International Paper Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2017 Earnings

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MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- International Paper IP today reported full-year 2017 net earnings attributable to International Paper of $2.1 billion ($5.13 per diluted share) compared with net earnings of $904 million ($2.18 per diluted share) for full-year 2016. In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company reported net earnings of $1.5 billion ($3.50 per diluted share) compared with $218 million ($0.53 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2016.  Fourth quarter and full-year 2017 net earnings included a provisional net tax benefit of $1.2 billion ($2.93 per diluted share) related to the U.S. enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 reported as a special item. Net earnings in all periods include the impact of special items, if any, non-operating pension expense and discontinued operations.

International Paper logo. (PRNewsfoto/International Paper)

 

Diluted Net EPS Attributable to International Paper Shareholders and Adjusted Operating EPS




Fourth

Quarter

2017


Fourth

Quarter

2016


Full-

Year

2017


Full-

Year

2016

Net Earnings


$

3.50



$

0.53



$

5.13



$

2.18


Less – Discontinued Operations (Gain) Loss


0.02



(0.06)



(0.08)



(0.25)


Net Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations


3.52



0.47



5.05



1.93


Add Back – Non-Operating Pension Expense


0.57



0.05



0.72



0.90


Add Back – Net Special Items Expense (Income)


(2.82)



0.15



(2.28)



0.26


Adjusted Operating Earnings*


$

1.27



$

0.67



$

3.49



$

3.09


 

* Adjusted operating earnings (non-GAAP) is defined as net earnings from continuing operations attributable to International Paper Company (GAAP) excluding special items and non-operating pension expense. Non-operating pension expense in the fourth quarter of 2017 included a non-cash pre-tax charge of $376 million ($232 million after taxes or $0.56 per diluted share) for a settlement accounting charge associated with an annuity purchase and related transfer of pension obligations for approximately 45,000 retirees. Non-operating pension expense in the second quarter of 2016 included a non-cash pre-tax charge of $439 million ($270 million after taxes or $0.65 per diluted share) for a settlement accounting charge associated with payments under a term-vested lump sum buyout. Management uses this measure to focus on on-going operations, and believes that it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present operating results.

Full-year 2017 adjusted operating earnings were $1.5 billion ($3.49 per diluted share) compared with $1.3 billion ($3.09 per diluted share) in 2016. Adjusted operating earnings in the fourth quarter of 2017 totaled $530 million ($1.27 per diluted share) compared with $279 million ($0.67 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Annual net sales totaled $21.7 billion in 2017 compared with $19.5 billion in 2016. The year-over-year revenue increase was primarily due to the pulp business that was acquired from Weyerhaeuser in late 2016. Quarterly net sales were $5.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared with $5.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Full-year business segment operating profits were $2.1 billion in 2017 compared with $2.1 billion in 2016. Business segment operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2017 were $824 million compared with $442 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Cash provided by (used for) operations was $1.8 billion for the full-year 2017 and $1.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017.  Free cash flow (non-GAAP) was $2.0 billion for the full-year 2017 and $732 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.

"In 2017, we delivered on our commitment of strong cash generation and value creation, enabling us to strengthen our balance sheet and increase our dividend," said Mark Sutton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We made outstanding progress integrating the Global Cellulose Fibers business and delivering synergies, while also making an important strategic move in consumer packaging that further enables us to focus on growing meaningful value in our core businesses. Looking at the fourth quarter, the company delivered its best results in a decade, driven by healthy demand and excellent commercial performance in Industrial Packaging and Global Cellulose Fibers. All in, the momentum we've built throughout 2017 positions us well for another year of strong earnings growth in 2018."

