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Clearwater Paper Corporation

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Sector Basic Materials
Industry Paper, Lumber & Forest Products
Employees 2200
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FY2013 Annual Report · Clearwater Paper Corporation
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A   N   N   U   A   L       R   E   P   O   R   T

Clearwater Paper Corporation  
601 West Riverside Ave., Suite 1100  
Spokane, WA 99201 

Dear Stockholders, 

January 2014 marked one year since I became Clearwater Paper’s CEO. Those 12 months 

were eventful for our company, with equal measures of challenge and reward. I am pleased to 

share these highlights: 

•  We sharpened our focus on meeting our customers’ needs throughout the year.  In Pulp 

and Paperboard, we made investments in our liquid packaging and cup stock machine to 

improve quality and consistency.  In Consumer Products, we strengthened relationships 

with customers through our new TAD bathroom tissue. 

•  We ended the year with solid operating results despite tight market conditions, including 

record net sales for our consumer products division, record paperboard shipments for 

our pulp and paperboard division, and record production at several of our plants. 

•  We posted our best safety results ever, with 40 percent fewer recordable injuries than 

the industry average and 41 percent fewer lost days. Several mills exceeded safety 

goals and set new records.  

•  We returned $100 million of cash to our stockholders through our stock repurchase 

program. Reflecting our focus on driving stockholder value, the board has approved an 

additional $100 million stock repurchase program. 

•  We launched our DRIVE strategy program, soliciting ideas and a focus on continuous 

improvement from all employees from every facet of our business. We made significant 

strides in our continuous improvement goals by engaging employees in more than 500 

continuous improvement events. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•  We made progress toward our sustainability goals, investing in environment-related 

capital projects and implementing employee-driven projects such as water conservation 

solutions that we expect will save over a half-million gallons per day at our Lewiston 

pulp and paperboard mill. 

•  For 2014, we are already progressing toward our operational and financial goals by 

executing year two of DRIVE, our strategy. We are focused on improving our safety 

performance even further. We are also implementing systems for accounting, 

procurement and maintenance across all of our mills, which will act as a strong 

foundation for further systems improvements and our focus on increasing efficiency. 

And, we continue to push steadily toward the goals that will make us an even more 

sustainable company.  

As someone who has been part of Clearwater Paper since its inception as a public company 

more than five years ago, I am proud of the work we have done in 2013. I am also keenly aware 

of this company’s potential to excel. With the momentum we have built to date, with our 

commitment to customer service and product quality, and with the contributions from the 

Clearwater Paper team, I am confident that we will continue to deliver value to our stockholders, 

our employees and our communities.  

From all of us at Clearwater Paper, we thank our stockholders, customers and all stakeholders 

for your support, and look forward to a successful 2014. 

Sincerely, 

Linda K. Massman 

President and CEO 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K

(Mark One)

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 
OR

  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: 001-34146

CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

20-3594554
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

601 W. Riverside Avenue, Suite 1100
Spokane, Washington
(Address of principal executive offices)

99201
(Zip Code)

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

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (509) 344-5900

TITLE OF EACH CLASS
Common Stock ($0.0001 par value per share)

NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED
New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    

 Yes    

 No

Indicate  by  check  mark  if  the  registrant  is  not  required  to  file  reports  pursuant  to  Section 13  or  Section 15(d)  of  the 
Act.    

 Yes    

 No

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    

 No

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 
 No
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    

 Yes    

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not 
be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part 
III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    

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

Large accelerated filer 
Non-accelerated filer 

 (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

    Accelerated filer 
    Smaller reporting company 

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

 Yes    

 No

As of June 30, 2013 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second quarter), the aggregate market value 
of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $1.02 billion. Shares of common stock beneficially held by each 
officer and director and by each person who owns 5% or more of the outstanding common stock have been excluded in that such 
persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other 
purposes.

As of February 14, 2014, 20,912,248 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the definitive proxy statement to be filed on or about March 24, 2014, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 
connection with the registrant’s 2014 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION
Index to 2013 Form 10-K

ITEM 1.

Business

ITEM 1A.

Risk Factors

ITEM 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

Properties

Legal Proceedings

Mine Safety Disclosures

PART I

PART II

ITEM 2.

ITEM 3.

ITEM 4.

ITEM 5.

ITEM 6.

ITEM 7.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
  Purchases of Equity Securities

Selected Financial Data

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
  Operations

ITEM 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks

ITEM 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

ITEM 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
  Disclosure

ITEM 9A.

Controls and Procedures

ITEM 9B.

Other Information

ITEM 10.

ITEM 11.
ITEM 12.

ITEM 13.

ITEM 14.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Executive Compensation

PART III

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
  Stockholder Matters

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

PART IV

ITEM 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

SIGNATURES

EXHIBIT INDEX

PAGE
NUMBER

2-8

9-16

16

17

18

18

19-20

20

21-39

40

41-81

82

82

82

83

83

84

84

84

85

86

87-91

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Part I

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Our  disclosure  and  analysis  in  this  report  contains,  in  addition  to  historical  information,  certain  forward-looking 
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding 
the costs and benefits associated with the closure of our Thomaston, Georgia facility, cash flows, capital expenditures, 
tax  rates,  operating  costs,  including  energy  costs,  selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses,  timing  of  major 
maintenance  and  repairs,  liquidity,  benefit  plan  funding  levels,  capitalized  interest,  interest  expenses,  and  the  tax 
treatment of the alternative fuels and cellulosic biofuels tax credits. Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” 
“plan,” “target,” “project,” “believe,” “schedule,” “estimate,” “may,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such 
forward-looking  statements. These  forward-looking  statements  are  based  on  management’s  current  expectations, 
estimates, assumptions and projections that are subject to change. Our actual results of operations may differ materially 
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this report. Important factors that 
could cause or contribute to such differences in operating results include those risks discussed in Item 1A of this report, 
as well as the following:

customer acceptance and timing of purchases of our new through-air-dried, or TAD, products and quantity;

competitive  pricing  pressures  for  our  products,  including  as  a  result  of  increased  capacity  as  additional 
manufacturing facilities are operated by our competitors;

difficulties with the optimization and realization of the benefits expected from our new TAD paper machine and 
converting lines in Shelby, North Carolina;

the loss of business from a significant customer;

manufacturing or operating disruptions, including equipment malfunction and damage to our manufacturing 
facilities caused by fire or weather-related events and IT system failures;

changes in the cost and availability of wood fiber and wood pulp;

changes in transportation costs and disruptions in transportation services;

labor disruptions;

changes in costs for and availability of packaging supplies, chemicals, energy and maintenance and repairs;

changes in customer product preferences and competitors' product offerings;

changes in expenses and required contributions associated with our pension plans;

environmental liabilities or expenditures;

changes  in  the  U.S.  and  international  economies  and  in  general  economic  conditions  in  the  regions  and 
industries in which we operate;

increased supply and pricing pressures resulting from increasing Asian paper production capabilities;

cyclical industry conditions;

reliance on a limited number of third-party suppliers for raw materials;

inability to successfully implement our expansion strategies;

inability to fund our debt obligations;

restrictions on our business from debt covenants and terms;

changes in laws, regulations or industry standards affecting our business; and

our qualification to retain, or ability to utilize, tax credits associated with alternative fuels or cellulosic biofuels 
and the tax treatment associated with receipt of such credits.

Forward-looking statements contained in this report present management’s views only as of the date of this report. 
Except  as  required  under  applicable  law,  we  do  not  intend  to  issue  updates  concerning  any  future  revisions  of 
management’s views to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report. You are advised, however, 
to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current 
reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.

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ITEM 1.
Business

GENERAL

Clearwater Paper Corporation is a leading North American producer of private label tissue and paperboard products. 
We manufacture quality consumer tissue, away-from-home tissue, or AFH, parent rolls (non-converted tissue product), 
machine-glazed tissue, bleached paperboard and pulp at 14 manufacturing locations in the U.S. and Canada. Our 
private label consumer tissue products - facial and bath tissue, paper towels and napkins - are used primarily at-home 
and are principally sold to major retailers and wholesale distributors, which include grocery, drug, mass-merchant and 
discount stores. Our paperboard is sold primarily in the high-end segment of the packaging industry, which demands 
high-quality construction and print surfaces for graphics. Our products are made primarily from wood fiber pulp. 

On December 27, 2010, we acquired Cellu Tissue Holdings, Inc., or Cellu Tissue, a tissue manufacturing and converting 
company whose customers included consumer retailers and AFH distributors of tissue products, vertically integrated 
manufacturers and third-party converters serving  the tissue  and machine-glazed  tissue sectors.  Cellu Tissue sold 
product as finished cases and parent rolls.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, we completed construction of our through-air-dried, or TAD, paper machine and converting 
facility in Shelby, North Carolina. 

Company Strengths

Leading private label tissue manufacturer with a broad footprint in North America. Our consumer products business 
is a premier private label tissue manufacturer. We have production facilities strategically located throughout North 
America as a result of the expansion of our manufacturing footprint through significant capital investments and the 
acquisition of Cellu Tissue. We have TAD tissue manufacturing facilities in North Carolina, Las Vegas, Nevada and 
Ontario, Canada and converting operations across the United States. We believe we were the sixth largest manufacturer 
in  the  North American  tissue  market  as  of  December 31,  2013,  based  on  tissue  parent  roll  capacity.  Our  broad 
manufacturing footprint allows us to better and more cost effectively service a diverse customer base, including major 
grocery store chains and value retailers across the entire U.S.

High quality brand-equivalent tissue and other products to meet retailers' private label strategies.  Our 
consumer 
products business produces high-quality products that match the quality of the leading national brands. We focus on 
high value tissue products across a wide variety of categories and retail channels. We also manufacture a broad range 
of cost-competitive consumer products, including recycled tissue, tissue parent rolls and machine-glazed paper. In 
addition to our conventional paper-making capabilities, we produce TAD tissue that we convert into national brand-
equivalent, ultra-quality paper towels and bath tissue. Our expanded TAD tissue offerings are expected to create new 
opportunities to increase our private label consumer tissue business around our broad manufacturing footprint by 
allowing us to supply these key products to customers across the U.S.

High  quality  premium  bleached  paperboard  products.  Our  pulp  and  paperboard  business  produces  premium 
paperboard products with ultra-smooth print surfaces, superior cleanliness, and excellent forming and sealing ability. 
Products are available in several thicknesses to provide the rigidity and strength needed for a wide range of applications. 
The high quality of our paperboard allows buyers to use our products for packaging where branding and quality are 
critical, such as health and beauty packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, and point of purchase displays.

Complementary, long-standing customer relationships. Our consumer products business supplies private label tissue 
products to several of the largest national grocery chains. Our top 10 consumer products customers in 2013 accounted 
for approximately 58% of our total consumer products net sales. Our largest customer in 2013 was the Kroger Company, 
which accounted for 10.8% of our total company net sales. The average tenure of these customers was approximately 
12 years. In addition to these long-standing customer relationships, we have a diverse base of over 110 customers 
across a broad geographic area. We also have long-standing customer relationships with our paperboard customers. 
Our top 10 paperboard customers in 2013 accounted for approximately 42% of our total paperboard net sales. The 
average tenure of these customers was approximately 31 years.

Strategically positioned pulp and paperboard facilities. Our pulp and paperboard mill in Lewiston, Idaho is one of only 
two solid bleach sulfate, or SBS, paperboard mills, and the only coated SBS paperboard mill, in the Western U.S. to 
offer a full range of specialized products to meet the needs of customers for traditional folding carton, plates, cup and 
liquid packaging. This facility's geographic location reduces transportation costs to customers for the western U.S. as 
well as Asia, which allows us to compete on a cost-advantaged basis relative to East Coast competitors. Our Cypress 
Bend, Arkansas mill is centrally located, which reduces transportation costs to the Midwestern and Eastern U.S. and 
complements the Lewiston mill in shipping to customers nationwide.

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Strategy

Our long-term strategy is to grow the size and scope of our consumer products business and optimize the profitability 
of that business as well as that of our paperboard business. In the near-term, our focus remains on maximizing the 
strategic and financial benefits from the integration of our existing facilities and our TAD paper machine and converting 
lines in North Carolina. We also continue to work on optimizing the operating efficiencies and cost effectiveness of our 
premium bleached paperboard production.

Grow Our Consumer Products Business. Our long-term strategy has been to grow within the private label 
tissue market. As part of this strategy, we expanded our tissue manufacturing footprint through the acquisition 
of Cellu Tissue in 2010 and the construction of additional converting and TAD paper making capacity. Most 
notably,  our  North  Carolina  facility  has  been  the  cornerstone  of  our  strategy  to  expand  our  TAD  tissue 
operations in the Eastern U.S. With our broad manufacturing footprint now in place, we plan to continue to 
capitalize on our position as one of the largest premium private label tissue producers in North America by 
taking  advantage  of  the  attractive  tissue  market  and  the  increasing  adoption  of  store  brand  products  by 
retailers and their customers. 

Optimize Our Consumer Products Business. We intend to continue optimizing the strategic and financial 
benefits of our broad-based manufacturing operations by improving our operational integration and enhancing 
our manufacturing facilities. Improving our operational integration allows us to better serve existing private 
label grocery customers by providing them the full spectrum of consumer tissue products across the U.S., 
and provides us with the capability to continue to expand further into grocery stores as well as other private 
label  distribution  channels,  including  drug  stores,  mass  merchants  and  discount  stores.  Optimizing  our 
manufacturing  facilities  includes  the  implementation  of  cost  savings  programs  as  well  as  consolidating 
converting such as our recent closure of the Thomaston, Georgia facility and strategic redeployment of its 
converting lines to other of our facilities.

Optimize Our Pulp and Paperboard Business. We intend to continue improving our operational efficiency, 
and product quality and mix of customers to which we sell our paperboard products, as well as controlling 
our raw material and energy costs. We have implemented cost saving programs that are based primarily on 
lean manufacturing and cost optimization initiatives. Our cost saving programs include the implementation 
of 18  to 24  month  (versus the  previous  12  to  18  month) major  maintenance  cycles  at  our  Lewiston  and 
Cypress Bend facilities, as well as the strengthening of our wood fiber supply chain through the acquisition 
of a wood chipping facility near our Lewiston facility.

ORGANIZATION

Our businesses are organized into two operating segments: Consumer Products and Pulp and Paperboard. Additional 
information relating to the amounts of net sales, operating income, depreciation and amortization, identifiable assets 
and capital expenditures attributable to each of our operating segments for 2011-2013, as well as geographic information 
regarding our net sales, is set forth in Note 17 to our consolidated financial statements included under Part II, Item 8 
of this report.

Consumer Products Segment

Our Consumer Products segment manufactures and sells a complete line of at-home tissue products as well as AFH 
products. Our integrated manufacturing and converting operations and geographic footprint enable us to deliver a 
broad range of cost-competitive products with brand equivalent quality to our consumer products customers. In 2013, 
our Consumer Products segment had net sales of $1.1 billion. A listing of our Consumer Products segment facilities 
is included under Part I, Item 2 of this report.

Tissue Industry Overview

Consumer Tissue Products. The U.S. tissue market can be divided into two market segments: the at-home or consumer 
retail purchase segment, which represents approximately two-thirds of U.S. tissue sales; and the AFH segment, which 
represents the remaining one-third of U.S. tissue market sales and includes locations such as airports, restaurants, 
hotels and office buildings. 

The U.S. at-home tissue segment consists of bath, paper towels, facial and napkin products categories. Each category 
is further distinguished according to quality segments: ultra, premium, value and economy. As a result of process 
improvements and consumer preferences, the majority of at-home tissue sold in the U.S. is ultra and premium quality.

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At-home tissue producers are comprised of companies that manufacture branded tissue products, private label tissue 
products, or both. Branded tissue suppliers manufacture, market and sell tissue products under their own nationally 
branded labels. Private label tissue producers sell tissue products to retailers to sell as their store brand.

In the U.S., at-home tissue is primarily sold through grocery stores, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, drug stores 
and discount dollar stores. Tissue has historically been one of the strongest segments of the paper industry due to its 
steady demand growth and the absence of severe supply imbalances that occur in a number of other paper segments. 
In  addition  to  economic  and  demographic  drivers,  tissue  demand  is  affected  by  product  innovations  and  shifts  in 
distribution channels.

Machine-Glazed Tissue. Machine-glazed tissue has a glazed coating and, in some cases, other moisture and grease-
resistant coatings. Machine-glazed tissue is converted into products such as fast food and commercial food wrappers, 
gum wrappers, coffee filters, cigarette pack liner paper, wax paper and butter wraps.

Our Consumer Products Business

In bathroom tissue, the majority of our sales are high quality two-ply ultra and premium products, including TAD tissue 
products. In paper towels, we produce and sell ultra quality TAD towels as well as premium and value towels. In the 
facial category, we sell ultra-lotion three-ply and a complete line of two-ply premium products as well as value facial 
tissue. In napkins, we manufacture ultra two- and three-ply dinner napkins, as well as premium and value one-ply 
luncheon napkins. Recycled fiber value grade products are also available to customers who wish to further diversify 
their  product  portfolio.  We  compete  primarily  in  the  at-home  portion  of  the  U.S.  tissue  market,  which  made  up 
approximately 89% of our Consumer Products segment sales in 2013.

We manufacture and sell a line of AFH products to customers with commercial and industrial tissue needs. Products 
include conventional one- and two-ply bath tissue, two-ply paper towels, hard wound towels and dispenser napkins.

Tissue parent rolls that we manufacture to requested specifications but do not convert are sold to third-party converters 
or brokers for conversion into various end products, including at-home tissue products and absorbent products used 
to produce liners for diapers, feminine care products, surgical waddings and other medical and sanitary disposable 
products.

We also manufacture and sell machine-glazed tissue products, including wax paper products for retail food wrappers 
and machine-glazed tissue parent rolls for third-party converters.

Our consumer products are manufactured on 21 paper machines in our facilities located throughout the U.S. and in 
Ontario, Canada. Parent rolls from these paper machines are then converted and packaged at our converting facilities 
located across the U.S. Three of our paper machines, located in Nevada, North Carolina and Ontario produce TAD 
tissue that we convert into national brand comparable, ultra quality towels and/or bath tissue.

In 2013 and 2012, through multi-outlet channels, which include grocery, drug, dollar, super and club stores, as well as 
military  purchasing,  we  sold  approximately  34%  of  the  total  private  label  tissue  products  in  the  U.S.  When  only 
considering private label tissue products sold in grocery stores, we sold approximately 65% of the total private label 
tissue products sold in the U.S. for 2013 and 2012.

We believe that we are the only U.S. consumer tissue manufacturer that solely produces a full line of quality private 
label tissue products for large retail trade channels. Most U.S. tissue producers manufacture only branded products, 
or both branded and private label products, or in the case of certain smaller or midsize manufacturers, only produce 
a limited range of tissue products or quality segments. Branded producers generally manufacture their private label 
products at a quality grade or two below their branded products so as not to impair sales of the branded products. 
Because we do not produce and market branded tissue products, we believe we are able to offer products that match 
the quality of leading national brands, but generally at lower prices. We are committed to maintaining a high level of 
quality for our products that matches the quality of the leading national brands, and we utilize independent companies 
to routinely test our product quality.

We sell private label tissue products through our own sales force based on product quality, customer service and price. 
We deliver customer-focused business solutions by assisting in managing product assortment, category management, 
and pricing and promotion optimization.

Pulp and Paperboard Segment

Our Pulp and Paperboard segment manufactures and markets bleached paperboard for the high-end segment of the 
packaging industry and is a leading producer of SBS paperboard. This segment also produces hardwood and softwood 
pulp, which is primarily used as the basis for our paperboard products, and slush pulp, which it supplies to our Consumer 
Products segment. In 2013, our Pulp and Paperboard segment had net sales of $740.1 million. A listing of our pulp 
and paperboard facilities is included under Part I, Item 2  of this report.

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Pulp and Paperboard Industry Overview

SBS  paperboard  is  a  premium  paperboard  grade  that  is  most  frequently  used  to  produce  folding  cartons,  liquid 
packaging, cups and plates as well as commercial printing items. SBS paperboard is used to make these products 
because it is manufactured using virgin fiber combined with the kraft bleaching process, which results in superior 
cleanliness, brightness and consistency. SBS paperboard is often manufactured with a clay coating to provide superior 
surface printing qualities. SBS paperboard can also be extrusion coated with a plastic film to provide a moisture barrier 
for some uses.

In general, the process of making paperboard begins by chemically cooking wood fibers to make pulp. The pulp is 
bleached to provide a white, bright pulp, which is formed into paperboard. Bleached pulp that is to be used as market 
pulp  is  dried  and  baled  on  a  pulp  drying  machine,  bypassing  the  paperboard  machines.  The  various  grades  of 
paperboard are wound into rolls for shipment to customers for converting to final end uses. Liquid packaging and cup 
stock grades are often coated with polyethylene, a plastic coating, in a separate operation to create a resistant and 
durable liquid barrier.

Folding Carton Segment. Folding carton is the largest portion of the SBS category of the U.S. paperboard industry 
comprising approximately 41% of the category in 2013. Within the folding carton segment there are varying qualities 
of  SBS  paperboard. The  high  end  of  the  folding  carton  category  in  general  requires  a  premium  print  surface  and 
includes uses such as packaging for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other premium retail goods. SBS paperboard is 
also used in the packaging of frozen foods, beverages and baked goods. 

Liquid Packaging and Cup Segment. SBS liquid packaging paperboard is primarily used in the U.S. for the packaging 
of juices. In Japan and other Asian countries, SBS liquid packaging paperboard is primarily used for the packaging of 
milk and other liquid items. The cup segment of the market consists primarily of hot and cold drink cups and food 
packaging. The hot and cold cups are primarily used to serve beverages in quick-service restaurants, while round food 
containers are often used for packaging premium ice-cream and dry food products. 

Commercial Printing Segment. Commercial printing applications use bleached bristols, which are heavyweight paper 
grades, to produce postcards, signage and sales literature. Bristols can be clay coated on one side or both sides for 
applications such as brochures, presentation folders and paperback book covers. The customers in this segment are 
accustomed  to  high-quality  paper  grades,  which  possess  superior  printability  and  brightness  compared  to  most 
paperboard packaging grades. Suppliers to this segment must be able to deliver small volumes, often within 24 hours. 

Market Pulp. The majority of the pulp manufactured worldwide is integrated with paper and paperboard production, 
usually at the same mill. In those cases where a paper mill does not produce its own pulp, it must purchase it on the 
open market. Market pulp is defined as pulp produced for sale to these customers and it excludes tonnage consumed 
by the producing mill or shipped to any of its affiliated mills within the same company.

Our Pulp and Paperboard Business

Our Pulp and Paperboard segment operates facilities in Idaho, which has two paperboard machines, and Arkansas, 
which has one paperboard machine. As of December 31, 2013, we were one of the five largest producers of bleached 
paperboard in North America with approximately 11% of the available production capacity.

Our overall pulp and paperboard production consists primarily of folding carton, liquid packaging, cup, plate, commercial 
printing grades and hardwood and softwood pulp. 

Folding carton board used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other premium packaging, such as those that incorporate 
foil and holographic lamination, accounts for the largest portion of our total paperboard sales. We focus on high-end 
folding carton applications where the heightened focus on product quality provides for differentiation among suppliers, 
resulting in margins that are more attractive than less critical packaging applications.

Our  liquid  packaging  paperboard  is  known  for  its  cleanliness  and  printability,  and  is  engineered  for  long-lived 
performance due to its three-ply, softwood construction. Our reputation for producing liquid packaging meeting the 
most demanding standards for paperboard quality and cleanliness has resulted in meaningful sales in Japan, where 
consumers have a particular tendency to associate blemish-free, vibrant packaging with the cleanliness, quality and 
freshness of the liquids contained inside.

We also sell cup stock and plate stock grades for use in food service products. A majority of our sales in this area 
consist of premium clay coated cup stock grades used for high-end food packaging, such as premium ice cream.

5

We do not produce converted paperboard end-products, so we are not simultaneously a supplier of and a competitor 
to our customers. Of the five largest SBS paperboard producers in the U.S., we are the only producer that does not 
also convert SBS paperboard into end products. We believe our position as a non-integrated supplier has resulted in 
a diverse group of loyal customers because when there is decreased market supply of paperboard, we do not divert 
our production to internal uses. 

At our Idaho facility we produce bleached softwood pulp primarily for internal use. As a result of the acquisition of Cellu 
Tissue, which relied entirely on purchased pulp, we have significantly decreased external sales of pulp produced by 
our Pulp and Paperboard segment and instead utilize that pulp in our Consumer Products segment. Depending on 
market factors, we may sell some pulp externally going forward.

Our pulp mills are currently capable of producing approximately 856,000 tons of pulp on an annual basis. In 2013, we 
utilized  80%  of  our  pulp  production,  or  approximately  650,000  tons,  to  produce  approximately  766,000  tons  of 
paperboard. The increase in tonnage from pulp to paperboard production is due to the addition of coatings and other 
manufacturing processes. We also used 19% of our pulp production, or approximately 158,000 tons, in our Consumer 
Products segment to produce tissue products. The remaining 1% of our pulp production, or approximately 9,000 tons, 
was sold externally.

We utilize various methods for the sale and distribution of our paperboard and softwood pulp. The majority of our 
paperboard is sold to packaging converters domestically through sales offices located throughout the U.S., with a 
smaller percentage channeled through distribution to commercial printers. The majority of our international paperboard 
sales are conducted through sales agents and are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars. Our principal methods of 
competing are product quality, customer service and price.

RAW MATERIALS AND INPUT COSTS

For our manufacturing operations, the principal raw material used is wood fiber, which consists of purchased pulp and 
chips, sawdust and logs. During 2013, our purchased pulp costs were 17.6% of our cost of sales, while chips, sawdust 
and logs accounted for 8.3%. In 2013, our Consumer Products segment sourced approximately 30% of its total pulp 
supply from our Pulp and Paperboard segment, with the remainder purchased from external suppliers. We operate a 
wood chipping facility located in Clarkston, Washington, near our Lewiston, Idaho, facility in an effort to bolster our 
wood fiber position and obtain short-term and long-term cost savings.

We utilize a significant amount of chemicals in the production of pulp and paper, including caustic, polyethylene, starch, 
sodium  chlorate,  latex  and  specialty  process  paper  chemicals.  Many  of  the  chemicals  used  in  our  manufacturing 
processes, particularly in the pulp-making process, are petroleum-based or are impacted by petroleum prices. During 
2013, chemical costs accounted for 11.5% of our cost of sales. 

Transportation is a significant cost input for our business. Fuel prices impact our transportation costs for delivery of 
raw materials to our manufacturing facilities and delivery of our finished products to customers. Our total transportation 
costs were 10.8% of our cost of sales in 2013.

We consume substantial amounts of energy, such as electricity, hog fuel, steam and natural gas. During 2013, energy 
costs accounted for 7.6% of our cost of sales. We purchase a significant portion of our natural gas and electricity under 
supply  contracts,  most  of  which  are  between  a  specific  facility  and  a  specific  local  provider.  Under  most  of  these 
contracts, the providers have agreed to provide us with our requirements for a particular type of energy at a specific 
facility. Most of these contracts have pricing mechanisms that adjust or set prices based on current market prices. In 
addition, we use firm-price contracts to mitigate price risk for certain of our energy requirements.

As a significant producer of private label consumer tissue products, we also incur expenses related to packaging 
supplies used  for retail chains, wholesalers and cooperative buying organizations. Our total packaging costs for 2013 
were 6.2% of our cost of sales.

Our maintenance and repairs, including major maintenance and repairs, represented 5.8% of our cost of sales for 
2013 and are expensed as incurred. We perform routine maintenance on our machines and equipment and periodically 
replace a variety of parts such as motors, pumps, pipes and electrical parts. 

We also record depreciation expense associated with our plant and equipment. Depreciation expense was 4.8% of 
our cost of sales for 2013. 

6

SEASONALITY

Our Consumer Products segment experiences some drop in shipments during the fourth quarter generally as a result 
of decreased consumer demand, retail brand holiday promotions, and end of year inventory management by non-
retail customers.  In addition, customer buying patterns for our paperboard generally result in lower sales for our Pulp 
and Paperboard segment during the first and fourth quarters, when compared to second and third quarters of a given 
year.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Information regarding environmental matters is included under Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis 
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this report, and is incorporated herein by reference.

WEBSITE

Interested parties may access our periodic and current reports filed with the SEC, at no charge, by visiting our website, 
www.clearwaterpaper.com. In the menu select “Investor Relations,” then select “Financial Information & SEC Filings.” 
Information on our website is not part of this report.

EMPLOYEES

As of December 31, 2013, we had approximately 3,860 employees, of which approximately 2,610 were employed by 
our Consumer Products segment, approximately 1,110 were employed by our Pulp and Paperboard segment and 
approximately 140 were corporate administration employees. This workforce consisted of approximately 760 salaried 
employees and approximately 3,100 hourly and fixed rate employees. As of December 31, 2013, approximately 53% 
of our workforce was covered under collective bargaining agreements.

Unions represent hourly employees at eight of our manufacturing sites. There was one hourly union labor contract 
that expired in 2013, which was renegotiated during the year. Four collective bargaining agreements expire in 2014 
and will need to be renegotiated: 

CONTRACT
EXPIRATION
DATE
August 31, 2014

August 31, 2014

DIVISION AND LOCATION
Consumer Products Division and Pulp
  & Paperboard Division-Lewiston, Idaho

UNION
United Steel Workers
(USW)

Consumer Products Division and Pulp
  & Paperboard Division-Lewiston, Idaho

International Brotherhood of
  Electrical Workers (IBEW)

October 31, 2014

Consumer Products Division-
  Natural Dam, New York

December 13, 2014 Consumer Products Division-

  Menominee, Michigan

United Steel Workers
(USW)

United Steel Workers
(USW)

APPROXIMATE
NUMBER OF HOURLY
EMPLOYEES

1,000

55

75

95

7

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The  following  individuals  are  deemed  our  “executive  officers”  under  the  Securities  Exchange Act  of  1934  as  of 
December 31, 2013. Executive officers of the company are generally appointed as such at the annual meeting of our 
board, and each officer holds office until the officer’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until the earlier of the 
officer’s death, resignation, retirement, removal by the board or as otherwise provided in our bylaws. There are no 
arrangements or understandings between any of our executive officers and any other persons pursuant to which they 
were selected as officers. No family relationships exist among any of our executive officers.

Linda K. Massman (age 47), has served as Chief Executive Officer and as a director since January 2013. Ms. Massman 
served as President and Chief Operating Officer from November 2011 until December 31, 2012, and as Chief Financial 
Officer from December 2008 to April 2012. From May 2011 to November 2011, Ms. Massman served as Senior Vice 
President, Finance, and as Vice President, Finance from December 2008 to May 2011. From September 2008 to 
December 2008, Ms. Massman served as a Vice President of Potlatch Corporation, pending completion of the spin-
off of Clearwater Paper Corporation. From May 2002 to August 2008, Ms. Massman served as the Group Vice President, 
Finance and Corporate Planning for SUPERVALU Inc., a grocery retail company.

John D. Hertz (age 47) joined the company in June 2012 as Senior Vice President, and has served as Senior Vice 
President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer since August 2012. Before joining our company, Mr. Hertz was the Vice 
President and Chief Financial Officer, of Novellus Systems, Inc., a position he held from June 2010 to June 2012. 
From October 2007 to June 2010, he served as Novellus' Vice President of Corporate Finance and Principal Accounting 
Officer and as Vice President and Corporate Controller from June 2007 to October 2007. From 2000 to 2007, Mr. Hertz 
worked for Intel Corporation where he held a number of positions, including Central Finance Controller of the Digital 
Enterprise Group, Finance Controller of the Enterprise Platform Services Division and Accounting Policy Controller. 
Prior to that Mr. Hertz was a Senior Manager with KPMG. 

