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Neenah

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FY2010 Annual Report · Neenah
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WE
AUTOMOBILE
MAKE 
WALLPAPER
PAPER
MAP
THAT MAKES
ESPRESSO
ITS WAY
MASKING TAPE
INTO
SANDPAPER
MANY 
PASSPORT
THINGS
NOTEBOOK
NEENAH PAPER, INC.
WINE LABEL 
2010 ANNUAL REPORT
PACKAGING
BLUE JEANS

BLUE JEANS
SKI LIFT TICKET
CATALOG
LETTERHEAD
COASTER
BUSINESS CARD
MENU
GREETING CARD
VENEER
SHOPPING BAG
HANG TAG
BOOK
 BOURBON
MAGAZINE
GARMENT LABEL
INVITATION
WALL DECAL
ACOUSTIC CEILING
PACKING TAPE
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

PART I: STRATEGIC REVIEW

Building on our strengths in diverse products, 
markets and regions

AT NEENAH PAPER,  
WE MAKE  
PRODUCTS THAT  
MAKE  
THEIR WAY  
INTO MANY THINGS.  
IN FACT,  
DESPITE OUR NAME,  
A LOT  
OF OUR PRODUCTS  
AREN’T  
“PAPER” AT ALL –  
AT LEAST  
NOT IN THE  
TRADITIONAL SENSE.

2

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

Thanks to the expertise of our technical 
teams and process capabilities in areas such 
as formation, saturation, coating  
and meltblown nonwovens, you may 
experience our products as the filters in your 
car, the patch on the pocket of your jeans, 
the base material in an abrasive disk,  
the label or package that drew you to a 
premium bottle of wine or perfume,  
the backing to exotic hardwood veneer 
furniture, or the sterile packaging for  
a disposable medical device. At the same 
time, we are the leader in our  
traditional markets for fine printing and 
writing papers, and the choice for premium 
communications by individuals,  
businesses and, occasionally, the President  
of the United States.

We have changed a lot in the six years since 
Neenah has been an independent  
public company. From a domestic business 
that depended on commodity pulp  
for more than half of its revenue, we built a 
company whose focus is now directed toward 
global markets and specialty products, 
where our technical knowledge and process 
expertise provide a competitive edge. 

Today, our ability to deliver value for 
customers – and performance for 
shareholders – derives from a wide range  
of products beyond paper.  
Maybe it’s time to just call us “Neenah.” 

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

3

OUR LONG-TERM POTENTIAL WILL BE DEFINED BY
OUR LONG-TERM POTENTIAL WILL BE DEFINED BY
INNOVATION AND TECHNICAL 
INNOVATION AND TECHNICAL 
OUR ABILITY TO SOLVE COMPLEX CUSTOMER NEEDS
OUR ABILITY TO SOLVE COMPLEX CUSTOMER NEEDS
EXPERTISE DETERMINE SUCCESS
EXPERTISE DETERMINE SUCCESS

One of Neenah’s strengths is our command of  
One of Neenah’s strengths is our command of  
specialized processes and chemistries that enhance  
specialized processes and chemistries that enhance  
a product’s performance to meet customer needs. 
a product’s performance to meet customer needs. 
For example, we have unique capabilities and exper-
For example, we have unique capabilities and exper-
tise in saturation, coatings and nonwoven materials 
tise in saturation, coatings and nonwoven materials 
that permit us to satisfy exacting customer demands 
that permit us to satisfy exacting customer demands 
in such diverse 
in such diverse 
applications as 
applications as 
filtration, sterile 
filtration, sterile 
packaging and 
packaging and 
coated abrasives. 
coated abrasives. 
We also have 
We also have 
significant skills 
significant skills 
in image trans-
in image trans-
fer technology, 
fer technology, 
used primarily in the placement of graphics on textiles. 
used primarily in the placement of graphics on textiles. 
By combining these capabilities with our ability to 
By combining these capabilities with our ability to 
innovate, we continue to expand our portfolio with 
innovate, we continue to expand our portfolio with 
products that in some cases are new to the market – 
products that in some cases are new to the market – 
and generate strong margins by delivering high value 
and generate strong margins by delivering high value 
to the customer. 
to the customer. 