SEGMENT INFORMATION

The performance of the Company's business segments is measured quarter to quarter without variations caused by special items, as management focuses on business segment operating profits excluding those items (non-GAAP). The combination of IP's legacy pulp business with the pulp business acquired in 2016 is now called Global Cellulose Fibers and reported as a separate business segment. Prior periods have been restated to reflect this change. Industrial Packaging results, for all periods presented, include the EMEA Coated Paperboard Packaging business, which was previously reported as part of the Consumer Packaging segment. The Consumer Packaging segment was eliminated in connection with the transfer of the North American Consumer Packaging business. Fourth quarter 2017 business segment operating profits and business trends compared with the prior quarter are as follows:

Industrial Packaging operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2017 were $609 million ($614 million excluding special items) compared with $490 million ($505 million excluding special items) in the third quarter of 2017.  In North America, overall market conditions remain healthy. Increased earnings reflect record box shipments for the quarter, partly driven by e-commerce, higher average sales prices and volumes in the export channel and lower input costs, primarily for recycled fiber, partially offset by mill operating costs. In EMEA, the benefit from seasonally higher sales volumes was more than offset by higher operating costs and the impact of higher containerboard costs not being fully passed through to box pricing. 

Global Cellulose Fibers operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2017 were $79 million ($98 million excluding special items) compared with $49 million ($57 million excluding special items) in the third quarter of 2017. The improvement in earnings was driven by higher average sales prices, record volume and strong synergy realization.

Printing Papers operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2017 were $136 million versus $135 million in the third quarter of 2017. In North America, earnings decreased due to higher maintenance outage costs, along with higher operating and distribution costs. In Brazil, earnings benefited from higher sales volumes and a more favorable geographic mix due to seasonally stronger domestic demand. In Europe and Russia, higher average sales prices for uncoated freesheet paper were offset by higher operating and input costs.

International Paper recorded Ilim joint venture equity earnings of $64 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared with $48 million in the third quarter of 2017. Operationally, sales prices increased, primarily for export shipments, and sales volumes increased coming off a third quarter impacted by maintenance outages. The Company recognized a non-cash after-tax foreign exchange gain of $3 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 ($0.01 per diluted share), compared with a gain of $7 million in the third quarter of 2017 ($0.02 per diluted share), primarily due to Ilim's U.S. dollar denominated net debt. 

CORPORATE EXPENSES

Net corporate expenses, excluding non-operating pension expense, were $18 million for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with $32 million in the third quarter of 2017. Corporate expenses in the third quarter were higher due to other corporate reserves and a decline in the fair value of an energy hedging contract.

EFFECTIVE TAX RATE 

The reported effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2017 was (613)% compared to a 2017 third quarter reported effective tax rate of 30%. In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a provisional net benefit of $1.2 billion related to the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The net benefit is comprised of a non-cash $1.45 billion benefit related to the remeasurement of the Company's U.S. deferred taxes and additional tax expense of $229 million related to the deemed repatriation of earnings of its foreign subsidiaries. The Company continues to analyze the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the provisional amounts will be finalized in 2018.

Excluding special items, non-operating pension expense and discontinued operations, the effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2017 was 32%, compared with an effective tax rate of 28% in the third quarter of 2017. The higher effective tax rate in the fourth quarter is primarily due to income tax credits related to both biomass investments and foreign taxes recorded in the third quarter.

EFFECTS OF SPECIAL ITEMS

Special items in the fourth quarter of 2017 included a pre-tax charge of $83 million ($51 million after taxes) for debt extinguishment costs included in Restructuring and other charges. Special items also included pre-tax charges of $18 million ($11 million after taxes) for integration costs associated with the 2016 acquisition of the Weyerhaeuser pulp business, pre-tax charges of $6 million ($4 million after taxes) related to removal of abandoned property at our mills and a gain of $1 million (before and after taxes) for interest income associated with amended tax returns. Also included in special items is a provisional net tax benefit of $1.2 billion related to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a tax benefit of $28 million for investment tax credits and a tax expense of $9 million associated with an international tax law change.

Special items in the third quarter of 2017 included pre-tax charges of $6 million ($4 million after taxes) for integration costs associated with the pulp business acquisition, a pre-tax charge of $10 million ($7 million after taxes) for accelerated amortization of an intangible asset in Brazil packaging and pre-tax charges of $7 million ($4 million after taxes) related to removal of abandoned property at our mills. Also included in special items is a net tax expense of $19 million due to international legal entity restructuring.