Michael S. Gadd (age 49) has served as Senior Vice President since May 2011 and General Counsel and Corporate 
Secretary since December 2008. In addition, he served as Vice President from December 2008 to May 2011. From 
March 2006 to December 2008, Mr. Gadd served as Associate General Counsel of Potlatch Corporation, and served 
as Corporate Secretary of Potlatch from July 2007 to December 2008. From 2000 to January 2006, Mr. Gadd was an 
attorney with Perkins Coie, LLP in Portland, Oregon.

Thomas A. Colgrove (age 62), has served as Senior Vice President and President of Consumer Products since January 
2013, and served as Senior Vice President and President of Pulp and Paperboard from May 2011 until December 31, 
2012. Mr. Colgrove served as Vice President of Pulp and Paperboard from May 2009 to May 2011. He was employed 
by Kimberly-Clark Corporation from 1984 to 2009, in various manufacturing management positions, including as Senior 
Director-North America Product Supply with responsibility for seven North American tissue facilities from September 
2006 to April 2009. 

Danny G. Johansen (age 63) has served as Senior Vice President and President of Pulp and Paperboard since January 
2013. From December 2008 through December 2012, he served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing, for Pulp and 
Paperboard.  Prior to December 2008, Mr. Johansen was employed by Potlatch Corporation for nearly 36 years.  From 
2002 to December 2008, he served as the Director of Sales, Idaho Pulp and Paperboard division, for Potlatch.

Jackson O. Lynch (age 45) has served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources since April 2013. Before joining 
our company, Mr. Lynch served as Vice President of Human Resources for Nestlé USA’s Direct Store Delivery division 
from March 2010 to February 2013. From June 2007 to March 2010, he served as National Director of Human Resources 
for Nestlé USA's Dreyer's Ice Cream division. Prior to June 2007, Mr. Lynch held various senior human resources 
roles with PepsiCo, Inc.

8

ITEM 1A.
Risk Factors

Our business, financial condition,  results of operations  and  liquidity  are subject  to various  risks and uncertainties, 
including those described below, and as a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline.

The expansion of our TAD tissue offerings may not proceed as anticipated.

In connection with our long-term growth strategy, we built a new TAD paper machine and installed five converting lines 
at our facility in Shelby, North Carolina and upgraded our TAD manufacturing capabilities at our Las Vegas, Nevada 
facility. As these are recently completed projects, we are still in the process of optimizing the mix and the quality of the 
TAD products being produced at these facilities, the converting and distribution of our TAD and existing tissue products 
and the sales mix of our new TAD product offerings with existing product lines. We also continue to work with existing 
customers  as  well  as  new  customers  to  develop  marketing  and  sales  programs  in  connection  with  the  new TAD 
products. These ongoing efforts entail numerous risks, including difficulties in integrating the new TAD products with 
existing products, difficulties in integrating the new operations and personnel with our other tissue operations and 
market acceptance of and demand for the new TAD products. Any of these risks, if realized, could have a material 
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. In addition, such events could 
also divert management's attention from other business concerns.

Additionally,  over  the  past  few  years,  several  new  or  refurbished  TAD  paper  machines  have  been  completed  or 
announced by our competitors, including private label competitors, that will result in a substantial increase in the supply 
of TAD tissue in the North American market. This increase in supply of TAD products, as well as the effects of that 
increased supply in displacing existing conventional tissue product sales, could have a material adverse effect on the 
price of TAD tissue products and on the market demand for conventional tissue products, which will continue to represent 
a majority of our total production for the foreseeable future.

The loss of, or a significant reduction in, orders from, or changes in prices in regards to, any of our large 
customers could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

In 2013, our Consumer Products segment derived approximately 33% of its net sales and we derived approximately 
20% of our total net sales from three customers. If we lose any of these customers or a substantial portion of their 
business or if the terms of our relationship with any of them becomes less favorable to us, our net sales would decline, 
which would harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. We have experienced increased price 
and promotion competition for our consumer products customers, particularly in regards to TAD products, which can 
decrease our gross margins and adversely affect our financial condition. Some of our customers have the capability 
to produce the parent rolls or products themselves that they purchase from us. Our Pulp and Paperboard segment 
sells its products to a large number of customers, although certain customers have historically purchased a significant 
amount of our pulp or paperboard products.

We do not have long-term contracts with any of our customers, including our largest customers, that ensure a continuing 
level of business from them. In addition, our agreements with our customers are not exclusive and generally do not 
contain minimum volume purchase commitments. Our relationship with our large customers will depend on our ability 
to continue to meet their needs for quality products and services at competitive prices. If we lose one or more of these 
customers or if we experience a significant decline in the level of purchases by any of them, we may not be able to 
quickly replace the lost business volume and our operating results and business could be harmed. In addition, our 
focus on these large accounts could affect our ability to serve our smaller accounts, particularly when product supply 
is tight and we are not able to fully satisfy orders for these smaller accounts.

We  depend  on  external  sources  of  wood  pulp,  which  subjects  our  business  and  results  of  operations  to 
potentially significant fluctuations in the price of market pulp.

Our Consumer Products segment sources a significant portion of its wood pulp requirements from external suppliers. 
In 2013, it sourced approximately 70% of its pulp requirements externally. Approximately 17.6% of our cost of sales 
in 2013 consisted of purchased pulp costs. Our dependence on external sources of wood pulp increases our exposure 
to fluctuations in prices for wood pulp, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our financial results, 
operations and cash flows.

Pulp prices can, and have, changed significantly from one period to the next. The volatility of pulp prices can adversely 
affect our earnings if we are unable to pass cost increases on to our customers or if the timing of any price increases 
for our products significantly trails the increases in pulp prices. We have not hedged these risks.

9

Changes in the cost and availability of wood fiber used in production of our products may adversely affect 
our results of operations and cash flow.

Wood fiber is the principal raw material used to create wood pulp, which in turn is used to manufacture our pulp and 
paperboard products and consumer products. In 2013, our wood fiber costs were 8.3% of our cost of sales. Much of 
the wood fiber we use in our pulp manufacturing process in Lewiston, Idaho, is the by-product of sawmill operations. 
As a result, the price of these residual wood fibers is affected by operating levels in the lumber industry. The significant 
reduction in home building over the past five years resulted in the closure or curtailment of operations at many sawmills. 
The price of wood fiber is expected to remain volatile until the housing market recovers and sawmill operations increase. 
Additionally, the supply and price of wood fiber can be negatively affected by weather and other events.

The effects on market prices for wood fiber resulting from various governmental programs involving tax credits or 
payments related to biomass and other renewable energy projects are uncertain and could result in a reduction in the 
supply of wood fiber available for our pulp and paperboard manufacturing operations. If we and our pulp suppliers are 
unable to obtain wood fiber at favorable prices or at all, our costs will increase and financial results, operations and 
cash flows may be materially adversely affected.

We incur significant expenses to maintain our manufacturing equipment and any interruption in the operations 
of our facilities may harm our operating performance.

We regularly incur significant expenses to maintain our manufacturing equipment and facilities. The machines and 
equipment that we use to produce our products are complex, have many parts and some are run on a continuous 
basis. We must perform routine maintenance on our equipment and will have to periodically replace a variety of parts 
such as motors, pumps, pipes and electrical parts. In addition, our pulp and paperboard facilities require periodic 
shutdowns to perform major maintenance. These scheduled shutdowns of facilities result in decreased sales and 
increased costs in the periods in which a shutdown occurs and could result in unexpected operational issues in future 
periods as a result of changes to equipment and operational and mechanical processes made during the shutdown 
period.

Unexpected production disruptions could cause us to shut down or curtail operations at any of our facilities. For example, 
we have had to  curtail operations at certain of our facilities as the result of an electrical malfunction and a fire in 
previous years. Disruptions could occur due to any number of circumstances, including prolonged power outages, 
mechanical  or  process  failures,  shortages  of  raw  materials,  natural  catastrophes,  disruptions  in  the  availability  of 
transportation, labor disputes, terrorism, changes in or non-compliance with environmental or safety laws and the lack 
of availability of services from any of our facilities' key suppliers. Any facility shutdowns may be followed by prolonged 
startup periods, regardless of the reason for the shutdown. Those startup periods could range from several days to 
several weeks, depending on the reason for the shutdown and other factors. Any prolonged disruption in operations 
at  any  of  our  facilities  could  cause  significant  lost  production,  which  would  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our 
business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Increases  in  our  transportation  costs  or  disruptions  in  our  transportation  services  could  have  a  material 
adverse effect on our business.

Our business, particularly our Consumer Products business, is dependent on transportation services to deliver our 
products to our customers and to deliver raw materials to us. In 2013, our transportation costs were 10.8%  of our cost 
of  sales.  The  costs  of  these  transportation  services  are  primarily  determined  by  fuel  prices,  which  have  steadily 
increased since 2008 and are affected by geopolitical and economic events. We have not been in the past, and may 
not be in the future, able to pass along part or all of any fuel price increases to customers. If we are unable to increase 
our prices as a result of increased fuel costs charged to us by transportation providers, our gross margins may be 
materially adversely affected.

If any transportation providers fail to deliver raw materials to us in a timely manner, we may be unable to manufacture 
products on a timely basis. Shipments of products and raw materials may be delayed or disrupted due to weather 
conditions, labor strikes, regulatory actions or other events. Any failure of a third-party transportation provider to deliver 
raw materials or products in a timely manner could harm our reputation, negatively affect our customer relationships 
and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

10

Our business and financial performance may be harmed by future labor disruptions.

As of December 31,  2013, 53% of our  full-time  employees  are  represented  by unions  under  collective  bargaining 
agreements. As these agreements expire, we may not be able to negotiate extensions or replacement agreements 
on terms acceptable to us. Four collective bargaining agreements have a 2014 expiration date and will need to be 
renegotiated. Any failure to reach an agreement with one of the unions may result in strikes, lockouts or other labor 
actions. Any such labor actions, including work slowdowns in the future or stoppages, could have a material adverse 
effect on our operations and financial results.

The cost of chemicals and energy needed for our manufacturing processes significantly affects our business.

We use a variety of chemicals in our manufacturing processes, including latex and polyethylene, many of which are 
petroleum-based chemicals. In 2013, our chemical costs were 11.5% of our cost of sales. Prices for these chemicals 
have been and are expected to remain volatile. In addition, chemical suppliers that use petroleum-based products in 
the manufacture of their chemicals may, due to supply shortages and cost increases, ration the amount of chemicals 
available to us, and therefore we may not be able to obtain at favorable prices the chemicals we need to operate our 
business, if we are able to obtain them at all.

Our  manufacturing  operations  utilize  large  amounts  of  electricity  and  natural  gas  and  our  energy  requirements, 
particularly natural gas, have increased significantly as a result of operations at our North Carolina facility. In 2013, 
our energy costs were 7.6%  of our cost of sales. Energy prices have fluctuated widely over the past decade, which 
in turn affects our cost of sales. We purchase on the open market a substantial portion of the natural gas necessary 
to produce our products, and, as a result, the price and other terms of those purchases are subject to change based 
on factors such as worldwide supply and demand, geopolitical events, government regulation, and natural disasters. 
Our energy costs in future periods will depend principally on our ability to produce a substantial portion of our electricity 
needs internally, on changes in market prices for natural gas and on reducing energy usage.

Any significant energy shortage or significant increase in our energy costs in circumstances where we cannot raise 
the price of our products could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations 
and cash flows. Any disruption in the supply of energy could also affect our ability to meet customer demand in a timely 
manner and could harm our reputation.

Larger competitors have operational and other advantages over our operations.

The markets for our products are highly competitive, and companies that have substantially greater financial resources 
compete with us in each market. Some of our competitors have advantages over us, including lower raw material and 
labor costs and better access to the inputs of our products.

Our Consumer Products business faces competition from companies that produce the same type of products that we 
produce or that produce alternative products that customers may use instead of our products. Our Consumer Products 
business  competes  with  the  branded  tissue  products  producers,  such  as  Procter  &  Gamble,  and  branded  label 
producers who manufacture branded and private label products, such as Georgia-Pacific and Kimberly-Clark. These 
companies are far larger than us, have much greater sales, marketing and research and development resources than 
we do, and enjoy significant cost advantages due to economies of scale. In addition, because of their size and resources, 
these companies may foresee market trends more accurately than we do and develop new technologies that render 
our products less attractive or obsolete.

Our ability to successfully compete in the pulp and paperboard industry is influenced by a number of factors, including 
manufacturing capacity, general economic conditions and the availability and demand for paperboard substitutes. Our 
Pulp and Paperboard business competes with International Paper, MeadWestvaco, Georgia-Pacific, RockTenn and 
international producers, most of whom are much larger than us. Any increase in manufacturing capacity by any of 
these or other producers could result in overcapacity in the pulp and paperboard industry, which could cause downward 
pressure on pricing. For example, several new, large paperboard manufacturing facilities in China have recently been, 
or soon will be, completed, the output of which is expected to increase paperboard supplies on the international market. 
In addition, customers could choose to use types of paperboard that we do not produce or could rely on alternative 
materials, such as plastic, for their products. An increased supply of any of these products could cause us to lower 
our prices or lose sales to competitors, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial 
condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The  consolidation  of  paperboard  converting  businesses,  including  through  the  acquisition  and  integration  of  such 
converting business by larger competitors of ours, could result in a loss of customers and sales on the part of our Pulp 
and Paperboard business, which does not include paperboard converting facilities or capabilities. A loss of paperboard 
customers or sales as a result of consolidations and integrations could have a material adverse effect on our business, 
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

11

Changes in demand for certain products could adversely affect our financial results.

Our ability to compete successfully depends on our ability to adjust to increases and decreases in demand. If we are 
unable to respond to increases in demand, we may need to limit deliveries of some orders for existing customers, 
which could harm our reputation and our long-term relationships with these customers. Alternatively, if we experience 
a decrease in demand for certain products, we may incur significant costs in revising our manufacturing plan. If we 
are not able to respond to changes in demand for our products in a timely manner, our financial position, results of 
operations and cash flows may be adversely affected.

Competitors' branded products and private label products could have an adverse effect on our financial results.

Our consumer products compete with well-known, branded products, as well as other private label products. Inherent 
risks in our competitive strategy include whether our products will receive direct and retail customer acceptance, new 
product  offerings  by  competitors,  the  effects  of  consolidation  within  retailer  and  distribution  channels,  and  price 
competition from companies that may have greater financial resources than we do. If we are unable to offer our existing 
customers, or new customers, tissue products comparable to branded products or private label TAD products in terms 
of quality and/or price, we may lose business or we may not be able to grow our existing business and be forced to 
sell lower-margin products, all of which could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Increased competition and supply from foreign manufacturers could have adverse effects on the demand for 
our products and financial results.

Foreign manufacturers, particularly in Asia, are currently increasing, and are expected to continue to increase, their 
paper production capabilities, particularly of paperboard. This, in turn, may result in increased competition in the North 
American paper markets from direct sales by foreign competitors into these markets and/or increased competition in 
the U.S. as domestic manufacturers seek increased U.S. sales to offset displaced overseas sales caused by increased 
sales by Asian suppliers into those markets. An increased supply of Asian paper products could cause us to lower our 
prices or lose sales to competitors, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial 
condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Our  company-sponsored  pension  plans  are  currently  underfunded,  and  we  are  required  to  make  cash 
payments to the plans, reducing cash available for our business.

We have company-sponsored pension plans covering certain of our salaried and hourly employees. The significant 
decline in the securities markets beginning in 2008 and resulting substantial decline in the value of equity and fixed 
income  investments  held  by  these  plans,  coupled  with  a  low  interest  rate  environment  resulting  in  higher  liability 
valuations, caused these plans to be underfunded so that the projected benefit obligation exceeded the aggregate fair 
value of plan assets. At December 31, 2013, and 2012, our company sponsored pension plans were underfunded in 
the aggregate by approximately $6.8 million and $78.7 million, respectively. As a result of underfunding, we are required 
to make contributions to our qualified pension plans. In 2013, we contributed $15.1 million to these pension plans. We 
may be required to make increased annual contributions to our pension plans in future years, which would reduce the 
cash available for business and other needs.

We may be required to pay material amounts under multiemployer pension plans.

We contribute to two multiemployer pension plans. The amount of our annual contributions to each of these plans is 
negotiated with the plan and the bargaining unit representing our employees covered by the plan. In 2013, we contributed 
approximately $6 million to these plans, and in future years we may be required to make increased annual contributions, 
which would reduce the cash available for business and other needs. In addition, in the event of a partial or complete 
withdrawal by us from any multiemployer plan that is underfunded, we would be liable for a proportionate share of 
such  multiemployer  plan's  unfunded  vested  benefits,  referred  to  as  a  withdrawal  liability. A  withdrawal  liability  is 
considered a contingent liability. In the event that any other contributing employer withdraws from any multiemployer 
plan that is underfunded, and such employer cannot satisfy its obligations under the multiemployer plan at the time of 
withdrawal, then the proportionate share of the plan’s unfunded vested benefits that would be allocable to us and to 
the other remaining contributing employers, would increase and there could be an increase to our required annual 
contributions.  In  renegotiations  of  collective  bargaining  agreements  with  labor  unions  that  participate  in  these 
multiemployer plans, we may decide to discontinue participation in these plans.

One of the multiemployer pension plans to which we contribute, the PACE Industry Union-Management Pension Fund, 
or PIUMPF, was certified to be in “critical status” for the plan year beginning January 1, 2010, and continued to be in 
critical status for the plan year beginning January 1, 2013. In 2013, two large employers withdrew from PIUMPF. Further 
withdrawals by other contributing employers could cause a “mass withdrawal” from, or effectively a termination of, 
PIUMPF or alternatively we could elect to withdraw.  Although we have no current intention to withdraw from PIUMPF, 

12

if  we  were  to  withdraw,  either  completely  or  partially,  we  would  incur  a  withdrawal  liability  based  on  our  share  of 
PIUMPF’s  unfunded  vested  benefits.    Based  on  information  as  of  December  31,  2012  provided  by  PIUMPF  and 
reviewed by our actuarial consultant, we estimate that, as of December 31, 2013, the payments that we would be 
required to make to PIUMPF in the event of our complete withdrawal would be approximately $5.7 million per year on 
a pre-tax basis. These payments would continue for 20 years, unless we were deemed to be included in a “mass 
withdrawal” from PIUMPF, in which case these payments would continue in perpetuity.  However, we are not able to 
determine the exact amount of our withdrawal liability because the amount could be higher or lower depending on the 
nature and timing of any triggering event, the funded status of the plan and our level of contributions to the plan prior 
to the triggering event.  These withdrawal liability payments would be in addition to pension contributions to any new 
pension plan adopted or contributed to by us to replace PIUMPF, all of which would reduce the cash available for 
business and other needs. Adverse changes to pension laws and regulations could increase the likelihood and amount 
of our liabilities arising under PIUMPF. 

Our pension and health care costs are subject to numerous factors which could cause these costs to change.

In addition to our pension plans, we provide health care benefits to certain of our current and former U.S. salaried and 
hourly employees. There is a risk of higher enrollment and claims in our health care plans and likely increased costs 
due to the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate and required coverage. Our health care costs vary with changes 
in health care costs generally, which have significantly exceeded general economic inflation rates for many years. Our 
pension costs are dependent upon numerous factors resulting from actual plan experience and assumptions about 
future  investment  returns.  Pension  plan  assets  are  primarily  made  up  of  equity  and  fixed  income  investments. 
Fluctuations in actual equity market returns as well as changes in general interest rates may result in increased pension 
costs in future periods. Likewise, changes in assumptions regarding current discount rates and expected rates of return 
on plan assets could also increase pension costs. Significant changes in any of these factors may adversely impact 
our cash flows, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to significant environmental regulation and environmental compliance expenditures, which 
could increase our costs and subject us to liabilities.

We are subject to various federal, state and foreign environmental laws and regulations concerning, among other 
things,  water  discharges,  air  emissions,  hazardous  material  and  waste  management  and  environmental  cleanup. 
Environmental  laws  and  regulations  continue  to  evolve  and  we  may  become  subject  to  increasingly  stringent 
environmental standards in the future, particularly under air quality and water quality laws and standards related to 
climate change issues, such as reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. Increased regulatory activity at the state, 
federal and international level is possible regarding climate change as well as other emerging environmental issues 
associated with our manufacturing sites, such as water quality standards based on elevated fish consumption rates. 
Compliance with regulations that implement new public policy in these areas might require significant expenditures 
on our part or even the curtailment of certain of our manufacturing operations.

We are required to comply with environmental laws and the terms and conditions of multiple environmental permits. 
In particular, the pulp and paper industry in the United States is subject to several performance based rules associated 
with effluent and air emissions as a result of certain of its manufacturing processes. Federal, state and local laws and 
regulations require us to routinely obtain authorizations from and comply with the evolving standards of the appropriate 
governmental  authorities,  which  have  considerable  discretion  over  the  terms  of  permits.  Failure  to  comply  with 
environmental laws and permit requirements could result in civil or criminal fines or penalties or enforcement actions, 
including regulatory or judicial orders enjoining or curtailing our operations or requiring us to take corrective measures, 
install pollution control equipment, or take other remedial actions, such as product recalls or labeling changes. We 
also may be required to make additional expenditures, which could be significant, relating to environmental matters 
on an ongoing basis.

In 2012, we were notified that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, submitted a civil referral to the U.S. 
Department of Justice, or DOJ, alleging violations of the Clean Air Act stemming from an EPA investigation at our 
Lewiston, Idaho pulp facility. Prior to the filing of any formal action, we and the DOJ agreed to discuss the resolution 
of the allegations, and the parties entered into an agreement to toll the statute of limitations. The tolling agreement 
expires on July 31, 2014, unless further extended by the parties. Discussions with the DOJ and EPA are ongoing. 
However, this matter could result in civil penalties or enforcement actions, including regulatory or judicial orders enjoining 
or curtailing our operations or requiring us to take corrective measures, install pollution control equipment, or take 
other remedial actions.

13

We own properties, conduct or have conducted operations at properties, and have assumed indemnity obligations in 
connection with our spin-off in 2008 from Potlatch Corporation, for properties or operations where hazardous materials 
have been or were used for many years, including during periods before careful management of these materials was 
required or generally believed to be necessary. Consequently, we will continue to be subject to risks under environmental 
laws  that  impose  liability  for  historical  releases  of  hazardous  substances. There  can  be  no  assurance  that  future 
environmental permits will be granted or that we will be able to maintain and renew existing permits, and the failure 
to do so could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

We  rely  on  information  technology  in  critical  areas  of  our  operations,  and  a  disruption  relating  to  such 
technology could harm our financial condition.

We use information technology, or IT, systems in various aspects of our operations, including enterprise resource 
planning, or ERP, management of inventories and customer sales. Some of these systems have been in place for long 
periods of time. Additionally, with the acquisition of Cellu Tissue, we have different legacy IT systems which we are 
continuing to integrate, including the implementation of a single company-wide ERP system. If one of these systems 
or the ERP implementation was to fail or cause operational or reporting interruptions, or if we decide to change these 
systems or hire outside parties to provide these systems, we may suffer disruptions, which could have a material 
adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we may underestimate the costs and 
expenses of developing and implementing new systems.

We face cyber-security risks.

Our business operations rely upon secure information technology systems for data capture, processing, storage and 
reporting.  Despite  careful  security  and  controls  design,  implementation  and  updating,  our  information  technology 
systems  could  become  subject  to  cyber  attacks.  Network,  system,  application  and  data  breaches  could  result  in 
operational disruptions or information misappropriation, which could result in lost sales, business delays, negative 
publicity and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

United States and global economic conditions could have adverse effects on the demand for our products 
and financial results.

U.S. and global economic conditions have negatively affected and may continue to negatively affect our business and 
financial  results.  For  example,  the  away-from-home  consumer  paper  products  market  has  experienced  a  decline 
because of the slowdown in the travel and restaurant industries as a result of the ongoing economic downturn. Recessed 
economic  conditions  affect  our  business  in  a  number  of  ways,  including  causing:  (i)  increased  pressure  for  price 
concessions  from  customers;  (ii)  declines  in  domestic  and  global  demand  for  paperboard;  (iii)  shifts  in  customer 
purchases that affect the mix of our product sales; (iv) decreased or low housing starts, which increase production 
costs due to lower wood fiber supplies; and (v) financial distress or insolvency for certain customers which could affect 
our sales volumes or our ability to collect accounts receivable on a timely basis from those customers.

Cyclical industry conditions have  in the past affected  and may  continue to adversely  affect  the  operating 
results and cash flow of our Pulp and Paperboard business.

Our Pulp and Paperboard business is particularly affected by cyclical market conditions. We may be unable to sustain 
pricing in the face of weaker demand, and weaker demand may in turn cause us to take production downtime. In 
addition to lost revenue from lower shipment volumes, production downtime causes unabsorbed fixed manufacturing 
costs due to lower production levels. Our results of operations and cash flows may be materially adversely affected 
in a period of prolonged and significant market weakness. We are not able to predict market conditions or our ability 
to sustain pricing and production levels during periods of weak demand.

We rely on a limited number of third-party suppliers for certain raw materials required for the production of 
our products.

Our dependence on a limited number of third-party suppliers, and the challenges we may face in obtaining adequate 
supplies of raw materials, involve several risks, including limited control over pricing, availability, quality, and delivery 
schedules. We cannot be certain that our current suppliers will continue to provide us with the quantities of these raw 
materials that we require or will continue to satisfy our anticipated specifications and quality requirements. Any supply 
interruption in limited raw materials could materially harm our ability to manufacture our products until a new source 
of supply, if any, could be identified and qualified. Although we believe there are other suppliers of these raw materials, 
we may be unable to find a sufficient alternative supply channel in a reasonable time or on commercially reasonable 
terms. Any performance failure on the part of our suppliers could interrupt production of our products, which would 
have a material adverse effect on our business.

14

Additional expansion of our business through construction of new facilities or acquisitions may not proceed 
as anticipated.

In addition to the acquisition of Cellu Tissue and construction of our North Carolina facility, in the future we may build 
other converting and papermaking facilities, pursue acquisitions of existing facilities, or both. We may be unable to 
identify future suitable building locations or acquisition targets. In addition, we may be unable to achieve anticipated 
benefits or cost savings from construction projects or acquisitions in the timeframe we anticipate, or at all. Any inability 
by us to integrate and manage any new or acquired facilities or businesses in a timely and efficient manner, any inability 
to achieve anticipated cost savings or other anticipated benefits from these projects or acquisitions in the time frame 
we anticipate or any unanticipated required increases in promotional or capital spending could adversely affect our 
business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Large construction projects or acquisitions can result in 
a decrease in our cash and short-term investments, an increase in our indebtedness, or both, and also may limit our 
ability to access additional capital when needed and divert management's attention from other business concerns.

The indentures for our outstanding notes that we issued in 2010 and 2013, and the credit agreement governing 
our senior secured revolving credit facility, contain various covenants that limit our discretion in the operation 
of our business.

The indentures governing our outstanding notes that we issued in 2010 and 2013, and the credit agreement governing 
our senior secured revolving credit facility, contain various provisions that limit our discretion in the operation of our 
business by restricting our ability to:

undergo a change in control;

sell assets;

pay dividends and make other distributions;

make investments and other restricted payments;

redeem or repurchase our capital stock;

incur additional debt and issue preferred stock;

create liens;

consolidate, merge, or sell substantially all of our assets;

enter into certain transactions with our affiliates;

engage in new lines of business; and

enter into sale and lease-back transactions.

These restrictions on our ability to operate our business at our discretion could seriously harm our business by, among 
other things, limiting our ability to take advantage of financing, merger and acquisition and other corporate opportunities. 
In addition, our senior secured revolving credit facility requires, among other things, that we maintain a minimum fixed 
charge coverage ratio of at least 1.0-to-1.0 when availability falls below $50 million or an event of default exists. Events 
beyond our control could affect our ability to meet this financial test, and we cannot assure you that we will meet it.

Our  failure  to  comply  with  the  covenants  contained  in  our  senior  secured  revolving  credit  facility  or  the 
indentures governing  our outstanding notes, including as a result of events beyond our control, could result 
in an event of default that could cause repayment of the debt to be accelerated.

If we are not able to comply with the covenants and other requirements contained in the indentures governing our 
outstanding notes, our senior secured revolving credit facility or our other debt instruments, an event of default under 
the relevant debt instrument could occur. If an event of default does occur, it could trigger a default under our other 
debt instruments, prohibit us from accessing additional borrowings, and permit the holders of the defaulted debt to 
declare amounts outstanding with respect to that debt to be immediately due and payable. Our assets and cash flow 
may not be sufficient to fully repay borrowings under our outstanding debt instruments. In addition, we may not be 
able to refinance or restructure the payments on the applicable debt. Even if we were able to secure additional financing, 
it may not be available on favorable terms.

15

To service our indebtedness, we must generate significant cash flows. Our ability to generate cash depends 
on many factors beyond our control.

Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness, including our outstanding notes, and to fund 
planned capital expenditures, will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. This, to a certain extent, is 
subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.

We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings 
will be available to us under our senior secured revolving credit facility in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our 
indebtedness, including the notes, or to fund our other liquidity needs. We cannot assure you that we will be able to 
refinance any of our indebtedness, including our senior secured revolving credit facility and our existing notes, on 
commercially reasonable terms or at all.

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law may make it difficult for 
stockholders  to  change  the  composition  of  our  Board  of  Directors  and  may  discourage  hostile  takeover 
attempts that some of our stockholders may consider to be beneficial. 

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law may have the effect of delaying or 
preventing changes in control if our Board of Directors determines that such changes in control are not in the best 
interests of the company and our stockholders. The provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws include, 
among other things, the following: 

a classified Board of Directors with three-year staggered terms; 

the ability of our Board of Directors to issue shares of preferred stock and to determine the price and other 
terms, including preferences and voting rights, of those shares without stockholder approval; 

stockholder action can only be taken at a special or regular meeting and not by written consent; 

advance  notice  procedures  for  nominating  candidates  to  our  Board  of  Directors  or  presenting  matters  at 
stockholder meetings; 

removal of directors only for cause; 

allowing only our Board of Directors to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors; and 

supermajority voting requirements to amend our bylaws and certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation. 

While these provisions have the effect of encouraging persons seeking to acquire control of the company to negotiate 
with our Board of Directors, they could enable the Board of Directors to hinder or frustrate a transaction that some, or 
a majority, of the stockholders might believe to be in their best interests and, in that case, may prevent or discourage 
attempts to remove and replace incumbent directors. We are also subject to Delaware laws that could have similar 
effects. One of these laws prohibits us from engaging in a business combination with a significant stockholder unless 
specific conditions are met. 