A recent example of our ability to put innovation 
A recent example of our ability to put innovation 

to work for a customer is a name-badge product  
to work for a customer is a name-badge product  
for Avery Dennison. Avery was looking for a material  
for Avery Dennison. Avery was looking for a material  
that adhered better and avoided the wrinkling  
that adhered better and avoided the wrinkling  
and curling typical of traditional paper badges. They 
and curling typical of traditional paper badges. They 
turned to Neenah because of our specialized print 
turned to Neenah because of our specialized print 
coating expertise and ability to provide a customized  
coating expertise and ability to provide a customized  
solution with an extremely quick turnaround. For 
solution with an extremely quick turnaround. For 
Neenah, which had previously received both the 
Neenah, which had previously received both the 
“Growth and Innovation Excellence” and “Supplier 
“Growth and Innovation Excellence” and “Supplier 
of the Year” awards from Avery Dennison’s office 
of the Year” awards from Avery Dennison’s office 

products division, the name-badge product was  
products division, the name-badge product was  
further proof of our commitment to customer solutions.
further proof of our commitment to customer solutions.
Also during the past year, we developed a 
Also during the past year, we developed a 
product that offers a more environmentally friendly 
product that offers a more environmentally friendly 
and easier method of creating the stencil used in the 
and easier method of creating the stencil used in the 
screen printing of items such as imprinted t-shirts. 
screen printing of items such as imprinted t-shirts. 

Our process, which was introduced 
Our process, which was introduced 
to the market in early 2011, can 
to the market in early 2011, can 
deposit an image on a screen in a 
deposit an image on a screen in a 
manner that is capable of printing 
manner that is capable of printing 
relatively large runs, while reducing 
relatively large runs, while reducing 
the extensive preparation and  
the extensive preparation and  
cleanup traditionally associated with  
cleanup traditionally associated with  
the screen printing process. 
the screen printing process. 

In other illustrations of our 
In other illustrations of our 

innovative approach, we have expanded our filtration 
innovative approach, we have expanded our filtration 
end markets, developed products that can be used 
end markets, developed products that can be used 
for sterile medical packaging, as well as packaging 
for sterile medical packaging, as well as packaging 
that can help protect electronic components against 
that can help protect electronic components against 
electrostatic discharge, and labels for chemicals and  
electrostatic discharge, and labels for chemicals and  
that require compatibility with digital imaging pro-
that require compatibility with digital imaging pro-
cesses and can still stand up under harsh environments. 
cesses and can still stand up under harsh environments. 
Our teams also work with other partner companies 
Our teams also work with other partner companies 
in exploring and applying new technologies such as 
in exploring and applying new technologies such as 
e-beam coating and carbon fiber formation. 
e-beam coating and carbon fiber formation. 

To maintain our technical edge, we continually 
To maintain our technical edge, we continually 
invest in research and development. We will further 
invest in research and development. We will further 
strengthen our product development efforts in  
strengthen our product development efforts in  
2011, when we open a new Innovation Center based 
2011, when we open a new Innovation Center based 
at our facility south of Munich, Germany. The Center 
at our facility south of Munich, Germany. The Center 
will bring together many of our R&D resources in a  
will bring together many of our R&D resources in a  
single location, further driving our innovation efforts.
single location, further driving our innovation efforts.

4
4

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report
Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

WE SERVE SPECIALIZED MARKETS
TARGETING HIGH-VALUE 
WHERE OUR PRODUCT PERFORMANCE
NICHES TO DRIVE GROWTH
IS A DIFFERENTIATING STRENGTH

Neenah’s long-term success will 
be driven by our ability to identify 
and serve new markets that map 
to our specialized capabilities. We 
continually ask ourselves how our 
expertise can best serve customers’ 
needs, and actively seek to market 
our products for use in those areas 

where we can be differentiated through value-added 
features, superior performance, or best-in-class  
execution and service. 

In Technical Products, we are building on our 

expertise in filtration for the transportation indus-
try, where our products have long been employed 
in engine and cabin air, oil and fuel filtration. For 
example, we are now making triple-layer filter media 
for the next generation of high-efficiency engines, 
including a wet-laid micro glass layer that meets the 
highest efficiency standards and customer require-
ments. We have increased our nonwoven meltblown 
capacity, and can not only serve the growing demand 
for high-end transportation filters, but also expand 
into new markets where specialized filtration  
needs are mission-critical. These new end markets are  
as diverse as beverage processing, industrial manu-
facturing, medical and health applications. 

Our Fine Paper business provides many exam-

communicating a prestigious image is most  
important. We are now building a growing business  
providing labels for products such as premium 
wines and beverages, gourmet and natural foods. 

Additionally, we are growing the pack-
aging of luxury consumer products  
such as fine jewelry and fragrances, as 
well as retailers’ gift card enclosures 
and shopping bags.

We have also captured new revenue  

and profit pools from existing markets. 
An expanded relationship with  
Crane & Company allows us not only to  
exclusively manufacture, but also to  
sell and distribute their products  
to our customers. In envelopes, we are 
taking an active role in direct sales, 
whereas we previously relied on third-
party converters to produce and sell 
those papers to customers. Our enve-
lopes can now be purchased directly 
from Neenah, bundled together with 
other fine paper orders, enhancing cus-
tomer convenience in a sizeable market.

