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International Paper Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2018 Earnings

PRNewswire 31-Jan-2019 6:55 AM

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- International Paper (NYSE:IP) today reported fourth quarter 2018 net earnings attributable to International Paper of $316 million ($0.78 per diluted share) compared with $562 million ($1.37 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2018 and net earnings of $1.5 billion ($3.50 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2017.  Full-year 2018 net earnings were $2.0 billion ($4.85 per diluted share) compared with net earnings of $2.1 billion ($5.13 per diluted share) for full-year 2017.  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)

"International Paper delivered very strong earnings and returns in the fourth quarter and full year 2018, driven by solid commercial and operational performance across our three businesses," said Mark Sutton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We returned $1.5 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, and we further strengthened our balance sheet. As we enter 2019, we are confident in our ability to continue to generate strong returns and grow cash flow to create value for our shareholders."

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




Fourth

Quarter

2018


Third

Quarter

2018


Fourth

Quarter

2017


Full-

Year

2018


Full-

Year

2017

Net Earnings


$

0.78



$

1.37



$

3.50



$

4.85



$

5.13


Less – Discontinued Operations (Gain) Loss






0.02



(0.83)



(0.08)


Net Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations


0.78



1.37



3.52



4.02



5.05


Add Back – Non-Operating Pension Expense


0.79



0.05



0.57



0.90



0.72


Add Back – Net Special Items Expense (Income)


0.08



0.14



(2.82)



0.40



(2.28)


Adjusted Operating Earnings*


$

1.65



$

1.56



$

1.27



$

5.32



$

3.49




*

Adjusted operating earnings (non-GAAP) is defined as net earnings attributable to International Paper Company (GAAP)

excluding discontinued operations, special items and non-operating pension expense.  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.  For discussion on non-operating pension expense, see the footnotes

to the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Adjusted operating earnings in the fourth quarter of 2018 were $670 million ($1.65 per diluted share) compared with $641 million ($1.56 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2018 and $530 million ($1.27 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2017.   Full-year 2018 adjusted operating earnings totaled $2.2 billion ($5.32 per diluted share) compared with $1.5 billion ($3.49 per diluted share) in 2017.

Net sales were $6.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared with $5.9 billion in the third quarter of 2018 and $5.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017.  Annual net sales totaled $23.3 billion in 2018 compared with $21.7 billion in 2017.

Business segment operating profits were $930 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared with $738 million in the third quarter of 2018 and $824 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.  Full-year business segment operating profits were $2.9 billion in 2018 compared with $2.1 billion in 2017.

Cash provided by (used for) operations was $3.2 billion for the full-year 2018 compared with $1.8 billion in 2017.  Cash provided by (used for) operations was $821 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared with $1.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017.  Free cash flow (non-GAAP) was $1.7 billion for the full-year 2018 and $2.0 billion in 2017.  Free cash flow (non-GAAP) was $535 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared with $732 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.

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). Fourth quarter 2018 business segment operating profits and business trends compared with the prior quarter are as follows:

Industrial Packaging operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2018 were $647 million ($646 million excluding special items) compared with $472 million ($598 million excluding special items) in the third quarter of 2018.  In North America, earnings improved due to lower planned maintenance outage expenses partially offset by two fewer shipping days for boxes, lower containerboard volume and higher raw material costs. Higher sales prices for boxes were partially offset by lower export containerboard prices and the impact of mix.  In Europe, results were driven by seasonally higher volumes and higher sales margins for boxes and improved results related to the ramp-up at the Madrid mill.

Global Cellulose Fibers operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2018 were $91 million ($93 million excluding special items) compared with $83 million ($85 million excluding special items) in the third quarter of 2018. Earnings improved due to higher average sales prices and increased fluff pulp sales volumes partially offset by continued hurricane-related costs and higher raw material costs.

Printing Papers operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2018 were $192 million ($197 million excluding special items) versus $183 million ($188 million excluding special items) in the third quarter of 2018. In North America, higher operating profits were primarily due to continued price realization, partially offset by higher planned maintenance outage costs and higher raw material costs.  In Brazil, earnings decreased as slightly higher sales prices and seasonally higher volumes were more than offset by higher raw material costs and unfavorable foreign currency impacts.  In Europe and Russia, improved earnings were driven by higher average sales prices and seasonally higher volumes which were partially offset by higher raw material costs.

EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS
Ilim joint venture equity earnings were $67 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared with $74 million in the third quarter of 2018. Operationally, sales volumes increased as production capacity returned following the third-quarter maintenance outages. Average sales prices declined for sales of export softwood and hardwood pulp. The Company recognized a non-cash after-tax foreign exchange loss of $19 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 ($0.05 per diluted share), compared with a loss of $23 million in the third quarter of 2018 ($0.06 per diluted share), primarily due to Ilim's U.S. dollar denominated net debt.

Graphic Packaging equity earnings on our 20.5% ownership position were $10 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared with $19 million in the third quarter of 2018.

CORPORATE EXPENSES
Net corporate expenses were $8 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, compared with $20 million in the third quarter of 2018.

EFFECTIVE TAX RATE 
The reported effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2018 was 37% compared to a third quarter of 2018 reported effective tax rate of 15%. The fourth quarter tax rate reflects tax expense of $25 million related to foreign tax audits and tax expense of $19 million related to international investment restructuring. The third quarter tax rate includes a $36 million tax benefit primarily related to an adjustment of the one-time deemed repatriation of earnings of our foreign subsidiaries under Tax Reform. In the fourth quarter we finalized our 2017 estimate of the impacts of Tax Reform, and there were no changes recorded in the fourth quarter.

Excluding special items, non-operating pension expense and discontinued operations, the effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2018 was 26%, compared with an effective tax rate of 24% in the third quarter of 2018. The higher effective tax rate in the fourth quarter is primarily due to state taxes and a tax benefit recorded in the third quarter related to U.S. Federal provision to return adjustments.

EFFECTS OF SPECIAL ITEMS
Special items in the fourth quarter of 2018 amount to a net after tax charge of $32 million ($0.08 per diluted share).  Special items included a pre-tax gain of $19 million ($15 million after taxes) for Restructuring and other charges, net.  Included within Restructuring and other charges, net is a pre-tax gain of $31 million ($23 million after taxes) related to the sale of our investment in Liaison Technologies, Inc., a pre-tax charge $10 million ($7 million after taxes) for debt extinguishment costs, a pre-tax charge of $3 million ($2 million after taxes) for a severance reserve associated with the announced conversion of a paper machine at our Riverdale mill to containerboard production and income of $1 million (before and after taxes) related to the optimization of our EMEA Packaging business. Special items also included pre-tax charges of $8 million ($6 million after taxes) related to the removal of abandoned property at our mills, pre-tax income of $5 million ($4 million after taxes) for a litigation settlement recovery and a charge of $1 million (before and after taxes) for accelerated depreciation associated with the paper machine conversion at our Riverdale mill.  Also included in special items is tax expense of $25 million related to foreign tax audits and tax expense of $19 million related to international investment restructuring.

Special items in the third quarter of 2018 amount to a net after tax charge of $60 million ($0.14 per diluted share).  Special items included a pre-tax charge of $122 million ($81 million after taxes) related to the impairment of fixed assets and an intangible asset in our Brazil Packaging business, a pre-tax charge of $9 million ($7 million after taxes) for an adjustment to an environmental remediation reserve, pre-tax charges of $6 million ($4 million after taxes) related to the removal of abandoned property at our mills and a pre-tax charge of $5 million ($4 million after taxes) for accelerated depreciation associated with the paper machine conversion at our Riverdale mill. Also included in special items is a tax benefit of $36 million related to updates to our provisional estimates of the impacts of Tax Reform.

Special items in the fourth quarter of 2017 amount to a net after tax gain of $1.2 billion ($2.82 per diluted share). Special items included a pre-tax charge of $83 million ($51 million after taxes) for debt extinguishment costs included in Restructuring and other charges, net. 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 the removal of abandoned property at our mills and income 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.

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. There were no discontinued operations in the fourth quarter of 2018 or the third quarter of 2018. There was a loss of $8 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 which 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 transfer of the business and pre-tax charges of $45 million ($28 million after taxes) for non-operating pension expenses related to curtailment charges and termination benefits.

EARNINGS WEBCAST
The company will host a webcast today 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 website at internationalpaper.com by clicking on the Performance tab and going to the Presentations and Events/Webcasts page. A replay of the webcast will also be on the website 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 2018 earnings call. The conference ID number is 1689077. 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 1689077.