ITEM 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

16

 
ITEM 2.
Properties

FACILITIES

We own and operate facilities located throughout the United States and one in Canada. The following table lists each of our 
facilities and its location, use, and 2013 capacity and production:  

  USE

  LEASED OR OWNED   CAPACITY

PRODUCTION1

CONSUMER PRODUCTS
Tissue manufacturing
facilities:

East Hartford, Connecticut
Gouverneur, New York
Ladysmith, Wisconsin
Las Vegas, Nevada
Lewiston, Idaho
Menominee, Michigan
Neenah, Wisconsin
Shelby, North Carolina3
St. Catharines, Ontario

Wiggins, Mississippi

  Tissue
  Tissue
  Tissue
  TAD tissue
  Tissue
  Machine-glazed tissue
  Tissue
  TAD tissue
  TAD tissue
  Machine-glazed tissue
  Tissue
  Machine-glazed tissue

Tissue converting facilities:
Central Islip, New York2
  Tissue converting
Elwood, Illinois2
  Tissue converting
  Tissue converting
Las Vegas, Nevada
  Tissue converting
Lewiston, Idaho
  Machine-glazed tissue converting  
Menominee, Michigan
Neenah, Wisconsin
  Tissue converting
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma2   Tissue converting
Shelby, North Carolina3
  Tissue converting
Thomaston, Georgia2, 4
  Tissue converting

PULP AND PAPERBOARD  
Pulp Mills:

Cypress Bend, Arkansas
Lewiston, Idaho

  Pulp
  Pulp

Bleached Paperboard Mills:
Cypress Bend, Arkansas
Lewiston, Idaho

  Paperboard
  Paperboard

CORPORATE

Owned
Owned
Owned
Owned
Owned
Owned
Owned
Owned/Leased
Owned

Owned

Leased
Leased
Owned
Owned
Owned
Owned
Leased
Owned/Leased
Leased

36,000 tons
39,000 tons
56,000 tons
38,000 tons
  190,000 tons
36,000 tons
84,000 tons
70,000 tons
20,000 tons
23,000 tons
29,000 tons
33,000 tons
  654,000 tons

38,000 tons
68,000 tons
61,000 tons
95,000 tons
27,000 tons
99,000 tons
29,000 tons
62,000 tons
— tons
  479,000 tons

32,000 tons
39,000 tons
52,000 tons
35,000 tons
185,000 tons
34,000 tons
80,000 tons
54,000 tons
22,000 tons
23,000 tons
29,000 tons
33,000 tons
618,000 tons

29,000 tons
58,000 tons
52,000 tons
72,000 tons
6,000 tons
63,000 tons
15,000 tons
37,000 tons
12,000 tons
344,000 tons

Owned
Owned

Owned
Owned

  316,000 tons
  540,000 tons
  856,000 tons

291,000 tons
526,000 tons
817,000 tons

  343,000 tons
  445,000 tons
  788,000 tons

325,000 tons
441,000 tons
766,000 tons

Alpharetta, Georgia
Spokane, Washington

  Operations and administration
  Corporate headquarters

Owned/Leased
Leased

N/A
N/A

N/A
N/A

1  
2 

3  

4 

Production amounts are approximations for full year 2013. 
The buildings located at these facilities are leased by Clearwater Paper or a subsidiary, and the operating equipment located within the building is owned 
by Clearwater Paper or a subsidiary. 
In December 2012, our new TAD tissue machine in North Carolina began producing tissue.  In addition to two converting lines installed in 2011, and two 
more converting lines installed in 2012, at our North Carolina location, two more tissue converting lines at that site became operational during 2013. 
On March 6, 2013, we announced the planned permanent closure of our Thomaston, Georgia converting and distribution facility. As of December 31, 2013, 
all converting lines have been relocated and installed at our other facilities. As a result, the capacity from our Thomaston facility has been reallocated 
accordingly. 

In addition to the manufacturing facilities listed in this table, we own a chip shipment facility in Columbia City, Oregon and a chipping 
producing facility in Clarkston, Washington.

17

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 3.
Legal Proceedings

On August 13, 2012, we were notified that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, submitted a civil referral 
to the U.S. Department of Justice, or DOJ, alleging violations of the Clean Air Act stemming from an EPA investigation 
that included an inspection of our Lewiston, Idaho pulp facility in July 2009 and a subsequent information request 
dated February 24, 2011. On July 19, 2013, the EPA issued to us an additional information request. Prior to the filing 
of any formal action, we and the DOJ agreed to discuss the resolution of the allegations. On October 21, 2013, the 
parties entered into a new agreement to toll the statute of limitations. The tolling period commenced as of September 
14, 2012 and expires on July 31, 2014, unless further extended by the parties. Discussions with the DOJ and EPA are 
ongoing. 

In addition to the matters discussed above, we may from time to time be involved in claims, proceedings and litigation 
arising from our business and property ownership. We believe, based on currently available information, that the results 
of such proceedings, in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

ITEM 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

18

Part II

ITEM 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters
and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

MARKET FOR OUR COMMON STOCK

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The following table sets forth, for each period indicated, 
the high and low sales prices of our common stock during our two most recent years.

Year Ended December 31, 2013:

Fourth Quarter
Third Quarter
Second Quarter
First Quarter

Year Ended December 31, 2012:

Fourth Quarter
Third Quarter
Second Quarter
First Quarter

HOLDERS

Common Stock Price

High

Low

$ 53.91 $ 47.15
45.13
44.64
38.94

50.40
52.47
53.01

$ 42.79 $ 37.33
33.37
29.84
32.51

41.98
34.79
40.19

On February 14, 2014, the last reported sale price for our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $65.88 
per share. As of February 14, 2014, there were approximately 1,000 registered holders of our common stock.

DIVIDENDS

We have not paid any cash dividends and do not anticipate paying a cash dividend in 2014. We will continue to review 
whether payment of a cash dividend on our common stock in the future best serves the company and our stockholders. 
The declaration and amount of any dividends, however, will be determined by our Board of Directors and will depend 
on our earnings, our compliance with the terms of our notes and revolving credit facility that contain certain restrictions 
on our ability to pay dividends, and any other factors that our Board of Directors believes are relevant.

SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

Please see Part III, Item 12 of this report for information relating to our equity compensation plans.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

On February 5, 2014, in an event subsequent to the close of our 2013 fiscal year, we announced that our Board of 
Directors had approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of our 
common stock. The repurchase program authorizes purchases of our common stock from time to time through open 
market purchases, negotiated transactions or other means, including accelerated stock repurchases and 10b5-1 trading 
plans in accordance with applicable securities laws and other restrictions. We have no obligation to repurchase stock 
under this program and may suspend or terminate the program at any time.

On January 17, 2013, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved a new stock repurchase program 
authorizing the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of our common stock, which was completed in 2013. The repurchases 
were authorized to be carried out by the utilization of a number of different methods, including but not limited to, open 
market purchases, accelerated buybacks and negotiated block purchases. On March 1, 2013, we entered into an 
accelerated stock buyback, or ASB, agreement with a major financial institution to repurchase an aggregate of $50.0 
million of our outstanding common stock. In total, 1,039,513 shares of our outstanding common stock were delivered 
under the ASB agreement at an average repurchase price of $48.10 per share. In addition to the ASB agreement, we 
also made repurchases of 1,030,657 shares of our outstanding common stock on the open market at a total cost of 
$50.0 million, representing an average price of $48.51 per share.

19

 
  
On July 28, 2011, we announced that our Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to $30.0 million of 
our common stock. Under the stock repurchase program, we were authorized to repurchase shares in the open market 
or as otherwise determined by management, subject to market conditions, business opportunities and other factors. 
We completed this repurchase program in the fourth quarter of 2012. The total number of shares repurchased under 
this program was 853,470 at an aggregate cost of $30.0 million and an average price of $35.15 per share.

The  following  table  provides  information  about  share  repurchases  that  we  made  during  the  three  months  ended 
December 31, 2013:

Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased

Average
Price Paid per
Share

494,760 $
— $
— $
494,760 $

48.95
—
—
48.95

Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced
Program

Approximate
Dollar Value of
Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the
Program

494,760 $
— $
— $

494,760

—
—
—

Period
October 1, 2013 to October 31, 2013
November 1, 2013 to November 30, 2013
December 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013
Total

ITEM 6.
Selected Financial Data

All of the data listed below has been derived from our audited financial statements. Our historical financial and other 
data is not necessarily indicative of our future performance. In addition, all amounts below for 2010 reflect the acquisition 
of  Cellu  Tissue  on  December 27,  2010,  including  four  days  of  Cellu  Tissue’s  operating  results  and  incurrence  of 
acquisition related expenses. Amounts for 2011 forward, are reflective of the sale of our Lewiston, Idaho sawmill in 
November 2011.

Earnings per share and common shares outstanding data have been retroactively adjusted to reflect our two-for-one 
stock split that was effected in the form of a stock dividend distributed on August 26, 2011 to shareholders of record 
on August 12, 2011.

(In thousands, except
earnings per share amounts)
Net sales
Income from operations1
Net earnings
Working capital2
Long-term debt, net of current portion

Stockholders’ equity
Capital expenditures3
Property, plant and equipment, net

Basic net earnings per common share

Basic average common shares
outstanding

Diluted net earnings per common share

$

$

Diluted average common shares
outstanding

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

$

1,889,830

$

1,874,304

$

1,927,973

$

1,372,965

$

1,250,069

99,328

106,955

375,975

650,000

605,094

86,508

884,698

145,387

64,131

293,733

523,933

540,894

207,115

877,377

115,445

39,674

390,839

523,694

484,904

137,743

735,566

98,767

73,800

394,346

538,314

468,349

47,033

654,456

4.84

$

2.75

$

1.73

$

3.22

$

22,081

23,299

22,914

22,947

4.80

$

2.72

$

1.66

$

3.12

$

297,440

182,464

452,583

148,285

363,736

19,328

364,024

947,463

8.03

22,721

7.75

Total assets

1,744,825

1,633,456

1,571,318

1,545,336

22,264

23,614

23,952

23,670

23,540

1 

Income from operations for the year ended December 31, 2009, included $170.6 million associated with the Alternative Fuel Mixture Tax 
Credit.

2  Working capital is defined as our current assets less our current liabilities as presented on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. 
3 

Capital expenditures in 2012, 2011 and 2010 primarily include expenditures related to our through-air-dried tissue expansion project at our 
Shelby, North Carolina, and Las Vegas, Nevada, manufacturing and converting facilities. 

20

ITEM 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements 
and notes thereto that appear elsewhere in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements reflecting 
our current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those discussed 
in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those set forth in the section entitled “Risk 
Factors” and elsewhere in this report.

Unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise indicates, references in this report to “Clearwater Paper 
Corporation,” “we,” “our,” “the company” and “us” refer to Clearwater Paper Corporation and its subsidiaries. 

OVERVIEW

2013 Highlights

Consumer Products Expansion

In December 2012, we announced the start-up of our new through-air-dried, or TAD, paper machine and the completion 
of two additional converting lines that became operational in Shelby, North Carolina during the fourth quarter of 2012. 
With the completion of  two additional converting lines at that facility in 2013, bringing the total to six, and upgrades 
to our TAD tissue manufacturing facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, we expect to increase our ultra and premium offerings 
to existing and new customers. 

Overall, our TAD tissue expansion project, or TAD project, will allow us to supply a full range of TAD products, including 
paper towels and bath tissue, to customers across the U.S., while reducing transportation costs. We believe this project, 
along with our existing manufacturing capabilities, establishes us as the only private label tissue products company 
in the U.S. to offer a full line of tissue products to customers.

Capital Allocation

On February 5, 2014, in an event subsequent to the close of our 2013 fiscal year, we announced that our Board of 
Directors had approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of our 
common stock. The repurchase program authorizes purchases of our common stock from time to time through open 
market purchases, negotiated transactions or other means, including accelerated stock repurchases and 10b5-1 trading 
plans in accordance with applicable securities laws and other restrictions. We have no obligation to repurchase stock 
under this program and may suspend or terminate the program at any time.

On January 23, 2013, we issued $275 million aggregate principal amount of 4.5% senior notes, which we refer to as 
the 2013 Notes. Approximately $166 million of the net proceeds from the issuance was used to redeem all of our $150 
million aggregate principal amount of 10.625% senior notes due 2016, which we refer to as the 2009 Notes. 

On January 17, 2013, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved a new stock repurchase program 
authorizing the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of our common stock, which was completed in fourth quarter. The 
repurchases were authorized to be carried out by the utilization of a number of different methods, including but not 
limited to, open market purchases, accelerated buybacks and negotiated block purchases. On March 1, 2013, we 
entered into an accelerated stock buyback, or ASB, agreement with a major financial institution  to repurchase an 
aggregate of $50.0 million of our outstanding common stock. In total, 1,039,513 shares of our outstanding common 
stock were delivered under the ASB agreement at an average repurchase price of $48.10 per share. In addition to the 
ASB agreement, we also made repurchases of 1,030,657 shares of our outstanding common stock on the open market 
at a total cost of $50.0 million, representing an an average price of $48.51 per share.

Facility Closures

On March 6, 2013, we announced the planned permanent closure of our Thomaston, Georgia converting and distribution 
facility.  The shutdown occurred gradually as converting lines were relocated and installed at our other facilities, with 
all operations at Thomaston having ceased at the end of 2013. We incurred $6.0 million of costs associated with the 
closure in 2013.

On February 17, 2014, in an event subsequent to the close of our 2013 fiscal year, we announced the permanent and 
immediate closure of our Long Island, New York, tissue converting and distribution facility. We expect the total impact 
of non-recurring exit related costs to be approximately $12 million to $15 million, of which approximately $10 million 
is expected to be incurred in 2014 and the remainder in 2015.

21

Business

We  are  a  leading  producer  of  private  label  tissue  and  premium  bleached  paperboard  products.  Our  products  are 
primarily wood pulp-based and predominately manufactured in the U.S.

Our business is organized into two reporting segments:

•  Our Consumer Products segment manufactures and sells a complete line of at-home tissue products in each 
tissue category, including bathroom tissue, paper towels, napkins and facial tissue. We also manufacture 
away-from-home tissue, or AFH, machine-glazed tissue and parent rolls for external sales. Our integrated 
manufacturing and converting operations and geographic footprint enable us to deliver a broad range of cost-
competitive  products  with  brand  equivalent  quality  to  our  consumer  products  customers.  In  2013,  our 
Consumer Products segment had net sales of $1.1 billion, representing approximately 61% of our total net 
sales.

•  Our Pulp and Paperboard segment manufactures and markets bleached paperboard for the high-end segment 
of the packaging industry and is a leading producer of solid bleach sulfate paperboard. This segment also 
produces hardwood and softwood pulp, which is primarily used as the basis for our paperboard products, 
and slush pulp, which it supplies to our Consumer Products segment. In 2013, our Pulp and Paperboard 
segment had net sales of $740.1 million, representing approximately 39% of our total net sales. 

Developments and Trends in our Business

Net Sales

Prices  for  our  consumer  tissue  products  are  affected  by  competitive  conditions  and  the  prices  of  branded  tissue 
products. Tissue has historically been one of the strongest segments of the paper and forest products industry due to 
its steady demand growth and the absence of severe supply imbalances that occur in a number of other paper segments. 
In  recent  years  the  industry  has  seen  an  increase  in TAD  tissue  products  as  industry  participants  have  added  or 
improved TAD production facilities. Our Consumer Products segment competes based on product quality, customer 
service  and  price.  We  deliver  customer-focused  business  solutions  by  assisting  in  managing  product  assortment, 
category management, and pricing and promotion optimization.

Our  pulp  and  paperboard  business  experiences  cyclical  market  conditions  and  is  affected  by  macro-economic 
conditions around the world.  As a result, historical prices for our products and sales volumes have been volatile. 
Product  pricing  is  significantly  affected  by  the  relationship  between  supply  and  demand  for  our  products.  Product 
supply in the industry is influenced primarily by fluctuations in available manufacturing production, which tends to 
increase  during  periods  when  prices  remain  strong.  In  addition,  currency  exchange  rates  affect  U.S.  supplies  of 
paperboard,  as  non-U.S.  manufacturers  are  attracted  to  the  U.S.  market  when  the  dollar  is  relatively  strong.  Our 
paperboard business, through exports denominated in U.S. dollars, has benefited significantly from general weakness 
in the U.S. dollar over the past few years. Paperboard pricing was relatively flat when comparing 2013 to 2012. 

The markets for our products are highly competitive and companies that have substantially greater financial resources 
than we do compete with us in each of our markets. In addition, our businesses are capital intensive, which leads to 
high fixed costs, large capital outlays and generally results in continued production as long as prices are sufficient to 
cover variable costs. These conditions have contributed to substantial price competition, particularly during periods of 
reduced demand. Some of our competitors have lower production costs and greater buying power and, as a result, 
may be less adversely affected than we are by price decreases.

Net sales consist of sales of consumer tissue and pulp and paperboard, net of discounts, returns and allowances and 
any sales taxes collected.

22

Operating Costs

Prices for our principal operating cost items are variable and directly affect our results of operations. For example, as 
economic conditions improve, we normally would expect at least some upward pressure on these operating costs. 
Competitive market conditions can limit our ability to pass cost increases through to our customers.

(Dollars in thousands)
Purchased pulp
Chemicals
Transportation1
Chips, sawdust and logs

Energy
Packaging supplies
Maintenance and repairs2
Depreciation

2013

2012

2011

Years Ended December 31,

Cost
$ 294,911
191,473
180,188
139,456
126,687
103,286

97,006
80,758
$1,213,765

Percentage of
Cost of Sales

Cost

Percentage of
Cost of Sales

Cost

17.6% $ 242,921
183,606
11.5
171,114
10.8
162,904
8.3
109,592
7.6
86,282
6.2

5.8
4.8

98,217
69,880
72.6% $1,124,516

15.1% $ 291,595
174,660
11.5
185,329
10.6
196,017
10.1
130,179
6.8
94,926
5.4

6.1
4.3

99,775
70,564
69.9% $1,243,045

Percentage of
Cost of Sales
17.1%
10.3
10.9
11.5
7.6
5.6

5.9
4.1
73.0%

1  
2 

Includes internal and external transportation costs. 
Excluding related labor costs. 

Purchased pulp.  We purchase a significant amount of the pulp needed to manufacture our consumer products, and 
to a lesser extent our paperboard, from external suppliers. For 2013, total purchased pulp costs were 17.6% of our 
cost of sales, representing  a 2.5 percentage point increase compared to 2012. The higher purchased pulp costs were 
due primarily to increased usage associated with the ramp up of our North Carolina TAD paper machine. In addition, 
higher purchased pulp costs were driven by increased pricing, as well as the need to purchase additional pulp from 
external suppliers to offset the reduction from internal sources resulting from the planned major maintenance at our 
Idaho pulp and paperboard facility during the third quarter of 2013 and the machine downtime taken at our Arkansas 
pulp and paperboard facility in the first quarter of 2013.

Chemicals. We consume a substantial amount of chemicals in the production of pulp and paperboard, as well as in 
the production of our tissue products. The chemicals we generally use include polyethylene, caustic, starch, sodium 
chlorate, latex and specialty paper process chemicals. A large portion of the chemicals used in our manufacturing 
processes, particularly in the pulp-making process, are petroleum-based and are impacted by petroleum prices. 

Our chemical costs increased $7.9 million compared to 2012, due to increased pricing for polyethylene and other 
processing chemicals, as well as higher chemical consumption resulting from the first year of production on our North 
Carolina TAD paper machine. In addition, chemical consumption increased in 2013 at our Arkansas pulp and paperboard 
facility due to recovery boiler operational issues in the second quarter.

Transportation. Fuel prices impact transportation costs related to delivery of raw materials to our manufacturing facilities, 
internal inventory transfers and delivery of our finished products to customers. Changing fuel prices particularly affect 
our margins for consumer products because we supply customers throughout the U.S. and transport unconverted 
parent rolls from our tissue mills to our tissue converting facilities. Our transportation costs for 2013, compared to 
2012, were $9.1 million higher as a result of increased shipping costs related to an increase in average miles shipped 
and increased shipments of converted TAD products, as well as lower first quarter inventory levels for our Consumer 
Products  segment  related  to  our  TAD  transition.  The  reduced  inventory  levels  required  multiple  shifts  in  regional 
distributions for our tissue product lines, and as a result we incurred an overall increase of internal tons shipped.

Chips, sawdust and logs. We purchase chips, sawdust and logs used to manufacture pulp. We source residual wood 
fibers under both long-term and short-term supply agreements, as well as in the spot market. Overall costs decreased 
by $23.4 million for chips, sawdust and logs for 2013, compared to 2012. The overall decline in the 2013 period was 
primarily attributable to lower overall pricing at our Idaho pulp and paperboard facility and decreased usage due to 
our  planned  major  maintenance  during  the  third  quarter  of  2013  at  the  same  facility.  In  addition,  we  experienced 
decreased usage at our Arkansas pulp and paperboard facility due to recovery boiler operational issues, which were 
partially offset by higher overall pricing at our Arkansas facility due primarily to supply limitations caused by wet weather 
conditions in the region for part of 2013.

23

 
 
Energy. We use energy in the form of electricity, hog fuel, steam and natural gas to operate our mills. Energy prices 
have fluctuated widely over the past decade. We have taken steps, and intend to continue to take steps, to reduce 
our exposure to volatile energy prices through conservation. In addition, cogeneration facilities that produce steam 
and electricity at our East Hartford, Connecticut, Lewiston, Idaho and Menominee, Michigan manufacturing sites help 
to lower our energy costs. TAD tissue production, however, involves increased natural gas usage as compared to 
conventional tissue manufacturing and, as a result, our natural gas requirements have increased with the ramp up our 
North Carolina TAD paper machine. Energy costs for 2013 were 15.6% higher than 2012 due to the first full year of 
production on our North Carolina TAD paper machine, as well as an increase in average market pricing for natural 
gas. To help mitigate our exposure to changes in natural gas prices, from time to time we have used firm-price contracts 
to supply a portion of our natural gas requirements. As of December 31, 2013, these contracts covered approximately 
55% of the expected average monthly requirements for the first quarter of 2014. Our energy costs in future periods 
will depend principally on our ability to produce a substantial portion of our electricity needs internally, on changes in 
market prices for natural gas and on our ability to reduce our energy usage through conservation.

Packaging supplies. As a significant producer of private label consumer tissue products, we package to order for retail 
chains,  wholesalers  and  cooperative  buying  organizations.  Under  our  agreements  with  those  customers,  we  are 
responsible for the  expenses related to the unique packaging of our products for direct retail sale to consumers. For 
2013, packaging costs were $17.0 million higher than 2012 primarily due to higher retail case shipments of facial and 
bathroom tissue and an increase in prices for poly wrapping and corrugated cardboard.

Maintenance and repairs. We regularly incur significant costs to maintain our manufacturing equipment. We perform 
routine maintenance on our machines and periodically replace a variety of parts such as motors, pumps, pipes and 
electrical parts.

Major equipment maintenance and repairs in our Pulp and Paperboard segment also require maintenance shutdowns 
approximately every 18 to 24 months, which increase costs and may reduce net sales in the quarters in which the 
major maintenance shutdowns occur. Our next planned major maintenance outage is scheduled for the spring of 2015. 
During the first quarter of 2013, we had four days of machine downtime costing $5.0 million, excluding labor, at our 
Arkansas facility. During the third quarter of 2013, we incurred 11 days of paper machine downtime, costing $17.5 
million, for the planned major maintenance at our Idaho facility. There was no major maintenance in the second and 
fourth quarters of 2013.

In addition to ongoing maintenance and repair costs, we make capital expenditures to increase our operating capacity 
and efficiency, to improve safety at our facilities and to comply with environmental laws. Excluding $11.9 million of 
expenditures for our TAD project, we spent $74.5 million on capital expenditures during 2013. 

Depreciation. We record substantially all of our depreciation expense associated with our plant and equipment in "Cost 
of sales" on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Depreciation expense for 2013 was $10.9 million higher than 
2012 due primarily to $10.7 million of additional depreciation expense associated with our North Carolina TAD paper 
machine, which started up in December 2012. 

Other. Other costs not included in the above table primarily consist of wage and benefit expenses and miscellaneous 
operating costs. Although period cut-offs and inventory levels can impact cost of sales amounts, we would expect this 
impact to be relatively steady as a percentage of costs on a period-over-period basis. We experienced an increase in 
wage and benefit expenses in 2013, compared to 2012, due largely to the incremental costs associated with the startup 
of our North Carolina TAD facility, as well as higher overall employee costs. 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses primarily consist of compensation and associated costs for sales and 
administrative personnel, as well as commission expenses related to sales of our products. Our total selling, general 
and administrative costs were $119.1 million in 2013 compared to $121.0 million in 2012. The lower expense for 2013 
was due primarily to a decrease in profit-dependent compensation accruals and lower legal expenses during 2013, 
partially offset by a $2.7 million increase in mark-to-market expense related to our directors' common stock units in 
2013 compared to 2012.

24

Interest expense

Interest expense is mostly comprised of interest on the 2013 Notes and our $375 million aggregate principal amount 
of 7.125% senior notes due 2018 issued in October 2010, which we refer to as the 2010 Notes. Interest expense also 
includes amortization of deferred issuance costs associated with all of our notes and our revolving credit facility. As a 
result of the issuance of the 2013 Notes at an interest rate significantly lower than that of our former 2009 Notes, which 
were redeemed in the first quarter of 2013 using a portion of the proceeds from the 2013 Notes, our interest expense 
decreased  by approximately  $3.6  million  on an  annual  basis.  However,  this  favorable  change in  interest expense 
associated with our notes was more than offset by a decrease in capitalized interest, as no interest was capitalized in 
2013 compared to total capitalized interest of $12.6 million in 2012.

Income taxes

Income taxes are based on reported earnings and tax rates in jurisdictions in which our operations occur and offices 
are located, adjusted for available credits, changes in valuation allowances and differences in reported earnings and 
taxable income using current law and enacted tax rates. The annual rate, including discrete items, for the year ended 
December 31, 2013, was a benefit of 179.7%, compared to expense of 42.5% and 44.1% for 2012 and 2011, respectively. 
The reasons for the change in the tax rate from 2013 compared to 2012 and 2011 were primarily due to three items. 
The first was a decrease in the rate attributable to the release of uncertain tax positions, resulting in a benefit to the 
rate  of  180.9%. The  second  was  a  decrease  due  to  the  additional  Cellulosic  Biofuel  Producer  Credits,  or  CBPC, 
identified as part of an Internal Revenue Service audit that were previously unclaimed, as well as a conversion from 
the Alternative Fuel Mixture Tax Credit, or AFMTC, to CBPC, which resulted in benefits to the rate of 26.7%. Finally, 
a decrease in the rate due to state tax credits resulted in a benefit to the rate of 5.9%.

The estimated annual effective tax rate for 2014 is expected to be approximately 38%.

25

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Our business is organized into two reporting segments: Consumer Products and Pulp and Paperboard. Intersegment 
costs for pulp transferred from our Pulp and Paperboard segment to our Consumer Products segment are recorded 
at cost, and thus no intersegment sales or cost of sales for these transfers are included in our segments' results. Our 
financial and other data are not necessarily indicative of our future performance. 

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012 

The following table sets forth data included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations as a percentage of net sales.

(Dollars in thousands)
Net sales
Costs and expenses:

Cost of sales
Selling, general and administrative expenses

Total operating costs and expenses
Income from operations
Interest expense, net
Debt retirement costs
Earnings before income taxes
Income tax benefit (provision)
Net earnings

Years Ended December 31,

2013

2012

$ 1,889,830

100.0% $ 1,874,304

100.0%

(1,671,371)
(119,131)
(1,790,502)
99,328
(44,036)
(17,058)
38,234
68,721
106,955

$

88.4
6.3
94.7
5.3
2.3
0.9
2.0
3.6
5.7% $

(1,607,872)
(121,045)
(1,728,917)
145,387
(33,796)
—
111,591
(47,460)
64,131

85.8
6.5
92.2
7.8
1.8
—
6.0
2.5
3.4%

Net sales—Net sales for 2013 increased by $15.5 million, or 0.8%, compared to 2012, due to increased shipments of 
paperboard and higher net selling prices for retail tissue, which were favorably affected by a larger proportion of higher-
priced TAD product sales. These favorable comparisons were partially offset by lower non-retail shipments, as well 
as lower external pulp shipments as we continue to increase our consumption of  our internally produced pulp within 
our Consumer Products segment. These items are discussed further below under “Discussion of Business Segments.”

Cost of sales—Cost of sales increased 2.6 percentage points in 2013 to 88.4% of net sales, compared to 85.8% of 
net sales in 2012. The increase was primarily a result of $15.7 million in TAD transition costs incurred during the 2013 
period, an increase in depreciation expense of $10.7 million related to our North Carolina TAD machine, $6.0 million 
of costs related to the Thomaston, Georgia facility closure, $2.9 million of incremental costs associated with an electrical 
disruption  and  operational  issues  with  maintenance  and  repairs  on  the  recovery  boiler  at  our Arkansas  pulp  and 
paperboard facility, and higher energy, employee and packaging costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses—Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $1.9 million, 
or 1.6%, during 2013 when compared to 2012, due to a decrease in profit-dependent compensation accruals and 
lower legal expense, which was higher in 2012 due to the First Quality/Metso Paper litigation. These decreases were 
partially  offset  by  a  $4.1  million  mark-to-market  expense  adjustment  related  to  our  directors'  common  stock  units 
compared to $1.4 million of such expense in 2012.

Interest expense—Interest expense increased $10.2 million during 2013, compared to the same period of 2012. The 
increase was  attributable to the absence of capitalized interest during the current year, compared to $12.6 million of 
capitalized interest associated with our TAD tissue expansion project in 2012. The increase in interest expense was 
partially offset by the benefit of refinancing the 2009 Notes with proceeds from the issuance of the 2013 Notes, which 
carry a significantly lower interest rate.

Debt retirement costs—Debt retirement costs include a one-time charge in connection with the complete redemption 
of the 2009 Notes on February 22, 2013. Total costs of $17.1 million include cash charges of approximately $14 million 
related to a “make whole” premium plus accrued and unpaid interest and a non-cash charge of approximately $3 
million related to the write off of deferred issuance costs and unamortized discounts. 

26

 
Income tax provision—During 2013 and 2012, there were a number of items that were included in the calculation of 
our income tax provision that we do not believe were indicative of our core operating performance. Excluding these 
items, the adjusted tax rate for 2013 would have been 33.3%, compared to an adjusted 36.8% in 2012. The following 
table details these items:

(In thousands)
Income tax benefit (provision)

Special items, tax impact:

Discrete tax items related to settlement of uncertain tax positions

Discrete tax items related to tax credit conversions

Debt retirement costs

Discrete tax items related to additional CBPC

Costs associated with Thomaston facility closure

Directors' equity-based compensation expense

Loss on sale of foam assets

Expense associated with Metso litigation

Adjusted income tax provision

Years Ended December 31,

2013

2012

$ 68,721 $ (47,460)

(67,457)

(9,832)

(6,277)

(3,495)

(2,033)

(1,399)

—

—

6,398

—

—

—

(609)

(356)

—

(709)
$ (21,772) $ (42,736)

We recorded an income tax benefit of $68.7 million in 2013, compared to a provision of $47.5 million in 2012. The 
generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, rate for 2013 was a benefit of 179.7%, compared to a provision 
of 42.5% for 2012. The lower rate was the result of the net impact of reporting discrete items, primarily relating to an 
additional benefit realized from a release of uncertain tax positions.

27

DISCUSSION OF BUSINESS SEGMENTS

Consumer Products

(Dollars in thousands - except per ton amounts)
Net sales
Operating income

Percent of net sales

Shipments (short tons)

Non-retail
Retail

Total tissue tons

Converted products cases (in thousands)

Sales price (per short ton)

Non-retail
Retail

Total tissue

Years Ended December 31,

2013
$ 1,149,692
52,799

2012
$ 1,134,556
93,347

4.6%

8.2%

231,243
295,529
526,772
55,135

237,655
293,672
531,327
53,675

$

$

1,470
2,740
2,183

$

$

1,466
2,674
2,134

Our Consumer Products segment reported an increase in net sales of $15.1 million, or 1.3%, for 2013, compared to 
2012. The higher net sales were due primarily to a 2.5% increase in retail tissue net selling prices, largely attributable 
to a higher proportion of higher-priced TAD product sales, and a 2.7% increase in converted retail tissue case shipments, 
softened by a 2.7% decrease in non-retail shipments. 