Special items in the fourth quarter of 2016 included a pre-tax charge of $7 million ($6 million after taxes) for Restructuring and other charges for costs associated with the closure of a mill in Turkey. Special items also included a pre-tax charge of $19 million ($14 million after taxes) for costs associated with the pulp business acquisition, a pre-tax charge of $19 million ($11 million after taxes) to amortize the acquired pulp business inventory fair value step-up and a tax expense of $31 million associated with a tax rate change in Luxembourg.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

As a result of the transfer of the North American Consumer Packaging business, all current and prior year amounts have been adjusted to reflect this business as a discontinued operation.

Discontinued operations in the fourth quarter of 2017 included the operating earnings of the North American Consumer Packaging business, pre-tax charges of $17 million ($10 million after taxes) for costs associated with the divestiture and pre-tax charges of $45 million ($28 million after taxes) for non-operating pension expenses related to curtailment charges and termination benefits.  Discontinued operations in the third quarter of 2017 and the fourth quarter of 2016 included the operating earnings of the North American Consumer Packaging business.

EARNINGS WEBCAST

The company will host a webcast to discuss earnings and current market conditions, beginning at 10 a.m. ET (9 a.m. CT). All interested parties are invited to listen to the webcast via the company's Internet site at http://www.internationalpaper.com by clicking on the Performance/Investors tab and going to the Presentations and Events/Webcasts page. A replay of the webcast will also be on the web site beginning approximately two hours after the call. Parties who wish to participate in the webcast via teleconference may dial +1 (706) 679-8242 or, within the U.S. only, (877) 316-2541, and ask to be connected to the International Paper fourth quarter and full year earnings call. The conference ID number is 9548817. Participants should call in no later than 9:45 a.m. ET (8:45 a.m. CT). An audio-only replay will be available for ninety days following the call. To access the replay, dial +1 (404) 537-3406 or, within the U.S. only, (855) 859-2056 or (800) 585-8367, and when prompted for the conference ID, enter 9548817.

About International Paper

International Paper IP is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa, India and Russia. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable world-wide commerce; pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness and papers that facilitate education and communication. We are headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., and employ approximately 52,000 colleagues located in more than 24 countries. Net sales for 2017 were $22 billion. For more information about International Paper, our products and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com.

Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current views and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ include but are not limited to: (i) the level of our indebtedness and changes in interest rates; (ii) industry conditions, including but not limited to changes in the cost or availability of raw materials, energy and transportation costs, competition we face, cyclicality and changes in consumer preferences, demand and pricing for our products; (iii) global economic conditions and political changes, including but not limited to the impairment of financial institutions, changes in currency exchange rates, credit ratings issued by recognized credit rating organizations, the amount of our future pension funding obligation, changes in tax laws, and pension and health care costs; (iv) unanticipated expenditures related to the cost of compliance with existing and new environmental and other governmental regulations and to actual or potential litigation; (v) whether we experience a material disruption at one of our manufacturing facilities; (vi) risks inherent in conducting business through joint ventures; and (vii) our ability to achieve the benefits we expect from strategic acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings. These and other factors that could cause or contribute to actual results differing materially from such forward- looking statements are discussed in greater detail in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
Consolidated Statement of Operations
Preliminary and Unaudited
(In millions, except per share amounts)

















Three Months Ended
December 31,


Three Months

Ended
September 30,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,





2017


2016


2017


2017


2016



Net Sales


$    5,711


$     5,000


$             5,517


$    21,743


$      19,495



Costs and Expenses













Cost of products sold


4,086

(a)

3,544

(g)

3,756

(a)

15,300

(a)

14,057

(g)


Selling and administrative expenses


447

(b)

409

(h)

407

(b)

1,653

(b)

1,484

(h)


Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested


339


302


350

(k)

1,343

(k)

1,124



Distribution expenses


373


320


354


1,434


1,237



Taxes other than payroll and income taxes


45


39


41


169


154



Restructuring and other charges


83

(c)

7

(i)


67

(c)

54

(i)


Net (gains) losses on sales and impairment of businesses





9

(l)

70

(o)


Litigation settlement





354

(m)



Net bargain purchase gain on acquisition of business





(6)

(n)



Interest expense, net


141

(d)

135


152


572

(d)

520



Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Earnings


197

(a-d)

244

(g-i)

457

(a,b,k)

848

(a-d, k-n)

795

(g-i,o)