About International Paper
International Paper (NYSE: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., employ 53,000 colleagues and serve more than 25,000 customers in 150 countries. Net sales for 2018 were $23 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. Words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates" and similar expressions identify 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; (vii) our ability to achieve the benefits we expect from strategic acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings and capital investments; and (viii) other factors that can be found in International Paper's press releases and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") filings. 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 SEC 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,





2018


2017


2018


2018


2017



Net Sales


$    5,951


$      5,711


$               5,901


$  23,306


$    21,743



Costs and Expenses













Cost of products sold


3,798

(a)

3,702

(f)

3,887

(a)

15,555

(a)

14,802

(f)


Selling and administrative expenses


446


434

(g)

405


1,723

(n)

1,621

(g)


Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested


338

(b)

339


335

(b)

1,328

(b)

1,343

(p)


Distribution expenses


401


373


397


1,567


1,434



Taxes other than payroll and income taxes


41


45


44


171


169



Restructuring and other charges, net


(19)

(c)

83

(h)


29

(c)

67

(h)


Net (gains) losses on sales and impairment of businesses




122

(m)

122

(m)

9

(q)


Litigation settlement






354

(r)


Net bargain purchase gain on acquisition of business






(6)

(s)


Interest expense, net


135


141

(i)

133


536


572

(i)


Non-operating pension expense


429

(d)

397

(j)

25


494

(d)

530

(j)


Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income

Taxes and Equity Earnings


382


197


553


1,781


848



Income tax provision (benefit)


143

(e)

(1,207)

(k)

83

(e)

445

(e)

(1,085)

(k)


Equity earnings (loss), net of taxes


79


64


92


336


177



Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations


318


1,468


562


1,672


2,110



Discontinued operations, net of taxes



(8)

(l)


345

(o)

34

(l)


Net Earnings (Loss)


318


1,460


562


2,017


2,144



Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

2




5




 

Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to International Paper Company


$       316


$      1,460


$                  562


$    2,012


$      2,144



Basic Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to International

Paper Common Shareholders













Earnings (loss) from continuing operations


$      0.79


$        3.56


$                 1.38


$      4.07


$        5.11



Discontinued operations



(0.02)



0.84


0.08



Net earnings (loss)


$      0.79


$        3.54


$                 1.38


$      4.91


$        5.19



Diluted Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to

International Paper Common Shareholders













Earnings (loss) from continuing operations


$      0.78


$        3.52


$                 1.37


$      4.02


$        5.05



Discontinued operations



(0.02)



0.83


0.08



Net earnings (loss)


$      0.78


$        3.50


$                 1.37


$      4.85


$        5.13



Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted


406.6


417.8


411.4


414.2


417.7



Cash Dividends Per Common Share


$  0.5000


$    0.4750


$             0.4750


$  1.9250


$    1.8625



Amounts Attributable to International Paper Common

Shareholders













Earnings (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax


$       316


$      1,468


$                  562


$    1,667


$      2,110



Discontinued operations, net of tax



(8)



345


34



Net earnings


$       316


$      1,460


$                  562


$    2,012


$      2,144















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










(a)

Includes pre-tax charges of $8 million ($6 million after taxes), $6 million ($4 million after taxes) and $32 million ($24 million after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2018 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, for the removal of abandoned property at our mills, pre-tax income of $5 million ($4 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 for a litigation settlement recovery, a pre-tax charge of $9 million ($7 million after taxes) for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 for an environmental remediation reserve adjustment and a pre-tax charge of $9 million ($7 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 for a legal settlement.

(b)

Includes pre-tax charges of $1 million (before and after taxes), $5 million ($4 million after taxes) and $6 million ($5 million after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2018 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, for accelerated depreciation associated with the announced conversion of a paper machine at our Riverdale mill to containerboard production.

(c)

Includes a pre-tax gain of $31 million ($23 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 related to the sale of our investment in Liaison Technologies, a pre-tax charge of $10 million ($7 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 for debt extinguishment costs, a pre-tax charge of $3 million ($2 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 for severance associated with the Riverdale mill conversion and income of $1 million (before and after taxes) and a pre-tax charge of $47 million ($34 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, related to the optimization of our EMEA Packaging business.