Segment operating income for 2013 decreased by $40.5 million compared to the same period in 2012, primarily driven 
by TAD transition costs of $15.7 million, an increase in depreciation expense of $10.7 million related to our North 
Carolina TAD machine, and higher energy and employee costs also largely related to the ramp up of the North Carolina 
facility. In addition, operating income was unfavorably affected by $6.0 million of costs associated with the closure of 
our Thomaston, Georgia facility, as well as increased packaging costs due to increased pricing for poly wrapping and 
corrugated cardboard. The TAD transition costs were incurred in the first three quarters of 2013 and consisted primarily 
of  increased  transportation,  manufacturing  and  outside  purchased  paper  costs  associated  with  the  increased 
conventional tissue sales we took on to help offset the displacement of conventional tissue sales expected by the ramp 
up of our new Ultra TAD bathroom tissue product in 2013. 

Pulp and Paperboard

(Dollars in thousands - except per ton amounts)
Net sales
Operating income

Percent of net sales

Paperboard shipments (short tons)
Paperboard sales price (per short ton)

Years Ended December 31,

2013
$ 740,138
95,781

2012
$ 739,748
103,910

12.9%

14.0%

765,052
958

$

760,919
956

$

Net  sales  for  our  Pulp  and  Paperboard  segment  in  2013  were  relatively  flat  when  compared  to  2012.  While  both 
shipments and net selling pricing for our paperboard increased slightly, these gains were partially offset by a continued 
decrease in net sales of external pulp, which is a direct result of our continued utilization of internally produced pulp 
in our Consumer Products segment.

Operating income for the segment decreased $8.1 million during 2013, compared to 2012. The lower operating income 
was primarily due to incremental costs of $2.9 million associated with an electrical disruption and operational issues 
with  maintenance  and  repairs  on the  recovery  boiler  at  our Arkansas  pulp  and  paperboard  facility,  an  increase  of 
approximately 25% in average market pricing for natural gas, and higher employee, transportation and chemical costs.

28

  
  
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 

The following table sets forth data included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations as a percentage of net sales.

(Dollars in thousands)
Net sales
Costs and expenses:

Cost of sales
Selling, general and administrative expenses

Total operating costs and expenses
Income from operations
Interest expense, net
Other, net
Earnings before income taxes
Income tax provision
Net earnings

Years Ended December 31,

2012

2011

$ 1,874,304

100.0% $ 1,927,973

100.0%

(1,607,872)
(121,045)
(1,728,917)
145,387
(33,796)
—
111,591
(47,460)
64,131

$

85.8
6.5
92.2
7.8
1.8
—
6.0
2.5
3.4% $

(1,702,530)
(109,998)
(1,812,528)
115,445
(44,809)
284
70,920
(31,246)
39,674

88.3
5.7
94.0
6.0
2.3
—
3.7
1.6
2.1%

Net sales—Net sales for 2012 decreased by $53.7 million, or 2.8%, compared to 2011, due to the sale of our Lewiston, 
Idaho sawmill in November 2011, which accounted for $80.3 million of net sales in 2011. Excluding the impact of net 
sales from the sawmill in 2011, overall net sales were higher in 2012 due to increased shipments and higher net selling 
prices for our consumer products as well as increased paperboard shipments. These favorable comparisons were 
partially offset by lower external pulp shipments, due to increased internal usage of pulp we produce, and lower pulp 
and paperboard net selling prices. These items are discussed further below under “Discussion of Business Segments.”

Cost of sales—Cost of sales decreased 2.5 percentage points in 2012 to 85.8% of net sales, compared to 88.3% of 
net sales in 2011. The favorable change in cost of sales was due primarily to lower costs for purchased pulp, chips, 
sawdust and logs, energy, and transportation, partially offset by higher chemical costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses—Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $11.0 million, 
or 10.0%, during 2012 compared to 2011. The increase was primarily a result of higher wage and benefits expense, 
increased incentive compensation expense, expense related to the First Quality/Metso Paper litigation and additional 
expenses  associated  with  the  integration  of  Cellu  Tissue  Holdings,  or  Cellu  Tissue,  and  incremental  expenses 
associated with achieving net cost saving synergies from the integration.

Interest expense—Interest expense in 2012 was mostly comprised of interest on the 2010 Notes and the 2009 Notes, 
as well as the amortization of deferred finance costs  associated with these  notes  and our revolving  credit facility. 
Interest expense in 2012 was partially offset by our capitalization of interest for our TAD project. Interest expense 
before reductions for capitalized interest in 2012 decreased slightly compared to 2011 primarily as a result of the third 
quarter 2011 redemption of our industrial revenue bonds.

29

 
Income tax provision—During 2012 and 2011, there were a number of items that were included in the calculation of 
our income tax provision that we do not believe were indicative of our core operating performance. Excluding these 
items, the adjusted tax rate for 2012 would have been 36.8%, compared to an adjusted 40.5% in 2011. The following 
table details these items:

(In thousands)
Income tax provision

Special items, tax impact:

Discrete tax items related to tax credit conversions

Expense associated with Metso litigation

Directors' equity-based compensation expense

Loss on sale of foam assets

Discrete tax items related to settlement of uncertain tax positions

Lewiston, Idaho sawmill sale related adjustments

Adjusted income tax provision

Years Ended December 31,

2012

2011

$ (47,460) $ (31,246)

6,398

(709)

(609)

(356)

—

—

96

—

(651)

—

2,610

(1,271)

$ (42,736) $ (30,462)

We recorded an income tax provision of $47.5 million in 2012, compared to a provision of $31.2 million in 2011. The 
GAAP rate for 2012 was a provision of 42.5%, compared to a provision of 44.1% for 2011. The reasons for the change 
in the tax rate from 2012  compared to 2011 was primarily  due  to four  items. The first was a  decrease  in  the rate 
attributable to state tax credits. The second was a decrease due to a remeasurement of state deferred tax assets and 
liabilities using anticipated future tax rates that will be in effect when the underlying assets and liabilities reverse. The 
third was a reduction of the valuation allowance relating to foreign tax credits. Lastly, the decision in the first quarter 
of 2012 to convert certain gallons of alternative fuel originally claimed in 2009 under the AFMTC which had been 
converted by us in 2010 to the CBPC, back to gallons under the AFMTC and associated uncertain tax position.

30

DISCUSSION OF BUSINESS SEGMENTS

Consumer Products

(Dollars in thousands - except per ton amounts)
Net sales
Operating income

Percent of net sales

Shipments (short tons)

Non-retail
Retail

Total tissue tons

Converted products cases (in thousands)

Sales price (per short ton)

Non-retail
Retail

Total tissue

Years Ended December 31,

2012
$ 1,134,556
93,347

2011
$ 1,092,133
42,806

8.2%

3.9%

237,655
293,672
531,327
53,675

216,109
299,410
515,519
49,865

$

$

1,466
2,674
2,134

$

$

1,484
2,577
2,119

Net sales for our Consumer Products segment in 2012 increased $42.4 million, or 3.9%, compared to 2011 due to 
increased shipments and higher average net selling prices. Overall shipments increased 3.1% due to increased case 
sales of retail tissue products, which were largely attributable to increased shipments of lighter weight TAD tissue from 
our North Carolina converting facility, and higher non-retail shipments in 2012. The increase in net selling prices was 
primarily due to a price increase for our retail tissue products implemented in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first 
quarter of 2012, partially offset by lower non-retail pricing.

Operating income, which more than doubled during 2012 with an increase of $50.5 million, outpaced the growth of 
net sales due to lower purchased pulp and energy costs, as well as lower overall transportation and packaging costs 
primarily  attributable  to  net  cost  saving  synergies  from  the  integration  of  Cellu Tissue. These  improvements  were 
partially offset by increased staffing, training and startup costs associated with our North Carolina paper making and 
converting facilities, higher incentive compensation expense, increased commission expense and a loss on the sale 
of legacy Cellu Tissue foam manufacturing assets.

Pulp and Paperboard

(Dollars in thousands - except per ton amounts)
Net sales
Operating income

Percent of net sales

Paperboard shipments (short tons)
Paperboard sales price (per short ton)

Years Ended December 31,

2012
$ 739,748
103,910

2011
$ 835,840
92,827

14.0%

11.1%

760,919
956

$

743,845
976

$

Net sales for our Pulp and Paperboard segment were down $96.1 million, or 11.5%, during 2012 compared to 2011. 
The decrease was primarily attributable to the sale of our Lewiston, Idaho sawmill in November 2011, which accounted 
for $80.3 million of the segment's net sales in 2011. Paperboard net sales increased slightly in 2012 due to a 2.3% 
increase in shipments that was partially offset by a 2.0% decrease in net selling prices resulting primarily from market 
pressure. The higher overall paperboard net sales in 2012 were more than offset by a decrease in net sales of external 
pulp, which was largely the result of increased internal usage by our Consumer Products segment of pulp that we 
produced.

Operating income in 2012 increased by 11.9% compared to 2011, primarily due to lower costs of energy and purchased 
pulp, as well as benefits from the sale of our Lewiston, Idaho sawmill. These favorable comparisons were partially 
offset by higher chemical, wage and benefit and transportation costs compared to 2011. 

31

  
  
EARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST, TAX, DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION (EBITDA) AND ADJUSTED EBITDA

We use earnings before interest (including debt retirement costs), tax, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, and 
EBITDA adjusted for certain items, or Adjusted EBITDA, as supplemental performance measures that are not required 
by, or presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as alternatives 
to  net  earnings,  operating  income  or  any  other  performance  measure  derived  in  accordance  with  GAAP,  or  as 
alternatives to cash flows from operating activities or a measure of our liquidity or profitability. In addition, our calculation 
of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may or may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have important limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation, 
or as a substitute for any of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our cash expenditures for capital assets; 

EBITDA  and Adjusted  EBITDA  do  not  reflect  changes  in,  or  cash  requirements  for,  our  working  capital 
requirements; 

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not include cash pension payments; 

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude certain tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available 
to us;

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to 
service interest or principal payments on our debt; 

although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized 
will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect cash requirements 
for such replacements; and 

other companies, including other companies in our industry, may calculate these measures differently than 
we do, limiting their usefulness as a comparative measure. 

We present EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted income tax provisions because we believe they assist investors 
and analysts in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we 
do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. In addition, we use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA: 
(i) as factors in evaluating management’s performance when determining incentive compensation, (ii) to evaluate the 
effectiveness of our business strategies and (iii) because our credit agreement and the indentures governing the 2010 
Notes and 2013 Notes use measures similar to EBITDA to measure our compliance with certain covenants.

The following table provides our EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented, as well as a reconciliation 
to net earnings: 

(In thousands)
Net earnings

Interest expense, net 1
Income tax (benefit) provision
Depreciation and amortization expense

EBITDA
Directors' equity-based compensation expense
Costs associated with Thomaston facility closure
Expense associated with Metso litigation
Loss on sale of foam assets
Lewiston, Idaho sawmill sale related adjustments2
Adjusted EBITDA

$

$

Years Ended December 31,

2013
106,955 $

61,094
(68,721)
90,272

189,600 $
4,084
5,977
—
—
—

2012
64,131 $
33,796
47,460
79,333

224,720 $
1,369
—
2,019
1,014
—

$

199,661 $

229,122 $

2011
39,674
44,809
31,246
76,933
192,662
1,476
—
—
—
2,883
197,021

1 
2 

Interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2013 includes debt retirement costs of $17.1 million.

The total impact of the sawmill sale and related adjustments on the Pulp and Paperboard segment was $15.4 million of expense. The net 
impact to the company was $2.9 million of net expense in 2011 primarily due to offsetting LIFO inventory liquidation and other adjustments 
recorded at the corporate level.  

32

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The following table presents information regarding our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 
2011.

Cash Flows Summary 

(In thousands)
Net cash flows from operating activities
Net cash flows from investing activities
Net cash flows from financing activities

Years Ended December 31,

$

2013
136,357 $
(140,593)
15,332

2012
198,693 $
(177,004)
(17,549)

2011

68,395
(50,149)
(29,096)

Operating Activities—Net cash flows from operating activities for 2013 decreased $62.3 million compared to 2012 due 
primarily to $15.0 million of cash used in working capital during the year, compared to $61.3 million of cash flows 
generated from working capital in 2012. The decrease in working capital was primarily attributable to a build-up in 
inventory to support our TAD tissue program, partially offset by higher accounts payable and accrued liabilities and 
increased accrued interest due to the timing of interest payments on our 2013 Notes. In addition, operating cash flows 
decreased due to lower net earnings, after adjusting for noncash related items. Included in our noncash adjustments 
to net earnings was a $75.3 million reduction of tax reserves largely related to our decision to release certain tax 
reserves based on the Internal Revenue Service's ruling on the taxability of the AFMTC. These decreases were partially 
offset by a $21.2 million favorable change in cash flows from taxes receivable, an absence of excess tax benefits used 
in 2013 compared to $15.8 million for 2012, which was a result of performance shares for the 2011-2013 performance 
period not being paid or issued because the requisite market condition performance measure was not met, and a $5.6 
million decrease in contributions to our qualified pension plans in 2013 compared to 2012. 

For  2012,  net  cash  flows  from  operating  activities  significantly  increased  compared  to  2011  due  primarily  to  cash 
generated from working capital, compared to cash used for working capital in  2011, as well as higher earnings, after 
adjusting for noncash items. These increases were partially offset by a $15.8 million excess tax benefit from equity-
based compensation arrangements in 2012, a $10.8 million increase in taxes receivable in 2012 compared to a slight 
decrease in 2011, and an $8.1 million increase in contributions to our qualified pension plans in 2012 compared to 
2011.

Investing Activities—Net cash flows from investing activities decreased $36.4 million in 2013, compared to 2012. The 
decrease in cash used for investing activities was largely due to a $113.2 million decrease in capital spending for plant 
and equipment in 2013 compared to 2012. The lower capital spending was due to the substantial completion in 2012 
of our North Carolina TAD tissue facility associated with our TAD project. The decrease in cash used for investing 
activities was partially offset by $50.0 million of cash converted into short-term investments in 2013, compared to $35.0 
million provided by the conversion of short-term investments into cash during 2012.

Net cash flows from investing activities increased $126.9 million in 2012, compared to 2011. The increase was largely 
due to increased capital spending for plant and equipment in 2012, primarily associated with our TAD project, as well 
as a $36.1 million reduction in the amount of cash provided from the conversion of short-term investments into cash 
in 2012 compared to 2011.

Financing Activities—Net cash flows from financing activities were $15.3 million in 2013, compared to $17.5 million of 
cash flows used in financing activities in 2012. Cash flows from financing activities during 2013 were the result of the 
issuance of the 2013 Notes, partially offset by the retirement of the 2009 Notes and $100.0 million associated with 
repurchases of our outstanding common stock pursuant to our $100.0 million stock repurchase program, which was 
completed in October 2013.

Net cash flows from financing activities was $17.5 million in 2012, compared with $29.1 million in 2011. Cash used for 
financing activities in 2012 consisted of payments totaling $13.2 million for minimum tax withholdings associated with 
settlement and distribution of equity-based awards and $18.7 million for treasury stock purchases, partially offset by 
an excess tax benefit of $15.8 million associated with the equity-based awards settled and distributed in 2012.

33

 
Capital Resources

Due to the competitive and cyclical nature of the markets in which we operate, as well as an uncertain economic 
environment, there is uncertainty regarding the amount of cash flows we will generate during the next twelve months. 
However, we believe that our cash flows from operations, cash on hand, short-term investments and available borrowing 
capacity under our credit facility will be adequate to fund debt service requirements and provide cash required to 
support our ongoing operations, capital expenditures, and working capital needs for the next twelve months.

We may choose to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. We cannot be certain that we 
will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all. As of December 31, 2013, 
our short-term investments were not restricted and were largely invested in demand deposits.

At December 31, 2013, our financial position included debt of $650.0 million, compared to the balance of $523.9 million 
at December 31, 2012. Stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2013 was $605.1 million, compared to the December 31, 
2012 balance of $540.9 million. Our total debt to total capitalization, excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss, 
was 49.5% at December 31, 2013, compared to 44.4% at December 31, 2012. 

In 2013, we issued the 2013 Notes, of which we received net proceeds of approximately $271 million, after deducting 
discounts and estimated offering expenses. We used approximately $166 million of the net proceeds to redeem all of 
our outstanding 2009 Notes, and used approximately $100 million of the remaining net proceeds to purchase shares 
of the company's common stock pursuant to our $100.0 million stock repurchase program authorized in January 2013.

Debt Arrangements

2010 Notes

Our 2010 Notes mature on November 1, 2018, have an interest rate of 7.125% and were issued at their face value. 
The issuance of these notes generated net proceeds of $367.5 million after deducting offering expenses. The net 
proceeds from the issuance of the 2010 Notes were used to finance in part our acquisition of Cellu Tissue, to refinance 
certain existing indebtedness of Cellu Tissue, and to pay fees and expenses incurred as part of the 2010 Note offering, 
acquisition of Cellu Tissue and related transactions.

The 2010 Notes are guaranteed by certain of our existing and future direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries. The 
2010 Notes are equal in right of payment with all other existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness and are 
senior in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness. The 2010 Notes are effectively subordinated to 
all of our existing and future secured indebtedness, including borrowings under our secured revolving credit facility, 
which is secured by certain of our accounts receivable, inventory and cash. The terms of the 2010 Notes limit our 
ability and the ability of any restricted subsidiaries to borrow money; pay dividends; redeem or repurchase capital 
stock; make investments; sell assets; create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to us from any 
restricted subsidiaries; enter into transactions with affiliates; enter into sale and lease back transactions; create liens; 
and consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets.

We have the option to redeem all or a portion of the 2010 Notes at any time before November 1, 2014 at a redemption 
price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and a “make whole” premium. On or 
after November 1, 2014, we may redeem all or a portion of the 2010 Notes at specified redemption prices plus accrued 
and unpaid interest. In addition, we may be required to make an offer to purchase the 2010 Notes upon the sale of 
certain assets and upon a change of control.

Our 2014 expected debt service obligation related to the 2010 Notes, consisting of cash payments for interest, is $26.7 
million.

Redemption of $150 million senior notes due 2016 and issuance of $275 million senior notes due 2023

In June 2009, we issued senior unsecured notes, which we refer to as the 2009 Notes, in the aggregate principal 
amount of $150 million. The 2009 Notes, which were due on June 15, 2016 and had an interest rate of 10.625%, were 
issued at a price equal to 98.792% of their face value.

On  February 22,  2013,  we  exercised  our  option  to  redeem  all  of  the  2009  Notes  at  a  redemption  price  equal  to 
approximately $166 million, which consisted of 100% of the principal amount, plus an approximate $13 million “make 
whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest of approximately $3 million. Proceeds to fund the redemption of our 
2009  Notes  were  made  available  through  the  sale  of  $275  million  aggregate  principal  amount  senior  notes  on 
January 23, 2013, which we refer to as the 2013 Notes. The 2013 Notes mature on February 1, 2023, have an interest 
rate of 4.5% and were issued at their face value. 

34

The 2013 Notes are guaranteed by our existing and future direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries, are equal in right 
of payment with all other existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness, and are senior in right of payment to any 
future subordinated indebtedness. The 2013 Notes are effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured 
indebtedness,  including  borrowings  under  our  secured  revolving  credit  facility,  which  is  secured  by  certain  of  our 
accounts receivable, inventory and cash. The terms of the 2013 Notes limit our ability and the ability of any restricted 
subsidiaries to borrow money; pay dividends; redeem or repurchase capital stock; make investments; sell assets; 
create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to us from any restricted subsidiaries; enter into 
transactions with affiliates; enter into sale and lease back transactions; create liens; and consolidate, merge or sell all 
or substantially all of our assets.

Prior to February 1, 2016, we may redeem up to 35% of the 2013 Notes at a redemption price equal to 104.5% of the 
principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest with the proceeds from one or more qualified equity offerings.  We 
have the option to redeem all or a portion of the 2013 Notes at any time before February 1, 2018 at a redemption price 
equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and a “make whole” premium.  On or after 
February 1, 2018 we may redeem all or a portion of the 2013 Notes at specified redemption prices plus accrued and 
unpaid interest. In addition, we may be required to make an offer to purchase the 2013 Notes upon the sale of certain 
assets and upon a change of control.

Our 2014 expected debt service obligation related to the 2013 Notes, consisting of cash payments for interest, is $12.4 
million.

Revolving Credit Facility

In  November 2008,  we  entered  into  a  $125  million  senior  secured  revolving  credit  facility  with  certain  financial 
institutions. The amount available to us under the revolving credit facility is based on the lesser of 85% of our eligible 
accounts receivable plus approximately 65% of our eligible inventory, or $125 million. The revolving credit facility has 
been subsequently amended and expires on September 30, 2016.

As of December 31, 2013, there were no borrowings outstanding under the credit facility, but approximately $6.6 million 
of the credit facility was being used to support outstanding standby letters of credit. Loans under the credit facility bear 
interest (i) for LIBOR loans, LIBOR plus between 1.75% and 2.25%  and (ii) for base rate loans, a per annum rate 
equal to the greater of (a) the prime rate for such day; (b) the federal funds effective rate for such day, plus 0.50%; or 
(c) LIBOR for a 30-day interest period as determined on such day, plus between 1.25% and 1.75%. The percentage 
margin on all loans is based on our fixed charge coverage ratio for the most recent four quarters. As of December 31, 
2013, we would have been permitted to draw approximately $118.4 million under the credit facility at LIBOR plus 
1.75%, or base rate plus 1.25%.

A  minimum  fixed  charge  coverage  ratio  is  the  only  financial  covenant  requirement  under  our  credit  facility  and  is 
triggered when there are any commitments or obligations outstanding and availability falls below 12.5% or an event 
of default exists, at which time the minimum fixed charge coverage ratio must be at least 1.0-to-1.0. As of December 31, 
2013, the fixed charge coverage ratio for the most recent four quarters was 2.5-to-1.0.

Our obligations under the revolving credit facility are secured by certain of our accounts receivable, inventory and 
cash. The terms of the credit facility contain various provisions that limit our discretion in the operations of our business 
by restricting our ability to, among other things, pay dividends; redeem or repurchase capital stock; create, incur or 
guarantee  certain  debt;  incur  liens  on  certain  properties;  make  capital  expenditures;  enter  into  certain  affiliate 
transactions; enter into certain hedging arrangements; and consolidate with or merge with another entity. The revolving 
credit facility contains usual and customary affirmative and negative covenants and usual and customary events of 
default.

35

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2013. Portions of the amounts shown 
are reflected in our financial statements and accompanying notes, as required by GAAP. See the footnotes following 
the table for information regarding the amounts presented and for references to relevant financial statement notes that 
include a detailed discussion of the item.

Payments Due by Period

(In thousands)
Long-term debt1
Interest on long-term debt1
Capital leases2
Operating leases2
Purchase obligations3
Other obligations4,5
Total

$

Total
650,000 $
251,158
47,136
65,258
433,962
251,904
$ 1,699,418 $

Less
Than 1 Year

1-3 Years

3-5 Years

— $

— $

375,000 $

39,094
2,375
17,335
369,309
116,386
544,499 $

78,188
4,886
22,749
61,667
39,448

78,188
5,073
14,696
2,986
23,969

206,938 $

499,912 $

More Than
5 Years
275,000
55,688
34,802
10,478
—
72,101
448,069

1  

2  

3  

4   

5  

Included above are the principal and interest payments that were due on our 2010 and 2013 Notes, which were outstanding as of December 
31, 2013. For more information regarding specific terms of our long-term debt, see the discussion under the heading “Debt Arrangements,” 
and Note 9, “Debt,” in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

These amounts represent our minimum capital lease payments, including amounts representing interest, and our minimum operating lease 
payments. See Note 16, “Commitments and Contingencies,” in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

Purchase obligations consist primarily of contracts for the purchase of raw materials (primarily pulp) from third parties, trade accounts payable 
as of December 31, 2013, and contracts with natural gas and electricity providers. 

Included  in  other  obligations  are  accrued  liabilities  and  accounts  payable  (other  than  trade  accounts  payable)  as  of  December 31,  2013, 
liabilities associated with supplemental pension and deferred compensation arrangements, and estimated payments on qualified pension and 
postretirement employee benefit plans. Since pension contributions are determined by factors that are subject to change each year, estimated 
payments on qualified pension plans included above are only for years 1-5 and are based on current estimates of minimum required contributions. 

Total excludes $2.7 million of unrecognized tax benefits due to the uncertainty of timing of payment. See Note 7, “Income Taxes,” in the notes 
to the consolidated financial statements. 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have had, or are reasonably likely to have, a material current or 
future effect on our financial conditions or consolidated financial statements.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Our operating facilities are subject to rigorous federal and state environmental regulation governing air emissions, 
wastewater discharges, and solid  and hazardous waste management.  Our goal  is continuous compliance  with all 
environmental regulations and we regularly monitor our activities to ensure compliance with all pertinent rules and 
requirements. Compliance with environmental regulations is a significant factor in our business and requires periodic 
capital expenditures as well as additional operating costs as rules change.

The new federal standard for hazardous air pollutants from boiler and process heaters were finalized by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, and became effective in early 2013. We anticipate that our sites at Lewiston, 
Idaho, Menominee, Michigan, and Cypress Bend, Arkansas, will be affected by this new rule. We expect any capital 
projects  instituted  by  us  in  response  to  this  rule  will  be  executed  between  2014  and  2017.  Preliminary  total  cost 
estimates for all required projects are expected to be between $5 and $7 million, with $2 million of that expected amount 
to be incurred in 2015 and the remainder split between 2016 and 2017. We expect no technical issues with meeting 
the new rule.

Concern over climate change, including the impact of global warming, may lead to future regulations. We believe there 
are no U.S. or Canadian currently proposed rules that would have a material impact on our operations.

In 2012 we received notification of alleged Clean Air Act violations at our Lewiston facility.  We have entered into a 
tolling agreement and are negotiating with the U.S. Department of Justice and EPA to resolve these alleged violations.  
We expect these negotiations to continue through 2014.

36

 
Our facilities are currently in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. We cannot 
be certain, however, that situations that may give rise to material environmental liabilities will not be discovered or that 
the enactment of new environmental laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations will not require 
significant expenditures by us.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  GAAP  requires  our  management  to  select  and  apply 
accounting  policies  that  best  provide  the  framework  to  report  the  results  of  operations  and  financial  position. The 
selection and application of those policies requires management to make difficult, subjective and complex judgments 
concerning reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period and the reported amounts of assets 
and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. As a result, it is possible that materially different amounts would 
be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions.

See  Note  3,  “Recently Adopted  and  Prospective Accounting  Standards”  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements 
included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding recently adopted and new 
accounting pronouncements.

Goodwill and intangibles. Our acquisitions are accounted for using the purchase method of accounting as prescribed 
by applicable accounting guidance. In accordance with the accounting guidance, we revalued the assets and liabilities 
acquired at their respective fair values on the acquisition date. Changes in assumptions and estimates during the 
allocation period affecting the acquisition date fair value of acquired assets and liabilities would result in changes to 
the  recorded  values,  resulting  in  an  offsetting  change  to  the  goodwill  balance  associated  with  the  business 
acquired. Significant changes in assumptions and estimates subsequent to completing the allocation of purchase price 
to the assets and liabilities acquired, as well as differences in actual results versus estimates, could have a material 
impact on our earnings.

Goodwill from an acquisition represents the excess of the cost of a business acquired over the net of the amounts 
assigned to assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets and liabilities assumed. As a result of our Cellu 
Tissue acquisition, we recorded  $229.5 million of goodwill on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 
2010, which has not been subsequently adjusted through December 31, 2013. Goodwill is not amortized but tested 
for impairment annually and at any time when events suggest impairment may have occurred. When required, our 
goodwill impairment test will be performed by comparing the fair value of the Consumer Products reporting unit to its 
carrying value. We incorporate assumptions involving future growth rates, discount rates and tax rates in projecting 
the future cash flows. In the event the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, an impairment loss 
would be recognized to the extent the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value.

Long-lived assets. A significant portion of our total assets are invested in our manufacturing facilities. Also, the cyclical 
patterns of our businesses cause cash flows to fluctuate by varying degrees from period to period. As a result, long-
lived assets are a material component of our financial position with the potential for material change in valuation if 
assets are determined to be impaired. Accounting guidance requires that long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment 
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not 
be recoverable, as measured by its undiscounted estimated future cash flows.

We use our operational budgets to estimate future cash flows. Budgets are inherently uncertain estimates of future 
performance due to the fact that all inputs, including net sales, costs and capital spending, are subject to frequent 
change for many different reasons. Because of the number of variables involved, the interrelationship between the 
variables and the long-term nature of the impairment measurement, sensitivity analysis of individual variables is not 
practical.  Budget  estimates  are  adjusted  periodically  to  reflect  changing  business  conditions,  and  operations  are 
reviewed, as appropriate, for impairment using the most current data available.

We believe we have adequate support for the carrying value of all of our long-lived assets based on anticipated cash 
flows that will result from our estimates of future demand, pricing, and production costs, assuming certain levels of 
capital expenditures.

37

Pension and postretirement employee benefits. The determination of pension plan expense and the requirements 
for  funding  our  pension  plans  are  based  on  a  number  of  actuarial  assumptions. Two  critical  assumptions  are  the 
discount  rate  applied  to  pension  plan  obligations  and  the  rate  of  return  on  plan  assets.  For  other  postretirement 
employee benefit, or OPEB, plans, which provide certain health care and life insurance benefits to qualified retired 
employees, critical assumptions in determining OPEB expense are the discount rate applied to benefit obligations and 
the assumed health care cost trend rates used in the calculation of benefit obligations.

Note 12, "Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans," to our consolidated financial statements 
includes information for the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, on the components of pension 
and OPEB expense and the underlying actuarial assumptions used to calculate periodic expense, as well as the funded 
status for our pension and OPEB plans as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

The discount rate used in the determination of pension benefit obligations and pension expense is determined based 
on a review of long-term high-grade bonds and management’s expectations. At December 31, 2013, we calculated 
obligations using a 5.20% discount rate. The discount rates used at December 31, 2012 and 2011 were 4.15% and 
4.90%, respectively. To determine the expected long-term rate of return on pension assets, we employ a process that 
analyzes historical long-term returns for various investment categories, as measured by appropriate indices. These 
indices are weighted based upon the extent to which plan assets are invested in the particular categories in arriving 
at  our  determination  of  a  composite  expected  return.  The  long-term  rates  of  return  used  for  the  years  ended 
December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were 7.50%, 8.00% and 8.00%, respectively.

Total periodic pension plan expense in 2013 was $12.7 million. An increase in the discount rate or the rate of expected 
return  on  plan  assets,  all  other  assumptions  remaining  the  same,  would  decrease  pension  plan  expense,  and 
conversely, a decrease in either of these measures would increase plan expense. As an indication of the sensitivity 
that pension expense has to the discount rate assumption, a 25 basis point change in the discount rate would affect 
annual plan expense by approximately $0.5 million. A 25 basis point change in the assumption for expected return on 
plan assets would affect annual plan expense by approximately $0.7 million. The actual rates of return on plan assets 
may vary significantly from the assumptions used because of unanticipated changes in financial markets.

Our company-sponsored pension plans were underfunded by a net $6.8 million at December 31, 2013 and $78.7 
million at December 31, 2012. As a result of being underfunded, we are required to make contributions to our qualified 
pension plans. In 2013, we contributed $15.1 million to these pension plans. We also contributed $0.3 million to our 
non-qualified pension plan in 2013. Our cash contributions in 2014 are estimated to be approximately $15 million.