As we seek additional growth 

opportunities, we will follow a disci-
plined approach: identifying promising  

ples of this successful focus on specialized market 
opportunities. Neenah’s position as the leader in 
premium printing and writing paper was built on pro-
viding the highest quality, best finishes and broadest 
color selection, appealing to customers for whom 

market segments that offer volume growth and 
attractive financial returns, setting well-defined 
objectives, allocating resources, and giving our teams 
the authority and responsibility to extend our  
leadership to new areas.

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

5

WE ARE DEVOTING GREATER RESOURCES
OUR EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES
TO EXPAND OUR BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY
SPAN THE GLOBE

Neenah’s reputation for high quality, performance 
and custom-tailored solutions has helped to drive 
growing demand for our products around the world. 
Our products are currently sold in some 70 countries, 
with about 45 percent of our sales generated outside 
of North America. Sales to Europe, Asia and  
Latin America combined increased by approximately  
23 percent in 2010. As we seek to broaden our  
opportunities, we are aligned with global customers  
that can employ our products in multiple regions, 
while also strengthening resources such as marketing,  
sales and logistical support that we dedicate  
to international markets.

Europe accounted for some 
30 percent of our sales in 2010, as our 
manufacturing facilities in Germany 
have given us a strong presence among 

major customers based in the region. Many top 
European auto manufacturers, as well as makers of 
industrial equipment, home appliances and construc-
tion materials, use our substrates in their products 
and manufacturing processes. Among our growth  
initiatives in the region, we are enjoying success  
in expanding our nonwoven wall covering business in  
Eastern Europe, and we are building on our heat 
transfer capabilities with a program of direct sales of 
heat transfer products in Europe.

Asia is an increasingly important region for 
Neenah, accounting for approximately 8 percent  
of sales and growing approximately 18 percent over 
the prior year. One of the areas in which we have 
expanded recently is the Asian abrasives industry, 

where we have grown by tailoring products specifically  
to local market needs. We also are serving the  
filtration market with products for such applications 
as flame-retardant air filtration and high-pressure 
injection diesel filtration. With the rising affluence of 
local populations, we also are experiencing growing 
demand for fine paper products. We have relaunched 
our STARWHITE® and SUNDANCE® brands in Asia 
to serve this market, and are building our presence 
through a strong network of fine paper merchants.
North America remains an important market, 

delivering approximately 55 percent of sales last year.  
Our Fine Paper brands, such as CLASSIC® and 
ENVIRONMENT® Papers, are among the most 
recognized and preferred in North America, and we 

are expanding on that position with a 
broad range of new papers for commercial  
digital printing. In the Technical  
Products area, we actively serve the North 
American market for materials used in 
the manufacture of industrial consumable 
products, digitally imaged transfer papers 
and durable label materials.

In Latin America and the rest of  

the world, which account for about 7 per-
cent of total sales, we are growing with 
our international customers and looking 
for ways to accelerate this growth.  

For example, we see opportunities to work with global  
companies that have manufacturing in the region 
and desire a locally based source of advanced, high-
performance products. 

6

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

WE ENGAGE WITH CUSTOMERS
OUR LEADERSHIP IS BUILT ON A SOLID COMMITMENT
AND STAND BEHIND OUR PRODUCTS
TO EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE AND SUPPLY CHAIN
TO CREATE EXCEPTIONAL VALUE

Customer engagement and quality service are  
essential ingredients in Neenah’s success, and these 
skills will support our growth. Illustrations of this 
commitment to service range from our flexibility in 
tailoring solutions to meet specific product perfor-
mance requirements, to using our supply chain tools 
to strengthen our customers’ inventory  
management, to guaranteeing our 
brand performance. 

For example, our Technical 
Products business units work closely 
with customers to understand and 
respond to their needs for today’s and 
tomorrow’s advanced solutions. Among 
other initiatives, this has led us to invest 
in additional meltblown capacity in  
our German operations to meet rapidly 
growing customer demands for  
our more advanced filtration products.

Reflecting our efforts to build 

our confidence in our brands. In 2010, we expanded 
this effort with a new 110 percent print guarantee  
on CLASSIC CREST® Paper, our best-selling brand, where 
we will refund 110 percent of a customer’s paper costs  
if they are not satisfied with the print quality. We 
also introduced our Personal ProofSM, providing a free 

sample print  
of the customer’s 
artwork on a 
variety of our fine 
papers. 