(d)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $424 million ($318 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 for a settlement accounting charge associated with an annuity purchase and transfer of pension obligations for approximately 23,000 retirees.

(e)

Includes tax expense of $19 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 related to international investment restructuring, tax expense of $25 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 related to foreign tax audits, a tax benefit of $36 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and tax expense of $9 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 related to state income tax legislative changes.

(f)

Includes pre-tax charges of $6 million ($4 million after taxes) and $20 million ($13 million after taxes) for the three months 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 for the amortization of inventory fair value step-up for the pulp business acquired in December 2016.

(g)

Includes pre-tax charges of $18 million ($11 million after taxes) and $33 million ($20 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, for costs associated with the acquisition and integration of the pulp business acquired in December 2016.

(h)

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 pre-tax 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.

(i)

Includes pre-tax income 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.

(j)

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.

(k)

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, 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, tax expense of $9 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 related to an international tax law change, tax expense of $34 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 related to international investment restructuring, and tax expense of $38 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 associated with a 2017 cash pension contribution.

(l)

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

(m)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $122 million ($81 million after taxes) for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 related to the impairment of fixed assets and an intangible asset in our Brazil Packaging business.

(n)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $12 million ($9 million after taxes) associated with our proposal to acquire Smurfit Kappa.

(o)

Includes pre-tax income of $488 million ($364 million after taxes) for the gain on the transfer of the North American Consumer Packaging business and a pre-tax charge of $25 million ($19 million after taxes) for transaction costs to transfer the North American Consumer Packaging business.

(p)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $10 million ($7 million after taxes) for accelerated amortization of a Brazil Packaging intangible asset.

(q)

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

(r)

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

(s)

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

 


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,





2018


2017


2018


2018


2017



Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to International Paper Company


$     316


$    1,460


$                 562


$  2,012


$    2,144



Less: Discontinued operations (gain) loss



8



(345)


(34)
















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

interest


316


1,468


562


1,667


2,110



Add back: Non-operating pension expense


322


238


19


371


298



Add back: Special items expense (income)


32


(1,176)


60


166


(952)



Adjusted Operating Earnings


$     670


$       530


$                 641


$  2,204


$    1,456













Three Months Ended
December 31,


Three Months

Ended
September 30,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,





2018


2017


2018


2018


2017



Diluted Earnings per Common Share as Reported


$    0.78


$      3.50


$                1.37


$    4.85


$      5.13



Less: Discontinued operations (gain) loss



0.02



(0.83)


(0.08)



Continuing Operations


0.78


3.52


1.37


4.02


5.05



Add back: Non-operating pension expense


0.79


0.57


0.05


0.90


0.72



Add back: Special items expense (income)


0.08


(2.82)


0.14


0.40


(2.28)



Adjusted Operating Earnings per Share


$    1.65


$      1.27


$                1.56


$    5.32


$      3.49















Notes:















The Company calculates Adjusted Operating Earnings (non-GAAP) by excluding the after-tax effect of non-operating pension expense, items considered by management to be unusual as reflected in the notes to the Consolidated Statement of Operations and discontinued operations 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.


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,





2018


2017


2018


2018


2017



Industrial Packaging


$     4,017


$     3,893


$              4,034


$   15,900


$   15,077



Global Cellulose Fibers


736


721


714


2,819


2,551



Printing Papers


1,160


1,106


1,102


4,375


4,157



Corporate and Inter-segment Sales (l)


38


(9)


51


212


(42)



Net Sales


$     5,951


$     5,711


$              5,901


$   23,306


$   21,743



Operating Profit by Business Segment















Three Months Ended
December 31,


Three Months

Ended
September 30,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,





2018


2017


2018


2018


2017



Industrial Packaging


$        647

(a)

$        609

(f)

$                 472

(a)

$     2,093

(a)

$     1,547

(f)


Global Cellulose Fibers


91

(b)

79

(g)

83

(b)

251

(b)

65

(g)


Printing Papers


192

(c)

136


183

(c)

533

(c)

457

(h)


Total Business Segment Operating Profit


$        930


$        824


$                 738


$     2,877


$     2,069
















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


$        382


$        197


$                 553


$     1,781


$        848



Interest expense, net


135


141

(i)

133


536


572

(i)


Noncontrolling interest/equity earnings adjustment (m)


(3)