For our OPEB plans, expense for 2013 was $4.8 million. We do not anticipate funding our OPEB plans in 2013 except 
to  pay  benefit  costs  as  incurred  during  the  year  by  plan  participants.  The  discount  rate  used  to  calculate  OPEB 
obligations, which was determined using the same methodology we used for our pension plans, was 5.05%, 4.05% 
and 4.95% at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The assumed health care cost trend rate used to 
calculate OPEB obligations and expense was 7.7% in 2013, grading to a range of 4.30% to 4.64% over approximately 
70 years.

As an indication of the sensitivity that OPEB expense has to the discount rate assumption, a 25 basis point change 
in the discount rate would affect plan expense by approximately $0.1 million. A 1% change in the assumption for health 
care cost trend rates would have affected 2013 plan expense by approximately $0.4 million to $0.5 million and the 
total postretirement employee obligation by approximately $8.0 million to $9.3 million. The actual rates of health care 
cost increases may vary significantly from the assumption used because of unanticipated changes in health care costs.

Periodic pension and OPEB expenses are included in “Cost of sales” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” 
in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The expense is allocated to all business segments. In accordance with 
current accounting guidance governing defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, at December 31, 2013 
and 2012, long-term assets are recorded for overfunded plans and liabilities are recorded for underfunded plans. The 
funded status of a benefit plan is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the projected 
benefit obligation. For underfunded plans, the estimated liability to be payable in the next twelve months is recorded 
as a current liability, with the remaining portion recorded as a long-term liability.

Effective December 15, 2010, the salaried pension plan was closed to new entrants and after December 31, 2011, it 
was frozen and ceased accruing further benefits.

38

Income taxes. The conclusion that deferred tax assets are realizable is subject to certain assessments, projections 
and judgments made by management. In assessing whether deferred tax assets are realizable, the standard we use 
is whether it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization 
of deferred tax assets depends on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary 
differences  are  deductible.  We  consider  the  scheduled  reversal  of  deferred  tax  liabilities  (including  the  impact  of 
available carry forward periods), projected taxable income, and amounts of taxable income we would have generated 
historically if we had been a stand-alone company in making this assessment. In order to fully realize the deferred tax 
asset, we will need to generate future taxable income before the expiration of the deferred tax assets governed by the 
tax code.

Based on existing deferred tax liabilities and projected taxable income over the periods for which the deferred tax 
assets are deductible, we believe that it is more likely than not that we will realize the benefits of these future deductible 
differences, excluding items for which we have already recorded a valuation allowance. The amount of the deferred 
tax asset considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income 
during the carry forward period are reduced.

We have tax jurisdictions located in many areas of the United States and Canada and are subject to audit in these 
jurisdictions. Tax audits by their nature are often complex and can require several years to resolve. In the preparation 
of our consolidated financial statements, management exercises judgment in estimating the potential exposure to 
unresolved tax matters and applies the guidance pursuant to uncertain tax positions which employs a more likely than 
not criteria approach for recording tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions. While actual results could vary, in 
management's judgment, we have adequate tax accruals with respect to the ultimate outcome of such unresolved tax 
matters.

39

ITEM 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks

Interest Rate Risk

Our exposure to market risks on financial instruments includes interest rate risk on our secured revolving credit facility. 
As of December 31, 2013, there were no borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility. The interest rates 
applied to borrowings under the credit facility are adjusted often and therefore react quickly to any movement in the 
general trend of market interest rates. For example, a one percentage point increase or decrease in interest rates, 
based on assumed outstanding credit facility borrowings of $10.0 million, would have a $0.1 million annual effect on 
interest expense. We currently do not attempt to mitigate the effects of short-term interest rate fluctuations on our 
credit facility borrowings through the use of derivative financial instruments.

Commodity Risk

We are exposed to market risk for changes in natural gas commodity pricing, which we have, from time-to-time, partially 
mitigated through the use of firm price contracts for a portion of our natural gas requirements for our manufacturing 
facilities. As of December 31, 2013, we had firm-price contracts for natural gas covering approximately 55% of the 
expected average monthly requirements for the first quarter of 2014.

Foreign Currency Risk

We have minimal foreign currency exchange risk. Virtually all of our international sales are denominated in U.S. dollars. 

Quantitative Information about Market Risks

(Dollars in thousands)
Long-term debt:
Fixed rate
Average interest rate

Fair value at December 31,
2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Thereafter

Total      

Expected Maturity Date

$ — $ — $ — $ — $ 375,000

$ 275,000

$ 650,000

—%

—%

—%

—%

7.125%

4.500%

6.014%

$ 651,313

40

 
ITEM 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012
  and 2011

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2013 and 2012

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012
  and 2011

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Financial Statement Schedules:

All schedules have been omitted because the required information is not present or is not present in 
amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the information required is included 
in the consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto.

PAGE
NUMBER
42

43

44

45

46

47-79

80-81

41

  
CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Dollars in thousands – except per-share amounts) 

For The Years Ended December 31,

2013

2012
$ 1,889,830 $ 1,874,304 $ 1,927,973

2011

(1,671,371)

(1,607,872)

(1,702,530)

(119,131)

(121,045)

(109,998)

(1,790,502)

(1,728,917)

(1,812,528)

99,328

(44,036)

(17,058)

—
38,234

68,721

145,387

(33,796)

—

—
111,591

115,445

(44,809)

—

284
70,920

(47,460)

(31,246)

106,955 $

64,131 $

39,674

4.84 $
4.80

2.75 $

2.72

1.73

1.66

$

$

Net sales

Costs and expenses:

Cost of sales

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Total operating costs and expenses

Income from operations

Interest expense, net

Debt retirement costs

Other, net

Earnings before income taxes

Income tax benefit (provision)

Net earnings

Net earnings per common share:

Basic

Diluted

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

42

 
  
CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands)

Net earnings

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

Defined benefit pension and other postretirement employee benefits:

Net gain (loss) arising during the period, net of tax
  of $32,346, $(6,359), and $(15,830)

Curtailments, net of tax of $298, $188 and $1,163
Prior service (cost) credit arising during the period, net of
  tax of $(1,976), $2,079 and $ -

Amortization of actuarial loss included in net periodic cost,
  net of tax of $5,742, $4,761, and $3,513

Amortization of prior service credit included in net
  periodic cost, net of tax of $(64), $(806), and $(252)

Amortization of deferred taxes related to actuarial gain on other
  postretirement employee benefit obligations

Foreign currency translation adjustment

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

Comprehensive income

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

For The Years Ended December 31,

2013
106,955 $

2012
64,131 $

2011
39,674

$

51,262

471

(9,780)

(21,942)

289

1,613

(3,130)

3,199

—

9,098

7,324

4,869

(101)

(1,240)

—

—

57,600

(220)

—

(428)

(350)

(229)

(874)

(16,913)

$

164,555 $

63,703 $

22,761

43

 
  
CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands – except share data)

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash

Restricted cash

Short-term investments

Receivables, net

Taxes receivable

Inventories

Deferred tax assets

Prepaid expenses

Total current assets

Property, plant and equipment, net

Goodwill

Intangible assets, net

Pension assets

Other assets, net

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Current liability for pensions and other postretirement employee benefits

Total current liabilities

Long-term debt

Liability for pensions and other postretirement employee benefits

Other long-term obligations

Accrued taxes

Deferred tax liabilities

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 5,000,000 authorized shares,
  no shares issued

Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 100,000,000 authorized
  shares-24,007,581 and 23,840,683 shares issued

Additional paid-in capital

Retained earnings

Treasury stock, at cost, common shares–2,923,640 and 853,470
  shares repurchased

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax

Total stockholders’ equity

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

44

At December 31,

2013

2012

$

23,675 $

12,579

1,500

70,000

158,874

10,503

267,788

37,538

5,523

575,401

884,698

229,533

40,778

4,488

—

20,000

154,143

20,828

231,466

17,136

12,314

468,466

877,377

229,533

47,753

—

9,927

10,327
$1,744,825 $1,633,456

$ 190,648 $ 165,596
9,137

8,778

199,426

650,000

109,807

52,942

2,658

124,898

174,733

523,933

204,163

50,910

78,699

60,124

—

2

—

2

326,546

466,639

326,901

359,684

(130,000)

(30,000)

(58,093)

(115,693)

605,094

540,894
$1,744,825 $1,633,456

 
 
  
CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net earnings
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash flows from operating activities:

$

106,955

$

64,131

$

39,674

For The Years Ended December 31,

2013

2012

2011

Depreciation and amortization
Non-cash adjustments to unrecognized taxes
Deferred tax provision
Equity-based compensation expense
Employee benefit plans
Deferred issuance costs and discounts on long-term debt
Disposal of plant and equipment, net

Changes in working capital, net
Change in taxes receivable, net
Excess tax benefits from equity-based payment arrangements
Change in non-current accrued taxes, net
Funding of qualified pension plans
Change in restricted cash
Other, net
Net cash flows from operating activities
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Change in short-term investments, net
Additions to plant and equipment
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from sale of assets
Net cash flows from investing activities
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Proceeds from long-term debt
Repayment of long-term debt
Purchase of treasury stock
Payments for long-term debt issuance costs
Payment of tax withholdings on equity-based payment arrangements
Excess tax benefits from equity-based payment arrangements
Other, net
Net cash flows from financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes
Increase (decrease) in cash
Cash at beginning of period
Cash at end of period
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized
Cash paid for income taxes
Cash received from income tax refunds
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON-CASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Changes in accrued plant and equipment
Property acquired under capital lease

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

$

$

$

45

90,272
(75,308)
5,629
10,960
10,131
4,964
1,493
(15,022)
10,325
—
569
(15,050)
(32)
471
136,357

(50,000)
(90,593)
—
—
(140,593)

275,000
(150,000)
(100,000)
(4,837)
(4,831)
—
—
15,332
—
11,096
12,579
23,675

36,147
3,256
1,577

$

$

79,333
3,275
12,870
9,703
9,366
2,010
2,003
61,281
(10,828)
(15,837)
960
(20,627)
769
284
198,693

35,001
(203,776)
(9,264)
1,035
(177,004)

—
—
(18,650)
(2)
(13,234)
15,837
(1,500)
(17,549)
—
4,140
8,439
12,579

30,086
18,719
2,220

(4,085) $
—

3,339
—

$

$

$

76,933
—
14,777
8,134
16,897
215
998
(86,012)
354
(885)
2,453
(12,498)
4,160
3,195
68,395

71,094
(134,069)
—
12,826
(50,149)

—
(15,595)
(11,350)
(638)
(2,400)
885
2
(29,096)
361
(10,489)
18,928
8,439

43,595
43,085
33,808

3,674
12,687

 
  
CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(In thousands)

Common Stock

Shares

Amount

Additional
Paid-In
Capital

Retained
Earnings

Treasury Stock

Shares

Amount

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income

Total
Stockholders'
Equity

Balance, December 31,
2010

22,958

$

Net earnings

Performance share and
  restricted stock unit
  awards

Pension and OPEB, net
  of tax of $(11,406)

Amortization of
  deferred taxes related
  to actuarial gain on
  other postretirement
  employee benefit
  obligations

Foreign currency
  translation adjustment

Purchase of treasury
  stock

—

144

—

—

—

—

Balance, December 31,
2011

23,102

$

Net earnings

Performance share and
  restricted stock unit
  awards

Pension and OPEB, net
  of tax of $(137)

Amortization of
  deferred taxes related
  to actuarial gain on
  other postretirement
  employee benefit
  obligations

Purchase of treasury
  stock

Net earnings

Performance share and
  restricted stock unit
  awards

Pension and OPEB, net
  of tax of $36,346

Purchase of treasury
  stock

Balance, December 31,
2013

—

739

—

—

167

—

—

2

—

—

—

—

—

—

2

—

—

—

$ 310,820

$

255,879

— $

— $

(98,352) $

468,349

—

39,674

5,144

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

39,674

5,144

(15,810)

(15,810)

(229)

(874)

(229)

(874)

(333)

(11,350)

—

(11,350)

$ 315,964

$

295,553

(333) $

(11,350) $

(115,265) $

484,904

—

64,131

10,937

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

64,131

10,937

(208)

(208)

(220)

(220)

(520) $

(18,650) $

— $

(18,650)

—

—

—

—

2

—

—

—

—

$ 326,901

$

359,684

(853) $

(30,000) $

(115,693) $

540,894

—

106,955

(355)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

106,955

(355)

57,600

57,600

(2,071)

(100,000)

—

(100,000)

—

—

—

— $

— $

— $

Balance, December 31,
2012

23,841

$

24,008

2

$ 326,546

$ 466,639

(2,924)

$ (130,000)

$

(58,093)

$

605,094

All common stock share numbers have been adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend distributed on August 
26, 2011.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

46

 
 
 
CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 1 Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

Clearwater Paper Corporation is a leading North American producer of private label tissue and paperboard products. 
We  manufacture  quality  consumer  tissue,  away-from-home  tissue,  parent  rolls  (non-converted  tissue  product), 
machine-glazed tissue, bleached paperboard and pulp at 14 manufacturing locations in the U.S. and Canada. Our 
private label consumer tissue products - facial and bath tissue, paper towels and napkins - are used primarily at-home 
and are principally sold to major retailers and wholesale distributors, which include grocery, drug, mass-merchant and 
discount stores. Our paperboard is sold primarily in the high-end segment of the packaging industry, which demands 
high-quality construction and print surfaces for graphics. Our products are made primarily from wood fiber pulp. 

Unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise indicated, references in this report to “Clearwater Paper 
Corporation,” “we,” “our,” “the company” and “us” refer to Clearwater Paper Corporation and its subsidiaries.

On November 28, 2011, we sold our Lewiston, Idaho, sawmill to Idaho Forest Group of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The 
transaction included the sale of our sawmill, planer mill, dry kilns and related assets along with log and finished goods 
inventories and timber under contract, in the aggregate amount of approximately $30 million. This sawmill was our 
only wood products facility.

On December 28, 2012, we acquired the assets of a wood chipping facility located in Clarkston, Washington, near our 
Lewiston, Idaho facility, in an effort to bolster our wood fiber position and obtain short-term and long-term cost savings. 
The  total  consideration  associated  with  the  acquisition  was  approximately  $11  million,  which  includes  contingent 
consideration over an 18 month period of up to $1.5 million in cash to be paid by the company, based on certain 
performance and indemnity guarantees. At December 31, 2013, this $1.5 million is considered restricted cash. We 
allocated the purchase price to the tangible and amortizable intangible assets acquired based on their estimated fair 
values at the date of acquisition, resulting in the recognition of approximately $6 million in equipment, $4 million in 
intangible assets for customer relationships and a $1 million intangible asset for a non-compete agreement with the 
former owners. No goodwill was recorded. 

On March 6, 2013, we announced the planned permanent closure of our Thomaston, Georgia converting and distribution 
facility.  The shutdown occurred gradually as converting lines were relocated and installed at our other facilities, with 
all operations at Thomaston having ceased as of the end of 2013. We incurred $6.0 million of costs associated with 
the closure in 2013. 

On February 17, 2004, in an event subsequent to the close of our 2013 fiscal year, we announced the permanent and 
immediate closure of our Long Island, New York, tissue converting and distribution facility.

These consolidated financial statements include the financial condition and results of operations of Clearwater Paper 
Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances between operations within 
the company have been eliminated.

NOTE 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., which 
we refer to in this report as GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported 
amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements 
and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting period. Significant areas requiring the use 
of estimates and measurement of uncertainty include determination of net realizable value for deferred tax assets, 
uncertain  income  tax  positions,  assessment  of  impairment  of  long-lived  assets  and  goodwill,  assessment  of 
environmental matters, allocation of purchase price and fair value estimates for business combinations, equity-based 
compensation and pension and postretirement obligation assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates 
and assumptions.

47

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH

Our short-term investments, which are classified as available for sale, are invested primarily in demand deposits, which 
have very short maturity periods, and therefore earn an interest rate commensurate with low-risk instruments. Due to 
our investments' short-term maturity periods there is no significant difference between the investments' cost and fair 
value. We do not attempt to hedge our exposure to interest rate risk for our short-term investments. Our restricted 
cash in which the underlying instrument has a term of greater than twelve months from the balance sheet date is 
classified as non-current and is included in “Other assets” on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 31, 
2013, substantially all restricted cash balances were classified as current and included in "Restricted cash" on our 
Consolidated Balance Sheet, compared to approximately $1.5 million of restricted cash classified as non-current and 
included in "Other assets, net" as of December 31, 2012. 

TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Trade  accounts  receivable  are  stated  at  the  amount  we  expect  to  collect. Trade  accounts  receivable  do  not  bear 
interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is our best estimate of the losses we expect will result from the inability 
of our customers to make required payments. We generally determine the allowance based on a combination of actual 
historical write-off experience and an analysis of specific customer accounts. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we 
had allowances for doubtful accounts of $1.9 million and $1.6 million, respectively. Bad debt expense, net, charged 
to selling, general and administrative expenses during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $1.5 million, $0.2 million and $1.0 
million, respectively. All other activity impacting the allowance for doubtful accounts was immaterial for all periods.

INVENTORIES

At December 31, 2013, our inventories are stated at the lower of market or current average cost using the average 
cost method. Prior to the November 2011 sale of our Lewiston, Idaho, sawmill, we used the last-in, first-out, or LIFO, 
method to determine cost for our logs, wood fiber and the majority of our lumber. 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, including assets acquired under capital lease obligations and any 
interest costs capitalized, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of buildings, equipment and other depreciable 
assets is determined using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives generally range from 10 to 40 years for 
land improvements; 10 to 40 years for buildings and improvements; 5 to 25 years for machinery and equipment; and 
2 to 15 years for office and other equipment. Assets we acquire through business combinations have estimated lives 
that are typically shorter than the assets we construct or buy new.

LONG-LIVED ASSETS

Our long-lived assets include property, plant and equipment and amortizable intangible assets. We review the carrying 
value of long-lived assets for impairment annually and when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the 
carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. An impairment of long-lived assets exists when 
the carrying value is not considered to be recoverable through future undiscounted cash flows from operations and 
the carrying value of the asset or asset group exceeds the estimated fair value.  

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill from an acquisition represents the excess of the cost of a business acquired over the net of the amounts 
assigned to assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets and liabilities assumed. Goodwill and intangible 
assets resulted from our acquisition of Cellu Tissue Holdings, or Cellu Tissue, on December 27, 2010. Intangible assets 
also resulted from our December 2012 acquisition of a wood chipping facility. We used estimates in determining and 
assigning the fair value of goodwill and intangible assets, including estimates of useful lives of intangible assets, the 
amount and timing of related future cash flows and fair values of the related operations. Our intangible assets have 
definite lives and are amortized over their estimated useful lives. We assess our intangibles for impairment when 
events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable.

As a result of our acquisition of Cellu Tissue in December 2010, we recorded $229.5 million of goodwill as included 
on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012. All of the recorded goodwill was assigned 
to our Consumer Products segment and reporting unit. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment annually 
as of November 1, as well as any time when events suggest impairment may have occurred. In the event the carrying 
value of our consumer products reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting 
unit, an impairment loss would be recognized to the extent the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds 
its implied fair value.

48

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 

The determination of pension plan expense and the requirements for funding our pension plans are based on a number 
of actuarial assumptions. Two critical assumptions are the discount rate applied to pension plan obligations and the 
rate of return on plan assets. For other postretirement employee benefit, or OPEB, plans, which provide certain health 
care and life insurance benefits to qualified retired employees, critical assumptions in determining OPEB expense are 
the discount rate applied to benefit obligations and the assumed health care cost trend rates used in the calculation 
of benefit obligations. We also participate in multiemployer defined benefit pension plans. We make contributions to 
these multiemployer plans, as well as make contributions to a trust fund established to provide retiree medical benefits 
for a portion of these employees.

The discount rate used in the determination of pension benefit obligations and pension expense is determined based 
on a review of long-term high-grade bonds and management's expectations. To determine the expected long-term 
rate of return on pension assets, we employ a process that analyzes historical long-term returns for various investment 
categories, as measured by appropriate indices. These indices are weighted based upon the extent to which plan 
assets are invested in the particular categories in arriving at our determination of a composite expected return. 

An increase in the discount rate or the rate of expected return on plan assets, all other assumptions remaining the 
same, would decrease pension plan expense, and conversely, a decrease in either of these measures would increase 
plan expense. The actual rates of return on plan assets may vary significantly from the assumptions used because of 
unanticipated changes in financial markets. 

The estimated net loss and prior service cost (credit) for the defined benefit pension and OPEB plans is amortized 
from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic cost (benefit) in accordance with current accounting 
guidance.

Periodic pension and OPEB expenses are included in “Cost of sales” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” 
in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The expense is allocated to all business segments. In accordance with 
current accounting guidance governing defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, at December 31, 2013 
and  2012,  long-term  assets  are  recorded  for  overfunded  single-employer  plans  and  liabilities  are  recorded  for 
underfunded single-employer plans. The funded status of a benefit plan is measured as the difference between plan 
assets at fair value and the projected benefit obligation. For underfunded single-employer plans, the estimated liability 
to be payable in the next twelve months is recorded as a current liability, with the remaining portion recorded as a long-
term liability.

INCOME TAXES

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized 
for  the  future  tax  consequences  attributable  to  differences  between  the  consolidated  financial  statement  carrying 
amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the 
years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets 
and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The  determination  of  our  provision  for  income  taxes  requires  significant  judgment,  the  use  of  estimates,  and  the 
interpretation and application of complex tax laws. Significant judgment is required in assessing the timing and amounts 
of deductible and taxable items and the probability of sustaining uncertain tax positions. The benefits of uncertain tax 
positions are recorded in our consolidated financial statements only after determining a more-likely-than-not probability 
that the uncertain tax positions will withstand challenge, if any, from tax authorities. When facts and circumstances 
change,  we  reassess  these  probabilities  and  record  any  changes  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements  as 
appropriate.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

We recognize revenue when there is persuasive evidence of a sales agreement, the price to the customer is fixed and 
determinable, collection is reasonably assured, and title and the risk of loss passes to the customer. Shipping terms 
generally indicate when title and the risk of loss have passed. Revenue is recognized at shipment for sales when 
shipping terms are free on board, or FOB, shipping point. For sales where shipping terms are FOB destination, revenue 
is recognized when the goods are received by the customer. Revenue from both domestic and foreign sales of our 
products can involve shipping terms of either FOB shipping point or FOB destination or other shipping terms, depending 
upon the sales agreement with the customer.

In  2013  we  had  one  customer  in  the  Consumer  Products  segment,  the  Kroger  Company,  that  accounted  for 
approximately $204 million, or 10.8%, of our total company net sales. In 2012 and 2011, we did not have any single 
customer that accounted for 10% or more of our total net sales. 

49

We provide for trade promotions, customer cash discounts, customer returns and other deductions as reductions to 
net sales in the same period as the related revenues are recognized. Provisions for these items are determined based 
on historical experience or specific customer arrangements.

Revenue is recognized net of any sales taxes collected. Sales taxes, when collected, are recorded as a current liability 
and remitted to the appropriate governmental entities.

ENVIRONMENTAL

As part of our corporate policy, we have an ongoing process to monitor, report on and comply with environmental 
requirements. Based on this ongoing process, accruals for environmental liabilities that are not within the scope of 
specific authoritative guidance related to accounting for asset retirement obligations or conditional asset retirement 
obligations are established in accordance with guidance related to accounting for contingencies. We estimate our 
environmental liabilities based on various assumptions and judgments, the specific nature of which varies in light of 
the  particular  facts  and  circumstances  surrounding  each  environmental  liability.  These  estimates  typically  reflect 
assumptions and judgments as to the probable nature, magnitude and timing of required investigation, remediation 
and  monitoring  activities  and  the  probable  cost  of  these  activities.  Currently,  we  are  not  aware  of  any  material 
environmental liabilities and have accrued for only specific environmental remediation costs that we have determined 
are probable and for which an amount can be reasonably estimated. Fees for professional services associated with 
environmental and legal issues are expensed as incurred.

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

On February 5, 2014, in an event subsequent to the close of our 2013 fiscal year, we announced that our Board of 
Directors had approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of our 
common stock. The repurchase program authorizes purchases of our common stock from time to time through open 
market purchases, negotiated transactions or other means, including accelerated stock repurchases and 10b5-1 trading 
plans in accordance with applicable securities laws and other restrictions. We have no obligation to repurchase stock 
under this program and may suspend or terminate the program at any time.

On January 17, 2013, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved a new stock repurchase program 
authorizing the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of our common stock, which was completed in 2013. The repurchases 
were authorized to be carried out by the utilization of a number of different methods, including but not limited to, open 
market purchases, accelerated buybacks and negotiated block purchases. On March 1, 2013, we entered into an 
accelerated stock buyback, or ASB, agreement with a major financial institution to repurchase an aggregate of $50.0 
million of our outstanding common stock. In total, 1,039,513 shares of our outstanding common stock were delivered 
under the ASB agreement at an average repurchase price of $48.10 per share. In addition to the ASB agreement, we 
also made repurchases of 1,030,657 shares of our outstanding common stock on the open market at a total cost of 
$50.0 million, representing an an average price of $48.51 per share. 

On July 28, 2011, we announced that our Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to $30.0 million of 
our common stock. Under the stock repurchase program, we were authorized to repurchase shares in the open market 
or as otherwise determined by management, subject to market conditions, business opportunities and other factors. 
We completed this repurchase program in the fourth quarter of 2012. The total number of shares repurchased under 
this program was 853,470 at an aggregate cost of $30.0 million and an average price of  $35.15 per share.

In addition, on July 28, 2011, we announced that our Board of Directors had declared a two-for-one stock split of our 
outstanding shares of common stock, which was effected in the form of a stock dividend distributed on August 26, 
2011 to shareholders of record on August 12, 2011. On the August 26, 2011 distribution date, there were 11,373,460 
shares of common stock outstanding. Immediately following the distribution date, there were 22,746,920 outstanding 
shares of common stock. All common share and per share amounts have been adjusted for the stock split effected in 
the form of a stock dividend.

DERIVATIVES

We had no activity during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 that required hedge or derivative 
accounting treatment. However, to partially mitigate our exposure to market risk for changes in utility commodity pricing, 
we use firm price contracts to supply a portion of the natural gas requirements for our manufacturing facilities. As of 
December 31, 2013, these contracts covered approximately 55% of the expected average monthly requirements for 
the first quarter of 2014.  For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, approximately 16%, 29% and 2%, 
respectively, of our natural gas volumes were supplied through firm price contracts. These contracts qualify for treatment 
as “normal purchases or normal sales” under authoritative guidance and thus require no mark-to-market adjustment.

50

NOTE 3 Recently Adopted and Prospective Accounting Standards
In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standard Update, or ASU, 2013-02, 
Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which expands the disclosure 
requirements for amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. This ASU requires an entity 
to present, either parenthetically on the face of the financial statements where net income is presented or in the notes 
to  the  financial  statements,  the  effect  of  significant  items  reclassified  in  their  entirety  from  accumulated  other 
comprehensive  income  and  identification  of  the  respective  line  items  effecting  net  income  for  instances  when 
reclassification is required under GAAP. For items that are not required by GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to 
net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures as required by GAAP. This ASU does not 
change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements and 
is effective prospectively for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. We have adopted 
this ASU, which did not affect our Consolidated Financial Statements.

NOTE 4 Inventories 

(In thousands)
Pulp, paperboard and tissue products
Materials and supplies
Logs, pulpwood, chips and sawdust

2013

2012

$

$

182,715 $

69,836
15,237

267,788 $

147,627
67,889
15,950
231,466

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the remaining lumber inventory from the sawmill was sold. The sale 
of this inventory, which was valued at costs prevailing in prior years under the LIFO method, had the effect of increasing 
earnings before income taxes in the period ended March 31, 2012 by an immaterial amount. The fluctuations of LIFO 
inventories increased earnings before income taxes by approximately $10.6 million in 2011.

NOTE 5 Property, Plant and Equipment

(In thousands)
Machinery and equipment
Buildings and improvements
Land improvements
Office and other equipment
Land
Construction in progress

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

2013

2012

$

$

$

1,937,914 $
304,971
54,277
11,951
11,827
40,204
2,361,144 $
(1,476,446)

884,698 $

1,866,263
299,642
52,929
10,946
11,827
37,160
2,278,767
(1,401,390)
877,377

The December 31, 2013 and 2012 buildings and improvements and machinery and equipment combined balances 
each include $23.1 million associated with capital leases.

Depreciation expense, including amounts associated with capital leases, totaled $83.3 million, $74.6 million and $70.6 
million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. We did not capitalize any interest during 2013. For 2012 and 2011, we 
capitalized $12.6 million and $3.7 million of interest expense, respectively, associated with our TAD tissue expansion 
project, which includes the construction of our new tissue manufacturing and converting facilities in Shelby, North 
Carolina, and upgrades to our tissue manufacturing facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.

51

NOTE 6 Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The carrying amount of goodwill is reviewed at least annually for impairment as of November 1. The first step of the 
goodwill impairment test, used to identify potential impairment, compares the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying 
amount, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit is greater than zero and its estimated fair value 
exceeds  its  carrying  amount,  goodwill  of  the  reporting  unit  is  not  considered  impaired.  For  the  purpose  of  goodwill 
impairment testing we identify two reporting units, Consumer Products and Pulp and Paperboard, the same as our two 
reportable operating segments (see Note 17, "Segment Information"). All of the recorded goodwill is assigned to our 
Consumer Products reporting unit.

As of November 1, 2013 and 2012, we performed calculations of both a discounted cash flow and market-based valuation 
model for our Consumer Products reporting unit. The assumptions used in these models allowed us to evaluate the 
estimated fair value of our reporting unit. The determination of these assumptions required significant estimates on our 
part. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making such estimates, actual results could differ from those assumptions. 
However, we evaluated the merits of each significant assumption, both individually and in the aggregate, used to determine 
the estimated fair value of our reporting unit for reasonableness. Upon completion of this exercise, we concluded that the 
estimated fair value of the Consumer Products reporting unit exceeded its carrying amount. We determined that no further 
testing was necessary and did not record any impairment loss on our goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2013 
and 2012.

Intangible asset amounts represent the acquisition date fair values of identifiable intangible assets acquired. The fair 
values of the intangible assets were determined by using the income approach, discounting projected future cash flows 
based on management’s expectations of the current and future operating environment. The rates used to discount projected 
future cash flows reflected a weighted average cost of capital based on our industry, capital structure and risk premiums 
including those reflected in the current market capitalization. Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their 
useful lives, which range from 2.5 to 10 years. Authoritative guidance requires that the carrying amount of a long-lived 
asset with a definite life that is held-for-use be evaluated for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances 
indicate that the entity may be unable to recover the asset’s carrying amount. During 2013, we permanently closed our 
Thomaston converting and distribution facility. This closure did not require an assessment of recoverability on our assets 
as all converting lines were relocated and installed at our other facilities. There were no other such events or changes in 
circumstances that required us to assess whether our definite-lived intangible assets were impaired for the years ended 
December 31, 2013 and 2012. We do not have any indefinite-lived intangible assets recorded from acquisitions.

