,” upon the adoption of SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The purpose of this section is to discuss and analyze our consolidated financial condition, liquidity and capital resources and results of operations. This analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes, which appear elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The terms “Greif,” “our company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” as used in this discussion refer to Greif, Inc. and subsidiaries. Our fiscal year begins on November 1 and ends on October 31 of the following year. Any references in this Form 10-K to the years 2006, 2005 or 2004, or to any quarter of those years, relate to the fiscal year ending in that year.

Business Segments

We operate in three business segments: Industrial Packaging & Services; Paper, Packaging & Services; and Timber.

We are a leading global provider of industrial packaging products such as steel, fibre and plastic drums, intermediate bulk containers, closure systems for industrial packaging products, and polycarbonate water bottles, which are complemented with a variety of value-added services, including blending, packaging, logistics and warehousing. We seek to provide complete packaging solutions to our customers by offering a comprehensive range of products and services on a global basis. We sell our products to customers

in industries such as chemicals, paint and pigments, food and beverage, petroleum, industrial coatings, agricultural, pharmaceutical and mineral, among others. In addition, the Company provides a variety of blending and packaging services, logistics and warehousing to customers in many of these same industries in North America.

We sell our containerboard, corrugated sheets and other corrugated products and multiwall bags to customers in North America in industries such as packaging, automotive, food and building products. Our corrugated container products are used to ship such diverse products as home appliances, small machinery, grocery products, building products, automotive components, books and furniture, as well as numerous other applications. Our full line of multiwall bag products is used to ship a wide range of industrial and consumer products, such as fertilizers, chemicals, concrete, flour, sugar, feed, seed, pet foods, popcorn, charcoal and salt, primarily for the agricultural, chemical, building products and food industries.

As of October 31, 2006, we owned approximately 266,700 acres of timber properties in the southeastern United States, which is actively managed, and approximately 37,400 acres of timber properties in Canada. Our timber management is focused on the active harvesting and regeneration of our timber properties to achieve sustainable long-term yields on our timberland. While timber sales are subject to fluctuations, we seek to maintain a consistent cutting schedule, within the limits of available merchantable acreage of timber, market and weather conditions. We also sell, from time to time, timberland and special use land, which consists of surplus land, higher and better use (“HBU”) land, and development land.

Critical Accounting Policies

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The preparation of these consolidated financial statements, in accordance with these principles, require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our consolidated financial statements.

A summary of our significant accounting policies is included in Note 1 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. We believe that the consistent application of these policies enables us to provide readers of the consolidated financial statements with useful and reliable information about our results of operations and financial condition. The following are the accounting policies that we believe are most important to the portrayal of our results of operations and financial condition and require our most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

Allowance for Accounts Receivable. We evaluate the collectibility of our accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In circumstances where we are aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations to us, we record a specific allowance for bad debts against amounts due to reduce the net recognized receivable to the amount we reasonably believe will be collected. In addition, we recognize allowances for bad debts based on the length of time receivables are past due with allowance percentages, based on our historical experiences, applied on a graduated scale relative to the age of the receivable amounts. If circumstances change (e.g., higher than expected bad debt experience or an unexpected material adverse change in a major customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations to us), our estimates of the recoverability of amounts due to us could change by a material amount.

Inventory Reserves. Reserves for slow moving and obsolete inventories are provided based on historical experience and product demand. We continuously evaluate the adequacy of these reserves and make adjustments to these reserves as required.

Net Assets Held for Sale. Net assets held for sale represent land, buildings and land improvements less accumulated depreciation for locations that have been closed. We record net assets held for sale in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” at the lower of carrying value or fair value less cost to sell. Fair value is based on the estimated proceeds from the sale of the facility utilizing recent purchase offers, market comparables and/or data obtained from our commercial real estate broker. Our estimate as to fair value is regularly reviewed and subject to changes in the commercial real estate markets and our continuing evaluation as to the facility’s acceptable sale price.

Properties, Plants and Equipment. Depreciation on properties, plants and equipment is provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of our assets.

We own timber properties in the southeastern United States and in Canada. With respect to our United States timber properties, which consisted of approximately 266,700 acres at October 31, 2006, depletion expense is computed on the basis of cost and the estimated recoverable timber acquired. Our land costs are maintained by tract. Merchantable timber costs are maintained by five product classes, pine sawtimber, pine chip-n-saw, pine pulpwood, hardwood sawtimber and hardwood pulpwood, within a “depletion block,” with each depletion block based upon a geographic district or subdistrict. Currently, we have 11 depletion blocks. These same depletion blocks are used for pre-merchantable timber costs. Each year, we estimate the volume of our merchantable timber for the five product classes by each depletion block. These estimates are based on the current state in the growth cycle and not on quantities to be available in future years. Our estimates do not include costs to be incurred in the future. We then project these volumes to the end of the year. Upon acquisition of a new timberland tract, we record separate amounts for land, merchantable timber and pre-merchantable timber allocated as a percentage of the values being purchased. These acquisition volumes and costs acquired during the year are added to the totals for each product class within the appropriate depletion block(s). The total of the beginning, one-year growth and acquisition volumes are divided by the total undepleted historical cost to arrive at a depletion rate, which is then used for the current year. As timber is sold, we multiply the volumes sold by the depletion rate for the current year to arrive at the depletion cost. Our Canadian timber properties, which consisted of approximately 37,400 acres at October 31, 2006, did not have any depletion expense since they are not actively managed at this time.

We believe that the lives and methods of determining depreciation and depletion are reasonable; however, using other lives and methods could provide materially different results.

Restructuring Reserves. Restructuring reserves are determined in accordance with appropriate accounting guidance, including SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities,” and Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 100, “Restructuring and Impairment Charges,” depending upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the situation. Restructuring reserves are further discussed in Note 5 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

Pension and Postretirement Benefits. Pension and postretirement benefit expenses are determined by our actuaries

using assumptions about the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, rate of compensation increase and health care cost trend rates. Further discussion of our pension and postretirement benefit plans and related assumptions is contained in Notes 12 and 13 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The results would be different using other assumptions.

