Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x                    QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018

 

o                       TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                 to

 

Commission File Number: 001-33494

 

KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware

 

20-2699372

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Incorporation or Organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation

1101 Skokie Blvd., Suite 300

Northbrook, IL 60062

(Address of Principal Executive Offices including zip code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including area code (847) 239-8800

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

Yes  x  No  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

 

Yes  x  No  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  x

 

Accelerated filer  o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer  o

 

Smaller reporting company  o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

 

 

Emerging growth company filer  o

 

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes  o  No  x

 

There were 97,780,723 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, $0.0001 par value, outstanding at April 12, 2018.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION

Index to Form 10-Q

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1. — Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1

 

 

Item 2. — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

17

 

 

Item 3. — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

22

 

 

Item 4. — Controls and Procedures

22

 

 

PART II. — OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1. — Legal Proceedings

23

 

 

Item 1A. — Risk Factors

23

 

 

Item 2. — Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

23

 

 

Item 3. — Defaults Upon Senior Securities

23

 

 

Item 4. — Mine Safety Disclosures

23

 

 

Item 5. — Other Information

23

 

 

Item 6. — Exhibits

23

 

 

SIGNATURE

25

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

18,684

 

$

28,065

 

Trade accounts receivable (Includes $419,357 at March 31, 2018, and $425,216 at December 31, 2017, associated with the receivables credit facility)

 

437,889

 

443,462

 

Other receivables

 

21,179

 

23,289

 

Inventories

 

333,731

 

315,575

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

21,125

 

17,470

 

Total current assets

 

832,608

 

827,861

 

Plant, property and equipment, net

 

1,467,093

 

1,453,607

 

Other assets

 

25,546

 

24,431

 

Intangible assets, net

 

289,731

 

297,475

 

Goodwill

 

720,611

 

720,611

 

Total assets

 

$

3,335,589

 

$

3,323,985

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term borrowings

 

$

20,000

 

$

 

Other current borrowings

 

6,767

 

 

Short-term financing obligations

 

1,072

 

 

Capital lease obligation

 

31

 

30

 

Dividend payable

 

10,145

 

10,302

 

Accounts payable

 

220,543

 

199,574

 

Accrued expenses

 

81,525

 

105,951

 

Accrued compensation costs

 

43,999

 

75,215

 

Accrued income taxes

 

17,726

 

31,458

 

Total current liabilities

 

401,808

 

422,530

 

Other liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt (Includes $304,409 at March 31, 2018, and $308,849 at December 31, 2017, associated with the receivables credit facility)

 

1,371,238

 

1,374,502

 

Long-term financing obligations

 

92,340

 

82,199

 

Capital lease obligation

 

4,587

 

4,595

 

Pension and postretirement benefits

 

11,320

 

14,196

 

Deferred income taxes

 

253,926

 

252,101

 

Other liabilities

 

31,535

 

36,848

 

Total other liabilities

 

1,764,946

 

1,764,441

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock — $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding

 

 

 

Common stock — $0.0001 par value; 175,000,000 shares authorized; 97,672,143 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 40,000 treasury shares) at March 31, 2018 and 97,043,750 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 40,000 treasury shares) at December 31, 2017

 

10

 

10

 

Additional paid-in-capital

 

299,737

 

291,629

 

Retained earnings

 

917,047

 

894,061

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(47,959

)

(48,686

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

1,168,835

 

1,137,014

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

3,335,589

 

$

3,323,985

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

799,195

 

$

765,843

 

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization

 

554,821

 

562,461

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

46,365

 

45,348

 

Freight and distribution expenses

 

76,586

 

72,988

 

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

 

63,611

 

66,485

 

Merger expenses

 

13,532

 

 

Gain on sale of property

 

(7,453

)

 

Operating income

 

51,733

 

18,561

 

Foreign exchange gain

 

(37

)

(82

)

Pension income

 

(3,092

)

(1,563

)

Equity method investments income

 

(520

)

(677

)

Interest expense, net

 

14,345

 

10,730

 

Income before provision for income taxes

 

41,037

 

10,153

 

Provision for income taxes

 

8,296

 

4,161

 

Net income

 

$

32,741

 

$

5,992

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

481

 

359

 

Pension and postretirement plan reclassification adjustments, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

Accretion of prior service costs

 

(48

)

(117

)

Amortization of net loss

 

294

 

636

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

727

 

878

 

Total comprehensive income

 

$

33,468

 

$

6,870

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

97,331,105

 

96,698,637

 

Diluted

 

99,716,527

 

98,463,667

 

Net income per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.34

 

$

0.06

 

Diluted

 

$

0.33

 

$

0.06

 

Dividends declared per common share

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.10

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

32,741

 

$

5,992

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation of plant and equipment

 

38,621

 

37,758

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

7,744

 

7,590

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

3,007

 

5,265

 

Pension and postretirement

 

(2,552

)

(572

)

Amortization of debt issuance costs

 

1,176

 

1,179

 

Loss on disposal of assets

 

428

 

526

 

Deferred income taxes

 

1,747

 

1,521

 

Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability

 

 

2,516

 

Equity method investments income, net of cash received

 

(520

)

(167

)

Plant closure costs

 

793

 

 

Provision for bad debt expense

 

447

 

 

Gain on sale of property

 

(7,453

)

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Trade accounts receivable, net

 

5,126

 

(21,145

)

Other receivables

 

2,230

 

(659

)

Inventories

 

(18,156

)

(17,870

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(10,903

)

(12,549

)

Other assets

 

(715

)

(208

)

Accounts payable

 

9,048

 

41,413

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

(12,847

)

964

 

Accrued compensation costs

 

(31,107

)

(3,139

)

Accrued income taxes

 

(13,732

)

(15,746

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

5,123

 

32,669

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(37,025

)

(38,669

)

Acquisition, net of cash acquired

 

 

(33,500

)

Proceeds from the sale of property

 

14,681

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(22,344

)

(72,169

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from revolving credit facility

 

110,500

 

122,988

 

Repayments on revolving credit facility

 

(90,500

)

(97,000

)

Proceeds from receivables credit facility

 

23,274

 

17,031

 

Repayments on receivables credit facility

 

(27,714

)

(21,621

)

Proceeds from other current borrowings

 

6,767

 

6,214

 

Repayments on long-term financing obligations

 

(256

)

 

Repayments on capital lease

 

(9

)

 

Cash dividends paid

 

(9,723

)

(9,664

)

Payment of withholding taxes on vested stock awards

 

(1,783

)

(856

)

Proceeds from exercises of stock options

 

6,390

 

451

 

Proceeds from shares issued to ESPP

 

494

 

487

 

Payment of Victory contingent consideration

 

(9,600

)

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

7,840

 

18,030

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(9,381

)

(21,470

)

Cash and cash equivalents-beginning of period

 

28,065

 

29,385

 

Cash and cash equivalents-end of period

 

$

18,684

 

$

7,915

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

1.                                      Financial Statements

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “KapStone”) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information, the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of a normal recurring nature) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

We report our operating results in two reportable segments: Paper and Packaging and Distribution. Our Paper and Packaging segment manufactures and sells a wide variety of containerboard, corrugated products and specialty paper for industrial and consumer markets. The Distribution segment, through Victory Packaging, L.P. (“Victory”), a North American distributor of packaging materials, with more than 60 distribution centers located in the United States, Mexico and Canada, provides packaging materials and related products to a wide variety of customers.  For more information about our segments, see Note 14, Segment Information.