Income tax provision (benefit)


(1,207)

(e)

96

(j)

136

(e)

(1,085)

(e)

193

(j)


Equity earnings (loss), net of taxes


64


47


45


177


198



Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations


1,468

(a-e)

195

(g-j)

366

(a,b,e,k)

2,110

(a-e, k-n)

800

(g-j,o)


Discontinued operations, net of taxes


(8)

(f)

24


29


34

(f)

102

(p)


Net Earnings (Loss)


1,460

(a-f)

219

(g-j)

395

(a,b,e,k)

2,144

(a-f, k-n)

902

(g-j,o-p)


Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests



1




(2)



Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to International Paper Company


$    1,460

(a-f)

$        218

(g-j)

$                395

(a,b,e,k)

$      2,144

(a-f, k-n)

$           904

(g-j,o-p)


Basic Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to International Paper Common Shareholders













Earnings (loss) from continuing operations


$      3.56


$       0.47


$               0.89


$         5.11


$          1.95



Discontinued operations


(0.02)


0.06


0.07


0.08


0.25



Net earnings (loss)


$      3.54


$       0.53


$               0.96


$         5.19


$          2.20



Diluted Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to International Paper Common Shareholders













Earnings (loss) from continuing operations


$      3.52


$       0.47


$               0.88


$         5.05


$          1.93



Discontinued operations


(0.02)


0.06


0.07


0.08


0.25



Net earnings (loss)


$      3.50


$       0.53


$               0.95


$         5.13


$          2.18



Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted


417.8


415.6


417.4


417.7


415.6



Cash Dividends Per Common Share


$ 0.4750


$   0.4625


$           0.4625


$    1.8625


$      1.7825



Amounts Attributable to International Paper Common Shareholders













Earnings (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax


$    1,468


$        194


$                366


$      2,110


$           802



Discontinued operations, net of tax


(8)


24


29


34


102



Net earnings


$    1,460


$        218


$                395


$      2,144


$           904















The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated statement of operations.





(a)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $376 million ($232 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for a settlement accounting charge associated with an annuity purchase and transfer of pension obligations for approximately 45,000 retirees. Also includes pre-tax charges of $6 million ($4 million after taxes), $7 million ($4 million after taxes), and $20 million ($13 million after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017 and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, for the removal of abandoned property at our mills and a pre-tax charge of $14 million ($8 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 to amortize the inventory fair value step-up for the pulp business acquired in December 2016.

(b)

Includes pre-tax charges of $18 million ($11 million after taxes), $6 million ($4 million after taxes) and $33 million ($20 million after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017 and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, for integration costs associated with the pulp business acquisition.

(c)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $83 million ($51 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for debt extinguishment costs, a gain of $14 million ($9 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 related to the sale of our investment in ArborGen, and a gain of $2 million (before and after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for other items.

(d)

Includes gains of $1 million (before and after taxes) and $5 million ($3 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, for interest income related to income tax refund claims.

(e)

Includes a provisional net tax benefit of $1.2 billion for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 related to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  Also includes tax benefits of $28 million and $113 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, related to income tax refund claims, a tax expense of $9 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 related to an international tax law change, tax expenses of $19 million and $34 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, related to international investment restructuring, and a tax expense of $38 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 associated with a 2017 cash pension contribution.

(f)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $17 million ($10 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for costs associated with the divestiture of our North America Consumer Packaging business and pre-tax charges of $45 million ($28 million after taxes) for non-operating pension expenses related to curtailment charges and termination benefits.

(g)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $439 million ($270 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 for a settlement accounting charge associated with term-vested lump sum pension payments, a pre-tax charge of $19 million ($11 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 to amortize the inventory fair value step-up associated with the pulp business acquisition, a pre-tax charge of $8 million ($5 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 for the write-off of certain regulatory pre-engineering costs and charges of $1 million (before and after taxes) and $3 million (before and after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2016, respectively, for other costs associated with the acquisition.

(h)

Includes pre-tax charges of $16 million ($11 million after taxes) and $28 million ($18 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2016, respectively, for costs associated with the pulp business acquisition.