Income Taxes. Our effective tax rate is based on income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available to us in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Significant judgment is required in determining our effective tax rate and in evaluating our tax positions. We establish reserves when, despite our belief that our tax return positions are fully supportable, we believe that certain positions are likely to be challenged and that we may not succeed. We adjust these reserves in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of a tax audit. Our effective tax rate includes the impact of reserve provisions and changes to reserves that we consider appropriate as well as related interest.

A number of years may elapse before a particular matter, for which we have established a reserve, is audited and finally resolved. The number of years with open tax audits varies depending on the tax jurisdiction. While it is often difficult to predict the final outcome or the timing of resolution of any particular tax matter, we believe that our reserves reflect the probable outcome of known tax contingencies. Unfavorable settlement of any particular issue would require use of our cash. Favorable resolution would be recognized as a reduction to our effective tax rate in the period of resolution.

Valuation allowances are established where expected future taxable income does not support the realization of the deferred tax assets.

Environmental Cleanup Costs. We expense environmental expenditures related to existing conditions caused by past or current operations and from which no current or future benefit is discernable. Expenditures that extend the life of the related property, or mitigate or prevent future environmental contamination, are capitalized.

Environmental expenses were $1.6 million in 2006, insignificant in 2005, and $0.6 million in 2004. Environmental cash expenditures were $1.8 million, $2.0 million, and $0.7 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Our reserves for environmental liabilities at October 31, 2006 amounted to

$14.9 million, which included a reserve of $4.6 million related to our facility in Lier, Belgium, $6.0 million related to our blending facility in Chicago, Illinois, acquired in September 2006, and $4.3 million for asserted and unasserted environmental litigation, claims and/or assessments at several manufacturing sites and other locations where we believe the outcome of such matters will be unfavorable to us. The environmental exposures for those sites included in the $4.3 million reserve were not individually significant. The reserve for the Lier, Belgium site is based on environmental studies that have been conducted at this location. The Lier, Belgium site is being monitored by the Public Flemish Waste Company (“PFWC”), which is the Belgian body for waste control. PFWC must approve all remediation efforts that are undertaken by us at this site. The reserve for the facility in Chicago, Illinois and other larger exposures are based on environmental studies and cost estimates provided by third parties, but the reserves for less significant exposures are principally based on management estimates.

We anticipate that cash expenditures in future periods for remediation costs at identified sites will be made over an extended period of time. Given the inherent uncertainties in evaluating environmental exposures, actual costs may vary from those estimated at October 31, 2006. Our exposure to adverse developments with respect to any individual site is not expected to be material. Although environmental remediation could have a material effect on results of operations if a series of adverse developments occur in a particular quarter or fiscal year, we believe that the chance of a series of adverse developments occurring in the same quarter or fiscal year is remote. Future information and developments will require us to continually reassess the expected impact of these environmental matters.

Self-Insurance. We are self-insured for certain of the claims made under our employee medical and dental insurance programs. We had recorded liabilities totaling $2.7 million and $4.0 million for estimated costs related to outstanding claims at October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These costs include an estimate for expected settlements on pending claims, administrative fees and an estimate for claims incurred but not reported. These estimates are based on our assessment of outstanding claims, historical analysis and current payment trends. We record an estimate for the claims incurred but not reported using an estimated lag period based upon historical information. This lag period assumption has been consistently applied for the periods presented. If the lag period was

hypothetically adjusted by a period equal to a half month, the impact on earnings would be approximately $0.7 million. However, we believe the liabilities recorded are adequate based upon current facts and circumstances.

We have certain deductibles applied to various insurance policies including general liability, product, auto and workers’ compensation. Deductible liabilities are insured through our captive insurance subsidiary, which had recorded liabilities totaling $19.7 million and $18.2 million for anticipated costs related to general liability, product, auto and workers’ compensation at October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These costs include an estimate for expected settlements on pending claims, defense costs and an estimate for claims incurred but not reported. These estimates are based on our assessment of outstanding claims, historical analysis, actuarial information and current payment trends.

Contingencies. Various lawsuits, claims and proceedings have been or may be instituted or asserted against us, including those pertaining to environmental, product liability, and safety and health matters. We are continually consulting legal counsel and evaluating requirements to reserve for contingencies in accordance with SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies.” While the amounts claimed may be substantial, the ultimate liability cannot currently be determined because of the considerable uncertainties that exist. Based on the facts currently available, we believe the disposition of matters that are pending will not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill, Other Intangible Assets and Other Long-Lived Assets. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are no longer amortized, but instead are periodically reviewed for impairment as required by SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” The costs of acquired intangible assets determined to have definite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated economic lives of two to 20 years. Our policy is to periodically review other intangible assets subject to amortization and other long-lived assets based upon the evaluation of such factors as the occurrence of a significant adverse event or change in the environment in which the business operates, or if the expected future net cash flows (undiscounted and without interest) would become less than the carrying amount of the asset. An impairment loss would be recorded in the period such determination is made based on the fair value of the related assets.

Fiscal Year 2006 Compared to Fiscal Year 2005

Overview

Net sales were $2.6 billion in 2006 compared to $2.4 billion in 2005 – an increase of 8 percent excluding the impact of foreign currency translation. The $204.2 million increase was almost entirely attributable to positive contributions from the Industrial Packaging & Services segment ($141.1 million) and the Paper, Packaging & Services segment ($60.2 million). This increase was primarily due to generally higher sales volumes and improved pricing across our product portfolio.