Intangible assets at the balance sheet dates are comprised of the following:

(Dollars in thousands, lives in years)
Customer relationships
Trade names and trademarks
Non-compete agreements
Total intangible assets

(Dollars in thousands, lives in years)
Customer relationships
Trade names and trademarks
Non-compete agreements
Total intangible assets

Useful
Life

9.0
10.0
2.5 - 5.0

Useful
Life

9.0
10.0
2.5 - 5.0

$

$

$

$

December 31, 2013

Historical
Cost

Accumulated
Amortization

Net
Balance

53,957
5,300
1,674
60,931

$

$

(17,234) $
(1,590)
(1,329)
(20,153) $

36,723
3,710
345
40,778

December 31, 2012

Historical
Cost

Accumulated
Amortization

Net
Balance

53,957
5,300
1,674
60,931

$

$

(11,237) $
(1,060)
(881)
(13,178) $

42,720
4,240
793
47,753

As of December 31, 2013, estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets is as follows (in 
thousands):

Years ending December 31,
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Thereafter
Total

52

Amount

6,663
6,608
6,587
6,587
6,524
7,809
40,778

$

$

NOTE 7 Income Taxes

Earnings (loss) before income taxes is comprised of the following amounts in each tax jurisdiction:

(In thousands)
United States
Canada
Earnings before income taxes

2013

2012

2011

$

$

38,900 $
(666)
38,234 $

111,278 $
313
111,591 $

72,156
(1,236)
70,920

The income tax (benefit) provision is comprised of the following:

(In thousands)
Current

Federal
State
Foreign

Deferred
Federal
State
Foreign

Income tax (benefit) provision

2013

2012

2011

$

$

(75,119) $
506
263
(74,350)

10,177
(4,423)
(125)
5,629
(68,721) $

27,724 $

6,637
229
34,590

16,243
(3,180)
(193)
12,870
47,460 $

9,619
6,880
(30)
16,469

12,865
1,931
(19)
14,777
31,246

The income tax benefit or provisions differ from the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax 
rate of 35.0% to earnings before income taxes due to the following:

(In thousands)
Computed expected tax provision

2013

2012

2011

$

13,381

$

39,063

$

24,822

State and local taxes, net of federal income tax impact

Adjustment for state deferred tax rate

State investment tax credits

Federal credits and net operating losses

Federal manufacturing deduction

Uncertain tax positions

Non-deductible acquisition costs

Change in valuation allowances

U.S. tax provision on foreign operations

Other

Income tax provision

Effective tax rate

1,279

(762)

(2,263)

(10,234)

—

(69,144)

—

(1,334)

67

289

4,398

(742)

(9,077)

4,121

(3,288)

4,801

—

6,932

(33)

1,285

1,482

2,916

—

(412)

(2,443)

2,610

(1,215)

2,796

365

325

$

(68,721)

$

47,460

$

31,246

(179.7)%

42.5%

44.1%

We have tax benefits relating to equity-based compensation that are being utilized to reduce our U.S. taxable income. 
Our Consolidated Balance Sheets reflect net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards excluding amounts resulting 
from equity-based compensation. We have made an accounting policy election to follow the “with-and-without” or 
“incremental” method for ordering tax benefits derived from employee equity-based compensation awards. As a result 
of this method, net operating loss carryforwards not generated from equity-based compensation and which were in 
excess of equity-based compensation expense are utilized before the current period's equity-based tax deduction 
(excess tax benefits from equity-based compensation awards are recognized last). Excess tax benefits from equity-
based compensation awards that are determined to reduce U.S. taxable income following this method are recognized 
when realized as increases to additional paid-in capital as a component of stockholders' equity. As of December 31, 
2012, we had a total amount of excess tax benefits that were not recognized on our Consolidated Balance Sheet of 
approximately $1.4 million. During the year ended December 31, 2013, we generated excess tax benefits relating to 

53

the payout or issuance of performance shares for the 2010-2012 performance period and certain restricted stock units 
for the 2009-2011 and 2011-2013 periods. Based on the incremental method, our excess tax benefits associated with 
equity-based compensation plans were not allocated to additional paid-in capital as a component of stockholders’ 
equity, as there was no cash tax benefit to be realized in the current year. The tax effect of this transaction was $2.3 
million and it has been recorded as a reduction to our federal net operating loss deferred tax asset. Additionally, we 
had a tax affected $2.4 million reduction to additional paid-in capital relating to performance shares for the 2011-2013 
performance period that will not be paid or issued because the requisite market condition performance measure was 
not met.

Based on the incremental method, our excess tax benefits associated with equity-based compensation plans, which 
have been allocated directly to additional paid-in capital as a component of stockholders’ equity, reducing income taxes 
payable  was  in  the  amount  of  $15.8  million  and  $0.9  million,  in  the  years  ended  December 31,  2012,  and  2011, 
respectively, while no reduction was incurred in the current year. As of December 31, 2013, we have a total amount 
of excess tax benefits that are not allocated directly to additional paid-in capital on our Consolidated Balance Sheet 
until such time as they affect a cash tax benefit of approximately $2.3 million. 

(In thousands)
Deferred tax assets:

Employee benefits
Postretirement employee benefits

Incentive compensation

Inventories

Pensions

Federal and state credit carryforwards

Net operating losses

Federal benefit from state taxes resulting from uncertain tax positions

Other

Total deferred tax assets

Valuation allowance

Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance

Deferred tax liabilities:

Plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Inventories

Total deferred tax liabilities

Net deferred tax liabilities

Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) consist of:

(In thousands)
Current deferred tax assets

Current deferred tax liabilities

Net current deferred tax assets

Non-current deferred tax assets

Non-current deferred tax liabilities

Net non-current deferred tax liabilities

Net deferred tax liabilities

$

$

$

$

$

2013

2012

$

8,612 $

41,515

8,937

5,898

152

27,597

13,930

—

7,390
114,031 $
(13,622)
100,409 $

(178,227) $
(9,542)

—

(187,769)

(87,360) $

37,538 $
—

37,538

62,871

(187,769)

(124,898)

8,630
52,751

9,130

—

31,140

20,447

7,649

5,595

5,757

141,099

(14,957)

126,142

(157,973)

(10,843)

(314)

(169,130)
(42,988)  

20,473

(3,337)

17,136

110,762

(170,886)

(60,124)

(42,988)

2013

2012

In  each  of  the  years  ended  December 31,  2013  and  2012,  we  recorded  a  $0.7  million  tax  benefit  reflecting  a 
remeasurement of state deferred tax assets and liabilities using anticipated tax rates that will be in effect when the 
underlying assets and liabilities will reverse.

54

$

(87,360) $

As of December 31, 2013, we had deferred tax assets arising from deductible temporary differences, tax losses and 
tax credits of approximately $114 million before the offset of certain deferred tax liabilities. With the exception of certain 
deferred tax assets related to federal foreign tax credits, state tax losses and state tax credits totaling $13.6 million, 
management believes it is more likely than not that forecasted income, together with the tax effect of the deferred tax 
liabilities, will be sufficient to fully recover the remaining deferred tax assets.

During  2013,  the  valuation  allowance  for  deferred  tax  assets  decreased  by  a  net  $1.3  million.  We  decreased  the 
valuation allowances for state tax losses incurred by $1.2 million and decreased the valuation allowances for state tax 
credits by $0.4 million. Both of these items were recorded as current period deferred tax benefit. We also increased 
the valuation allowance relating to foreign tax credits by $0.3 million, which was recorded as a deferred tax expense 
to the income tax provision.

During 2012, the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets increased by a net $6.9 million. We decreased the valuation 
allowances for state tax losses incurred by $0.5 million and increased the valuation allowance for state tax credits by 
$8.2 million. Both of these items were recorded as current period deferred tax benefit and expense, respectively. We 
also reduced the valuation allowance relating to foreign tax credits by $0.8 million, which was recorded as a deferred 
tax benefit to the income tax provision. During 2011, the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets increased by a 
net $2.8 million. We increased the valuation allowances for state tax losses incurred by certain subsidiaries and state 
tax credits by $2.5 million and $2.2 million, respectively. Both of these items were recorded as current period deferred 
tax expense. We also reduced the valuation allowance relating to foreign tax credits by $1.9 million, which was recorded 
as a deferred tax benefit to the income tax provision. The reduction is based upon tax planning strategies that we 
believe will more likely than not allow us to utilize a portion of the foreign tax credits before they expire.

During the fourth quarter of 2012, the IRS commenced an audit of our tax returns for the tax years ending December 
31, 2008 through December 31, 2011. During 2013, the IRS commenced an audit of our wholly owned subsidiary Cellu 
Tissue Holdings, Inc, and its subsidiaries for the year ended December 27, 2010; the period immediately before our 
acquisition of Cellu Tissue Holdings, Inc. These audits are in advanced stages as of the filing of this document. During 
the year, the company settled audits with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for tax years 2009-2011, as well as 
numerous state income tax audits, including the State of Idaho. As part of the IRS audit, we identified additional gallons 
that qualify for the Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credit that were previously unclaimed. During the third quarter of 2013, 
we recognized $3.5 million of additional benefit related to these gallons, resulting in a favorable adjustment.

Tax years subject to examination by major taxing jurisdictions are as follows: 

Jurisdiction
United States
Canada
Arkansas
California
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Wisconsin

Years
2008 - 2013
2011 - 2013
2010 - 2013
2009 - 2013
2010 - 2013
2011 - 2013
2008 - 2013
2009 - 2013  

Tax credits and losses subject to expiration by major taxing jurisdictions are as follows (dollars in thousands):

Jurisdiction
United States

Net operating losses
Foreign tax credits
Cellulosic biofuel credits
Other federal tax credits

Connecticut tax losses
Georgia tax losses
Idaho tax credits
North Carolina tax credits
Oklahoma tax losses

Gross Values

Years

$

27,428
3,832
3,495
4,264
20,385
7,267
4,851
15,966
35,122

2030 - 2033
2016 - 2019
2015
2026 - 2033
2018 - 2033
2027 - 2033
2013 - 2027
2015 - 2017
2030 - 2033

55

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
As of December 31, 2013, there were no undistributed earnings relating to our Canadian subsidiary, Interlake Acquisition 
Corporation, as all historical earnings were repatriated under Cellu Tissue ownership. Management’s intent is to reinvest 
future earnings indefinitely.

A review of our uncertain income tax positions at December 31, 2013 and 2012 indicates that liabilities are required 
to be recorded for gross unrecognized tax benefits following authoritative accounting guidance. The following presents 
a roll forward of our unrecognized tax benefits and associated interest and penalties, as included in the Accrued Taxes 
line item in non-current liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(In thousands)
Balance at January 1, 2012
Increase in prior year tax positions
Increase in current year tax positions
Reductions as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations

Gross
Unrecognized
Tax Benefits,
Excluding
Interest and
Penalties

$

69,651 $

2,544
154
(345)

Interest
and
Penalties

Total Gross
Unrecognized
Tax Benefits
74,464
4,426
154
(345)

4,813 $
1,882
—
—

Balance at December 31, 2012
Decrease in prior year tax positions

Decrease due to settlements

Increase in current year tax positions

Balance at December 31, 2013

$

72,004 $
(69,816)

6,695 $
(5,397)

(525)

469

(777)

5

$

2,132 $

526 $

78,699
(75,213)

(1,302)

474

2,658

The company has operations in many states within the U.S., as well as in Ontario, Canada, and is subject, at times, 
to tax audits in these jurisdictions.  These tax audits by their nature are complex and can require multiple years to 
resolve.  The final resolution of any such tax audits could result in either a reduction in the company’s accruals or an 
increase in its income tax provision, both of which could have an impact on the results of operations in any given 
period. With a few exceptions, the company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or foreign income tax 
examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2009. The company regularly evaluates, assesses and adjusts these 
accruals in light of changing facts and circumstances, which could cause the effective tax rate to fluctuate from period 
to period. 

In November 2013, the Internal Revenue Service released a memorandum from the Office of Chief Counsel relating 
to the tax treatment of the Alternative Fuel Mixture Tax Credit, or AFMTC.  The memorandum concluded that excise 
tax credits and the corresponding payments were not items of gross income under the Internal Revenue Code.  Based 
upon this memorandum, there was sufficient evidence for the company to reassess the uncertain tax position relating 
to the taxability of the AFMTC as more likely than not that the income from the 2009 year is not taxable and therefore 
a reduction to the reserve for uncertain tax positions in the amount of $62.6 million was recorded during the fourth 
quarter, net of the associated deferred tax asset.  A total reduction to the reserve for uncertain tax positions, net of 
deferred tax assets associated with such positions, during the year totaled $69.1 million and was recorded as a benefit 
to income tax expense.

Unrecognized tax benefits net of related deferred tax assets at December 31, 2013, if recognized, would favorably 
impact our effective tax rate by decreasing our tax provision by $2.7 million. We reflect accrued interest related to tax 
obligations, as well as penalties, in our provision for income taxes. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 
and 2011, we accrued interest and no penalties of $2.0 million, $1.9 million and $2.4 million, respectively, in our income 
tax provision.

56

NOTE 8 Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

(In thousands)
Trade accounts payable
Accrued wages, salaries and employee benefits
Accrued interest
Accrued utilities
Accrued discounts and allowances
Accrued taxes other than income taxes payable
Other

NOTE 9 Debt
$375 MILLION SENIOR NOTES DUE 2018

2013

2012

$

108,192 $

38,563
9,691
8,309
6,410
6,322
13,161

$

190,648 $

75,949
42,491
5,242
8,205
4,785
6,993
21,931
165,596

On October 22, 2010, we sold $375 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes, which we refer to as the 2010 
Notes. The 2010 Notes mature on November 1, 2018, have an interest rate of 7.125% and were issued at their face 
value. The issuance of these notes generated net proceeds of $367.5 million after deducting offering expenses.

The 2010 Notes are guaranteed by all of our direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries. The 2010 Notes will also be 
guaranteed by each of our future direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries that we do not designate as an unrestricted 
subsidiary under the indenture governing the 2010 Notes. The 2010 Notes are equal in right of payment with all other 
existing  and  future  unsecured  senior  indebtedness  and  are  senior  in  right  of  payment  to  any  future  subordinated 
indebtedness. The 2010 Notes are effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness, 
including borrowings under our secured revolving credit facility, which is secured by certain of our accounts receivable, 
inventory and cash. The terms of the 2010 Notes limit our ability and the ability of any restricted subsidiaries to borrow 
money; pay dividends; redeem or repurchase capital stock; make investments; sell assets; create restrictions on the 
payment of dividends or other amounts to us from any restricted subsidiaries; enter into transactions with affiliates; 
enter into sale and lease back transactions; create liens; and consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our 
assets.

We have the option to redeem all or a portion of the 2010 Notes at any time before November 1, 2014 at a redemption 
price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and a “make whole” premium. On or 
after November 1, 2014, we may redeem all or a portion of the 2010 Notes at specified redemption prices plus accrued 
and unpaid interest. In addition, we may be required to make an offer to purchase the 2010 Notes upon the sale of 
certain assets and upon a change of control.

REDEMPTION OF $150 MILLION SENIOR NOTES DUE 2016 AND ISSUANCE OF $275 MILLION SENIOR NOTES 
DUE 2023

In June 2009, we issued senior unsecured notes, which we refer to as the 2009 Notes, in the aggregate principal 
amount of $150 million. The 2009 Notes were due on June 15, 2016 and had an interest rate of 10.625%. The 2009 
Notes were issued at a price equal to 98.792% of their face value.

We had the option to redeem all or a portion of the 2009 Notes at any time prior to June 15, 2013 at a redemption 
price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus a “make whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest. 
On  February 22,  2013,  we  exercised  our  option  to  redeem  all  of  the  2009  Notes  at  a  redemption  price  equal  to 
approximately  $166  million,  which  consisted  of  100%  of  the  principal  amount,  plus  a  $12.6  million  “make  whole” 
premium and accrued and unpaid interest of approximately $3.0 million. The make whole premium and a portion of 
the unpaid interest, as well as an unamortized discount and deferred issuance costs associated with the 2009 Notes, 
were recorded as components of the debt retirement costs totaling $17.1 million in the first quarter of 2013, as included 
in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. Proceeds to fund the redemption of the 2009 Notes were 
made available through the sale of $275 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes on January 23, 2013, which 
we refer to as the 2013 Notes. The 2013 Notes mature on February 1, 2023, have an interest rate of 4.5% and were 
issued at their face value. The issuance of these notes generated net proceeds of approximately $271 million after 
deducting offering expenses.

57

The 2013 Notes are guaranteed by all of our direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries. The 2013 Notes will also be 
guaranteed by each of our future direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries that we do not designate as an unrestricted 
subsidiary under the indenture governing the 2013 Notes. The 2013 Notes are equal in right of payment with all other 
existing  and  future  unsecured  senior  indebtedness  and  are  senior  in  right  of  payment  to  any  future  subordinated 
indebtedness. The 2013 Notes are effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness, 
including borrowings under our secured revolving credit facility, which is secured by certain of our accounts receivable, 
inventory and cash. The terms of the 2013 Notes limit our ability and the ability of any restricted subsidiaries to borrow 
money; pay dividends; redeem or repurchase capital stock; make investments; sell assets; create restrictions on the 
payment of dividends or other amounts to us from any restricted subsidiaries; enter into transactions with affiliates; 
enter into sale and lease back transactions; create liens; and consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our 
assets.

Prior to February 1, 2016, we may redeem up to 35% of the 2013 Notes at a redemption price equal to 104.5% of the 
principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest with the proceeds from one or more qualified equity offerings. We 
have the option to redeem all or a portion of the 2013 Notes at any time before February 1, 2018 at a redemption price 
equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and a “make whole” premium. On or after 
February 1, 2018, we may redeem all or a portion of the 2013 Notes at specified redemption prices plus accrued and 
unpaid interest. In addition, we may be required to make an offer to purchase the 2013 Notes upon the sale of certain 
assets and upon a change of control.

REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

On November 26, 2008, we entered into a $125 million senior secured revolving credit facility with certain financial 
institutions. The amount available to us under the revolving credit facility is based on the lesser of 85% of our eligible 
accounts receivable plus approximately 65% of our eligible inventory, or $125 million. The revolving credit facility has 
been subsequently amended and expires on September 30, 2016.

As of December 31, 2013, there were no borrowings outstanding under the credit facility, but approximately $6.6 million 
of the credit facility was being used to support outstanding standby letters of credit. Loans under the credit facility bear 
interest (i) for LIBOR loans, LIBOR plus between 1.75% and 2.25%  and (ii) for base rate loans, a per annum rate 
equal to the greater of (a) the prime rate for such day; (b) the federal funds effective rate for such day, plus 0.50%; or 
(c) LIBOR for a 30-day interest period as determined on such day, plus between 1.25% and 1.75%. The percentage 
margin on all loans is based on our fixed charge coverage ratio for the most recent four quarters. As of December 31, 
2013, we would have been permitted to draw approximately $118.4 million under the credit facility at LIBOR plus 
1.75%, or base rate plus 1.25%.

A  minimum  fixed  charge  coverage  ratio  is  the  only  financial  covenant  requirement  under  our  credit  facility  and  is 
triggered when there are any commitments or obligations outstanding and availability falls below 12.5% or an event 
of default exists, at which time the minimum fixed charge coverage ratio must be at least 1.0-to-1.0. As of December 31, 
2013, the fixed charge coverage ratio for the most recent four quarters was 2.5-to-1.0.

Our obligations under the revolving credit facility are secured by certain of our accounts receivable, inventory and 
cash. The terms of the credit facility contain various provisions that limit our discretion in the operations of our business 
by restricting our ability to, among other things, pay dividends; redeem or repurchase capital stock; create, incur or 
guarantee  certain  debt;  incur  liens  on  certain  properties;  make  capital  expenditures;  enter  into  certain  affiliate 
transactions; enter into certain hedging arrangements; and consolidate with or merge with another entity. The revolving 
credit facility contains usual and customary affirmative and negative covenants and usual and customary events of 
default.

NOTE 10 Other Long-Term Obligations 

(In thousands)
Long-term lease obligations, net of current portion
Deferred compensation
Deferred proceeds
Other

58

2013

2012

$

$

24,815 $
14,149
11,205
2,773

52,942 $

25,240
9,939
11,668
4,063
50,910

NOTE 11 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Accumulated other comprehensive loss at the balance sheet dates is comprised of the following:

(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2012

Pension and
Other Post
Retirement
Employee
Benefit Plans
Adjustments

Total

Foreign 
Currency 
Translation 
Adjustments1
$

(874) $ (114,819) $ (115,693)

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
Other comprehensive income, net of tax2
Balance at December 31, 2013

—

—

—

9,468

48,132

57,600

9,468

48,132

57,600

$

(874) $

(57,219) $

(58,093)

1 

2 

This balance consists of unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments related to the operations of our Canadian subsidiary before its 
functional currency was changed from Canadian dollars to U.S. dollars in 2012.  

Net periodic costs associated with our pension and other postretirement employee benefit plans included in other comprehensive income and 
reclassified  from  accumulated  other  comprehensive  loss  includes  $83.6  million  of  net  gain  on  plan  assets,  $14.8  million  of  actuarial  loss 
amortization, $5.1 million of prior service costs arising during the period, $0.8 million of curtailments and $0.2 million related to prior service 
credit, net of tax of $36.3 million. These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic 
pension and OPEB costs in Note 12, “Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans.” 

NOTE 12 Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans
Certain of our employees are eligible to participate in defined contribution savings and defined benefit postretirement 
plans.  These  include  401(k)  savings  plans,  defined  benefit  pension  plans  including  company-sponsored  and 
multiemployer plans, and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit, or OPEB, plans, each of which is discussed below.

401(k) Savings Plans

Substantially all of our employees are eligible to participate in 401(k) savings plans, which include a company match 
component.  In 2013, 2012 and 2011, we made matching 401(k) contributions on behalf of employees of $16.8 million, 
$14.9 million and $8.1 million, respectively. 

Company-Sponsored Defined Benefit Pension Plans

A  majority  of  our  salaried  employees  and  a  portion  of  our  hourly  employees  are  covered  by  company-sponsored 
noncontributory defined benefit pension plans.

During  the  second  quarter  of  2013,  we  recorded  a  curtailment  loss  of  $0.8  million  in  net  periodic  cost,  and  a 
corresponding change in Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax, due to the freezing of pension benefits for certain 
employees at our Lewiston, Idaho pulp and paperboard facility, effective June 30, 2013. In the fourth quarter of 2012, 
we recorded a curtailment loss of $0.5 million  in net periodic cost, and a corresponding change in Other Comprehensive 
Income, net of tax, as a result of certain hourly employees at our Cypress Bend, Arkansas pulp and paperboard facility 
electing to cease accruing further pension benefits effective December 31, 2012.  In exchange, beginning January 1, 
2013 and lasting for a certain number of years, these employees began receiving an enhanced employer contribution 
to  one  of  our  existing  401(k)  savings  plan  in  which  they  participate.  In  the  fourth  quarter  of  2011,  we  recorded  a 
curtailment loss of  $2.8 million  in net periodic cost, and a corresponding change in Other Comprehensive Income, 
net of tax, as a result of the sale of our sawmill. In addition, we recorded a $0.4 million decrease in our pension liability 
with a corresponding decrease in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss.

Company-Sponsored OPEB Plans

We also provide benefits under company-sponsored defined benefit retiree health care and life insurance plans, which 
cover certain salaried and hourly employees. Most of the retiree health care plans require retiree contributions and 
contain other cost-sharing features. The retiree life insurance plans are primarily noncontributory.

59

Funded Status of Company-Sponsored Plans

As required by current standards governing the accounting for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, 
we  recognized  the  funded  status  of  our  company-sponsored  plans  on  our  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets  at 
December 31, 2013 and 2012. The funded status is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value (with 
limited exceptions) and the benefit obligation. For a pension plan, the benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation; 
for any other postretirement employee benefit plan, such as a retiree health care plan, the benefit obligation is the 
accumulated postretirement employee benefit obligation.

We use a December 31 measurement date for our benefit plans.

The  changes  in  benefit  obligation,  plan  assets  and  funded  status  for  company-sponsored  benefit  plans  as  of 
December 31 are as follows:

(In thousands)
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
Service cost
Interest cost
Plan changes
Actuarial (gains) losses
Medicare Part D subsidies received
Benefits paid
Benefit obligation at end of year
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
Actual return on plan assets
Employer contribution
Benefits paid
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
Funded status at end of year

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(In thousands)
Noncurrent asset
Current liabilities
Noncurrent liabilities
Net amount recognized

Pension Benefit Plans

Other Postretirement
Employee Benefit Plans

$

2013
333,257 $
1,738
13,375
—
(36,859)
—
(18,123)
293,388
254,556
34,779
15,386
(18,123)
286,598

$

(6,790) $

2012
2012
136,710
307,658 $
693
2,485
5,815
14,693
(5,278)
—
3,151
30,612
569
—
(7,042)
(22,191)
134,618
333,257
18
218,557
1
37,308
—
20,882
—
(22,191)
254,556
19
(78,701) $ (107,307) $ (134,599)

2013
134,618 $
552
4,730
5,106
(30,322)
308
(7,665)
107,327
19
1
—
—
20

Pension Benefit Plans

Other Postretirement
Employee Benefit Plans

2013

2012

2013

2012

$

$

4,488 $
(364)
(10,914)

(6,790) $

— $

— $

—
(8,856)
(281)
(8,414)
(78,420)
(125,743)
(98,893)
(78,701) $ (107,307) $ (134,599)

Amounts recognized (pre-tax) in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss as of December 31 consist of:

(In thousands)
Net loss (gain)
Prior service cost (credit)
Net amount recognized

Pension Benefit Plans

Other Postretirement
Employee Benefit Plans

2013
109,218 $
308
109,526 $

2012
177,343 $
1,414
178,757 $

$

$

2013

(5,915) $
(896)
(6,811) $

2012
24,408
(6,504)
17,904

60

 
 
 
Information as of December 31 for certain pension plans included above with accumulated benefit obligations in excess 
of plan assets were as follows:

(In thousands)
Projected benefit obligation
Accumulated benefit obligation
Fair value of plan assets

2013

2012

$ 293,388 $ 333,257
333,257
254,556

293,388
286,598

Pre-tax components of Net Periodic Cost and other amounts recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) for 
the years ended December 31 were as follows:

Net Periodic Cost (Benefit):

(In thousands)
Service cost

Interest cost

Expected return on plan assets

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

Amortization of actuarial loss

Curtailments

Net periodic cost

Pension Benefit Plans

2013
1,738 $

2012
2,485 $

2011
7,725 $

$

13,375

14,693

15,092

(18,352)

(19,685)

(19,532)

337
14,840

634

12,085

1,193

8,382

769

477
$ 12,707 $ 10,689 $ 15,636 $

2,776

Other Postretirement
Employee Benefit Plans

2013

2012

2011

552 $

693 $

702

4,730

—

5,815

—

6,857

—

(502)

(2,680)

(1,795)

—

—
4,780 $

—

—

—

—

3,828 $

5,764

Other amounts recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):

(In thousands)
Net (gain) loss
Curtailments

Prior service cost (credit)

Amortization of prior service (cost) credit

Amortization of actuarial loss

Total recognized in other comprehensive
(income) loss

Total recognized in net periodic cost and
  other comprehensive (income) loss

Pension Benefit Plans

Other Postretirement
Employee Benefit Plans

2013

2012

2011

2013

$ (53,285) $ 12,989 $ 43,207 $ (30,323) $

(769)
—
(337)
(14,840)

(477)

(2,776)

—

(634)

(12,085)

—

(1,193)

(8,382)

—

5,106

502

—

2012
3,150 $ (5,435)

2011

—

(5,278)

2,680

—

—

—

1,795

—

$ (69,231) $

(207) $ 30,856 $ (24,715) $

552 $ (3,640)

$ (56,524) $ 10,482 $ 46,492 $ (19,935) $

4,380 $

2,124

The  estimated  net  loss  and  prior  service  cost  for  the  defined  benefit  pension  plans  that  will  be  amortized  from 
accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic cost (benefit) over the next fiscal year are $10.0 million and 
$0.2 million, respectively. The estimated prior service credit for the OPEB plans that will be amortized from accumulated 
other comprehensive loss into net periodic cost (benefit) over the next fiscal year is $0.5 million.

During 2013, $14.2 million of net periodic pension and OPEB costs were charged to cost of sales, and $3.3 million 
was  charged  to  selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  in  the  accompanying  Consolidated  Statements  of 
Operations.

The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 introduced a drug benefit under Medicare 
Part D and a federal subsidy to sponsors of retiree health care benefit plans that provide an equivalent benefit. Our 
actuaries determined that certain benefits provided under our plans are actuarially equivalent to the Medicare Part D 
standard plan and are eligible for the employer subsidy. During 2013 and 2012, we received subsidy payments totaling 
$0.3 million and $0.6 million for each respective year.

61

 
 
Weighted average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation as of December 31 were:

Discount rate

Pension Benefit Plans

Other Postretirement
Employee Benefit Plans

2013
5.20%

2012
4.15%

2011
4.90%

2013
5.05%

2012
4.05%

2011
4.95%

Weighted average assumptions used to determine the net periodic cost (benefit) for the years ended December 31 
were:

Discount rate
Expected return on plan assets
Rate of salaried compensation increase

Pension Benefit Plans

Other Postretirement
Employee Benefit Plans

2013
4.15%
7.50
—

2012
4.90%
8.00
—

2011
5.70%
8.00
4.00

2013
4.05%
—
—

2012
4.95%
—
—

2011
5.60%
—
—

The discount rate used in the determination of pension benefit obligations and pension expense was determined based 
on a review of long-term high-grade bonds as well as management’s expectations. The discount rate used to calculate 
OPEB obligations was determined using the same methodology we used for our pension plans.

The expected return on plan assets assumption is based upon an analysis of historical long-term returns for various 
investment categories, as measured by appropriate indices. These indices are weighted based upon the extent to 
which plan assets are invested in the particular categories in arriving at our determination of a composite expected 
return.

The assumed health care cost trend rate used to calculate OPEB obligations and expense was 7.7% in 2013, grading 
to a range of 4.30% to 4.64% over approximately 70 years. This assumption has a significant effect on the amounts 
reported. A one percentage point change in the health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:

(In thousands)
Effect on total of service and interest cost components
Effect on postretirement employee benefit obligation

1% Increase

$

521 $

9,304

1% Decrease
(438)
(7,997)

The investments of our defined benefit pension plans are held in a Master Trust. The assets of our OPEB plans are 
held within an Internal Revenue Code section 401(h) account for the payment of retiree medical benefits within the 
Master Trust.

The Master Trust has a securities lending agreement. The agreement authorizes the lending agent to loan securities 
owned by the Master Trust to an approved list of borrowers. Under the agreement, the lending agent is responsible 
for negotiating each loan for an unspecified term while retaining the power to terminate the loan at any time. At the 
time each loan is made, the lending agent requires collateral equal to, but not less than, 102% of the market value of 
the loaned securities and accrued interest. The Master Trust directs the agent as to the type of investment pool in 
which to invest the borrower’s collateral based on established policy with specific limits; accordingly, the right to receive 
the collateral and obligation to return it are disclosed as a component of Master Trust investments. While the securities 
are loaned, the Master Trust retains all rights of ownership, except it waives its right to vote such securities. Securities 
loaned subject to this securities lending agreement totaled $0.3 million at December 31, 2013. These securities are 
principally corporate common stocks.

Current accounting rules governing fair value measurement establish a framework for measuring fair value, which 
provides  a  fair  value  hierarchy  that  prioritizes  the  inputs  to  valuation  techniques  used  to  measure  fair  value. The 
hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 
measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair 
value hierarchy are described below:

62

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Level 1

Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or
liabilities in active markets that the plans have the ability to access.

Level 2

Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

   Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

   Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

   Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and

   Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by 

correlation or other means

If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be
observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3

Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value
measurement.