(i)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $7 million ($6 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 for costs associated with the closure of a mill in Turkey, a pre-tax gain of $8 million ($5 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 related to the sale of our investment in Arizona Chemical, a pre-tax charge of $29 million ($18 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 for debt extinguishment costs, a pre-tax charge of $17 million ($11 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 for costs associated with the write off of the India Packaging business evaluation, and a pre-tax charge of $9 million ($6 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 for costs associated with the Riegelwood mill conversion to 100% pulp production.

(j)

Includes a tax expense of $31 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 associated with a tax rate change in Luxembourg, a tax benefit of $57 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 related to the legal restructuring of our Brazil Packaging business, a tax expense of $23 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 associated with 2016 cash pension contributions, a tax benefit of $14 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 related to the closure of a U.S. federal tax audit, and a tax benefit of $6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 related to an international legal entity restructuring.

(k)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $10 million ($7 million after taxes) for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for accelerated amortization of a Brazil Packaging intangible asset.

(l)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $9 million ($4 million after taxes) for the impairment of the assets of our Foodservice business in Asia.

(m)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $354 million ($219 million after taxes) related to the agreement to settle the Kleen Products anti-trust class action lawsuit.

(n)

Includes a net bargain purchase gain of $6 million (before and after taxes) associated with the June 2016 Holmen Paper mill acquisition in Madrid, Spain.

(o)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $70 million ($58 million after taxes) for the impairment of the assets of our Asia corrugated packaging business and costs associated with the sale of that business.

(p)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $8 million ($5 million after taxes) for a legal settlement associated with the xpedx business.

 

 

 


INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
Reconciliation of Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to International Paper Company to Adjusted Operating Earnings
Preliminary and Unaudited
(In millions except for per share amounts)

















Three Months Ended
December 31,


Three Months

Ended
September 30,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,





2017


2016


2017


2017


2016



Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to International Paper Company


$     1,460


$          218


$                  395


$     2,144


$          904



Add back: Discontinued operations (gain) loss


8

(a)

(24)


(29)


(34)

(a)

(102)

(g)


Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations, including non-controlling interest


1,468


194


366


2,110


802



Add back: Non-operating pension expense


238

(b)

23


20


298

(b)

375

(h)


Add back: Special items expense (gain)


(1,176)

(c)

62

(d)

34

(e)

(952)

(f)

108

(i)


Adjusted Operating Earnings


$        530


$          279


$                  420


$     1,456


$       1,285













Three Months Ended
December 31,


Three Months

Ended
September 30,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,





2017


2016


2017


2017


2016



Diluted Earnings per Common Share as Reported


$       3.50


$         0.53


$                 0.95


$       5.13


$         2.18



Add back: Discontinued operations (gain) loss


0.02


(0.06)


(0.07)


(0.08)


(0.25)



Continuing Operations


3.52


0.47


0.88


5.05


1.93



Add back: Non-operating pension expense


0.57


0.05


0.05


0.72


0.90



Add back: Special items expense (gain)


(2.82)


0.15


0.08


(2.28)


0.26



Adjusted Operating Earnings per Share


$       1.27


$         0.67


$                 1.01


$       3.49


$         3.09















Notes:












(a)

See footnote (f) on the Consolidated Statement of Operations





(b)

See footnote (a) on the Consolidated Statement of Operations





(c)

See footnotes (a) - (e) on the Consolidated Statement of Operations





(d)

See footnotes (g) - (j) on the Consolidated Statement of Operations





(e)

See footnotes (a), (b), (e), (k) on the Consolidated Statement of Operations





(f)

See footnotes (a) - (e) and (k) - (n) on the Consolidated Statement of Operations





(g)

See footnote (p) on the Consolidated Statement of Operations





(h)

See footnote (g) on the Consolidated Statement of Operations





(i)

See footnotes (g) - (j) and (o) on the Consolidated Statement of Operations



(1)

The Company calculates Adjusted Operating Earnings (non-GAAP) by excluding the after-tax effect of non-operating pension expense and items considered by management to be unusual from the earnings reported under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Management uses this measure to focus on on-going operations, and believes that it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present operating results. International Paper believes that using this information, along with net earnings, provides for a more complete analysis of the results of operations by quarter. Net earnings attributable to International Paper is the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

(2)

Since diluted earnings per share are computed independently for each period, twelve-month per share amounts may not equal the sum of the respective quarters.