Operating profit was $246.2 million in 2006 compared to $191.9 million in 2005. Operating profit before the impact of restructuring charges and timberland gains was $238.1 million in 2006 compared to $171.4 million in 2005. The $66.7 million increase was due to positive contributions from the Industrial Packaging & Services segment ($40.3 million), the Paper, Packaging & Services segment ($23.8 million) and the Timber segment ($2.7 million). Included in these amounts are gains on asset disposals, including the sale of corporate surplus properties, special use properties, the sale of a closed facility and the disposal of a warehouse. There were $33.2 million and $35.7 million of restructuring charges and $41.3 million and $56.3 million of timberland gains during 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Segment Review

Industrial Packaging & Services

The Industrial Packaging & Services segment offers a comprehensive line of industrial packaging products and services, such as steel, fibre and plastic drums, intermediate bulk containers, closure systems for industrial packaging products, polycarbonate water bottles, blending and packaging services, logistics and warehousing. The key factors influencing profitability in the Industrial Packaging & Services segment are:

In this segment, net sales were $1.9 billion in 2006 compared to $1.8 billion in 2005. Net sales rose 8 percent, excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, for 2006 from last year. The improvement in net sales was primarily due to strong organic growth, which included higher sales volumes in emerging markets such as China and Russia. This segment also benefited from two fourth quarter 2005 tuck-in acquisitions and the acquisition of Delta Petroleum Company, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the fourth quarter of 2006. Sales volumes declined in the United Kingdom and France as a result of restructuring activities.

Operating profit was $139.0 million in 2006 compared to $91.4 million in 2005. Operating profit before the impact of restructuring charges rose to $163.1 million in 2006 from $122.8 million in 2005 primarily due to the improvement in net sales and gross profit margin. The Industrial Packaging & Services segment’s gross profit margin improved to 18.5 percent in 2006 from 16.3 percent in 2005 due to higher sales volumes and the Greif Business System, particularly the impact of strategic sourcing (see “Other Income Statement Changes – Restructuring Charges” below). Restructuring charges were $24.0 million in 2006 compared with $31.4 million last year.

Paper, Packaging & Services

The Paper, Packaging & Services segment sells containerboard, corrugated sheets and other corrugated products and multiwall bags in North America. The key factors influencing profitability in the Paper, Packaging & Services segment are:

In this segment, net sales were $668.0 million in 2006 compared to $607.8 million in 2005 primarily due to higher containerboard prices and higher containerboard, corrugated sheet and multiwall bag sales volumes compared to the prior year.

Operating profit was $55.2 million in 2006 compared to $36.3 million in 2005. Operating profit before the impact of restructuring charges was $64.4 million in 2006 compared to $40.6 million in 2005 primarily due to the improvement in net sales and gross profit margin. The Paper, Packaging & Services segment’s gross profit margin improved to 17.5 percent in 2006

from 15.3 percent in 2005. This improvement over last year was primarily due to higher containerboard pricing levels and the Greif Business System partially offset by approximately $14.7 million in higher energy and transportation costs. Restructuring charges were $9.2 million in 2006 compared to $4.3 million in 2005 (see “Other Income Statement Changes – Restructuring Charges” below).

Timber

The Timber segment consists of approximately 266,700 acres of timber properties in southeastern United States, which are actively harvested and regenerated, and approximately 37,400 acres in Canada. The key factors influencing profitability in the Timber segment are:

Net sales were $15.1 million in 2006 compared to $12.3 million in 2005. While timber sales are subject to fluctuations, we seek to maintain a consistent cutting schedule, within the limits of market and weather conditions. Current year timber sales were in line with our expectations.

Operating profit was $51.9 million in 2006 compared to $64.2 million in 2005. Operating profit before the impact of restructuring charges and timberland gains was $10.6 million (including $4.6 million of profits on special use property sales) in 2006 compared to $8.0 million in 2005. Timberland gains were $41.3 million in 2006 and $56.3 million in 2005, and restructuring charges were insignificant in both years.

In order to maximize the value of our timber property, we have reviewed our current portfolio and have been exploring the development of certain of these properties in Canada and the United States. This process has led us to characterize our property as follows:

We report the sale of surplus and HBU property in our consolidated statement of income under “gain on sale of assets” and report the sale of development property under “net sales” and “cost of products sold.” All HBU and development property, together with surplus property will continue to be used by us to productively grow and sell timber until sold.

Whether timberland has a higher value for uses other than growing and selling timber is a determination based upon several variables, such as, proximity to population centers, anticipated population growth in the area, the topography of the land, aesthetic considerations, including access to lakes or rivers, the condition of the surrounding land, availability of utilities, markets for timber and economic considerations both nationally and locally. Given these considerations, the characterization of land is not a static process, but requires an ongoing review and re-characterization as circumstances change.

At October 31, 2006, we estimated that there were 63,050 acres in Canada and the United States of special use property, which will be available for sale in the next five to seven years.

Other Income Statement Changes

Cost of Products Sold

Cost of products sold, as a percentage of net sales, decreased to 81.8 percent in 2006 from 83.9 percent in 2005. Cost of products sold, as a percentage of net sales, primarily decreased as a result of the improvement in net sales and positive contributions from the Greif Business System (see “Other Income Statement Changes – Restructuring Charges” below). These positive factors were partially offset by higher transportation and energy costs compared to 2005.

Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) Expenses

SG&A expenses were $259.1 million, or 9.9 percent of net sales, in 2006 compared to $224.7 million, or 9.3 percent of net sales, in 2005. SG&A expenses, as a percentage of net sales, increased primarily due to higher accruals for performance-based incentive plans resulting from improvements in our results.

Restructuring Charges

During 2006, we recorded restructuring charges of $33.2 million, consisting of $16.8 million in employee separation costs, $8.3 million in asset impairments, $2.0 million in professional fees and $6.1 million in other restructuring costs, primarily consisting of moving and lease terminations costs. Four company-owned plants have been closed. Three plants in the Paper, Packaging & Services segment and one in the Industrial Packaging & Services segment were closed. The Industrial Packaging & Services segment reduced the number plants in the United Kingdom from five to three; merged operations of businesses purchased in October 2005 into existing North American plants; and consolidated one plant in France. In addition, severance costs were incurred due to the elimination of certain operating and administrative positions throughout the world. The total employees severed in 2006 was 281.

Our transformation to the Greif Business System, which began in 2003, continues to generate productivity improvements and achieve permanent cost reductions via improved labor productivity, material yield, other manufacturing efficiencies, footprint rationalization, strategic sourcing and SG&A optimization. The transformation efforts began in 2003 with a focus on SG&A optimization, which has resulted in approximately $60 million of annual cost savings.