 

In these consolidated financial statements, certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.  The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-07 during the interim period ended March 31, 2018. As a result, the presentation of $1.6 million of certain components of net periodic benefit cost in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income have been reclassified from cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization, to pension income for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.  This reclassification did not affect the Company’s net income, financial position, or cash flows.

 

2.                                      Recently Adopted and New Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standard’s Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. The guidance in this update affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (for example, insurance contracts or lease contracts). The guidance in this update supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition”, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. Additionally, this update supersedes some cost guidance included in Subtopic 605-35, “Revenue Recognition—Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts”.

 

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the requirements of Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” using the modified retrospective method, which requires the recognition of the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard (if any) as an adjustment to opening retained earnings for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2018.  The adoption of Topic 606 did not result in the recognition of a cumulative adjustment to opening retained earnings under the modified retrospective approach, nor did it have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.  The adoption of this topic did result in the addition of required disclosures within the notes to the financial statements, as disclosed in Note 3, Revenue.

 

Our implementation team consisted of senior leadership from finance, legal, sales and operations with periodic progress reporting to management and to the audit committee of our board of directors.  Implementation consisted of a review of the Company’s significant contracts and an evaluation of our systems

 

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and control environment to support additional disclosures under the new standard, as well as updates to policies and procedures.

 

During our assessment, the Company considered whether the adoption would require a transition from point-in-time revenue recognition to an over-time approach for products produced by the Company without an alternative use, which would result in acceleration of revenue. The Company concluded that based on its enforceable rights included in its contracts or prevailing terms and conditions, an enforceable right of payment that includes a reasonable profit throughout the duration of the contract does not exist. Therefore, the Company will remain at a point-in-time approach and record revenue at the point control transfers to the customer.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments”, which clarifies the treatment of several cash flow categories. In addition, ASU 2016-15 clarifies that when cash receipts and cash payments have aspects of more than one class of cash flows and cannot be separated, classification will depend on the predominant source or use. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-15.  During the quarter, the Company paid $20.7 million of contingent consideration to the former owners of Victory based on achieving certain financial performance criteria for the thirty month period following the closing. Accordingly, the portion of the cash payment up to the acquisition date fair value of the contingent consideration liability of $9.6 million was classified as a financing outflow, while the amounts paid in excess of the acquisition date fair value of $11.1 million was classified as an operating activity in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

 

In March, 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost.” This ASU applies to all employers that offer to their employees defined benefit pension plans, other postretirement benefit plans, or other types of benefits accounted for under Topic 715, Compensation—Retirement Benefits. The ASU requires that an employer report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. If a separate line item or items are used to present the other components of net benefit cost, that line item or items must be appropriately described. If a separate line item or items are not used, the line item or items used in the income statement to present the other components of net benefit cost must be disclosed. The ASU also allows only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization when applicable (e.g., as a cost of internally manufactured inventory or a self-constructed asset). Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2017-07.  The adoption of this ASU retrospectively, utilizing the allowable practical expedient by using the amounts disclosed in the pension and other postretirement benefit plan note for the prior comparative periods as the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements, which resulted in a $1.6 million reclassification between cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization, and pension income in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the period ended March 31, 2017.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases”. This guidance revises existing practice related to accounting for leases under ASC Topic 840 Leases for both lessees and lessors. The new guidance in ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for virtually all of their leases (other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease). The lease liability will be equal to the present value of lease payments and the right-of-use asset will be based on the lease liability, subject to adjustment such as for initial direct costs. For income statement purposes, the new standard retains a dual model similar to ASC 840, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance. For lessees, operating leases will result in straight-line expense (similar to current accounting by lessees for operating leases under ASC 840), while finance leases will result in a front-loaded expense pattern (similar to current accounting by lessees for capital leases under ASC 840).

 

While the new standard maintains similar accounting for lessors as under ASC 840, it reflects updates to, among other things, align with certain changes to the lessee model. The guidance is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted for all entities.

 

The Company does have a significant number of leases for both property and equipment. As such, the Company expects that there will be a material impact on our financial position and disclosures upon the adoption of ASU 2016-02. Our implementation team, consisting of senior leadership from finance, legal, IT and operations, reports its progress to management and to the audit committee of our board of directors on a periodic basis. We are in the process of abstracting data from existing leases and are assessing the need for new

 

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or updated systems to support additional disclosures under the new standard. The Company will provide additional disclosure as the implementation progresses.

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326) Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This standard replaces the incurred loss methodology previously employed to measure credit losses for most financial assets and requires the use of a forward-looking expected loss model. Current accounting delays the recognition of credit losses until it is probable a loss has been incurred, while the update will require financial assets to be measured at amortized costs less a reserve and equal to the net amount expected to be collected. This standard will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that reporting period, and early application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment”, which amends the guidance in ASC Topic 350, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other”. The ASU eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value. The ASU is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed in periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for annual and interim goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. The ASU will be applied prospectively. The Company currently does not expect that the adoption of these provisions will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, but will simplify the measurement of any impairment loss should goodwill be impaired in the future.

 

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (ASU 2018-02). Under existing U.S. GAAP, the effects of changes in tax rates and laws on deferred tax balances are recorded as a component of income tax expense in the period in which the law was enacted. When deferred tax balances related to items originally recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income are adjusted, certain tax effects become stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income. The amendments in ASU 2018-02 allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The amendments in this ASU also require certain disclosures about stranded tax effects. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption in any period is permitted. The Company’s provisional adjustments recorded in 2017 to account for the impact of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act resulted in stranded tax effects. The Company is currently evaluating the timing and impact of adopting ASU 2018-02.

 

3.                                      Revenue

 

Adoption of ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”

 

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Topic 606 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018.  The adoption of Topic 606 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

Revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.

 

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The table below disaggregates our external revenue by major source (in thousands).  For additional revenue detail relating to key Paper and packaging product lines, see segment disclosure note.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper and packaging

 

$

546,689

 

$

525,690

 

Distribution

 

231,210

 

218,199

 

Other

 

21,296

 

21,954

 

Net sales

 

$

799,195

 

$

765,843

 

 

Paper and Packaging Revenue

 

Paper and Packaging includes containerboard, corrugated products and specialty paper products manufactured at our facilities located in the United States.  Sales to customers are initiated through a purchase order and are governed by our standard terms and conditions, written agreements or both.  Revenue is recognized when performance obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied; generally, this occurs with the transfer of control of our products.  Transfer of control occurs at a specific point-in-time.  Based on the enforceable rights included in our contracts or prevailing terms and conditions, products produced by the Company without an alternative use are not protected by an enforceable right of payment that includes a reasonable profit throughout the duration of the contract.  Sales with terms f.o.b. (free on board) shipping point are recognized at the time of shipment.  For sales transactions with terms f.o.b. destination, revenue is recorded when the product is delivered to the customer’s site.  Consignment sales are recognized in revenue at the earlier of the period that the goods are consumed or after a period of time subsequent to receipt by the customer as specified by contract terms, provided control of the promised goods or services has transferred.