(1)


(2)


(10)


(2)



Corporate items (l)


8


18


20


67


91



Corporate special items, net


(21)

(d)

83

(j)

9

(d)

9

(d)

76

(j)


Non-operating pension expense


429

(e)

386

(k)

25


494

(e)

484

(k)


Adjusted Operating Profit


$        930


$        824


$                 738


$     2,877


$     2,069



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


$          67


$          64


$                   74


$        290


$        183



Equity Earnings (Loss) in Graphic Packaging LLC


$          10


$          —


$                   19


$          46


$          —















(a)

Includes a charge of $122 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 for the impairment of fixed assets and an intangible asset in our Brazil Packaging business, income of $1 million and a charge of $47 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, related to the optimization of our EMEA Packaging business, income of $5 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 for a litigation settlement recovery and charges of $5 million, $4 million and $20 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2018, and the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, for the removal of abandoned property at our mills.

(b)

Includes charges of $2 million, $2 million and $11 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2018 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, for the removal of abandoned property at our mills.

(c)

Includes charges of $4 million, $5 million and $9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2018 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, for accelerated depreciation and severance charges associated with the announced conversion of a paper machine at our Riverdale mill to containerboard production and a charge of $1 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 for the removal of abandoned property at our mills.

(d)

Includes a gain of $31 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 related to the sale of our investment in Liaison Technologies, a charge of $12 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 associated with our proposal to acquire Smurfit Kappa, a charge of $10 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 for debt extinguishment costs, a charge of $9 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 for a legal settlement and a charge of $9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 for an environmental remediation reserve adjustment.

(e)

Includes a charge of $424 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 for a settlement accounting charge associated with an annuity purchase and transfer of pension obligations for approximately 23,000 retirees.

(f)

Includes a charge of $354 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 related to the settlement of the Kleen Products anti-trust class action lawsuit, a charge of $10 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for the accelerated amortization of an intangible asset in Brazil, 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 and $14 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, for the removal of abandoned property at our mills and other costs.

(g)

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

(h)

Includes a charge of $2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for the removal of abandoned property at our mills and other costs.

(i)

Includes income 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.

(j)

Includes a charge of $83 million for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for debt extinguishment costs, a gain of $14 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 related to the sale of our investment in ArborGen, a charge of $9 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for the impairment of the assets of our Foodservice business in Asia and a gain of $2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 for other items.

(k)

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.

(l)

Includes sales and operating profits of previously divested businesses.

(m)

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, 2018




Industrial

Packaging


Global

Cellulose

Fibers


Printing

Papers


Total


Operating Profit (Loss) as Reported


$         647


$           91


$         192


$         930


Special Items Expense (Income) (a)


(1)


2


5


6


Operating Profit (Loss) Before Special Items


$         646


$           93


$         197


$         936







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) (b)


5


19



24


Operating Profit (Loss) Before Special Items


$          614


$            98


$          136


$          848







Three Months Ended September 30, 2018




Industrial

Packaging


Global

Cellulose

Fibers


Printing

Papers


Total


Operating Profit (Loss) as Reported


$          472


$            83


$          183


$          738


Special Items Expense (Income) (a)


126


2


5


133


Operating Profit (Loss) Before Special Items


$          598


$            85


$          188


$          871














Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2018




Industrial

Packaging


Global

Cellulose

Fibers


Printing

Papers


Total


Operating Profit (Loss) as Reported


$      2,093


$         251


$         533


$      2,877


Special Items Expense (Income) (a)


184


11


10


205


Operating Profit (Loss) Before Special Items


$      2,277


$         262


$         543


$      3,082














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































(a)

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









(b)

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

(c)

See footnotes (f) - (h) 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,




2018


2017


2018


2018


2017


Industrial Packaging (In thousands of short tons)












Corrugated Packaging (c)


2,655


2,629


2,666


10,624


10,413


Containerboard


793


856


853


3,229


3,294


Recycling


582


573


566


2,282


2,257


Saturated Kraft


47


49


51


196


181


Gypsum /Release Kraft


51


64


56


227


229


Bleached Kraft


7


7


8


31


27


EMEA Packaging (c) (d)


363


394


329


1,476


1,518


Brazilian Packaging  (c)


88


91


92


351


357


European Coated Paperboard


106


102


98


390


398


Industrial Packaging


4,692


4,765


4,719


18,806


18,674


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


908


1,002


886


3,573


3,708


Printing Papers (In thousands of short tons)












U.S. Uncoated Papers


471


464


461


1,886


1,915


European & Russian Uncoated Papers


374


379


363


1,440


1,483


Brazilian Uncoated Papers


307


335


293


1,125


1,167


Indian Uncoated Papers


68


67


62


263


253


Printing Papers


1,220


1,245


1,179


4,714


4,818













(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.