In 2004 and 2005, we focused on becoming a leaner, more market-focused/performance-driven company. This final phase of the transformation to the Greif Business System has achieved additional annualized benefits of approximately $65 million.

Based on the foregoing we have achieved cumulative annual benefits from the Greif Business System of approximately $175 million through the end of 2006, including approximately $50 million in 2006. Additional incremental contributions from the Greif Business System are expected to be approximately $30 million in 2007. Any 2007 restructuring costs are expected to relate to acquisition integration in the Industrial Packaging & Services segment and further implementation of the Greif Business System in the Paper, Packaging & Services segment.

See Note 5 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional disclosures regarding our restructuring activities.

Gain on Sale of Timberland

The gain on sale of timberland decreased $15.0 million to $41.3 million in 2006 as compared to $56.3 million in 2005. These gains are the result of sales of timberland and are volatile from period to period.

In May 2005, we completed the first phase of the $90 million sale of 56,000 acres of timberland, timber and associated assets. In this first phase, 35,000 acres of our timberland holdings in Florida, Georgia and Alabama were sold for $51.0 million, resulting in a gain of $42.1 million in the third quarter of 2005. In the second phase, 15,300 acres of our timberland holdings in Florida were sold for $29.3 million, resulting in a gain of $27.4 million in the first quarter of 2006. In the final phase, we sold 5,700 acres of timberland in the second quarter of 2006 for $9.7 million, resulting in a gain of $9.0 million.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net, was $36.0 million and $39.3 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively. The decrease was primarily due to interest received on higher cash and cash equivalents balances, partially offset by interest paid on higher long-term and short-term borrowings, during 2006 compared to 2005.

Debt Extinguishment Charge

During the second quarter of 2005, we entered into a new revolving credit facility to improve pricing and financial flexibility. As a result, we recorded a $2.8 million debt extinguishment charge in 2005. There was no debt extinguishment charge in 2006.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other expense, net, was $2.3 million in 2006 compared to other income, net, of $2.4 million in 2005. The decrease was primarily due to the recording of $0.4 million in net gains related to foreign currency translation in 2006 versus $3.4 million in 2005 and other infrequent non-operating items recorded in 2005.

Income Tax Expense

During 2006, the effective tax rate was 30.7 percent as compared to 30.9 percent in 2005. In future years, the effective tax rate may fluctuate based on the mix of income inside and outside the United States and other factors.

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates and Minority Interests

Equity in earnings of affiliates and minority interests was $1.9 million for 2006 as compared to $0.5 million for 2005. We have majority holdings in various companies, and the minority interests of other persons in the respective net income of these companies have been recorded as an expense. These expenses were partially offset by equity in the earnings of Balmer-Lawrie Van Leer.

Net Income

Based on the foregoing, net income increased $37.4 million to $142.1 million for 2006 from $104.7 million in 2005.

Fiscal Year 2005 Compared to Fiscal Year 2004

Overview

Net sales rose 10 percent (8 percent excluding the impact of foreign currency translation) to a record $2.4 billion in 2005 from $2.2 billion in 2004. The net sales improvement was attributable to the Industrial Packaging & Services segment ($183.4 million increase) and the Paper, Packaging & Services segment ($39.7 million increase), partially offset by $8.1 million of lower planned sales in the Timber segment. Increased selling prices, primarily in response to higher year-over-year raw material costs, were partially offset by lower volumes for certain products, which reflected soft market conditions experienced by a number of our customers.

Operating profit was $191.9 million in 2005 compared with operating profit of $108.7 million in 2004. Restructuring charges were $35.7 million and $54.1 million and timberland gains were $56.3 million and $7.5 million during 2005 and 2004, respectively. Operating profit before the impact of restructuring charges and timberland gains increased 10 percent to $171.4 million in 2005 compared with $155.3 million in 2004. This increase was primarily attributable to the Industrial Packaging & Services segment ($10.9 million increase) and the Paper, Packaging & Services segment ($11.1 million increase), partially offset by a $5.9 million decline in the Timber segment due to lower planned sales for the year.

Segment Review

Industrial Packaging & Services

The Industrial Packaging & Services segment offers a comprehensive line of industrial packaging products, such as

steel, fibre and plastic drums, intermediate bulk containers, closure systems for industrial packaging products and polycarbonate water bottles throughout the world. The key factors influencing improved profitability in 2005 compared to 2004 in the Industrial Packaging & Services segment were:

In this segment, net sales rose 11 percent to $1.8 billion in 2005 from $1.6 billion in 2004. Net sales increased 9 percent excluding the impact of foreign currency translation. Net sales rose primarily as a result of higher selling prices in response to higher raw material costs during the year, especially steel and resin, compared to 2004. The improvement attributable to the higher selling prices was partially offset by slightly lower sales volumes for certain products, especially steel and fibre drums.

Operating profit was $91.4 million in 2005 compared with $67.0 million in 2004. Restructuring charges were $31.4 million in 2005 compared with $45.0 million a year ago. Operating profit before the impact of restructuring charges rose to $122.8 million in 2005 from $111.9 million in 2004. This increase was primarily due to improved net sales. However, the Industrial Packaging & Services segment’s gross profit margin declined to 16.3 percent in 2005 from 17.4 percent in 2004. This decline was due to higher raw material costs, which were partially offset by improved net sales coupled with labor and other manufacturing efficiencies resulting from the Greif Business System (see “Other Income Statement Changes —Restructuring Charges” below).

Paper, Packaging & Services

The Paper, Packaging & Services segment sells containerboard, corrugated sheets and other corrugated products and multiwall bags in North America. The key factors influencing improved profitability in 2005 compared to 2004 in the Paper, Packaging & Services segment were:

In this segment, net sales rose 7 percent to $607.8 million in 2005 from $568.1 million last year due to improved selling prices for this segment’s products, partially offset by lower sales volumes for certain products, especially corrugated sheets and containers.