 

Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring goods or providing services.  Sales, value add, and other taxes we collect concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue.  Incidental items that are immaterial in the context of the contract are recognized as expense.  Certain customers may receive cash-based incentives (rebates or credits), which are accounted for as variable consideration.  We estimate these amounts based on the expected amount to be provided to customers and reduce revenues recognized.  For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, paper and packaging customer incentives totaled $4.4 million and $8.3 million, respectively.  As of March 31, 2018 and 2017, a reserve for estimated unpaid rebates of $4.6 million and $8.0 million, respectively, is included in accrued expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.  If we determined our obligations under a warranty claim is probable and subject to reasonable determination, an estimation of our liability is recorded as an offset against revenue at that time.  As of March 31, 2018 and 2017 reserves for warranty claims were not material. The adoption of Topic 606 did not have a significant impact on our estimates for variable consideration.

 

Freight charged to customers is recognized in net sales.

 

Distribution Revenue

 

Our distribution operations distribute corrugated packaging materials and other specialty packaging products to customers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.  Sales to customers are initiated through a purchase order and are governed by standard terms and conditions, written agreements or both.

 

Revenue is recognized when performance obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied; generally, this occurs with the transfer of control of our products at a specific point-in-time.  While the distribution business makes wide use of stocking arrangements with customers to ensure consistent on-time delivery, based on the enforceable rights included in our contracts or prevailing terms and conditions, products without an alternative use are not protected by an enforceable right of payment that includes a reasonable profit throughout the duration of the contract.  As such, revenue is recorded when the product is delivered to the customer’s site.  If goods are not purchased by a customer after a period of time specified by the contract terms, customers may be billed and goods are shipped.  Certain customers may request that Victory hold the goods

 

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after billing for an additional period specified in the contract terms. In such circumstances, the Company recognizes revenue as control of the goods transfers to the customer.  Consignment sales are recognized in revenue at the earlier of the period that the goods are consumed or after a period of time subsequent to receipt by the customer as specified by contract terms, provided control of the promised goods or services has transferred.

 

Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring goods or providing services.  Sales, value add, and other taxes we collect concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue.  Incidental items that are immaterial in the context of the contract are recognized as expense.  Certain customers may receive cash-based incentives (rebates or credits), which are accounted for as variable consideration.  We estimate these amounts based on the expected amount to be provided to customers and reduce revenues recognized.  For each of the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, distribution customer incentives totaled $2.4 million.  As of March 31, 2018 and 2017, a reserve for estimated unpaid rebates of $2.8 million and $2.0 million, respectively, is included in accrued expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Upfront consideration paid to a customer associated with the execution of a master agreement (“prebate”) is capitalized and amortized as a reduction in transaction prices over the expected sales impacted by the agreement.  For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, unamortized prebates totaled $1.9 million and $0.8 million, respectively.  If we determined our obligations under a warranty claim is probable and subject to reasonable determination, an estimation of our liability is recorded as an offset against revenue at that time.  As of March 31, 2018 and 2017 reserves for warranty claims were not material. The adoption of Topic 606 did not have a significant impact on our estimates for variable consideration.

 

Freight charged to customers is recognized in net sales.

 

Other Revenue

 

Lumber — The Company generates revenue from the sale of lumber produced at its Summerville, South Carolina lumber mill.  Revenue is recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with our customer are satisfied; generally, this occurs with the transfer of control of our commodity products upon delivery to the customer.  Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring goods or providing services.  Sales, value add, and other taxes we collect concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue.  Incidental items that are immaterial in the context of the contract are recognized as expense.

 

Power — The Company generates revenue from power generation at its North Charleston and Longview Mills.  Power revenue at the North Charleston mill is recognized from the sale of shaft horsepower generated by a cogeneration facility.  The supply of shaft horsepower is recognized as revenue over-time as energy is produced and delivered (output measure).  Power revenue at the Longview mill is recognized from the sale of electricity and is recognized over time as electricity is generated and is delivered to the customer.

 

Practical Expedients and Exemptions

 

We generally expense sales commissions when incurred because the amortization period is one year or less. These costs are recorded within selling, general and administrative expense.

 

We do not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which we recognize revenue at the amount to which we have the right to invoice for services performed.

 

4.                                      Merger

 

On January 28, 2018, KapStone, WestRock Company (“WestRock”), Whiskey Holdco, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WestRock (“Holdco”), Kola Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdco (“KapStone Merger Sub”), and Whiskey Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdco (“WestRock Merger Sub”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, WestRock will acquire all of the outstanding shares of KapStone through a transaction in which: (i) WestRock Merger Sub will merge with and into WestRock, with WestRock surviving such merger (the “WestRock Merger”) as a wholly-owned subsidiary

 

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of Holdco and (ii) KapStone Merger Sub will merge with and into KapStone, with KapStone surviving such merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdco (the “Merger”).

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the WestRock Merger and the Merger (the “Effective Time”): (i) each share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of KapStone (the “KapStone Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding any shares of KapStone Common Stock that are held (a) in treasury or (b) by any KapStone stockholder who is entitled to exercise, and properly exercises, appraisal rights with respect to such shares of KapStone Common Stock) will be converted into the right to receive, at the election of the stockholder (subject to proration as described below): (a) $35.00 in cash, without interest (the “Cash Consideration”), or (b) 0.4981 shares of common stock (the “Holdco Common Stock”), par value $0.01 per share, of Holdco (the “Stock Consideration” and, together with the Cash Consideration, the “Merger Consideration”); and (ii) each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of WestRock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into one share of Holdco Common Stock.

 

KapStone stockholders will be permitted to make an election to receive the Stock Consideration by submitting an election form no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the business day immediately prior to the stockholder meeting of KapStone that will be held to adopt the Merger Agreement (the “KapStone Stockholders Meeting”). Any KapStone stockholder not making an election to receive the Stock Consideration will receive the Cash Consideration. Elections by KapStone stockholders for the Stock Consideration will be subject to proration procedures set forth in the Merger Agreement that will limit the total amount of the Stock Consideration to be issued to KapStone stockholders such that the Stock Consideration will be received in respect of no more than 25 percent of the shares of KapStone Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

The completion of the Merger is subject to customary conditions, including, without limitation: the adoption of the Merger Agreement by KapStone stockholders at the KapStone Stockholders Meeting; the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended; the receipt of other required antitrust approvals; and the effectiveness of a registration statement on Form S-4 in connection with the potential issuance of shares of Holdco Common Stock in the Merger. The Merger is expected to close by the end of the quarter ending September 30, 2018 or during the following quarter.

 

To assist the Company in its sale process, the Company retained two financial advisors to advise the board of directors and management and to render customary “fairness opinions” to the Company and the board of directors regarding the Merger Consideration to be paid upon consummation of the Merger.  As of March 31, 2018, the financial advisors had been paid $10.2 million in the aggregate for their services.  Upon consummation of the Merger, the Company is obligated to pay the two firms an additional $34.1 million in the aggregate.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company incurred $13.5 million of Merger-related expenses in total.

 

In connection with the Merger, KapStone has entered into retention agreements or change in control severance agreements (“Severance Agreements”) with certain employees, and intends to enter into success bonus agreements with certain employees. Payment under any such agreement is or will be contingent upon the consummation of the Merger.  KapStone has entered into Severance Agreements with each of our non-director executive officers, each providing for severance payments in an amount equal to a fixed amount not to exceed two times the sum of such executive officer’s annual base salary and target bonus. The success bonus agreements have not been made final and remain subject to KapStone’s discretion (subject to a $3.0 million limitation on aggregate success bonus payments for all KapStone employees pursuant to the Merger Agreement).

 

5.                                      Plant Closure

 

On August 1, 2017, the Company approved and announced the closing of its Paper and Packaging segment box plant located in Oakland, California.  All operating activities ceased at this location in October 2017.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company recorded an additional charge of $0.9 million for impaired property, plant and equipment, $0.6 million of other costs and $0.3 million for the dismantling of equipment, related to this plant closing.