(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 the Madrid, Spain mill through Q3 2017.

 

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



December 31, 2018


December 31, 2017

Assets





Current Assets





Cash and Temporary Investments


$                       589


$                    1,018

Accounts and Notes Receivable, Net


3,521


3,287

Contract Assets


395


Inventories


2,241


2,313

Assets Held for Sale



1,377

Other


250


282

Total Current Assets


6,996


8,277

Plants, Properties and Equipment, Net


13,067


13,265

Forestlands


402


448

Investments


1,648


390

Financial Assets of Special Purpose Entities


7,070


7,051

Goodwill


3,374


3,411

Deferred Charges and Other Assets


1,019


1,061

Total Assets


$                  33,576


$                  33,903

Liabilities and Equity





Current Liabilities





Notes Payable and Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt


$                       639


$                       311

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities


4,055


3,986

Liabilities Held for Sale



805

Total Current Liabilities


4,694


5,102

Long-Term Debt


10,015


10,846

Nonrecourse Financial Liabilities of Special Purpose Entities


6,298


6,291

Deferred Income Taxes


2,600


2,291

Pension Benefit Obligation


1,762


1,939

Postretirement and Postemployment Benefit Obligation


264


326

Other Liabilities


560


567

Equity





Invested Capital, Net of Treasury Stock


(103)


342

Retained Earnings


7,465


6,180

Total International Paper Shareholders' Equity


7,362


6,522

Noncontrolling Interests


21


19

Total Equity


7,383


6,541

Total Liabilities and Equity


$                  33,576


$                  33,903

 

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



Twelve Months Ended December 31,



2018


2017

Operating Activities





Net earnings (loss)


$               2,017


$               2,144

Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested


1,328


1,423

Deferred income tax expense (benefit), net


133


(1,113)

Restructuring and other charges, net


29


67

Pension plan contributions



(1,250)

Net gain on transfer of North American Consumer Packaging business


(488)


Net bargain purchase gain on acquisition of business



(6)

Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses


122


9

Equity method dividends received


153


133

Equity (earnings) loss, net


(336)


(177)

Periodic pension expense, net


632


717

Other, net


75


212

Changes in current assets and liabilities





Accounts and notes receivable


(342)


(370)

Contract assets


(32)


Inventories


(236)


(87)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities


151


114

Interest payable


(8)


1

Other


28


(60)

Cash Provided By (Used For) Operating Activities


3,226


1,757

Investment Activities





Invested in capital projects


(1,572)


(1,391)

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired


(8)


(45)

Net settlement on transfer of North American Consumer Packaging business

(40)


Proceeds from divestitures, net of cash divested



4

Proceeds from sale of fixed assets


23


26

Other


28


15

Cash Provided By (Used For) Investment Activities


(1,569)


(1,391)

Financing Activities





Repurchases of common stock and payments of restricted stock tax withholding

(732)


(47)

Issuance of debt


490


1,907

Reduction of debt


(1,008)


(1,424)

Change in book overdrafts


(1)


26

Dividends paid


(789)


(769)

Net debt tender premiums paid


(6)


(84)

Other



(8)

Cash Provided By (Used for) Financing Activities


(2,046)


(399)

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash


(40)


18

Change in Cash and Temporary Investments


(429)


(15)

Cash and Temporary Investments





Beginning of the period


1,018


1,033

End of the period


$                 589


$               1,018

 

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,


2018


2017


2018


2017

Cash provided by (used for) Operating Activities

$   821


$1,188


$3,226


$1,757

Adjustments:








Cash invested in capital projects

(286)


(456)


(1,572)


(1,391)

Cash contribution to pension plan




1,250

Cash payment for Kleen Settlement




354

Free Cash Flow

$   535


$   732


$1,654


$1,970









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.

 

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SOURCE International Paper