Operating profit was $36.3 million in 2005 compared to $20.5 million in 2004. Restructuring charges were $4.3 million in 2005 versus $8.9 million a year ago. Operating profit before the impact of restructuring charges was $40.6 million in 2005 compared to $29.5 million in 2004. This increase was primarily due to improved net sales, partially offset by higher transportation and energy costs. The Paper, Packaging & Services segment’s gross profit margin increased to 15.3 percent in 2005 from 14.8 percent in 2004 due to improved net sales and labor efficiencies resulting from the Greif Business System (see “Other Income Statement Changes — Restructuring Charges” below).

Timber

As of October 31, 2005, the Timber segment owned approximately 250,000 acres of timber properties in southeastern United States, which are actively harvested and regenerated, and approximately 37,000 acres in Canada. The key factors influencing profitability in 2005 compared to 2004 in the Timber segment were:

Timber net sales were $12.3 million in 2005 compared to $20.4 million in 2004. While timber sales are subject to fluctuations, we seek to maintain a consistent cutting schedule, within the limits of market and weather conditions.

Operating profit was $64.2 million in 2005 compared to $21.2 million in 2004. Restructuring charges were not significant for either year and timberland gains were $56.3 million in 2005 and $7.5 million in 2004. Operating profit before the impact of restructuring charges and timberland gains was $8.0 million in 2005 compared to $13.9 million in 2004. The decrease in operating profit, before the impact of restructuring charges and timberland gains, was primarily a result of lower timber sales.

Other Income Statement Changes

Cost of Products Sold

Cost of products sold, as a percentage of net sales, increased to 83.9 percent in 2005 from 83.1 percent in 2004. Cost of

products sold, as a percentage of net sales, primarily increased as a result of higher raw material costs, primarily steel and resin, that caused a 400 basis point increase over the prior year. Lower absorption of fixed costs and Timber segment sales, which have a lower cost than our other products, and higher energy costs also caused our cost of products sold, as a percentage of net sales, to increase. These negative factors to our cost of products sold were partially mitigated by improved selling prices and efficiencies in labor and other manufacturing costs related to the Greif Business System (see “Restructuring Charges” below).

Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) Expenses

SG&A expenses were $224.7 million, or 9.3 percent of net sales, in 2005 compared to $218.8 million, or 9.9 percent of net sales, in 2004. SG&A expenses, as a percentage of net sales, declined primarily as a result of the Greif Business System and our continued focus on controllable costs. In 2005, professional fees related to compliance with §404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 were approximately $3.0 million over the 2004 fees.

Restructuring Charges

As part of the transformation to the Greif Business System, we closed four company-owned plants and a distribution center in the Industrial Packaging & Services segment during 2005. Two of the plants and a distribution center were located in North America and two were located in the United Kingdom. In addition, corporate and administrative staff reductions were made throughout the world. As a result of the transformation to the Greif Business System, during 2005, we recorded restructuring charges of $31.8 million, consisting of $15.7 million in employee separation costs, $2.5 million in asset impairments, $3.7 million in professional fees directly related to the transformation to the Greif Business System and $9.9 million in other costs which primarily represented moving and lease termination costs. During 2005, we also recorded $3.9 million of restructuring charges related to the impairment of two facilities that were closed during previous restructuring programs. The asset impairment charges that relate to the write-down to fair value of building and equipment were based on recent purchase offers, market comparables and/or data obtained from our commercial real estate broker.

See Note 5 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional disclosures regarding our restructuring activities.

Gain on Sale of Timberland

The gain on sale of timberland increased $48.8 million to $56.3 million in 2005 as compared to $7.5 million in 2004. The increase in the gain on sale of timberland in 2005 compared to 2004 was primarily due to the significant May 2005 timberland transaction described below.

In May 2005, we completed the first phase of the $90 million sale of 56,000 acres of timberland, timber and associated assets. In this first phase, 35,000 acres of our timberland holdings in Florida, Georgia and Alabama were sold for $51.0 million, resulting in a gain of $42.1 million in the third quarter of 2005.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net was $39.3 million and $45.3 million in 2005 and 2004, respectively. Lower average debt outstanding was partially offset by higher interest rates during 2005 compared to 2004.

Debt Extinguishment Charge

During the second quarter of 2005, we entered into a new revolving credit facility to improve pricing and financial flexibility. As a result, we recorded a $2.8 million debt extinguishment charge.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net, increased to $2.4 million in 2005 as compared to $0.3 million in 2004. The increase was primarily due to the recording of $1.1 million in net gains related to foreign currency translation in 2005 as compared to net losses of $1.5 million in 2004 and other infrequent non-operating items recorded in 2005.

Income Tax Expense

During 2005, the effective tax rate was 30.9 percent as compared to 24.5 percent in 2004 resulting primarily from a change in the mix of income inside and outside the United States.

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates and Minority Interests

Equity in earnings of affiliates and minority interests was a negative $0.5 million for 2005 as compared to $0.4 million for 2004. We have majority holdings in various companies, and the minority interests of other persons in the respective net income of these companies have been recorded as an expense. These

expenses were partially offset by equity in earnings of Socer-Embalagens, Lda. (sold during the third quarter of 2004) and Balmer Lawrie–Van Leer.

Net Income

Based on the foregoing, net income increased $56.9 million to $104.7 million for 2005 from $47.8 million in 2004.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our primary sources of liquidity are operating cash flows, the proceeds from our trade accounts receivable credit facility, proceeds from the sale of our European accounts receivable and borrowings under our Credit Agreement, further discussed below. We have used these sources to fund our working capital needs, capital expenditures, cash dividends, common stock repurchases and acquisitions. We anticipate continuing to fund these items in a like manner. We currently expect that operating cash flows, the proceeds from our trade accounts receivable credit facility, proceeds from the sale of our European accounts receivable and borrowings under our Credit Agreement will be sufficient to fund our currently anticipated working capital, capital expenditures, debt repayment, potential acquisitions of businesses and other liquidity needs for the foreseeable future.