 

On February 1, 2018, the Company sold the land and building in Oakland, California for $14.7 million after fees, taxes and commissions and recorded a gain of $7.5 million.

 

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6.                                      Planned Maintenance Outages

 

Planned maintenance outage costs for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 totaled $14.7 million and $6.2 million, respectively, and are included in cost of sales.  The increase is due to a boiler upgrade at the North Charleston, South Carolina paper mill which resulted in lost paper production of approximately 26,000 tons.

 

7.                                      Inventories

 

Inventories consist of the following at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively:

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Raw materials

 

$

92,636

 

$

75,616

 

Work in process

 

4,152

 

4,144

 

Finished goods

 

146,377

 

145,652

 

Replacement parts and supplies

 

93,721

 

93,043

 

Inventory at FIFO costs

 

336,886

 

318,455

 

LIFO inventory reserves

 

(3,155

)

(2,880

)

Inventories

 

$

333,731

 

$

315,575

 

 

8.                                      Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt

 

Short-term Borrowings

 

As of March 31, 2018, the Company had $20.0 million of short-term borrowings outstanding under its $500 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”), with a weighted average interest rate of 3.4 percent.  Available borrowing capacity under the Revolver was $465.9 million at March 31, 2018.

 

Other Borrowing

 

In January 2018, the Company entered into a short-term financing agreement of $6.8 million at an annual interest rate of 2.9 percent for its annual property insurance premiums.  The agreement requires the Company to make three payments through the term of the financing agreement ending on December 31, 2018.  As of March 31, 2018, there was $6.8 million outstanding under the current agreement.

 

Receivables Credit Facility

 

Under our trade accounts receivables securitization program (the “Securitization Program”), the Company and its subsidiaries that participate in the Securitization Program (the “Originators”) sell, on an ongoing basis without recourse, certain trade receivables to KapStone Receivables, LLC (“KAR”), which is considered a wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote variable interest entity (“VIE”). The Company has the authority to direct the activities of the VIE and, as a result, we have concluded that we maintain control of the VIE, are the primary beneficiary (as defined by accounting guidance) and, therefore, consolidate the account balances of KAR. As of March 31, 2018, $419.4 million of our trade accounts receivables were sold to KAR. KAR in turn assigns a collateral interest in these receivables to a group of financial institutions under a one-year $325 million facility (the “Receivables Credit Facility”) for proceeds of $304.4 million. The assets of KAR are not available to the Company until all obligations of KAR are satisfied in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings.

 

The Company included the Receivables Credit Facility in Long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets based on management’s intent to continue to refinance outstanding amounts under the Securitization Program until the maturity of the Term loan A-l which is June 1, 2020. Term loan A-1 and Term loan A-2 (with $657.6 million and $421.2 million outstanding as of March 31, 2018, respectively), together with the Revolver, comprise our credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) under our Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as amended (the “Credit Agreement”). The Company also has the ability to refinance the short-term obligations under the Receivables Credit Facility on a long-term basis using its Revolver. There are no additional requirements as to when borrowings under the Revolver would need to be repaid other than the maturity date of June 1, 2020.

 

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Debt Covenants

 

Our Credit Agreement governing our Credit Facility contains, among other provisions, covenants with which we must comply. The covenants limit our ability to, among other things, incur indebtedness, create additional liens on our assets, make investments, engage in mergers and acquisitions and sell any assets outside the normal course of business.

 

As of March 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants in the Credit Agreement.

 

Fair Value of Debt

 

As of March 31, 2018, the fair value of the Company’s debt approximates the carrying value of $1.4 billion as the variable interest rates re-price frequently at current market rates. Our weighted-average cost of borrowings was 3.4 percent and 2.6 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

9.                                      Income Taxes

 

Provision for income taxes for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $8.3 million and $4.2 million, respectively, reflecting higher pre-tax earnings in 2018 of $30.9 million, partially offset by a lower effective income tax rate.

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was 20.2 percent compared to 41.0 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  The lower effective income tax rate in the three months ended March 31, 2018 reflects the 21 percent federal statutory tax rate beginning in 2018 from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and a $1.5 million tax benefit from excess tax deductions related to stock compensation.

 

Cash taxes paid in the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were $20.1 million and $21.0, respectively, net of tax refunds.

 

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities. The Company’s open federal tax years are 2014, 2015 and 2016. The Company has open tax years for state and foreign income tax filings generally starting in 2013.

 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted on December 22, 2017 resulted in substantial changes including reducing the US federal corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent and requiring companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred. The Act creates new taxes starting in 2018 on certain foreign sourced earnings. The Company applied the guidance in SAB 118 and at December 31, 2017 recorded provisional estimates to re-measure our deferred taxes using the new 21 percent rate ($144.7 million tax benefit) and to record an estimated transition tax ($0.3 million expense).

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we have not recorded any measurement period adjustments to the provisional estimates recorded at December 31, 2017. Final accounting for these impacts is expected in the third quarter of 2018 subsequent to the Company’s completion of the 2017 tax return.

 

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10.                               Net Income per Share

 

The Company’s basic and diluted net income per share for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 is calculated as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Net income

 

$

32,741

 

$

5,992

 

Weighted-average number of common shares for basic net income per share

 

97,331,105

 

96,698,637

 

Incremental effect of dilutive common stock equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

Unexercised stock options

 

1,809,819

 

1,319,602

 

Unvested restricted stock awards

 

575,603

 

445,428

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of shares for diluted net income per share

 

99,716,527

 

98,463,667

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share - basic

 

$

0.34

 

$

0.06

 

Net income per share - diluted

 

$

0.33

 

$

0.06

 

 

A total of 106,604 and 1,189,244 weighted average unexercised stock options were outstanding for the three month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share because the awards were anti-dilutive.

 

11.                               Pension Plan and Post-Retirement Benefits

 

Defined Benefit Plans

 

Net pension benefit recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 for the Company’s defined benefit plan (the “Pension Plan”) is as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Service cost for benefits earned during the period

 

$

783

 

$

1,077

 

Interest cost on projected benefit obligations

 

6,176

 

6,567

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(9,648

)

(9,031

)

Amortization of net loss

 

527

 

1,197

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

127

 

4

 

Net pension benefit

 

$

(2,035

)

$

(186

)

 

The Company adopted ASU 2017-07 during the interim period ended March 31, 2018.  The ASU requires that the service cost component be reported in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations.  As a result, $0.8 million of service cost is included in cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization, and $(2.8) million was recorded as pension income in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.  In addition, $(0.3) million was recorded as pension income in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income related to the Company’s other postretirement benefits.

 

The adoption of this ASU retrospectively, utilizing the allowable practical expedient, resulted in a $(1.6) million reclassification between cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization, and pension income in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for 2017.

 

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The Company currently does not anticipate making any Pension Plan contributions in 2018. This estimate is based on current tax laws, plan asset performance, and liability assumptions, which are subject to change.

 

The Company provides postretirement health care insurance benefits through an indemnity plan for certain salary and non-salary employees of its subsidiary Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging, Inc. (“Longview”) and their dependents.  The Company makes contributions to its postretirement plan as claims are submitted.

 

Defined Contribution Plan

 

The Company offers 401(k) Defined Contribution Plans (“Contribution Plans”) to eligible employees.  The Company’s monthly contributions are based on the matching of certain employee contributions or based on a union negotiated formula. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized expense of $7.7 million and $6.2 million, respectively, for matching contributions.