The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any 
input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable 
inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Securities in the Master Trust are stated at fair value. Fair value is based upon quotations obtained from national 
securities exchanges, if available. Where securities do not have a quoted market price, the recorded amount represents 
estimated fair value. Many factors are considered in arriving at that fair market value. Following is a description of the 
valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value. There have been no changes in the methodologies 
used during 2013.

Corporate common stock and mutual funds: Investments are valued at quoted market prices.

Common and collective trusts: The investment in common and collective trusts is based on the fair value of 
the underlying assets and is expressed in units.

Corporate  debt  securities:  In  general,  corporate  bonds  are  valued  based  on  yields  currently  available  on 
comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings.

The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value 
or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while management believes the valuation methods are appropriate and 
consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value 
of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.

The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the investments at fair value for our company-
sponsored pension benefit plans:

63

  
  
  
(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
Common and collective trusts:

International small cap
Global/International equity
International equity emerging markets

Common stocks:

Industrials
Energy
Consumer
Healthcare
Finance
Utilities
Information technology
Foreign

Mutual funds:

Foreign large blend
Long-term bond fund
Mid-cap growth fund

Subtotal
Payable held under securities lending agreement
Total investments at fair value

(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
Common and collective trusts:

International small cap
Global/International equity
Domestic equity – small/mid cap
International equity emerging markets

Common stocks:

Industrials
Energy
Consumer
Healthcare
Finance
Utilities
Information technology
Foreign

Mutual funds:

Foreign large blend
Long-term bond fund
Corporate debt securities
Subtotal
Payable held under securities lending agreement
Total investments at fair value

December 31, 2013

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

$

4,314 $

— $

— $

4,314

—
—
—

15,845
21,198
17,809

9,307
2,663
8,002
6,013
11,566
1,711
8,785
6,175

—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

18,492
137,031
18,009
$ 232,068 $

—
—
—
54,852 $

—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

15,845
21,198
17,809

9,307
2,663
8,002
6,013
11,566
1,711
8,785
6,175

18,492
—
137,031
—
—
18,009
— $ 286,920
(322)
$ 286,598

December 31, 2012

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

$

3,786 $

— $

— $

3,786

—
—
—
—

12,725
16,656
17,339
17,672

9,475
1,966
8,270
7,386
13,000
2,305
6,828
6,078

18,907
114,557
—

—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

—
—
1,073

$ 192,558 $

65,465 $

—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

12,725
16,656
17,339
17,672

9,475
1,966
8,270
7,386
13,000
2,305
6,828
6,078

18,907
—
114,557
—
—
1,073
— $ 258,023
(3,467)
$ 254,556

64

 
 
Our OPEB plan had approximately $20,000 held in cash and equivalents at December 31, 2013, which were categorized 
as level 1.

We have formal investment policy guidelines for our company-sponsored plans. These guidelines were set by our 
benefits committee, which is comprised of members of our management and has been assigned its fiduciary authority 
over management of the plan assets by our Board of Directors. The committee’s duties include periodically reviewing 
and modifying those investment policy guidelines as necessary and insuring that the policy is adhered to and the 
investment objectives are met.

The investment policy includes specific guidelines for specific categories of fixed income and convertible securities. 
Assets are managed by professional investment managers who are expected to achieve a reasonable rate of return 
over a market cycle. Long-term performance is a fundamental tenet of the policy.

The general policy states that plan assets would be invested to seek the greatest return consistent with the fiduciary 
character of the pension funds and to allow the plans to meet the need for timely pension benefit payments. The 
specific investment guidelines stipulate that management is to maintain adequate liquidity for meeting expected benefit 
payments by reviewing, on a timely basis, contribution and benefit payment levels and appropriately revising long-
term and short-term asset allocations. Management takes reasonable and prudent steps to preserve the value of 
pension fund assets and to avoid the risk of large losses. Major steps taken to provide this protection included:

Assets are diversified among various asset classes, such as domestic equities, international equities, fixed 
income and cash. The long-term asset allocation ranges are as follows:

Domestic equities
International equities, including emerging markets
Corporate bonds
Liquid reserves

19%-31%   
16%-34%   
40%-60%   
0%-1%   

Periodically, reviews of allocations within these ranges are made to determine what adjustments should be made 
based on changing economic and market conditions and specific liquidity requirements.

Assets were managed by professional investment managers and could be invested in separately managed 
accounts or commingled funds.

Assets were not invested in securities rated below BBB- by S&P or Baa3 by Moody’s.

The investment guidelines also required that the individual investment managers were expected to achieve a reasonable 
rate  of  return  over  a  market  cycle.  Emphasis  was  placed  on  long-term  performance  versus  short-term  market 
aberrations. Factors considered in determining reasonable rates of return included performance achieved by a diverse 
cross section of other investment managers, performance of commonly used benchmarks (e.g., Russell 3000 Index, 
MSCI World ex-U.S. Index, Barclays Capital Long Credit Index), actuarial assumptions for return on plan investments 
and specific performance guidelines given to individual investment managers.

At December 31, 2013, ten active investment managers managed substantially all of the pension funds, each of whom 
had responsibility for managing a specific portion of these assets. Plan assets were diversified among the various 
asset classes within the allocation ranges approved by the benefits committee.

We are required to make contributions to our qualified pension plans. In 2013 we contributed $15.1 million to these 
pension plans. We also contributed $0.3 million to our non-qualified pension plan in 2013. Our cash contributions in 
2014 are estimated to be approximately $15 million. These contributions are comprised of $8 million in actuarially 
determined minimum contributions and $7 million of payments required to be made under a previous agreement with 
the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation stemming from the 2011 sale of the Lewiston, Idaho Sawmill. We do not 
anticipate funding our OPEB plans in 2013 except to pay benefit costs as incurred during the year by plan participants.

Estimated future benefit payments, which reflect expected future service and expected Medicare prescription subsidy 
receipts, are as follows for the years indicated:

65

   
   
   
   
(In thousands)
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019-2023

Pension Benefit 
Plans

Other
Postretirement
Employee
Benefit Plans

Expected
Medicare
Subsidy

$

17,837 $
18,361
18,942
19,486
19,932
103,091

8,744 $
8,947
9,268
9,190
9,229
39,664

310
313
315
313
309
1,436

Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans

Hourly employees at two of our manufacturing facilities participate in multiemployer defined benefit pension plans: the 
PACE Industry Union Management Pension Fund, or PIUMPF, which is managed by United Steelworkers, or USW, 
Benefits; and the International Association of Machinist & Aerospace Workers National Pension Fund, or IAM. We 
make contributions to these plans, as well as make contributions to a trust fund established to provide retiree medical 
benefits for a portion of these employees, which is also managed by USW Benefits. The risks of participating in these 
multiemployer plans are different from single-employer plans in the following respects:

Assets contributed to the multiemployer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees 
of other participating employers.
If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne 
by the remaining participating employers.
Under  applicable  federal  law,  any  employer  contributing  to  a  multiemployer  pension  plan  that  completely 
ceases participating in the plan while it is underfunded is subject to an assessment of such employer's allocable 
share of the aggregate unfunded vested benefits of the plan. In certain circumstances, an employer can also 
be  assessed  a  withdrawal  liability  for  a  partial  withdrawal  from  a  multiemployer  pension  plan.  Based  on 
information  as  of  December  31,  2012  provided  by  PIUMPF  and  reviewed  by  our  actuarial  consultant,  we 
estimate  the  aggregate  pre-tax  liability  that  we  would  have  incurred  if  we  had  completely  withdrawn  from 
PIUMPF in 2013 would have been in excess of $72 million. However, the exact amount of potential exposure 
could be higher or lower than the estimate, depending on, among other things, the nature and timing of any 
triggering events and the funded status of PIUMPF at that time. A withdrawal liability is recorded for accounting 
purposes when withdrawal is probable and the amount of the withdrawal obligation is reasonably estimable.

Our participation in these plans for the annual period ended December 31, 2013, is outlined in the table below. The 
“EIN" and "Plan Number” columns provide the Employee Identification Number, or EIN, and the three-digit plan number. 
The most recent Pension Protection Act, or PPA, zone status available in 2013 and 2012 is for a plan’s year-end as 
of December 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively. The zone status is based on information we received 
from the plans and is certified by each plans’ actuary. Among other factors, plans in the red zone are generally less 
than 65 percent funded, plans in the yellow zone are less than 80 percent but more than 65 percent funded, and plans 
in the green zone are at least 80 percent funded. The “FIP/RP Status Pending/Implemented” column indicates plans 
for which a financial improvement plan, or FIP, or a rehabilitation plan, or RP, is either pending or has been implemented 
as required by the PPA as a measure to correct its underfunded status. The last column lists the expiration date(s) of 
the collective-bargaining agreement(s) to which the plans are subject. 

In 2013, the contribution rates for the IAM plan increased to $4.00 an hour, up from $3.25 an hour in 2012 and $3.00 
an hour in 2011, affecting the comparability of the contributions year over year. Similarly, in November of 2011, the 
USW plan’s contribution rates increased from $2.4285 an hour to $2.6714 an hour. The USW plan's rate increase was 
implemented as part of the RP in lieu of the legally required surcharge, paid by the employers, to assist the fund’s 
financial status. As such, the USW contribution rate changes affect comparability of the contributions year over year. 
We were listed in the USW Plan’s Form 5500 report as providing more than five percent of the total contributions for 
the years 2012 and 2011. At the date of issuance of our consolidated financial statements, Form 5500 reports for these 
plans were not available for the 2013 plan year.

PPA Zone

Status      

EIN

Plan
Number

2013

2012

FIP/
RP Status Pending/
Implemented

Contributions (in
thousands)

2013

2012

2011

51-6031295

11-6166763

002

001

Green Green

N/A

$

343

$

288

$

269

Red

Red

Implemented

5,718

5,673

5,648

Expiration
 Date
of Collective
Bargaining
Agreement

5/31/2016

8/31/2014

Surcharge
Imposed

No

No

Pension
Fund

IAM

USW

Total Contributions:

$ 6,061

$ 5,961

$ 5,917

66

NOTE 13 Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per common share are computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number 
of common shares outstanding and by the weighted average number of dilutive potential common shares, in accordance 
with accounting guidance related to earnings per share. The following table reconciles the number of common shares 
used in calculating the basic and diluted net earnings per share: 

Basic average common shares outstanding1
Incremental shares due to:

Restricted stock units
Performance shares

Diluted average common shares outstanding
Basic net earnings per common share
Diluted net earnings per common share
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from calculation

2013
22,081,026

2012
23,298,663

2011
22,913,881

53,803
129,003
22,263,832
$

24,086
291,036
23,613,785

4.84 $
4.80
41,337

2.75 $
2.72
9,992

220,457
817,946
23,952,284
1.73
1.66
88,674

1 

Basic average common shares outstanding include restricted stock awards that are fully vested, but are deferred for future issuance. See 
Note 14, "Equity-Based Compensation Plans" for further discussion.

NOTE 14 Equity-Based Compensation Plans

The  Clearwater  Paper  Corporation  2008  Stock  Incentive  Plan,  or  Stock  Plan,  which  has  been  approved  by  our 
stockholders,  provides  for  equity-based  awards  in  the  form  of  restricted  shares,  restricted  stock  units,  or  RSUs, 
performance  shares,  stock  options,  or  stock  appreciation  rights  to  selected  employees,  outside  directors,  and 
consultants  of  the  company. The  Stock  Plan  became  effective  on  December 16,  2008.  Under  the  Stock  Plan,  as 
amended, we are authorized to issue up to approximately 4.1 million shares, which includes approximately 0.7 million 
additional shares authorized in connection with our acquisition of Cellu Tissue that are available for issuance as equity-
based awards only to any employees, outside directors, or consultants who were not employed on December 26, 2010 
by Clearwater Paper Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. At December 31, 2013, approximately 1.9 million shares 
were available for future issuance under the Stock Plan.

We recognize equity-based compensation expense for all equity-based payment awards made to employees and 
directors, including RSUs and performance shares, based on estimated fair values and net of estimates of future 
forfeitures. Expense is classified in selling, general and administrative expense in our Consolidated Statements of 
Operations and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of each award. Based on the 
terms of the Stock Plan, retirement-eligible employees become fully vested in outstanding awards on the later of that 
date they reach retirement eligibility or at the end of the first calendar year of each respective grant. We account for 
this  feature  when  determining  the  service  period  over  which  to  recognize  expense  for  each  grant  of  RSUs  and 
performance shares.

Employee equity-based compensation expense was recognized as follows: 

(In thousands)
Restricted stock units
Performance shares

Total employee equity-based compensation

Related tax benefit

RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

2013

2012

2011

$

$
$

1,801 $
5,075
6,876 $
2,049 $

970 $

7,364
8,334 $
2,886 $

1,212
5,446
6,658
2,290

RSUs granted under our Stock Plan are generally subject to a vesting period of one to three years. RSU awards will 
accrue dividend equivalents based on dividends paid, if any, during the RSU vesting period. The dividend equivalents 
will be converted into additional RSUs that will vest in the same manner as the underlying RSUs to which they relate. 
RSUs granted under our Stock Plan do not represent common stock, and therefore the holders do not have voting 
rights unless and until shares are issued upon settlement.

67

A summary of the status of outstanding unvested RSU awards as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, and changes 
during those years, is presented below: 

Unvested shares outstanding at

January 1

Granted

Vested

Forfeited

Unvested shares outstanding at
  December 31
Aggregate intrinsic value (in
  thousands)

2013

2012

2011

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Shares

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Shares

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Shares

63,727 $

72,702

(30,190)
(3,581)

35.57

43.44

39.21

42.03

169,344 $

52,294

(155,177)

(2,734)

11.33

34.59

8.82

34.07

437,272 $

23,138

(286,486)

(4,580)

6.96

38.42

6.88

8.64

102,658

39.85

63,727

35.57

169,344

11.33

$

5,390

$

2,496

$

6,030

During 2013, 126,726 shares of RSUs were distributed. Of these shares, 22,370 were RSU shares that were settled 
and distributed in the fourth quarter of 2013. The remaining 104,356 shares were RSU shares that were settled in prior 
years but distribution had been deferred to preserve tax deductibility for the company in the respective years because 
distribution of these shares would have resulted in certain executive compensation being above the Internal Revenue 
Code section 162(m) threshold for those years. After adjusting for minimum tax withholdings a net 73,154 shares were 
issued during 2013. The minimum tax withholdings payment made in 2013 in connection with issued shares was $2.6 
million. 

During 2012, 288,336 shares of RSUs were settled, of which 112,682 shares were settled and distributed. The remaining 
175,654 shares were deferred under Internal Revenue Code section 162(m). Included in the total shares settled during 
2012 were RSUs of which a portion vested each year over a three year period ending in January 2012. After adjusting 
for minimum tax withholdings and deferred shares, a net 78,029 shares were issued during 2012. The minimum tax 
withholdings payment made in 2012 in connection with issued shares was $1.3 million. 

As of December 31, 2013 a total of 84,602 shares remain deferred under Internal Revenue Code section 162(m).

The fair value of each RSU share award granted during 2013 was estimated on the date of grant using the grant date 
market price of our common stock. The total fair value of share awards that vested during 2013 was $1.2 million. 

As of December 31, 2013, there was $2.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding RSU 
awards. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years.

PERFORMANCE SHARES

Performance share awards granted under our Stock Plan have a three-year performance period, with generally the 
same service period, and shares are issued after the end of the period if the employee provides the requisite service 
and the performance measure is met. The performance measure is a comparison of the percentile ranking of our total 
stockholder return compared to the total stockholder return performance of a selected peer group. The performance 
measure is considered to represent a “market condition” under authoritative accounting guidance, and thus, the market 
condition is considered when determining the estimate of the fair value of the performance share awards. The number 
of shares actually issued, as a percentage of the amount subject to the performance share award, could range from 
0%-200%.

Performance share awards granted under our Stock Plan do not represent common stock, and therefore the holders 
do not have voting rights unless and until shares are issued upon settlement. During the performance period, dividend 
equivalents accrue based on dividends paid, if any, and are converted into additional performance shares, which vest 
or are forfeited in the same manner as the underlying performance shares to which they relate. Generally, if an employee 
terminates prior to completing the requisite service period, all or a portion of their awards are forfeited and the previously 
recognized  compensation  cost  is  reversed.  If  an  employee  provides  the  requisite  service  through  the  end  of  the 
performance period, but the performance measure is not met, following authoritative guidance for awards with a market 
condition, previously recognized compensation cost is not reversed.

68

 
 
The fair value of performance share awards is estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation model. For performance 
shares granted in 2013, the following assumptions were used in our Monte Carlo model:

Closing price of stock on date of grant
Risk free rate
Measurement period
Volatility

$

47.30

0.35%
3 years
30%

In addition to the above assumptions, the dividend yields for all companies were assumed to be zero since dividends 
are included in the definition of total shareholder return.

A summary of the status of outstanding performance share awards as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, and 
changes during those years, is presented below:

Outstanding share awards at
  January 1
Granted

Settled

Forfeited

Outstanding share awards at
  December 31
Aggregate intrinsic value (in
  thousands)

2013

2012

2011

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Shares

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Shares

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Shares

392,655 $
124,513
(246,592)
(10,735)

44.67

63.46

47.19

54.87

749,538 $

150,865

(499,680)

(8,068)

19.52

40.24

5.65

42.15

638,870 $

110,668

13.00

57.18

—

—

—

—

259,841

50.87

392,655

44.67

749,538

19.52

$

13,642

$

15,376

$

26,691

On December 31, 2013, the three-year performance period for 108,366 performance shares granted in 2011 ended. 
The requisite market condition performance measure was not met, and as such no shares will be paid or issued under 
these awards. 

The  service  and  performance  period  for  138,226  outstanding  performance  shares  granted  in  2010  ended  on 
December 31,  2012. Those  performance  shares  were  settled  and distributed  during the  first quarter  of  2013. The 
number of shares actually distributed, as a percentage of the performance shares granted, was 101.4%. After adjusting 
for the related minimum tax withholdings, a net 93,744 shares were issued in the first quarter of 2013. The related 
minimum tax withholdings payment made in the first quarter of 2013 in connection with issued shares was $2.2 million. 

As  of  December 31,  2013,  there  was  $5.6  million  of  unrecognized  compensation  cost  related  to  outstanding 
performance share awards. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 years.

DIRECTOR AWARDS

In connection with joining our Board of Directors, in January 2009 our outside directors at that time were granted an 
award of phantom common stock units, which were credited to an account established on behalf of each director and 
vested ratably over a three-year period with the final vesting in January 2012. Subsequent equity awards have been 
granted annually in May, or on a pro-rata basis as applicable, to our outside directors in the form of phantom common 
stock units as part of their annual compensation, which are credited to their accounts. These awards vest ratably over 
a one-year period. These accounts will be credited with additional phantom common stock units equal in value to 
dividends paid, if any, on the same amount of common stock. Upon separation from service as a director, the vested 
portion of the phantom common stock units held by the director in a stock unit account are converted to cash based 
upon the then market price of the common stock and paid to the director. Due to its cash-settlement feature, we account 
for these awards as liabilities rather than equity and recognize the equity-based compensation expense or income at 
the end of each reporting period based on the portion of the award that is vested and the increase or decrease in the 
value  of  our  common  stock.  We  recorded  director  equity-based  compensation  expense  totaling  $4.1  million,  $1.4 
million and $1.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. At December 31, 2013 
and  2012,  the  liability  amounts  associated  with  director  equity-based  compensation  included  in  "Other  long-term 
obligations" on our Consolidated Balance Sheets were $13.2 million and $9.1 million, respectively.

69

 
 
NOTE 15 Fair Value Measurements

The estimated fair values of our financial instruments as of our balance sheet dates are presented below:

(In thousands)
Cash, short-term investments and restricted cash (Level 1)
Long-term debt (Level 1)

2013

2012

Carrying
Amount

Fair
Value

Carrying
Amount

Fair
Value

$

95,206 $

95,206 $

34,079 $

34,079

650,000

651,313

523,933

572,625

Accounting guidance establishes a framework for measuring the fair value of financial instruments, providing a hierarchy 
that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority 
to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities, or “Level 1” measurements, followed 
by quoted prices of similar assets or observable market data, or “Level 2” measurements, and the lowest priority to 
unobservable inputs, or “Level 3” measurements.

The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any 
input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used should seek to maximize the use of 
observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Cash,  short-term  investments,  restricted  cash  and  long-term  debt  are  the  only  items  measured  at  fair  value  on  a 
recurring basis. The carrying amount of our short-term investments approximates fair value due to their very short 
maturity periods, and such investments are at or near market yields.

We do not have any financial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Nonfinancial assets measured 
at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include items such as long-lived assets held and used that are measured at fair 
value resulting from impairment, if deemed necessary.

NOTE 16 Commitments and Contingencies

LEASE COMMITMENTS

Our operating leases cover manufacturing, office, warehouse and distribution space, equipment and vehicles, which 
expire at various dates through 2028. Additionally, we have capital leases related to our North Carolina converting and 
manufacturing facilities. As leases expire, it can be expected that, in the normal course of business, certain leases will 
be renewed or replaced.

As of December 31, 2013, under current operating and capital lease contracts, we had future minimum lease payments 
as follows:

(In thousands)
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Thereafter
Total future minimum lease payments
Less interest portion

Present value of future minimum lease payments

Capital

Operating

$

$

$

2,375 $
2,420
2,466
2,513
2,560
34,802
47,136 $
(23,141)
23,995

17,335
12,926
9,823
8,555
6,141
10,478
65,258

Rent expense for operating leases was $19.4 million, $16.6 million and $16.1 million for the years ended December 31, 
2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

70

 
 
NOTE 17 Segment Information
We are organized in two reportable operating segments: Consumer Products and Pulp and Paperboard. Intersegment 
pulp transfers from our Pulp and Paperboard segment to our Consumer Products segment are transferred at cost. As 
a result, there are no eliminations required to reconcile our total consolidated net sales to the segments' total net sales.

Following  is  a  tabular  presentation  of  business  segment  information  for  each  of  the  past  three  years.  Corporate 
information is included to reconcile segment data to the financial statements. 

(In thousands)
Segment net sales:

Consumer Products
Pulp and Paperboard
Total segment net sales
Operating income:

Consumer Products
Pulp and Paperboard1

Corporate and eliminations1
Income from operations
Depreciation and amortization:

Consumer Products
Pulp and Paperboard
Corporate

Total depreciation and amortization
Assets:

Consumer Products
Pulp and Paperboard

Corporate
Total assets
Capital expenditures:
Consumer Products
Pulp and Paperboard

Corporate

Total capital expenditures

2013

2012

2011

$ 1,149,692 $ 1,134,556 $ 1,092,133
835,840
$ 1,889,830 $ 1,874,304 $ 1,927,973

739,748

740,138

$

$

$

$

52,799 $
95,781
148,580
(49,252)
99,328 $

93,347 $

103,910
197,257
(51,870)
145,387 $

42,806
92,827
135,633
(20,188)
115,445

65,197 $
23,266
1,809

90,272 $

54,547 $
23,113
1,673

79,333 $

50,391
26,073
469
76,933

$ 1,215,919 $ 1,178,438 $ 1,081,988
355,886
1,437,874
133,444
$ 1,744,825 $ 1,633,456 $ 1,571,318

359,735
1,575,654
169,171

344,614
1,523,052
110,404

$

$

46,647 $
30,846
77,493
9,015

86,508 $

183,330 $

19,954
203,284
3,831
207,115 $

117,059
15,355
132,414
5,329
137,743

1 

Results for Pulp and Paperboard for 2011 included additional expenses associated with the sale of the Lewiston, Idaho sawmill, which were 
partially offset by LIFO inventory liquidation and other adjustments recorded at the corporate level.

71

Our  manufacturing  facilities  and  all  other  assets  are  located  within  the  continental  United  States,  except  for  one 
production facility in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. We sell and ship our products to customers in many foreign 
countries. Geographic information regarding our net sales is summarized as follows:

(In thousands)
United States
Japan
Canada
Korea
Australia
China
Mexico
Taiwan
Other foreign countries
Total net sales

2013

2011

2012
$ 1,751,001 $ 1,726,561 $ 1,751,482
63,584
31,256
5,426
6,246
15,081
13,619
16,205
25,074
$ 1,889,830 $ 1,874,304 $ 1,927,973

63,368
29,557
9,655
7,786
3,488
6,102
11,061
16,726

67,728
26,161
10,899
7,924
5,404
2,964
1,755
15,994

NOTE 18 Financial Results by Quarter (Unaudited)

(In thousands—
  except per-share
  amounts)
Net sales

Costs and
  expenses:
Cost of sales

Selling, general and
  administrative
  expenses

Total operating
  costs and
  expenses

Income from
  operations

Net (loss) earnings

Net (loss) earnings
  per common share

Basic

Diluted

March 31

June 30

September 30

December 31

2013

2012

2013

2012

2013

2012

2013

2012

$ 460,824

$ 457,798

$ 471,002

$ 473,572

$ 487,845

$ 480,233

$ 470,159

$ 462,701

Three Months Ended

(414,209)

(403,076)

(414,521)

(398,546)

(441,237)

(409,822)

(401,404)

(396,428)

(34,132)

(29,074)

(26,767)

(30,529)

(27,766)

(30,649)

(30,466)

(30,793)

(448,341)

(432,150)

(441,288)

(429,075)

(469,003)

(440,471)

(431,870)

(427,221)

12,483

25,648

29,714

44,497

18,842

39,762

38,289

35,480

(882) $

3,726

$

11,658

$

21,489

$

13,317

$

19,064

$

82,862

$

19,852

(0.04) $

(0.04)

$

0.16

0.16

$

0.52

0.52

$

0.92

0.91

$

0.60

0.60

$

0.82

0.80

$

3.91

3.87

0.86

0.84

$

$

72

 
 
NOTE 19 Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information
All of our directly and indirectly owned, domestic subsidiaries guarantee the 2013 Notes and the 2010 Notes on a joint 
and  several  basis. As  of  December 31,  2013,  the  2013  Notes  and  2010  Notes  were  not  guaranteed  by  Interlake 
Acquisition Corporation Limited, a foreign subsidiary. There are no significant restrictions on the ability of the guarantor 
subsidiaries to make distributions to Clearwater Paper, the issuer of the 2013 Notes and 2010 Notes. The following 
tables present the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of Clearwater Paper and its subsidiaries, the 
guarantor and non-guarantor entities, and the eliminations necessary to arrive at the information for Clearwater Paper 
on a consolidated basis.

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2013 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

(94,861)

(22,918)

Total operating costs and expenses

(1,298,806)

(490,740)

(1,203,945)

(467,822)

Guarantor

Non-
Guarantor

Issuer

Subsidiaries Subsidiaries Eliminations

Total

$ 1,408,941

$

480,599

$

29,494

$

(29,204) $ 1,889,830

110,135

(44,031)

(17,058)

49,046

61,778

(15,370)

(10,141)

(5)

—

(10,146)

(4,420)

(804)

(28,808)

(1,352)

(30,160)

(666)

—

—

(666)

(138)

—

29,204

(1,671,371)

—

(119,131)

29,204

(1,790,502)

—

—

—

—

11,501

16,174

99,328

(44,036)

(17,058)

38,234

68,721

—

$

95,454

$

(15,370) $

(804) $

27,675

$

106,955

Other comprehensive income, net of tax
Comprehensive income (loss)

57,600

—

—

—

57,600

$

153,054

$

(15,370) $

(804) $

27,675

$

164,555

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2012 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

(96,668)

(22,268)

Total operating costs and expenses

(1,246,081)

(476,651)

(1,149,413)

(454,383)

Guarantor

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries Subsidiaries Eliminations

Total

Issuer

$ 1,375,732

$

492,074

$

26,478

$

(19,980) $ 1,874,304

129,651

(33,796)

95,855

(42,440)

1,339

15,423

—

15,423

(14,362)

278

(24,056)

(2,109)

(26,165)

313

—

313

(35)

—

19,980

(1,607,872)

—

(121,045)

19,980

(1,728,917)

—

—

—

9,377

(1,617)

145,387

(33,796)

111,591

(47,460)

—

$

$

54,754

$

1,339

$

278

$

7,760

$

64,131

(428)

—

—

—

(428)

54,326

$

1,339

$

278

$

7,760

$

63,703

73

(In thousands)
Net sales

Cost and expenses:

Cost of sales

Income (loss) from operations

Interest expense, net

Debt retirement costs

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

Income tax benefit (provision)

Equity in income of subsidiary

Net earnings (loss)

(In thousands)
Net sales

Cost and expenses:

Cost of sales

Income from operations

Interest expense, net

Earnings before income taxes

Income tax provision

Equity in income of subsidiary

Net earnings

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Comprehensive income

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2011 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

(61,794)

(44,481)

Total operating costs and expenses

(1,318,301)

(537,819)

(1,256,507)

(493,338)

(In thousands)
Net sales

Cost and expenses:

Cost of sales

Income (loss) from operations

Interest expense, net

Other, net

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

Income tax (provision) benefit

Equity in income of subsidiary

Net earnings

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Comprehensive income

Guarantor

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries Subsidiaries Eliminations

Total

Issuer

$ 1,464,570

$

508,341

$

32,977

$

(77,915) $ 1,927,973

146,269

(44,187)

(215)

101,867

(34,018)

(31,542)

(29,478)

(622)

388

(29,712)

1,857

(3,687)

(30,600)

(3,723)

(34,323)

(1,346)

—

111

(1,235)

(2,452)

—

77,915

(1,702,530)

—

(109,998)

77,915

(1,812,528)

—

—

—

—

3,367

35,229

115,445

(44,809)

284

70,920

(31,246)

—

$

$

36,307

$

(31,542) $

(3,687) $

38,596

$

39,674

(16,913)

—

—

—

(16,913)

19,394

$

(31,542) $

(3,687) $

38,596

$

22,761

74

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Consolidating Balance Sheet
At December 31, 2013 

(In thousands)

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash

Restricted cash

Short-term investments

Receivables, net

Taxes receivable

Inventories

Deferred tax assets

Prepaid expenses

Total current assets

Property, plant and equipment, net

Goodwill

Intangible assets, net

Intercompany receivable (payable)

Investment in subsidiary

Pension assets

Other assets, net

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’
  EQUITY
Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued 
  liabilities

Current liability for pensions and 
  other postretirement employee 
  benefits

Total current liabilities

Long-term debt

Liability for pensions and other 
  postretirement employee benefits

Other long-term obligations

Accrued taxes

Deferred tax liabilities

Accumulated other comprehensive loss,
  net of tax

Stockholders’ equity excluding
  accumulated other comprehensive loss

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
  STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Issuer

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries Eliminations

Total

$

18,273 $

— $

5,402 $

1,500

70,000

119,278

3,709

198,476

42,289

4,704

458,229

636,662

229,533

—

91,865

196,763

4,488

8,772
$1,626,312 $

—

—

38,063

(15,882)

65,017

6,094

695

93,987

231,225

—

39,619

(63,932)

5,575

—

1,155

307,629 $

—

—

2,700

324

4,295

5

124

12,850

16,811

—

1,159

—

—

— $
—

—

23,675

1,500

70,000

(1,167)

158,874

22,352

—

(10,850)

—

10,335

—

—

—

10,503

267,788

37,538

5,523

575,401

884,698

229,533

40,778

—

—

(16,431)

(11,502)

(202,338)

—

4,488

—

9,927
14,389 $ (203,505) $1,744,825

—

$ 140,125 $

45,736 $

5,954 $

(1,167) $ 190,648

8,778

148,903

650,000

109,807

51,740

1,430

59,338

—

45,736

—

—

1,202

911

63,017

(58,093)

—

—

5,954

—

—

—

317

2,543

—

(1,167)