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
Sales and Earnings by Business Segment
Preliminary and Unaudited
(In millions)







Sales by Business Segment










Three Months Ended
December 31,


Three Months

Ended
September 30,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,





2017


2016


2017


2017


2016



Industrial Packaging


$     3,893


$      3,555


$            3,822


$  15,077


$    14,226



Global Cellulose Fibers


721


379


654


2,551


1,092



Printing Papers


1,106


1,055


1,039


4,157


4,058



Corporate and Inter-segment Sales (i)


(9)


11


2


(42)


119



Net Sales


$     5,711


$      5,000


$            5,517


$  21,743


$    19,495
















Operating Profit by Business Segment















Three Months Ended
December 31,


Three Months

Ended
September 30,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,





2017


2016


2017


2017


2016



Industrial Packaging


$        609

(a)

$         391

(f)

$               490

(a)

$     1,547

(a)

$      1,741

(f)


Global Cellulose Fibers


79

(b)

(70)

(g)

49

(b)

65

(b)

(179)

(g)


Printing Papers


136


121


135


457

(c)

540



Total Business Segment Operating Profit


$        824


$         442


$               674


$     2,069


$      2,102
















Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations
Before Income Taxes and Equity Earnings


$        197


$         244


$               457


$        848


$         795



Interest expense, net


141

(d)

136


152


572

(d)

520



Noncontrolling interest/equity earnings adjustment (j)


(1)




(2)


1



Corporate items, net (i)


18


25


32


91


121



Special items, net


83




76


55



Non-operating pension expense


386

(e)

37


33


484

(e)

610

(h)


Adjusted Operating Profit


$        824


$         442


$               674


$     2,069


$      2,102



Equity Earnings (Loss) in Ilim Holdings S.A., Net of Taxes


$          64


$           45


$                 48


$        183


$         199




























(a)

Includes a charge of $10 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for the accelerated amortization of an intangible asset in Brazil, a charge of $354 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 related to the agreement to settle the Kleen Products anti-trust class action lawsuit, a gain of $6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for a net bargain purchase gain associated with the June 2016 acquisition of Holmen Paper's newsprint mill in Madrid, Spain and charges of $5 million, $5 million and $14 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017 and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, for other items.

(b)

Includes a charge of $14 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for the amortization of the inventory fair value step-up for the pulp business acquired in December 2016, charges of $18 million, $6 million and $33 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017 and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, for costs associated with the acquisition and integration of that business and charges of $1 million, $2 million and $4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017 and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, for other items.

(c)

Includes a charge of $2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for other items.

(d)

Includes gains of $1 million and $5 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, for interest income associated with income tax refund claims.

(e)

Includes a charge of $376 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for a settlement accounting charge associated with an annuity purchase and transfer of pension obligations for approximately 45,000 retirees.

(f)

Includes charges of $7 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 for costs associated with the closure of a mill in Turkey and charges of $70 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 for the impairment of the assets of our corrugated packaging business in Asia and costs associated with the sale of that business.

(g)

Includes charges of $19 million and $31 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2016, respectively, for costs associated with the agreement to purchase the Weyerhaeuser pulp business and a charge of $19 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 for the amortization of inventory fair value step-up associated with that acquisition.

(h)

Includes a charge of $439 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 for a settlement accounting charge associated with term-vested lump sum payments.

(i)

Includes sales and operating profits of previously divested businesses.

(j)

Operating profits for business segments include each segment's percentage share of the profits of subsidiaries included in that segment that are less than wholly owned. The pre-tax noncontrolling interest and equity earnings for these subsidiaries are adjusted here to present consolidated earnings before income taxes and equity earnings.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
Reconciliation of Operating Profit to Operating Profit Before Special Items
Preliminary and Unaudited
(In millions)








Three Months Ended December 31, 2017




Industrial Packaging


Global Cellulose Fibers


Printing Papers


Total


Operating Profit (Loss) as Reported


$           609


$             79


$           136


$           824


Special Items Expense (Income) (a)