 

12.                               Stock-Based Compensation

 

In the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the compensation committee of the board of directors approved stock-based awards to certain executive officers and certain employees.  The 2018 award consisted of the 285,036 restricted stock units with a cost of $9.9 million.

 

The Company accounts for stock-based awards in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation,” which requires that the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized as compensation cost over the vesting period based on the fair value of the instrument on the date of grant.

 

Total stock-based compensation expense related to the stock option and restricted stock unit grants for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Stock option compensation expense

 

$

893

 

$

2,616

 

Restricted stock unit compensation expense

 

2,114

 

2,649

 

Total stock-based compensation expense

 

$

3,007

 

$

5,265

 

 

Total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost related to the stock options and restricted stock units as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is as follows:

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Unrecognized stock option compensation expense

 

$

3,620

 

$

4,709

 

Unrecognized restricted stock unit compensation expense

 

13,459

 

5,891

 

Total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense

 

$

17,079

 

$

10,600

 

 

As of March 31, 2018, total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options and restricted stock units is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.8 years and 2.5 years, respectively.

 

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Stock Options

 

The following table summarizes stock options amounts and activity:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

Weighted

 

Intrinsic

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

Average

 

Value

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise

 

Remaining

 

(dollars in

 

 

 

Options

 

Price

 

Life (Years)

 

thousands)

 

Outstanding at January 1, 2018

 

4,928,581

 

$

16.07

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(515,397

)

14.59

 

 

 

 

 

Lapsed (forfeited or cancelled)

 

(60,677

)

20.17

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at March 31, 2018

 

4,352,507

 

$

16.25

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at March 31, 2018

 

2,917,751

 

$

15.02

 

4.9

 

$

56,293

 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options totaled $6.4 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

 

Restricted Stock Units

 

Restricted stock units for executive officers and certain employees are restricted as to transferability until they generally vest three years from the grant date or upon a grantee of such restricted stock units attaining the age 65 and retiring from service with the Company. Restricted stock units granted to directors during 2017 and thereafter generally vest one year from the grant date or upon a grantee of such restricted stock units attaining the age of 65 and retiring from service with the Company.  Restricted stock units granted to directors prior to 2017 generally vest three years from the grant date. These restricted stock units are subject to forfeiture should applicable employees terminate their employment with the Company for certain reasons prior to vesting in their awards, or the occurrence of certain other events. The value of these restricted stock units is based on the average market price of our common stock on the date of grant and compensation expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the awards’ vesting periods.

 

In accordance with the Merger Agreement, employees whose employment is terminated without “cause” or who resign their employment for “good reason” after consummation of the Merger will have their unvested options and RSUs (other than their 2018 annual equity grants) immediately vest in full as of the date of such termination or resignation. With respect to KapStone’s 2018 annual equity grants (which consisted entirely of RSUs), two-thirds of each award would automatically vest upon termination of the award holder’s employment without “cause” or resignation for “good reason” after consummation of the Merger , and the remainder would be forfeited upon any termination of employment prior to the normal vesting date. These automatic vesting provisions will apply indefinitely after consummation of the Merger and are not subject to a limited duration protection period. The 2018 grants will also include the retirement-related vesting provisions included in past KapStone grants.

 

The following table summarizes unvested restricted stock units amounts and activity:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

 

 

Grant

 

 

 

Units

 

Price

 

Outstanding at January 1, 2018

 

862,926

 

$

20.11

 

Granted

 

285,036

 

34.74

 

Vested

 

(184,834

)

28.96

 

Forfeited

 

(12,216

)

19.90

 

Outstanding at March 31, 2018

 

950,912

 

$

22.80

 

 

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13.                               Commitments and Contingencies

 

Legal Claims

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are from time to time subject to various administrative and legal investigations, claims and proceedings incidental to our business, including environmental and occupational, health and safety matters, labor and employment matters, personal injury and property damage claims, contractual, commercial and other disputes and taxes. We establish reserves for investigations, claims and proceedings when it is probable that liabilities exist and we can reasonably estimate the amount of such liabilities (including any losses, costs and expenses). We also maintain insurance that may limit our financial exposure for defense costs, as well as liability, if any, for claims covered by the insurance (subject also to deductibles and self-insurance amounts). Any investigation, claim or proceeding has an element of uncertainty, and we cannot predict or assure the outcome of any investigation, claim or proceeding involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, particularly those described below that cannot be assessed due to their preliminary nature. It is possible that any of the investigations, claims and proceedings against the Company or its subsidiaries, including those described below, could be decided unfavorably against the Company or any of its subsidiaries involved in such matters and could also result in losses, costs or expenses in excess of any reserve we have established. Accordingly, it is possible that an adverse outcome from any investigation, claim or proceeding (including associated penalties, costs and expenses) could exceed any reserve we may have accrued in an amount that could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

 

The Company’s subsidiary, Longview is a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) with respect to the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site in the State of Washington (the “Site”). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) asserts that the Site is contaminated as a result of discharges from various businesses and government entities located along the Lower Duwamish Waterway, including a corrugated converting plant owned and operated by Longview. In November 2014, the EPA issued a Record of Decision (“ROD”) for the Site. The ROD includes a selected remedy for the Site. In the ROD, EPA states that the total estimated net present value costs (discounted at 2.3 percent) for the selected remedy are $342 million, although many uncertainties remain that could result in increased remedial costs. This estimate does not include actual costs already incurred to date for remedial investigation and feasibility studies or potential natural resource damage claims by parties allegedly affected by the contamination at the Site. The Company has received notice from the Elliot Bay Trustee Council regarding the Company’s potential liability for natural resource damages arising from the Site. Neither the Company nor Longview has received a specific monetary demand regarding its potential liability for the Site. In addition, Longview is a participant with approximately 45 other potentially responsible parties in a non-judicial allocation process with respect to the Site. Pursuant to the non-judicial allocation process, Longview and other participating parties will seek to allocate certain costs, including but not limited to the costs necessary to perform the work under the ROD. The non-judicial allocation process is not scheduled to be completed until 2020. Based upon the information available to the Company at this time, the Company cannot reasonably estimate its potential liability for this Site, including any liability for the current or any future third-party claims associated with the Site.

 

In January 2017, the Company received a letter from the state of Washington Department of Ecology (“WDOE”) contending that the Company is, along with several other companies, responsible for investigation and cleanup of an allegedly contaminated site where the named companies, including Longview, may store or have stored petroleum products. The letter concerns the possible release of petroleum products into the environment. In 1998, Longview (before it was acquired by the Company) and certain other companies who owned or operated underground storage tanks and pipes entered into an agreement for investigating and remediating the area independently of (but in consultation with) the WDOE. Upon expiration of the 1998 agreement, groundwater monitoring continued. In June 2017, the WDOE further notified the Company that WDOE determined Longview is a potentially liable party related to the release or threatened release of petroleum at the site. The Company has responded to the notices and has been engaged in discussions with the WDOE and other potentially liable parties. Based upon the information available to the Company at this time, the Company cannot reasonably estimate its potential liability for this matter.

 

There have been no material changes in any of our legal proceedings for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

 

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14.                               Segment Information

 

Paper and Packaging:  This segment manufactures and sells a wide variety of container board, corrugated products and specialty paper for industrial and consumer markets.