Capital Expenditures and Business Acquisitions

During 2006, 2005 and 2004, we invested $75.6 million, excluding $62.1 million for timberland properties, $67.8 million (excluding $17.5 million for timberland properties), and $50.2 million (excluding $12.6 million for timberland properties), in capital expenditures, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2006, we completed two acquisitions for an aggregate purchase price of $102.0 million. These two acquisitions were Delta Petroleum Company, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Delta”), a blender and packager of lubricants, chemicals, and glycol-based products in North America, and an industrial packaging company located in Russia. On November 30, 2006, we acquired the steel drum manufacturing and closures business of Blagden Packaging Group for €205.0 million. In addition, in November 2006, we acquired two small industrial packaging companies in the United States for an aggregate purchase price of $33.7 million. See Note 2 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional disclosures regarding our acquisitions.

We anticipate future capital expenditures excluding the potential purchase of timberland property of approximately

$95 million through October 31, 2007. These expenditures are primarily to replace and improve equipment and to fund new plants in growth markets.

Balance Sheet Changes

The $64.7 million increase in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to strong cash flows from operating activities, partially offset by acquisitions, capital expenditures, debt repayments and dividends paid.

The $57.0 million increase in trade accounts receivable was due to the increase in sales on a fourth quarter of 2006 versus fourth quarter of 2005 comparison, as well as the Delta acquisition.

The $34.5 million increase in inventories was primarily due to the Delta acquisition.

The $5.0 million decrease in net assets held for sale was related to the close of two plants.

Net property increased by $78.9 million, primarily due to the Delta acquisition and timberland purchases.

Goodwill increased $22.9 million and indefinite-lived intangibles increased $38.4 million. These increases are the result of industrial packaging acquisitions (see Note 2 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

The $67.1 million increase in accounts payable was comprised of $38.6 million due to the Delta acquisition and the timing of payments made to our suppliers.

The $26.9 million decrease in the pension liability was due to a reduction of the additional minimum liability adjustment.

Borrowing Arrangements

Credit Agreement

We and certain of our international subsidiaries, as borrowers, in 2005 entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of financial institutions that provides for a $350.0 million revolving multicurrency credit facility. On October 31, 2006, the Credit Agreement was amended to increase the revolving multi-currency credit facility available from $350.0 million to $450.0 million. The revolving multicurrency credit facility is available for ongoing working capital and general corporate purposes. Interest is based on a euro currency rate or an alternative base rate that resets

periodically plus a calculated margin amount. As of October 31, 2006, $115.2 million was outstanding under the Credit Agreement.

The Credit Agreement contains certain covenants, which include financial covenants that require us to maintain a certain leverage ratio and a minimum coverage of interest expense. The leverage ratio generally requires that at the end of any fiscal quarter we will not permit the ratio of (a) our total consolidated indebtedness less cash and cash equivalents to (b) our consolidated net income plus depreciation, depletion and amortization, interest expense (including capitalized interest), income taxes, and minus certain extraordinary gains and non-recurring gains (or plus certain extraordinary losses and non-recurring losses) for the preceding twelve months (“EBITDA”) to be greater than 3.5 to 1. The interest coverage ratio generally requires that at the end of any fiscal quarter we will not permit the ratio of (a) our EBITDA to (b) our interest expense (including capitalized interest) for the preceding twelve months to be less than 3 to 1. On October 31, 2006, we were in compliance with these covenants. The terms of the Credit Agreement limit our ability to make “restricted payments,” which include dividends and purchases, redemptions and acquisitions of our equity interests. The repayment of this facility is secured by a pledge of the capital stock of substantially all of our United States subsidiaries and, in part, by the capital stock of the international borrowers.

Senior Subordinated Notes

We have issued Senior Subordinated Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $250.0 million, receiving net proceeds of approximately $248.0 million before expenses. During 2005, we purchased $2.0 million of the Senior Subordinated Notes. As of October 31, 2006, the outstanding balances, which included losses on fair value hedges we previously had in place to hedge interest rate risk, was $242.6 million, under the Senior Subordinated Notes. Interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes is payable semi-annually at the annual rate of 8.875 percent. The Senior Subordinated Notes do not have required principal payments prior to maturity on August 1, 2012. The Indenture pursuant to which the Senior Subordinated Notes were issued contains certain covenants. At October 31, 2006, we were in compliance with these covenants. The terms of the Senior Subordinated Notes also limit our ability to make “restricted payments,” which include dividends and purchases, redemptions and acquisitions of equity interests.

Trade Accounts Receivable Credit Facility

We entered into a $120.0 million credit facility with an affiliate of a bank in connection with the securitization of certain of our United States trade accounts receivable. The facility is secured by certain of our United States trade accounts receivable and bears interest at a variable rate based on the London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a margin or other agreed upon rate. We also pay a commitment fee. We can terminate this facility at any time upon 60 days prior written notice. In connection with this transaction, we established Greif Receivables Funding LLC (“GRF”), which is included in our consolidated financial statements. However, because GRF is a separate and distinct legal entity from us, the assets of GRF are not available to satisfy our liabilities and obligations and the liabilities of GRF are not our liabilities or obligations. This entity purchases and services our trade accounts receivable that are subject to this credit facility. There was a total of $120.0 million outstanding under the trade accounts receivable credit facility at October 31, 2006.

The trade accounts receivable credit facility provides that in the event we breach any of our financial covenants under the Credit Agreement, and the majority of the lenders thereunder consent to a waiver thereof, but the provider of the trade accounts receivable credit facility does not consent to any such waiver, then we must within 90 days of providing notice of the breach, pay all amounts outstanding under the trade accounts receivable credit facility.

Sale of European Accounts Receivable

Pursuant to the terms of a Receivable Purchase Agreement (the “RPA”) dated October 28, 2004 between Greif Coordination Center BVBA (the “Seller”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Greif, Inc., and a major international bank (the “Buyer”), the Seller agreed to sell trade receivables meeting certain eligibility requirements that Seller had purchased from other indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Greif, Inc., including Greif Belgium BVBA, Greif Germany GmbH, Greif Nederland BV, Greif Spain SA and Greif UK Ltd, under discounted receivables purchase agreements and from Greif France SAS under a factoring agreement. The RPA was amended on October 28, 2005 to include receivables originated by Greif Portugal Lda, also an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Greif, Inc. In addition, on October 28, 2005, Greif Italia S.P.A., also an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Greif, Inc., entered into the Italian Receivables Purchase Agreement with the Italian branch of the major international bank (the “Italian RPA”) agreeing to

sell trade receivables that meet certain eligibility criteria to the Italian branch of the major international bank. The Italian RPA is similar in structure and terms as the RPA. The maximum amount of aggregate receivables that may be sold under the RPA and the Italian RPA is €90.0 million ($114.5 million) at October 31, 2006.