5


19



24


Operating Profit (Loss) Before Special Items


$           614


$             98


$           136


$           848







Three Months Ended December 31, 2016




Industrial Packaging


Global Cellulose Fibers


Printing Papers


Total


Operating Profit (Loss) as Reported


$            391


$             (70)


$            121


$            442


Special Items Expense (Income) (b)


7


38



45


Operating Profit (Loss) Before Special Items


$            398


$             (32)


$            121


$            487







Three Months Ended September 30, 2017




Industrial Packaging


Global Cellulose Fibers


Printing Papers


Total


Operating Profit (Loss) as Reported


$            490


$              49


$            135


$            674


Special Items Expense (Income) (a)


15


8



23


Operating Profit (Loss) Before Special Items


$            505


$              57


$            135


$            697














Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2017




Industrial Packaging


Global Cellulose Fibers


Printing Papers


Total


Operating Profit (Loss) as Reported


$        1,547


$             65


$           457


$        2,069


Special Items Expense (Income) (c)


372


51


2


425


Operating Profit (Loss) Before Special Items


$        1,919


$           116


$           459


$        2,494














Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2016




Industrial Packaging


Global Cellulose Fibers


Printing Papers


Total


Operating Profit (Loss) as Reported


$         1,741


$           (179)


$            540


$         2,102


Special Items Expense (Income) (b)


77


50



127


Operating Profit (Loss) Before Special Items


$         1,818


$           (129)


$            540


$         2,229































(a)

See footnotes (a) - (b) on Sales and Earnings by Business Segment

(b)

See footnotes (f) - (g) on Sales and Earnings by Business Segment

(c)

See footnotes (a) - (c) on Sales and Earnings by Business Segment












The Company calculates Operating Profit Before Special Items (non-GAAP) by excluding the pre-tax effect of items considered by management to be unusual from the earnings reported under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Management uses this measure to focus on on-going operations, and believes that it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present operating results. International Paper believes that using this information, along with net earnings, provides for a more complete analysis of the results of operations by quarter. Net earnings attributable to International Paper is the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
Sales Volume by Product (a)
Preliminary and Unaudited


International Paper Consolidated














Three Months Ended
December 31,


Three Months

Ended
September 30,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,




2017


2016


2017


2017


2016


Industrial Packaging (In thousands of short tons)












Corrugated Packaging (c)


2,629


2,591


2,599


10,413


10,392


Containerboard


856


780


828


3,294


3,091


Recycling


573


603


544


2,257


2,450


Saturated Kraft


49


40


45


181


182


Gypsum /Release Kraft


64


58


54


229


200


Bleached Kraft


7


6


7


27


24


EMEA Packaging (c) (d)


394


386


350


1,518


1,477


Asian Box (c) (e)






208


Brazilian Packaging  (c)


91


117


93


357


371


European Coated Paperboard


102


95


103


398


393


Industrial Packaging


4,765


4,676


4,623


18,674


18,788


Global Cellulose Fibers (In thousands of metric tons) (b)


1,002


626


933


3,708


1,870


Printing Papers (In thousands of short tons)












U.S. Uncoated Papers


464


470


497


1,915


1,872


European & Russian Uncoated Papers


379


417


365


1,483


1,536


Brazilian Uncoated Papers


335


314


280


1,167


1,114


Indian Uncoated Papers


67


66


58


253


241


Printing Papers


1,245


1,267


1,200


4,818


4,763













(a)

Sales volumes include third party and inter-segment sales and exclude sales of equity investees.


(b)

Includes North American, European and Brazilian volumes and internal sales to mills. Includes sales volumes from the pulp business acquired beginning December 1, 2016.

(c)

Volumes for corrugated box sales reflect consumed tons sold (CTS). Board sales by these businesses reflect invoiced tons.

(d)

Excludes newsprint sales volumes at Madrid, Spain mill.

(e)

Includes sales volumes through the date of sale on June 30, 2016.