 

Distribution: Through Victory, a North American distributor of packaging materials, with more than 60 distribution centers located in the United States, Mexico and Canada, the Company provides packaging materials and related products to a wide variety of customers.

 

Each segment’s profits and losses are measured on operating profits before income from equity investments, foreign exchange (gain) / loss, loss on debt extinguishment, net interest expense and income taxes.

 

 

 

Net Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

 

Trade

 

Inter-
segment

 

Total

 

Operating
Income
(Loss)

 

Depreciation
and
Amortization

 

Capital
Expenditures

 

Total Assets

 

Paper and Packaging:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Containerboard / Corrugated products

 

$

377,024

 

$

17,114

 

$

394,138

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specialty paper

 

169,665

 

 

169,665

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

21,296

 

 

21,296

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper and Packaging

 

$

567,985

 

$

17,114

 

$

585,099

 

$

74,711

 

$

38,676

 

$

35,148

 

$

2,642,878

 

Distribution

 

231,210

 

 

231,210

 

2,491

 

5,907

 

287

 

640,945

 

Corporate

 

 

 

 

(25,469

)

1,782

 

1,590

 

51,766

 

Intersegment eliminations

 

 

(17,114

)

(17,114

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

799,195

 

$

 

$

799,195

 

$

51,733

 

$

46,365

 

$

37,025

 

$

3,335,589

 

 

 

 

Net Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017

 

Trade

 

Inter-
segment

 

Total

 

Operating
Income
(Loss)

 

Depreciation
and
Amortization

 

Capital
Expenditures

 

Total Assets

 

Paper and Packaging:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Containerboard / Corrugated products

 

$

345,342

 

$

21,197

 

$

366,539

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specialty paper

 

180,348

 

 

180,348

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

21,954

 

 

21,954

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper and Packaging

 

$

547,644

 

$

21,197

 

$

568,841

 

$

32,752

 

$

37,406

 

$

36,490

 

$

2,591,747

 

Distribution

 

218,199

 

 

218,199

 

2,597

 

5,978

 

679

 

687,854

 

Corporate

 

 

 

 

(16,788

)

1,964

 

1,500

 

43,218

 

Intersegment eliminations

 

 

(21,197

)

(21,197

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

765,843

 

$

 

$

765,843

 

$

18,561

 

$

45,348

 

$

38,669

 

$

3,322,819

 

 

15.       Subsequent Event

 

The Company’s paper mill in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina will begin its annual planned maintenance outage on April 20, 2018. The outage is expected to last approximately 10 days with an estimated cost of $10.7 million primarily for maintenance, inspections, and the fixed cost impact associated with lost paper production of 13,300 tons.

 

16



Table of Contents

 

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements about our expectations regarding our future operating and performance results, earnings, expenditures and financial condition and liquidity. These statements are often identified by the words “will,” “should,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “hope,” or similar expressions. These statements reflect management’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond our control. These factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Part I Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and in our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings, as well as various factors related to the Merger, including but not limited to: the ability of KapStone and WestRock to receive the required regulatory approvals for the Merger (and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the Merger), to receive approval of KapStone’s stockholders and to satisfy the other conditions to the closing of the Merger on a timely basis or at all; the occurrence of events that may give rise to a right of one or both of the parties to terminate the Merger Agreement; negative effects of the announcement or the consummation of the Merger on the market price of WestRock’s or KapStone’s common stock and/or on their respective businesses, financial conditions, results of operations and financial performance; risks relating to the value of the Holdco Common Stock that may be issued in the Merger, significant transaction costs and/or unknown liabilities; the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the Merger cannot be realized in full or at all or may take longer to realize than expected; risks associated with third party contracts containing consent and/or other provisions that may be triggered by the Merger; risks associated with transaction-related litigation; the possibility that costs or difficulties related to the integration of KapStone’s operations with those of WestRock will be greater than expected; the outcome of legally required consultation with employees or other employee representatives; and the ability of KapStone and the combined company to retain and hire key personnel. There can be no assurance that the Merger or any other transaction described above will in fact be consummated in the manner described or at all.

 

We face additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial. Should any known or unknown risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.

 

Our actual results, performance, financial condition, liquidity, prospects and opportunities could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements, and accordingly, we can give no assurances that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on our business, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity. In view of these uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly revise any forward looking statements that have been made to reflect the occurrence of events after the date hereof, except as required by law or regulation.

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes thereto included elsewhere in this report.

 

Executive Summary

 

Industry and Business Conditions

 

Trade publications reported industry-wide corrugated products total box shipments increased 3.3 percent while industry mill containerboard production decreased 1.1 percent for the first two months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.  Reported industry containerboard inventories as of February 28, 2018 were approximately 2,396 thousand tons, down 3.9 percent compared to the same time period in 2017. Reported containerboard export shipments decreased 8.4 percent compared to the same time period ended February 28, 2017.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Results of Operations for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2018

 

Consolidated net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 were $799.2 million compared to $765.8 million for the first quarter of 2017, an increase of $33.4 million, or 4.4 percent, primarily due to $48.3 million of higher prices and a more favorable product mix, and  higher Distribution segment sales of $13.0 million, partially offset by $27.1 million of lower sales volumes.

 

Consolidated net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 was $32.7 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared with $6.0 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the same period in 2017.

 

Paper and Packaging segment operating income for the current quarter increased $42.0 million to $74.7 million, primarily due to $48.3 million of higher prices and a more favorable price mix, the $7.5 million on the gain on sale of property, $6.4 million lower recycled fiber costs and $5.0 million of the absence of the Charleston mill’s 2017 union ratification costs.  These increases were partially offset by $15.1 million of inflation, $8.5 million of higher planned maintenance outage costs and $7.3 million due to lower sales volume.

 

Distribution segment operating income of $2.5 million for the current quarter was flat compared to the first quarter of 2017.  The increased gross margin of $2.1 million from higher containerboard prices in the first quarter of 2018 was offset by higher freight and distribution costs.

 

Corporate operating expenses increased by $8.7 million to $25.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to merger expenses of $13.5 million and $1.5 million of higher management incentive compensation, partially offset by lower stock compensation expense of $2.3 million and the absence of Victory contingent consideration expense of $2.5 million.

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017

(In thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Increase/

 

% of Net Sales

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

(Decrease)

 

2018

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper and packaging

 

$

585,099

 

$

568,841

 

$

16,258

 

73.2

%

74.3

%

Distribution

 

231,210

 

218,199

 

13,011

 

28.9

%

28.5

%

Intersegment Eliminations

 

(17,114

)

(21,197

)

4,083

 

(2.1

)%

(2.8

)%

Net sales

 

$

799,195

 

$

765,843

 

$

33,352

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization

 

554,821

 

562,461

 

(7,640

)

69.4

%

73.5

%

Depreciation and amortization

 

46,365

 

45,348

 

1,017

 

5.8

%

5.9

%

Freight and distribution expenses

 

76,586

 

72,988

 

3,598

 

9.6

%

9.5

%

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

 

63,611

 

66,485

 

(2,874

)

8.0

%

8.7

%

Merger expenses

 

13,532

 

 

13,532

 

1.7

%

0.0

%

Gain on sale of property

 

(7,453

)

 

(7,453

)

(0.9

)%

0.0

%

Operating income

 

$

51,733

 

$

18,561

 

$

33,172

 

6.4

%

2.4

%

Foreign exchange (gain) / loss

 

(37

)

(82

)

45

 

0.0

%

0.0

%

Pension income

 

(3,092

)

(1,563

)

(1,529

)

(0.4

)%

(0.2

)%

Equity method investments income

 

(520

)

(677

)

157

 

(0.1

)%

(0.1

)%

Interest expense, net

 

14,345

 

10,730

 

3,615

 

1.8

%

1.4

%

Income before provision for income taxes

 

41,037

 

10,153

 

30,884

 

5.1

%

1.3

%

Provision for income taxes

 

8,296

 

4,161

 

4,135

 

1.0

%

0.5

%

Net income

 

$

32,741

 

$

5,992

 

$

26,749

 

4.1

%

0.8

%

 

Paper and Packaging segment net sales increased by $16.3 million to $585.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 due to $48.3 million of higher prices and a more favorable product mix, partially offset

 

18



Table of Contents

 

by $27.1 million of lower sales volume and $4.1 million of decreased intersegment sales to the Distribution segement.  Average mill selling price per ton for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 was $719 compared to $648 for the prior year’s quarter, reflecting higher containerboard and specialty paper prices and a more favorable product mix.