The structure of the transaction provides for a legal true sale, on a revolving basis, of the receivables transferred from the various Greif, Inc. subsidiaries to Seller and from Seller to Buyer. The Buyer funds an initial purchase price of a certain percentage of eligible receivables based on a formula with the initial purchase price approximating 70 percent to 80 percent of eligible receivables. The remaining deferred purchase price is settled upon collection of the receivables. At the balance sheet reporting dates, we remove from accounts receivable the amount of proceeds received from the initial purchase price since they meet the applicable criteria of SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities,” and continues to recognize the deferred purchase price in its accounts receivable. The receivables are sold on a non-recourse basis with the total funds in the servicing collection accounts pledged to Buyer between the semi-monthly settlement dates. At October 31, 2006, €70.3 million ($89.5 million) of accounts receivable had been sold under the RPA and Italian RPA.

At the time the receivables are initially sold, the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the assets sold are included as a loss on sale and classified as “other expense” in the consolidated statements of income. Expenses associated with the RPA and Italian RPA totaled €1.9 million ($2.3 million) for the year ended October 31, 2006. Additionally, we perform collections and administrative functions on the receivables sold similar to the procedures it uses for collecting all of its receivables, including receivables that are not sold under the RPA and Italian RPA. The servicing liability for these receivables is not material to the consolidated financial statements.

Significant Nonstrategic Timberland Transactions and Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities

On March 28, 2005, Soterra LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary) entered into two real estate purchase and sale agreements with Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P. (“Plum Creek”) to sell approximately 56,000 acres of timberland and related assets

located primarily in Florida for an aggregate sales price of approximately $90 million, subject to closing adjustments. In connection with the closing of one of these agreements, Soterra LLC sold approximately 35,000 acres of timberland and associated assets in Florida, Georgia and Alabama for $51.0 million, resulting in a pretax gain of $42.1 million, on May 23, 2005. The purchase price was paid in the form of cash and a $50.9 million purchase note payable by an indirect subsidiary of Plum Creek (the “Purchase Note”). Soterra LLC contributed the Purchase Note to STA Timber LLC (“STA Timber”), one of the Company’s indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. The Purchase Note is secured by a Deed of Guarantee issued by Bank of America, N.A., London Branch, in an amount not to exceed $52.3 million (the “Deed of Guarantee”), as a guarantee of the due and punctual payment of principal and interest on the Purchase Note. During 2006, the remaining 21,000 acres of timberland holdings in Florida were sold for $39.0 million, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $36.4 million.

On May 31, 2005, STA Timber issued in a private placement its 5.20 percent Senior Secured Notes due August 5, 2020 (the “Monetization Notes”) in the principal amount of $43.3 million. In connection with the sale of the Monetization Notes, STA Timber entered into note purchase agreements with the purchasers of the Monetization Notes (the “Note Purchase Agreements”) and related documentation. The Monetization Notes are secured by a pledge of the Purchase Note and the Deed of Guarantee. The Monetization Notes may be accelerated in the event of a default in payment or a breach of the other obligations set forth therein or in the Note Purchase Agreements or related documents, subject in certain cases to any applicable cure periods, or upon the occurrence of certain insolvency or bankruptcy related events. The Monetization Notes are subject to a mechanism that may cause them, subject to certain conditions, to be extended to November 5, 2020. The proceeds

from the sale of the Monetization Notes were primarily used for the repayment of indebtedness.

We have consolidated the assets and liabilities of STA Timber as of October 31, 2006 and 2005, in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 46R, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities Interpretation.” Because STA Timber is a separate and distinct legal entity from us, the assets of STA Timber are not available to satisfy our liabilities and obligations and the liabilities of STA Timber are not liabilities or obligations of ours. In addition, we have not extended any form of guaranty of the principal or interest on the Monetization Notes. Accordingly, we will not become directly or contingently liable for the payment of the Monetization Notes at any time.

As of October 31, 2006 and 2005, we also consolidated the assets and liabilities of the buyer-sponsored special purpose entity (the “Buyer SPE”) involved in these transactions as the result of an interpretation of Interpretation 46R. However, because the Buyer SPE is a separate and distinct legal entity from us, the assets of the Buyer SPE are not available to satisfy our liabilities and obligations and the liabilities of the Buyer SPE are not liabilities or obligations of ours.

Assets of the Buyer SPE at October 31, 2006, consist of restricted bank financial instruments of $50.9 million. STA Timber had long-term debt of $43.3 million as of October 31, 2006. STA Timber is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by the issuer of the Deed of Guarantee, but we do not expect that issuer to fail to meet its obligations. The accompanying consolidated statements of income includes interest expense on STA Timber debt of $2.3 and $1.0 million and interest income on Buyer SPE investments of $2.4 and $1.1 million, for 2006 and 2005, respectively. No comparable activity is included in interest income or interest expense in 2004.

Stock Repurchase Program and Other Share Acquisitions

Our Board of Directors has authorized us to purchase up to two million shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock or any combination of the foregoing. During 2006, we repurchased 75,228 shares of Class A Common Stock and 23,112 shares of Class B Common Stock (see Item 5 to this Form 10-K for these repurchases). As of October 31, 2006, we had repurchased 1,075,564 shares, including 651,704 shares of Class A Common Stock and 423,860 shares of Class B Common Stock, under this program. The total cost of the shares repurchased from 1999, when this program commenced, through October 31, 2006 was $40.9 million.

Effects of Inflation

The effects of inflation did not have a material impact on our operations during 2006, 2005 or 2004.