—

—

—

—

—

—

8,778

199,426

650,000

109,807

52,942

2,658

124,898

(58,093)

663,187

196,763

5,575

(202,338)

663,187

$1,626,312 $

307,629 $

14,389 $ (203,505) $1,744,825

75

 
Clearwater Paper Corporation
Consolidating Balance Sheet
At December 31, 2012 

(In thousands)
ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash

Short-term investments

Receivables, net

Taxes receivable

Inventories

Deferred tax assets

Prepaid expenses

Total current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net

Goodwill

Intangible assets, net

Intercompany receivable (payable)

Investment in subsidiary

Other assets, net

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’
  EQUITY
Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued 
  liabilities

Current liability for pensions and 
  other postretirement employee 
  benefits

Total current liabilities

Long-term debt

Liability for pensions and other 
  postretirement employee benefits

Other long-term obligations

Accrued taxes

Deferred tax liabilities (assets)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss,
  net of tax

Stockholders’ equity excluding
  accumulated other comprehensive loss

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
  STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Issuer

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries Eliminations

Total

5 $

1,469 $

— $

12,579

—

20,000

(2,029)

154,143

$

11,105 $
20,000

109,129

20,712

163,422

11,750

11,441

347,559

618,076

229,533

—

108,530

209,431

9,948
$1,523,077 $

—

41,431

116

63,476

4,595

708

110,331

242,818

—

46,379

(91,881)

6,204

379

—

5,612

—

4,568

—

165

11,814

16,483

—

1,374

—

—

—

—

791

—

(1,238)

—

—

—

20,828

231,466

17,136

12,314

468,466

877,377

229,533

47,753

—

—

(15,858)

(791)

(215,635)

314,230 $

13,813 $ (217,664) $1,633,456

—

10,327

$ 132,360 $

30,630 $

4,635 $

(2,029) $ 165,596

9,137

141,497

523,933

204,163

49,102

76,617

(13,129)

—

30,630

—

—

1,808

1,771

70,590

(115,693)

—

—

4,635

—

—

—

311

2,663

—

—

(2,029)

—

—

—

—

—

—

9,137

174,733

523,933

204,163

50,910

78,699

60,124

(115,693)

656,587

209,431

6,204

(215,635)

656,587

$1,523,077 $

314,230 $

13,813 $ (217,664) $1,633,456

76

 
Clearwater Paper Corporation
Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2013 

(In thousands)

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING
  ACTIVITIES
Net earnings (loss)

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) 
  to net cash flows from operating activities:

Issuer

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries Eliminations

Total

$

95,454 $

(15,370) $

(804) $

27,675 $ 106,955

Depreciation and amortization

54,291

33,712

2,269

Non-cash adjustments to unrecognized
  taxes
Deferred tax provision (benefit)

Equity-based compensation expense

Employee benefit plans

Deferred issuance costs and discounts
  on long-term debt
Disposal of plant and equipment, net

Changes in working capital, net

Change in taxes receivable, net

Change in non-current accrued taxes, net

Funding of qualified pension plans

Change in restricted cash

Other, net

Net cash flows from operating activities

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
  ACTIVITIES
Change in short-term investments, net

Additions to plant and equipment

Net cash flows from investing activities

(75,308)
3,185

10,960

10,131

4,964

201

(31,256)
17,003

1,423

(15,050)
—
(452)
75,546

—

(9,072)

—

—

1,291

11,747

15,998

(860)

—

(32)

923

—

(125)

—

—

1

4,487

(324)

6

—

—

—

(50,000)

(65,708)
(115,708)

—

(22,562)

(22,562)

—

(2,323)

(2,323)

—

—

11,641

—

—

—

—

—

(22,352)

—

—

—

—

90,272

(75,308)

5,629

10,960

10,131

4,964

1,493

(15,022)

10,325

569

(15,050)

(32)

471

38,337

5,510

16,964

136,357

—

—

—

—

—

—

(50,000)

(90,593)

(140,593)

275,000

(150,000)

(100,000)

—

(4,837)

(4,831)

15,332

11,096

12,579

23,675

—

—

—

—

—

—

(15,780)

746

(16,964)

—

—

(15,780)

(5)

5

—

—

746

3,933

1,469

— $

5,402 $

—

—

(16,964)

—

—
— $

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
  ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from long-term debt

Repayment of long-term debt

Purchase of treasury stock

Investment from (to) parent

Payment for long-term debt issuance costs
Payment of tax withholdings on equity-
  based payment arrangements

Net cash flows from financing activities

Increase (decrease) in cash

Cash at beginning of period

Cash at end of period

275,000
(150,000)
(100,000)
31,998
(4,837)

(4,831)
47,330

7,168

11,105
18,273 $

$

77

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2012 

(In thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING
  ACTIVITIES

Net earnings
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net
  cash flows from operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization
Non-cash adjustments to unrecognized
  taxes
Deferred tax provision (benefit)
Equity-based compensation expense
Employee benefit plans
Deferred issuance costs and discounts
  on long-term debt
Disposal of plant and equipment, net

Changes in working capital, net
Change in taxes receivable, net
Excess tax benefits from equity-based
  payment arrangements
Change in non-current accrued taxes, net
Funding of qualified pension plans
Change in restricted cash
Other, net
Net cash flows from operating activities

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
  ACTIVITIES
Change in short-term investments, net
Additions to plant and equipment
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of
  cash acquired
Proceeds from the sale of assets
Net cash flows from investing activities

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
  ACTIVITIES
Purchase of treasury stock
Investment from (to) parent
Payment for long-term debt issuance costs

Payment of tax withholdings on
  equity-based payment arrangements
Excess tax benefits from equity-based
  payment arrangements
Other, net
Net cash flows from financing activities
Increase (decrease) in cash
Cash at beginning of period
Cash at end of period

Issuer

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries Eliminations

Total

$

54,754 $

1,339 $

278 $

7,760 $

64,131

48,191

29,030

2,112

—

79,333

3,275
9,840
9,703
9,366

2,010
622
25,252
(11,755)

(15,837)
(242)
(20,627)
769
548
115,869

35,001
(190,296)

(9,264)
—
(164,559)

(18,650)
75,198
(2)

(13,234)

15,837
(1,500)
57,649
8,959
2,146

—
4,009
—
—

—
1,381
36,596
593

—
22
—
—
(264)
72,706

—
(11,632)

—
1,035
(10,597)

—
(66,463)
—

—
(188)
—
—

—
—
(567)
334

—
1,180
—
—
—
3,149

—
(1,848)

—
—
(1,848)

—
(1,766)
—

—
(791)
—
—

—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—
6,969

3,275
12,870
9,703
9,366

2,010
2,003
61,281
(10,828)

(15,837)
960
(20,627)
769
284
198,693

—
—

—
—
—

35,001
(203,776)

(9,264)
1,035
(177,004)

—
(6,969)
—

(18,650)
—
(2)

—

—

—

(13,234)

—
—
(66,463)
(4,354)
4,359

—
—
(1,766)
(465)
1,934
1,469 $

—
—
(6,969)
—
—
— $

15,837
(1,500)
(17,549)
4,140
8,439
12,579

$

11,105 $

5 $

78

Clearwater Paper Corporation
Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2011 

(In thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING
  ACTIVITIES

Net earnings
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net
  cash flows from operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization
Deferred tax provision (benefit)
Equity-based compensation expense
Employee benefit plans
Deferred issuance costs and discount
  on long-term debt
Disposal of plant and equipment, net

Changes in working capital, net
Change in taxes receivable, net
Excess tax benefits from equity-based
  payment arrangements
Change in non-current accrued taxes, net
Funding of qualified pension plans
Change in restricted cash
Other, net
Net cash flows from operating activities

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
  ACTIVITIES
Change in short-term investments, net
Additions to plant and equipment
Proceeds from the sale of assets
Net cash flows from investing activities

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
  ACTIVITIES
Repayment of long-term debt
Purchase of treasury stock
Investment from (to) parent
Payment for long-term debt issuance costs

Payment of tax withholdings on
  equity-based payment arrangements
Excess tax benefits from equity-based
  payment arrangements
Other, net
Net cash flows from financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes
Increase (decrease) in cash
Cash at beginning of period
Cash at end of period

Issuer

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries Eliminations

Total

$

36,307 $

(31,542) $

(3,687) $

38,596 $

39,674

2,130
(2,815)
—
—

—
2
1,730
(217)

—
—
—
—
—
(2,857)

—
(456)
—
(456)

—
—
3,852
—

—

—
(4,480)
—
—

—
—
—
3,317

—
—
—
—
—
37,433

76,933
14,777
8,134
16,897

215
998
(86,012)
354

(885)
2,453
(12,498)
4,160
3,195
68,395

—
—
—
—

71,094
(134,069)
12,826
(50,149)

—
—
(37,433)
—

(15,595)
(11,350)
—
(638)

—

(2,400)

—
—
3,852
361
900
1,034
1,934 $

—
—
(37,433)
—
—
—
— $

885
2
(29,096)
361
(10,489)
18,928
8,439

45,439
(2,394)
8,134
16,897

215
324
(133,142)
(4,685)

(885)
2,453
(12,498)
4,160
3,195
(36,480)

29,364
24,466
—
—

—
672
45,400
1,939

—
—
—
—
—
70,299

71,094
(117,525)
12,826
(33,605)

—
(16,088)
—
(16,088)

(15,595)
—
(36,432)
—

—

—
—
(52,027)
—
2,184
2,175
4,359 $

—
(11,350)
70,013
(638)

(2,400)

885
2
56,512
—
(13,573)
15,719

$

2,146 $

79

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC 
ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Clearwater Paper Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Clearwater Paper Corporation and subsidiaries 
as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, 
cash flows, and stockholders’ equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2013. These 
consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express 
an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United 
States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether 
the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence 
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting 
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement 
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In  our  opinion,  the  consolidated  financial  statements  referred  to  above  present  fairly,  in  all  material  respects,  the 
financial position of Clearwater Paper Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results 
of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2013, in 
conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United 
States), Clearwater Paper Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on 
criteria  established  in  Internal  Control-Integrated  Framework  (1992)  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 19, 2014 expressed an unqualified 
opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Seattle, Washington
February 19, 2014

80

 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC 
ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Clearwater Paper Corporation:

We have audited Clearwater Paper Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, 
based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Clearwater Paper Corporation’s management is responsible for 
maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal 
control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial 
Reporting in Item 9A. Our responsibility  is to express an opinion  on the  Company’s internal control over financial 
reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United 
States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether 
effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining 
an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and 
testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit 
also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that 
our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding 
the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with 
generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies 
and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect 
the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions 
are  recorded  as  necessary  to  permit  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted 
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with 
authorizations  of  management  and  directors  of  the  company;  and  (3)  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding 
prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have 
a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. 
Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become 
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may 
deteriorate.

In our opinion, Clearwater Paper Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial 
reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (1992) 
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United 
States), the consolidated balance sheets of Clearwater Paper Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 
and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows, and stockholders’ 
equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2013, and our report dated February 19, 
2014 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Seattle, Washington

February 19, 2014

81

ITEM 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure

None.

ITEM 9A.
Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Controls and Procedures

We maintain "disclosure controls and procedures," as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by 
us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within 
the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to 
our management, including our Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, and Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, as appropriate, 
to  allow  timely  decisions  regarding  required  disclosure.  In  designing  and  evaluating  our  disclosure  controls  and 
procedures, management recognized that disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived  and 
operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and 
procedures are met. Additionally, in designing disclosure controls and procedures, our management necessarily was 
required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures. 
The design of disclosure controls and procedures is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood 
of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all 
potential future conditions.

Subject to the limitations noted above, our management, with the participation of our CEO and CFO, has evaluated 
the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the fiscal year 
covered by this annual report on Form 10-K. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that, as of 
such date, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to meet the objective for which they were designed 
and operate at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Controls

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that has 
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as 
defined in Rules 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act).

Under the supervision of and with the participation of our CEO and our CFO, our management conducted an assessment 
of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework and criteria established in 
the Internal Control — Integrated Framework (1992), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the 
Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, our management has concluded that as of December 31, 2013 
our internal control over financial reporting was effective. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting 
as of December 31, 2013 has been audited by KPMG LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, as stated 
in its report which is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 9B.
Other Information

None.

82

Part III

ITEM 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Information regarding our directors is set forth under the heading “Board of Directors” in our definitive proxy statement, 
to be filed on or about March 24, 2014, for the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, referred to in this report as the 
2014  Proxy  Statement,  which  information  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference.  Information  concerning  Executive 
Officers is included in Part I of this report in Item 1. Information regarding reporting compliance with Section 16(a) for 
directors,  officers  or  other  parties  is  set  forth  under  the  heading  “Section  16(a)  Beneficial  Ownership  Reporting 
Compliance” in the 2014 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all directors and employees and a Code of 
Ethics  for  Senior  Financial  Officers  that  applies  to  our  CEO,  CFO,  the  President,  the  Controller  and  other  Senior 
Financial Officers identified by our Board of Directors. You can find each code on our website by going to the following 
address: www.clearwaterpaper.com, selecting “Investor Relations” and “Corporate Governance,” then selecting the 
link for “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics" or "Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers.” We will post any 
amendments, as well as any waivers that are required to be disclosed by the rules of either the SEC or the New York 
Stock Exchange, on our website. To date, no waivers of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or the Code of 
Ethics for Senior Financial Officers have been considered or granted.

Our Board of Directors has adopted corporate governance guidelines and charters for the Board of Directors’ Audit 
Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee. You can find these documents 
on  our  website  by  going  to  the  following  address:  www.clearwaterpaper.com,  selecting  “Investor  Relations”  and 
“Corporate Governance,” then selecting the appropriate link.

The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors is an “audit committee” for purposes of Section 3(a)(58) of the Exchange 
Act. As of December 31, 2013, the members of that committee were Boh A. Dickey (Chair), Beth E. Ford, William D. 
Larsson and William T. Weyerhaeuser. The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Dickey and Larsson are 
each an “audit committee financial expert” and that all of the members of the Audit Committee are “independent” as 
defined under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.

ITEM 11.
Executive Compensation

Information required by Item 11 of Part III is included under the heading “Executive Compensation Discussion and 
Analysis” in our 2014 Proxy Statement, to be filed on or about March 24, 2014, relating to our 2014 Annual Meeting 
of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

83

ITEM 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and
Related Stockholder Matters

Information required by Item 12 of Part III is included in our 2014 Proxy Statement, to be filed on or about March 24, 
2014, relating to our 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

The following table provides certain information as of December 31, 2013, with respect to our equity compensation 
plans:

Plan Category
Equity compensation plans
  approved by security holders
Equity compensation plans not
  approved by security holders
Total

Number Of Securities
To Be Issued Upon
Exercise Of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants And Rights1

Weighted Average
Exercise Price Of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants And Rights2

Number of Securities
Remaining Available
For Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation Plans

809,597

—
809,597

—

—
—

1,883,730

—
1,883,730

1  

Includes 736,414 performance shares and 73,183 restricted stock units, or RSUs, which are the maximum number of shares that could be 
awarded under the performance share and RSU programs, not including future dividend equivalents, if any are paid.

2   Performance shares and RSUs do not have exercise prices and therefore are not included in the weighted average exercise price calculation.

ITEM 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Information required by Item 13 of Part III is included under the heading “Transactions with Related Persons” in our 
2014 Proxy Statement, to be filed on or about March 24, 2014, relating to our 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders 
and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services

Information required by Item 14 of Part III is included under the heading “Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public 
Accounting Firm” in our 2014 Proxy Statement, to be filed on or about March 24, 2014, relating to our 2014 Annual 
Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

84

PART IV

ITEM 15.
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Our consolidated financial statements are listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 41 of this 
report.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

All schedules have been omitted because the required information is not present or is not present in amounts sufficient 
to require submission of the schedule, or because the information required is included in the consolidated financial 
statements, including the notes thereto.

EXHIBITS

Exhibits are listed in the Exhibit Index on pages 87-91 of this report.

85

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly 
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. 

CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION

(Registrant)

By  

/S/    Linda K. Massman
Linda K. Massman 
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director 
(Principal Executive Officer)

Date: February 19, 2014 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following 
persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. 

By

By   

By   

/S/    Linda K. Massman
Linda K. Massman

/S/    John D. Hertz
John D. Hertz

/S/    Johnathan D. Hunter
Johnathan D. Hunter

President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director (Principal Executive
Officer)

  Senior Vice President, Finance
and Chief Financial Officer (Duly
Authorized Officer; Principal
Financial Officer)

Vice President, Corporate
Controller (Duly Authorized
Officer; Principal Accounting
Officer)

Date
February 19, 2014

February 19, 2014

February 19, 2014

*
Boh A. Dickey

*
Frederic W. Corrigan

*
Beth E. Ford

*
Kevin J. Hunt

*
William D. Larsson

*
Michael T. Riordan

*
William T. Weyerhaeuser

  Director and Chair of the Board

February 19, 2014

February 19, 2014

February 19, 2014

February 19, 2014

February 19, 2014

February 19, 2014

February 19, 2014

*By  

/S/    Michael S. Gadd
Michael S. Gadd
(Attorney-in-fact)

  Director

Director

Director

  Director

  Director

  Director

86

 
 
   
   
    
  
 
    
    
 
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
   
 
Exhibit Index

EXHIBIT
NUMBER
2.1*

2.2*

3.1*

3.2*

4.1*

4.2*

4.3*

4.4*

4.5*

10.1*

10.2*

DESCRIPTION
Separation  and  Distribution Agreement, dated  December  15,  2008,  between  Clearwater 
Paper Corporation (the “Company”) and Potlatch Corporation (incorporated by reference to 
Exhibit  2.1  to  the  Company’s  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K  filed  with  the  Securities  and 
Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on December 18, 2008).

Agreement  and  Plan  of  Merger,  dated  as  of  September  15,  2010,  by  and  among  the 
Company, Cellu Tissue Holdings, Inc., and Sand Dollar Acquisition Corporation (incorporated 
by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the 
Commission on September 21, 2010).

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, effective as of December 16, 2008, 
as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (incorporated by reference to 
Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on 
December 18, 2008).

Amended  and  Restated  Bylaws  of  the  Company,  effective  as  of  December  16,  2008 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed 
with the Commission on December 18, 2008).

Indenture, dated as of October 22, 2010, between the Company and U.S. Bank National 
Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on 
Form 8-K filed by the Company with the Commission on October 27, 2010).

Form of 7 1/8% Senior Notes due 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Indenture 
filed  as  Exhibit  4.1  to  the  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K  filed  by  the  Company  with  the 
Commission on October 27, 2010).

Indenture, dated as of January 23, 2013, by and among Clearwater Paper Corporation (the 
“Registrant”), the Guarantors (as defined therein) and U.S. Bank National Association, as 
trustee, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 
8-K filed with the Commission on January 24, 2013).

Form of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the 
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 24, 2013).

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January 23, 2013, by and among the Registrant, 
the Guarantors (as defined therein), Goldman Sachs & Co. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner 
& Smith Incorporated, as the initial purchasers, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to 
the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 24, 2013).

Employee  Matters  Agreement,  dated  December  15,  2008,  between  the  Company  and 
Potlatch Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly 
Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission for the quarter ended September 30, 2010).

Tax  Sharing  Agreement,  dated  December  15,  2008,  among  the  Company,  Potlatch 
Corporation, Potlatch Forest Holdings, Inc. and Potlatch Land & Lumber, LLC (incorporated 
by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the 
Commission on December 18, 2008).

87

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.3*

10.3(i)*

10.3(ii)*

10.3(iii)*

10.3(iv)*

10.3(v)*

10.3(vi)*

10.3(vii)*

10.3(viii)*

10.4*1

10.5*1

Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of November 26, 2008, by and among the Company 
and  Bank  of  America,  N.A.,  as  administrative  agent,  and  the  lenders  party  thereto 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K 
filed with the Commission on December 3, 2008).

First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2010, by and 
among the financial institutions signatory thereto, Bank of America, N.A. and the Company 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K 
filed with the Commission on September 21, 2010).

Second Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2010, by and 
among the financial institutions signatory thereto, Bank of America, N.A. and the Company 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K 
filed with the Commission on October 27, 2010).

Third Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2011, by and 
among the financial institutions signatory thereto, Bank of America, N.A. and the Company 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3(iii) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-
K filed with the Commission on March 11, 2011).

Fourth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2011, by and 
among the financial institutions signatory thereto, Bank of America, N.A. and the Company 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3(iv) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-
K filed with the Commission on March 11, 2011).

Fifth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August 17, 2011, by and 
among the financial institutions signatory thereto, Bank of America, N.A. and the Company 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-
Q filed with the Commission for the quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Sixth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2011, by 
and  among  the  financial  institutions  signatory  thereto,  Bank  of  America,  N.A.  and  the 
Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on 
Form 8-K filed with the Commission on September 30, 2011).

Seventh Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2012, by 
and  among  the  financial  institutions  signatory  thereto,  Bank  of  America,  N.A.  and  the 
Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3(vii) to the Company's Annual Report 
on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on February 25, 2013).

Eighth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of January 17, 2013, by and 
among the financial institutions signatory thereto, Bank of America, N.A. and the Company 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K 
filed with the Commission on January 24, 2013).

Form  of  Indemnification Agreement  entered  into  between  the  Company  and  each  of  its 
directors and executive officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Amendment 
No. 4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the Commission on 
November 19, 2008).

Employment Agreement  between  Linda  K.  Massman  and  the  Company,  dated  effective 
January 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's Annual Report 
on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on February 25, 2013).

88

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.5(i)*1

10.6*1

10.6(i)*1

10.6(ii)*1

10.7*1

10.7(i)*1

10.8*1

10.8(i)*1

10.8(ii)*1

10.8(iii)*1

10.8(iv)*1

10.8(v)*1

Clearwater Paper Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan-Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, 
dated as of January 1, 2013, with Linda K. Massman (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 
10.7(i) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on February 
25, 2013).

Clearwater  Paper  Corporation  2008  Stock  Incentive  Plan  (incorporated  by  reference  to 
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on 
December 19, 2008).

Amendment No. 1 to Clearwater Paper Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated 
by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the 
Commission on December 28, 2010).

Amendment No. 2 to Clearwater Paper Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated 
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the 
Commission for the quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Clearwater  Paper  Corporation  2008  Stock  Incentive  Plan—Form  of  Performance  Share 
Agreement, as amended and restated December 1, 2009, to be used for annual performance 
share awards approved subsequent to December 31, 2009 (incorporated by reference to 
Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission 
for the quarter ended September 30, 2010).

Clearwater  Paper  Corporation  2008  Stock  Incentive  Plan—Form  of  Performance  Share 
Agreement,  to  be  used  for  annual  performance  share  awards  approved  subsequent  to 
December 31, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Current 
Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission December 14, 2011).

Clearwater Paper Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan—Form of Restricted Stock Unit 
Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on 
Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 19, 2008).

Clearwater Paper Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan—Form of Restricted Stock Unit 
Agreement, as amended and restated May 12, 2009, to be used for restricted stock unit 
awards approved subsequent to May 12, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12
(i) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission for the quarter 
ended June 30, 2009).

Clearwater Paper Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan—Form of Restricted Stock Unit 
Agreement, as amended and restated December 1, 2009, to be used for annual restricted 
stock unit awards approved subsequent to December 31, 2009, (incorporated by reference 
to Exhibit 10.12(ii) to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission 
on December 4, 2009).

Clearwater Paper Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan—Form of RSU Deferral Agreement 
for Annual LTIP and Founders Grant RSUs (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 14, 2011).

Clearwater Paper Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan—Form of RSU Deferral Agreement 
for  Founders  Grant  RSUs  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.4  to  the  Company’s 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 14, 2011).

Clearwater Paper Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan—Form of Restricted Stock Unit 
Award, to be used for annual restricted stock unit awards approved subsequent to December 
31, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on 
Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 14, 2011).

89

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.8(vi)*1

10.8(vii)*1

10.9*1

10.10*1

10.11*1

10.11(i)1

10.121

10.13*1

10.13(i)1

10.14*1

10.14(i)*1

10.15*1

10.161

10.17*1

Clearwater  Paper  Corporation  2008  Stock  Incentive  Plan-Form  of  Restricted  Stock  Unit 
Award, to be  used  for  special  restricted  stock  unit  awards  (incorporated  by  reference  to 
Exhibit 10.10(vii) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission 
for the quarter ended September 30, 2012).

Clearwater Paper Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan-Form of RSU Deferral Agreement 
for Annual LTIP RSUs (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10(viii) to the Company's 
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission for the quarter ended September 
30, 2012).

Clearwater Paper Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan—Form of Stock Option Agreement 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13(i) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 
10-Q filed with the Commission for the quarter ended June 30, 2009).

Clearwater Paper Corporation Annual Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 
10.14(i) to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 
14, 2010).

Amended  and  Restated  Clearwater  Paper  Corporation  Management  Deferred 
Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15(i) to the Company’s Quarterly 
Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission for the quarter ended March 31, 2010).

Amendment to Clearwater Paper Corporation Management Deferred Compensation Plan, 
dated December 17, 2013.

Clearwater Paper Executive Severance Plan.

Amended and Restated Clearwater Paper Corporation Salaried Supplemental Benefit Plan 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K 
filed with the Commission for the year ended December 31, 2011).

Amendment to Clearwater Paper Corporation Salaried Supplemental Benefit Plan, dated 
December 17, 2013.

Clearwater  Paper  Corporation  Benefits  Protection  Trust  Agreement  (incorporated  by 
reference  to  Exhibit  10.18  to  the  Company’s Annual Report  on  Form  10-K  filed  with  the 
Commission for the year ended December 31, 2008).

Amendment  to  the  Clearwater  Paper  Corporation  Benefits  Protection Agreement, dated 
August 8, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16(i) to the Company's Quarterly 
Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission for the quarter ended September 30, 2013).

Clearwater Paper Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors (incorporated by 
reference  to  Exhibit  10.10  to  the  Company’s  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K  filed  with  the 
Commission on December 19, 2008).

Clearwater Paper Change of Control Plan.

Offer Letter, dated June 25, 2012, with John D. Hertz, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 
10.10(vi) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission for 
the quarter ended June 30, 2012).

90

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.17(i)*1

Clearwater Paper Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan-Restricted Stock Unit Award, dated 
July 3, 2012, with John D. Hertz (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company's 
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission for the quarter ended June 30, 
2012).

(12)

(21)

(23)

(24)

(31)

(32)

101

*

1

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

Clearwater Paper Corporation Subsidiaries.

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Powers of Attorney.

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications.

Furnished statements of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer under 18 
U.S.C. Section 1350.

Pursuant  to  Rule  405  of  Regulation  S-T,  the  following  financial  information  from  the 
Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, is formatted 
in XBRL interactive data files: (i) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended 
December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income 
for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011; (iii) Consolidated Balance Sheets 
at December 31, 2013 and 2012, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years 
ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, (v) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ 
Equity for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 and (vi) Notes to Consolidated 
Financial Statements.

Incorporated by reference.

Management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.

91

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Performance Graph

The below graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return of our common stock for the period beginning 
December 31, 2008, and ending December 31, 2013, with the cumulative total return during such period of the 
Russell 2000 Index and the group of peer companies listed below.  The comparison assumes $100 was 
invested on December 31, 2008, in our common stock and in the index and peer group and assumes dividends 
were reinvested.  The stock performance shown on the below graph represents historical stock performance 
and is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance. 

We measure our relative corporate performance for purposes of performance-based equity awards issued to our 
executive officers against a peer group of companies.  Each year, a peer group is established to apply to 
performance-based equity awards issued in that year, with peer group members being primarily selected based 
on the industry in which they operate and secondarily on annual revenues and market capitalization.  A 
company may be added to, or removed from, a subsequent year’s peer group based on industry changes, 
changes to the company’s business or other events, such as bankruptcy or acquisitions.  The peer group 
selected for 2013 is unchanged from 2012 and consists of the following companies:  Boise, Inc.; Buckeye 
Technologies, Inc.; Domtar Corporation; Graphic Packaging Holding Company; Greif, Inc.; International Paper 
Company; KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation; Kimberly-Clark Corporation; MeadWestvaco 
Corporation; Neenah Paper, Inc.; Packaging Corporation of America; P.H. Glatfelter Company; Rock-Tenn 
Company; Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.; Sonoco Products Company; Wausau Paper Corporation; and 
Weyerhaeuser Company. 

Comparison of Cumulative Total Return * 

$1,400

$1,200

$1,000

$800

$600

$400

$200

$0
12/31/08

12/31/09

12/31/10

12/31/11

12/31/12

12/31/13

Clearwater Paper Corporation

Russell 2000 Index

Peer Group

*This comparison assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2008, in our common stock and in the index 
and peer group and assumes dividends were reinvested. 

CLEARWATER PAPER 2013   ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Information

management

linda k. massman 
President and Chief Executive Officer

John d. Hertz 
Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer 

thomas a. Colgrove 
Senior Vice President, President of Consumer Products Division

danny g. Johansen  
Senior Vice President, President of Pulp and Paperboard Division

michael S. gadd 
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Jackson o. lynch 
Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Board oF direCtorS

Boh a. dickey 
Chair of the Board, Director since 2008 

Fredric w. Corrigan 
Director since 2009 

Beth e. Ford 
Director since 2013 

kevin J. Hunt 
Director since 2013 

william d. larsson 
Director since 2008 

linda k. massman 
President and Chief Executive Officer, Director since 2013

michael t. riordan 
Director since 2008 

william t. weyerhaeuser 
Director since 2008

exeCutive oFFiCeS

601 West Riverside Avenue 
Suite 1100 
Spokane, WA 99201 
Phone: 509.344.5900

Forward-looking StatementS

StoCk liSting

Clearwater Paper common stock is listed under the  
symbol CLW on the New York Stock Exchange.

annual meeting

The 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on Monday, 
May 5, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific Time). The meeting will be held at the 
Grand Hyatt, 721 Pine Street, Seattle, Washington, 98101.

tranSFer agent

mailing addreSSeS

Shareholder correspondence should be mailed to: 
Computershare 
P.O. BOX 30170 
College Station, TX 77842-3170

Overnight correspondence should be sent to: 
Computershare 
211 Quality Circle, Suite 210 
College Station, TX 77845

SHareHolder weBSite

www.computershare.com/investor

Shareholder online inquiries

https://www-us.computershare.com/investor/Contact

Toll Free Number  

Outside the U.S.  

Hearing Impaired  

TDD International Shareholders 

additional inFormation

866-205-6799

781-575-4591

800-952-9245

781-575-4592

Copies of the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission, the company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code 
of Business Conduct and Ethics, and Charters of the Committees of  
the Board of Directors are available free of charge at the company’s 
website, www.clearwaterpaper.com.

This report contains, in addition to historical information, certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation 

Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding delivering value to stockholders, the aggregate dollar value of the stock repurchase program, 

operational and financial goals, performance and strategic direction, safety and sustainability performance and implementation of, and the benefits 

from, enterprise-wide systems. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, assumptions and 

projections that are subject to change. Our actual results of operations may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking 

statements contained in this report. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those discussed in the “Risk 

Factors” and “Developments and Trends in Our Business” sections contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 

2013, which is in this report. Forward-looking statements contained in this report present management’s views only as of the date of this report. We 

undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

FSC®-CertiFied PaPer

Clearwater Paper Corporation’s Annual Report was printed by RR Donnelley entirely on FSC-certified paper. Chain-of-Custody certificate 

TT-COC-004624. The Annual Report was printed on Domtar Financial Opaque Text manufactured from FSC-recycled content.

Clearwater Paper Corporation
601 West Riverside Avenue, Suite 1100
Spokane, WA 99201
www.clearwaterpaper.com