 

In January 2018, the Company announced a $50 per ton price increase for North American containerboard shipments beginning March 1, 2018.

 

Distribution segment net sales increased by $13.0 million to $231.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 compared to 2017, due to higher prices related to the pass thru of higher containerboard costs and slightly higher sales volume.

 

Paper and Packaging segment sales by product line for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

Net Sales (in thousands)

 

Increase/

 

 

 

Tons Sold

 

Increase/

 

 

 

Product Line Tons:

 

2018

 

2017

 

(Decrease)

 

%

 

2018

 

2017

 

(Decrease)

 

%

 

Containerboard / Corrugated products

 

$

394,138

 

$

366,539

 

$

27,599

 

7.5

%

440,846

 

434,380

 

6,466

 

1.5

%

Specialty paper

 

169,665

 

180,348

 

(10,683

)

(5.9

)%

221,118

 

264,386

 

(43,268

)

(16.4

)%

Other

 

21,296

 

21,954

 

(658

)

(3.0

)%

 

 

 

%

Product sold

 

$

585,099

 

$

568,841

 

$

16,258

 

2.9

%

661,964

 

698,766

 

(36,802

)

(5.3

)%

 

Tons of product sold for the Paper and Packaging segment for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 were 661,964 tons compared to 698,766 tons for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, a decrease of 36,802 tons, or 5.3 percent, as follows:

 

·                  Shipments of Containerboard / Corrugated products increased by 6,466 tons, primarily due to higher domestic containerboard shipments of 16,205 tons.  This increase was partially offset by a decrease in corrugated product shipments of 5,066 tons and a decrease in export containerboard shipments of 4,674 tons.

 

·                  Specialty paper decrease in tons sold was primarily due to lower kraft paper shipments of 30,696 tons and lower pulp shipments of 10,754 tons.

 

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization expense, for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 was $554.8 million compared to $562.5 million for the first quarter of 2017, a decrease of $7.7 million, or 1.4 percent.  The decrease in cost of sales was mainly due to $19.6 million of lower sales volume, $9.4 million of productivity gains, $6.4 million of lower recycled fiber costs and $5.0 million for the Charleston, South Carolina mill’s union ratification cost not incurred in 2018, partially offset by $12.2 million of inflation, $8.5 million of higher planned maintenance outage costs, $1.6 million prior year pension income reclassification and $1.5 million for the closure of the Oakland, California box plant.  Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization expense, for the Distribution segment increased by $12.1 million primarily due to an increase in containerboard costs.  Planned maintenance outage costs of approximately $14.7 million and $6.2 million are included in cost of sales for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Depreciation and amortization expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 totaled $46.4 million compared to $45.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

 

Freight and distribution expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 totaled $76.6 million compared to $73.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. The increase of $3.6 million was primarily due to a higher percentage of domestic shipments and higher operating costs.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 totaled $63.6 million compared to $66.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. The decrease of $2.9 million, or 4.4 percent, was primarily due to $2.5 million of the Victory contingent consideration expense not incurred in 2018, $2.3 million of lower stock compensation expense and $2.1 million of lower Distribution segment operating costs, partially offset by $3.0 million of higher management incentives and benefits.  For the quarter ended

 

19



Table of Contents

 

March 31, 2018, selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales was 8.0 percent compared to 8.7 percent in the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

 

Merger expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 totaled $13.5 million, including $10.2 million for professional fees and $3.3 million for legal and other costs.

 

Net interest expense for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $14.3 million and $10.7 million, respectively. Interest expense was $3.6 million higher for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 due to $2.1 million related to higher interest rates and $1.7 million due to implicit interest on long-term financing obligations.

 

Provision for income taxes for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $8.3 million and $4.2 million, respectively, reflecting an effective income tax rate of 20.2 percent for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, compared to 41.0 percent for the similar period in 2017.  The lower effective income tax rate in the three months ended March 31, 2018 reflects the 21 percent federal statutory tax rate beginning in 2018 from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and a $1.5 million discrete tax benefit from excess tax deductions related to stock compensation.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Credit Facility

 

The Company had $465.9 million available to borrow under the Revolver at March 31, 2018.  In addition, the Credit Facility also includes an uncommitted accordion feature that allows the Company, subject to certain significant conditions, to request additional commitments from our existing or new lenders under the Credit Facility without further approvals of any existing lenders thereunder.  The aggregate amount of such increases in potential commitments (and potential borrowings) is limited to $600 million, unless the Company would maintain a pro forma total leverage ratio of 2.5 to 1.0 or less after giving effect to the increase in potential commitments (and potential borrowings).

 

Receivables Credit Facility

 

As of March 31, 2018, the Company had $304.4 million of outstanding borrowings under its $325.0 million Receivables Credit Facility with an interest rate of 2.6 percent.

 

Debt Covenants

 

As of March 31, 2018, under the financial covenants of the Credit Agreement, the Company must comply on a quarterly basis with a maximum permitted leverage ratio as of the end of each quarter. The leverage ratio is calculated by dividing the Company’s debt net of available cash up to $150 million by its rolling twelve month total earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization after accounting for allowable adjustments. The maximum permitted leverage ratio declines over the life of the Credit Agreement. As of March 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with a leverage ratio of 2.96 to 1.00 compared to a maximum permitted leverage ratio of 4.25 to 1.00.

 

The Credit Agreement also includes a financial covenant requiring a minimum interest coverage ratio. This ratio is calculated by dividing the Company’s trailing twelve month total earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization after accounting for allowable adjustments by the sum of our net cash interest payments during the twelve month period. On March 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with the Credit Agreement with an interest coverage ratio of 9.22 to 1.00 compared to a minimum required ratio of 3:00 to 1:00.

 

As of March 31, 2018, KapStone was also in compliance with all other covenants in the Credit Agreement.

 

Income taxes

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate, excluding discrete items for 2018, is projected to be 23.7 percent. The Company’s cash tax rate on earnings for 2018 is projected to be 25 percent.