Recent Accounting Standards

In May 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.” SFAS No. 154 replaces APB Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes, and SFAS No. 3, “Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements.” It applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle and requires that they be reported via retrospective application. It is effective for all accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005 (2007 for us). We do not expect the adoption of this statement to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2006, the FASB issued FIN No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”, an interpretation of FAS109, Accounting for Income Taxes, to create a single model to address accounting for uncertainty in tax positions. FIN No. 48 clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company will adopt FIN 48 as of November 1, 2007 (2008 for us), as required. The cumulative effect of adopting FIN No. 48 will be recorded in retained earnings and other accounts as applicable. We have not determined the effect, if any, the adoption of FIN No. 48 will have on our financial position and results of operations.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No.157 is effective in fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 (2008 for us). Management is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this statement will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Pension and Other Postretirement Plans”. This Statement requires recognition of the funded status of a single-employer defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position. Funded status is determined as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation. Changes in that funded status should be recognized in other comprehensive income. This recognition provision and the related disclosures are effective as of the end of the fiscal year ending after December 15, 2006 (2007 for us). The Statement also requires the measurement of plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of the fiscal year-end statement of financial position. This measurement provision is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008 (2009 for us). Management is currently assessing the effect of this pronouncement on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

We are subject to interest rate risk related to our financial instruments that include borrowings under our Credit Agreement, proceeds from our Senior Subordinated Notes and trade accounts receivable credit facility, and interest rate swap agreements. We do not enter into financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The interest rate swap agreements have been entered into to manage our exposure to variability in interest rates and changes in the fair value of fixed rate debt.

We had interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $130.0 million at October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, with various maturities through 2012. The interest rate swap agreements are used to fix a portion of the interest on our variable rate debt. Under certain of these

agreements, we receive interest either monthly or quarterly from the counterparties equal to London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and pay interest at a fixed rate over the life of the contracts. As of October 31, 2005, we were also party to agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $150 million in which we received interest semi-annually from the counterparties equal to a fixed rate and paid interest based on LIBOR plus a margin; these agreements were terminated during the first quarter of 2006. In conjuction with this termination, we paid $4.8 million to the counterparties, which will be amortized over the remaining term of the Senior Subordinated Notes. A liability for the loss on outstanding interest rate swap contracts, which represented their fair values, in the amount of $1.0 million and $6.6 million was recorded at October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. We also had cross-currency interest rate swaps outstanding at October 31, 2006 as described in the Foreign Currency Risk section below.

The tables below provide information about our derivative financial instruments and other financial instruments that are

sensitive to changes in interest rates. For the Credit Agreement, Senior Subordinated Notes and trade accounts receivable credit facility, the tables present scheduled amortizations of principal and the weighted average interest rate by contractual maturity dates at October 31, 2006 and 2005. For interest rate swaps, the tables present annual amortizations of notional amounts and weighted average interest rates by contractual maturity dates. Under the cash flow swap agreements, we receive interest either monthly or quarterly from the counterparties and pay interest either monthly or quarterly to the counterparties. Under the fair value swap agreements, we received interest semi-annually from the counterparties and paid interest semi-annually to the counterparties.

The fair values of the Credit Agreement, Senior Subordinated Notes and trade accounts receivable credit facility are based on rates available to us for debt of the same remaining maturity at October 31, 2006 and 2005. The fair value of the interest rate swap agreements has been determined based upon the market settlement prices of comparable contracts at October 31, 2006 and 2005.

Based on a sensitivity analysis performed by the counterparties at October 31, 2006, a 100 basis point increase in interest rates would increase the fair value of the swap agreements by $2.1 million resulting in an asset of $1.1 million. Conversely, a 100 basis point decrease in interest rates would decrease the fair value of the swap agreements by $2.1 million resulting in a liability of $3.1 million.

Foreign Currency Risk

As a result of our international operations, our operating results are subject to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The geographic presence of our operations mitigates this exposure to some degree. Additionally, our transaction exposure is somewhat limited because we produce and sell a majority of our products within each country in which we operate.

At October 31, 2006, we had cross-currency swaps to hedge our net investment in our European subsidiaries. Under these agreements, we receive interest semi-annually from the counterparties equal to a fixed rate on $248.0 million and pay interest at a fixed rate on €206.7 million. Upon maturity of these swaps on August 1, 2007, we will be required to pay

€206.7 million to the counterparties and receive $248.0 million from the counterparties. A liability for the loss on these agreements of $14.2 million, representing their fair values, was recorded at October 31, 2006.

At October 31, 2006, we had outstanding foreign currency forward contracts in the notional amount of $45.2 million ($21.5 million at October 31, 2005). The purpose of these contracts is to hedge our exposure to foreign currency translation, foreign currency transactions and short-term intercompany loan balances with our international businesses. The fair value of these contracts resulted in a gain of $2.1 million recorded in other comprehensive income and loss of $0.1 million recorded in the consolidated statements of income at October 31, 2006. The fair value of similar contracts resulted in a loss of $0.2 million recorded in the consolidated statements of income at October 31, 2005.

A sensitivity analysis to changes in the foreign currencies hedged indicates that if the foreign currencies uniformly strengthened by 10 percent, the fair value of these instruments would decrease by $30.5 million to a net loss of $42.7 million,

which would include $41.3 million in other comprehensive loss on the balance sheet. Conversely, if the foreign currencies uniformly weakened by 10 percent, the fair value of these instruments would increase by $31.7 million to a net gain of $19.5 million, which would include $13.5 million in other comprehensive income on the balance sheet.

Commodity Price Risk

We purchase commodities such as steel, resin, containerboard, pulpwood, old corrugated containers and energy. We do not currently engage in material hedging of commodities, other than

natural gas, because there is usually a high correlation between the commodity cost and the ultimate selling price of our products. The fair value of our natural gas contracts resulted in a $1.0 million loss recorded in other comprehensive income at October 31, 2006. A sensitivity analysis to changes in natural gas prices indicates that if natural gas prices decreased by 10 percent, the fair value of these instruments would decrease by $0.6 million to a net loss of $2.1 million. Conversely, if the natural gas prices increased by 10 percent, the fair value of these instruments would increase by $0.8 million to a net loss of $0.7 million.