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Preliminary and Unaudited
(In millions)




December 31, 2017


December 31, 2016

Assets





Current Assets





Cash and Temporary Investments


$                         1,018


$                           1,033

Accounts and Notes Receivable, Net


3,287


2,852

Inventories


2,313


2,233

Assets Held for Sale


1,377


361

Other


282


191

Total Current Assets


8,277


6,670

Plants, Properties and Equipment, Net


13,265


13,003

Forestlands


448


456

Investments


390


360

Financial Assets of Special Purpose Entities


7,051


7,033

Goodwill


3,411


3,364

Long Term Assets Held for Sale



1,018

Deferred Charges and Other Assets


1,061


1,189

Total Assets


$                       33,903


$                         33,093

Liabilities and Equity





Current Liabilities





Notes Payable and Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt


$                            311


$                              239

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities


3,986


3,669

Liabilities Held for Sale


805


161

Total Current Liabilities


5,102


4,069

Long Term Liabilities Held for Sale



8

Long-Term Debt


10,846


11,075

Nonrecourse Financial Liabilities of Special Purpose Entities


6,291


6,284

Deferred Income Taxes


2,291


3,127

Pension Benefit Obligation


1,939


3,400

Postretirement and Postemployment Benefit Obligation


326


330

Other Liabilities


567


441

Equity





Invested Capital


342


(477)

Retained Earnings


6,180


4,818

Total International Paper Shareholders' Equity


6,522


4,341

Noncontrolling interests


19


18

Total Equity


6,541


4,359

Total Liabilities and Equity


$                       33,903


$                         33,093

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Preliminary and Unaudited
(In millions)



Twelve Months Ended
December 31,



2017


2016

Operating Activities





Net earnings (loss)


$            2,144


$                 902

Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested


1,423


1,227

Deferred income tax expense (benefit), net


(1,113)


136

Restructuring and other charges


67


54

Pension plan contributions


(1,250)


(750)

Net bargain purchase gain on acquisition of business


(6)


Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses


9


70

Ilim dividends received


133


58

Equity (earnings) loss, net


(177)


(198)

Periodic pension expense, net


717


809

Other, net


212


99

Changes in current assets and liabilities





Accounts and notes receivable


(370)


(94)

Inventories


(87)


11

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities


114


98

Interest payable


1


41

Other


(60)


15

Cash Provided By (Used For) Operating Activities


1,757


2,478

Investment Activities





Invested in capital projects


(1,391)


(1,348)

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired


(45)


(2,228)

Proceeds from divestitures, net of cash divested


4


108

Proceeds from sale of fixed assets


26


19

Other


15


(49)

Cash Provided By (Used For) Investment Activities


(1,391)


(3,498)

Financing Activities





Repurchases of common stock and payments of restricted stock tax withholding


(47)


(132)

Issuance of debt


1,907


3,830

Reduction of debt


(1,424)


(1,938)

Change in book overdrafts


26


Dividends paid


(769)


(733)

Debt tender premiums


(84)


(31)

Other


(8)


(14)

Cash Provided By (Used for) Financing Activities


(399)


982

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash


18


21

Change in Cash and Temporary Investments


(15)


(17)

Cash and Temporary Investments





Beginning of the period


1,033


1,050

End of the period


$            1,018


$              1,033

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
Reconciliation of Cash Provided by Operations to Free Cash Flow
Preliminary and Unaudited
(In millions)











Three Months

Ended
December 31,


Twelve Months

Ended
December 31,


2017


2016


2017


2016

Cash provided by (used for) Operating Activities

$ 1,188


$      912


$ 1,757


$   2,478

Adjustments:








Cash invested in capital projects

(456)


(445)


(1,391)


(1,348)

Cash contribution to pension plan



1,250


750

Cash payment for Kleen Settlement



354


Free Cash Flow

$     732


$      467


$ 1,970


$   1,880









Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure and the most directly comparable GAAP measure is cash provided by operations. Management believes that free cash flow is useful to investors as a liquidity measure because it measures the amount of cash generated that is available, after reinvesting in the business, to maintain a strong balance sheet, pay dividends, repurchase stock, service debt and make investments for future growth. It should not be inferred that the entire free cash flow amount is available for discretionary expenditures. By adjusting for certain items that are not indicative of the Company's ongoing performance, free cash flow also enables investors to perform meaningful comparisons between past and present periods.

 

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-paper-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2017-earnings-300591560.html

SOURCE International Paper

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