 

20



Table of Contents

 

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

Three months ended March 31 ($ in thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

 

Incr / (Dcr)

 

Operating activities

 

$

5,123

 

$

32,669

 

$

(27,546

)

Investing activities

 

(22,344

)

(72,169

)

49,825

 

Financing activities

 

7,840

 

18,030

 

(10,190

)

Total change in cash and cash equivalents

 

$

(9,381

)

$

(21,470

)

$

12,089

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $9.4 million from December 31, 2017, reflecting $5.1 million provided by operating activities, $22.3 million used in investing activities and $7.8 million provided by financing activities in the first three months of 2018.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $5.1 million, comprised of net income for the first three months of $32.7 million and non-cash charges of $43.4 million.  Changes in operating assets and liabilities used $71.1 million of cash. Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $27.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, mainly due to a $42.1 million increase in cash used for working capital and $12.1 million of lower non-cash charges, partially offset by higher net income of $26.7 million.  The increase in cash used for working capital in the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to 2017 is primarily due to the payment of management incentive compensation, the Victory contingent consideration payment and higher inventory levels, which were partially offset by lower trade accounts receivables.

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $22.3 million and includes $37.0 million for capital expenditures and proceeds of $14.7 million from the sale of property.  Net cash used in investing activities decreased by $49.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to the acquisition of API in 2017 and the proceeds from the sale of property.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $7.8 million and reflects $20.0 million of net short-term borrowings under the Revolver, $6.8 million of other current borrowings and $5.1 million of net proceeds from share transactions. These borrowings were partially offset by $9.7 million of quarterly dividend payments, the $9.6 million contingent consideration payment to the former owners Victory and $4.4 million of net repayments under the Receivables Credit Facility. Net cash provided by financing activities decreased by $10.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to the Victory contingent consideration payment and lower net borrowings in 2018.

 

Future Cash Needs

 

The Company expects that cash generated from operating activities will be sufficient to meet its remaining 2018 cash needs.  The cash needs consist of approximately $34.0 million of payments to financial advisors contingent upon the consummation of the Merger, $30.0 million for cash dividends subject to board approval, $5.0 million due for contingent consideration upon the consummation of the Merger of KapStone and WestRock and any additional working capital needs.  In addition, capital expenditures for the full year are estimated to be $169.0 million.

 

Should the need arise, we have the ability to draw from our $500.0 million Revolver.  In addition, if available and subject to specified significant conditions, we may have the ability to request additional commitments from our existing or new lenders and borrow up to $600.0 million under the accordion provision of our Credit Facility without further approvals of any existing lenders thereunder.  As of March 31, 2018, the Company had $20.0 million of borrowings under the Revolver and $465.9 million of remaining Revolver availability, net of outstanding letters of credit.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements.  The Company maintains a special purpose entity, in connection with the Receivables Credit Facility, which is consolidated as part of our financial statements. We have not guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities or entered into any options on non-financial assets.

 

Changes to Critical Accounting Policies

 

Revenue Recognition

 

During the first quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company adopted the provisions of ASC 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”.  Refer to Note 2, Recently Adopted and New Accounting Pronouncements and Note 3, Revenue, in the footnotes to the financial statements, related to the impact of the adoption on the Company’s financial statements and accounting policies.

 

Pension and Postretirement Benefits

 

During the first quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost”.  Refer to Note 2, Recently Adopted and New Accounting Pronouncements and Note 11, Pension Plan and Post-Retirement Benefits, in the footnotes to the financial statements, related to the impact of the adoption on the Company’s financial statements and accounting policies.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Market risk is the sensitivity of income to changes in interest rates, commodity prices, equity prices and other market-driven rates or prices.

 

Under our Credit Agreement, at March 31, 2018, our Credit Facility consisted of two term loans totaling approximately $1.1 billion outstanding and the Revolver that provides for borrowing of up to $500 million. Depending on the type of borrowing, the applicable interest rate under the Credit Facility is calculated at a per annum rate equal to (a) LIBOR plus an applicable margin or (b) the base rate that is calculated as (i) the greatest of (x) the prime rate, (y) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% or (z) a daily rate equal to one month LIBOR plus 1% plus (ii) an applicable margin. The unused portion of the Revolver is also subject to an unused fee that is calculated at a per annum rate (the “Unused Fee Rate”).

 

The applicable margin for borrowings under the Credit Facility and the Unused Fee Rate is determined by reference to the pricing grid based on the Company’s total leverage ratio. Under such pricing grid, the applicable margins for Term Loan A-1 and Revolver ranges from 1.00% to 2.00% for Eurodollar loans and from 0.0% to 1.00% for base rate loans and the Unused Fee Rate ranges from 0.20% to 0.325%. The applicable margins for Term Loan A-2 ranges from 1.125% to 2.125% for Eurodollar loans and from 0.125% to 1.125% for base rate loans. At March 31, 2018 the weighted average interest rate of the term loans was 3.7 percent.

 

Under our Receivables Credit Facility, at March 31, 2018, we had $304.4 million of outstanding borrowings. The outstanding capital of each investment in the receivable interests accrues yield for each day at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (a) for any day, the one-month Eurodollar rate for U.S. dollar deposits plus (b) the applicable margin. At March 31, 2018 the interest rate on outstanding amounts under the Receivables Credit Facility was 2.6 percent.

 

Changes in market rates may impact the base or LIBOR rate under all borrowings. For instance, if the LIBOR rate was to increase or decrease by one percentage point (1.0 percent), our annual interest expense would change by approximately $14.0 million based upon our expected future monthly term loan balances per our existing repayment schedule and the Receivables Credit Facility.

 

We are exposed to price fluctuations of certain commodities used in production and distribution. Key materials and energy used in the production process include roundwood and woodchips, OCC, containerboard, electricity, coal, natural gas and caustic soda. Diesel fuel prices have a direct impact on our Distribution segment. We generally purchase these commodities in each of our segments at market prices and do not use forward contracts or other financial instruments to hedge our exposure to price risk related to these commodities. We have one contract to purchase coal at fixed prices through December 31, 2018. Contracts for the purchase of natural gas at fixed prices have been layered in for various terms and quantities, with the shortest terms ending in 2019 and the longest terms ending in 2022.

 

We are exposed to price fluctuations in the price of our finished goods. The prices we charge for our products are primarily based on market conditions.

 

We are exposed to currency fluctuations as we invoice certain European customers in Euros and Mexican customers in Pesos. The Company did not use forward contracts to reduce the impact of currency fluctuations during the quarter ended March 31, 2018. No such contracts were outstanding at March 31, 2018.

 

ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2018.

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended March 31, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART II. — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

See “Legal Claims” under Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies.  There have been no material changes in the legal proceedings described in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

 

There have been no material changes from the Risk Factors described in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

None.

 

ITEM 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

None.

 

ITEM 5.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

 

The following Exhibits are filed as part of this report.

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

10.24

 

Change in Control Severance Agreement, effective March 24, 2018, by and between KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation and Randy Nebel. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2018.

 

 

 

10.25

 

Change in Control Severance Agreement, effective March 24, 2018, by and between KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation and Andrea Tarbox. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2018.

 

 

 

10.26

 

Change in Control Severance Agreement, effective February 28, 2018, by and between KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation and Wilbur Kessinger.

 

 

 

10.27

 

Form of Change in Control Severance Agreement, by and between KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation and executive officers.

 

 

 

10.28

 

Letter Agreement dated April 16, 2018, by and among KapStone Receivables, LLC, as Seller, and the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, as Purchasers, and Well Fargo Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document.

 

 

 

101.SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.

 

 

 

101.CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.

 

 

 

101.DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.

 

 

 

101.LAB

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.

 

 

 

101.PRE

 

XBRL Extension Presentation Linkbase.

 

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Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION

 

 

 

April 18, 2018

By:

/s/ Andrea K. Tarbox

 

 

Andrea K. Tarbox

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(duly authorized officer and principal financial officer)

 

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