Technology 

is a major con-
tributor to 
our customer 
outreach. Our 
recently rede-
signed www.
neenahpaper.com  
website, our 

close relationships with customers, our U.S. Technical 
Products group invites customer teams each year 
to visit our Munising mill and participate in “Paper 
School.” The customer groups spend time in the labo-
ratory learning how to saturate and coat base papers 
to achieve different properties, thus increasing their 
understanding of Neenah’s customized solutions 
and how we can work together on future product 
developments. 

In Fine Paper, we were the first in our industry  

to offer the combination of both service and  
product performance guarantees to demonstrate  

Against the Grain blog, and our use of social media 
help us to actively engage customers. We also  
offer our Strategic Planning and Optimization Tool 
(SPOT) program, in which we use data gathered 
through our own supply chain systems to help cus-
tomers order the right products and quantities  
to stay “in stock” on the highest velocity items –  
saving them money and increasing their turns,  
while making it easy for them to order with Neenah.
Through these and many other initiatives,  
we stay engaged with our customers, helping to  
build their business – and ours.

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

7

SUSTAINABILITY IS A VITAL ELEMENT
SUSTAINABILITY IS A VITAL ELEMENT
WE AIM FOR THE HIGHEST STANDARDS
WE AIM FOR THE HIGHEST STANDARDS
OF THE PRODUCTS WE MAKE
OF THE PRODUCTS WE MAKE
OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
AND THE WAY WE MAKE THEM
AND THE WAY WE MAKE THEM

In our products, as well as our manufacturing  
processes, Neenah strives to maintain the highest 
standards of environmental sustainability. We have 
the most extensive line of carbon neutral premium 
writing, text and cover papers in our industry.  
Our CLASSIC CREST®, CLASSIC® Linen, ENVIRONMENT® 
and STARWHITE® Papers are all FSC certified, and 

our major CLASSIC 
brands are also 
Carbon Neutral Plus, 
with offerings made 
from 100 percent 
post-consumer fiber 
and processed  
chlorine free.  

Using the ECO Calculator on our website, customers 
can instantly calculate the environmental savings they 
can achieve by using paper made with post-consumer 
fiber, as well as the savings from using paper made 
with 100 percent renewable electricity.

We also have increased our use of FSC certified 
pulps in Technical Products, when we are able to do 
so while still meeting customers’ performance  
specifications. In addition, we created a masking 
tape using recycled fibers, which is finding wide  
use in construction projects in Europe due to local 
green procurement requirements.

We introduced several green product  
innovations in Fine Paper during the past year, includ-
ing a new CONSERVATION® brand that was created 
to complement our industry-leading ENVIRONMENT® 
brand. We introduced a 100 percent post-consumer 

folding board for packaging cosmetics and other 
luxury items. 

Several years ago we defined an ambitious set  

of standards for our manufacturing operations, 
involving responsible procurement, reduction  
in water usage, increased energy efficiency, reduction 
in greenhouse gas emissions, wastewater treatment 
and effluent quality, and other tangible areas. Today, 

many of our plants  
are 100 percent 
landfill-free for manu-
facturing waste, and 
make use of renewable 
power sources such 
as hydroelectricity 
and wind. 

One of our 
recent environmental 
initiatives is the  
Osa Project, a part-
nership to preserve 
an important bird 
habitat on Costa 
Rica’s Osa peninsula. 
As the Osa provides 
shelter for migratory 
birds – including those from Wisconsin – during the 
winter months, it is crucial to safeguard the region’s 
forests. Neenah has partnered with the Wisconsin 
Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Friends 
of the Osa, and other public and private organizations 
in this vital project. 

8

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

PART II: LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

Creating value and opportunity through 
strategic transformation

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

9

TO NEENAH PAPER SHAREHOLDERS 

Neenah Paper is stronger today than at any time since our founding six 
years ago – a fact that is reflected in our 2010 performance. Our businesses 
are more broadly diversified in higher-value products and focused on high- 
potential global markets. We have built strong market positions and a  
reputation for leadership in innovation and supply chain. As discussed in this 
letter and annual report to you, these changes have resulted in a product 
portfolio that can support top-line increases and improved margins,  
a de-levered capital structure, consistent free cash flow, and the capacity  
to produce profitable growth and attractive returns for shareholders. 
We arrived at this position because our people – at all levels –  
drove a major transformation of the Company over the past several years. 
We divested our commodity pulp operations, culminating in the sale of  
our remaining timberlands in March 2010. We expanded the scale and 
growth potential of our Technical Products and Fine Paper businesses with 
important acquisitions and strategic capital investments. In addition,  
we aggressively reduced our costs and operating footprint. Because of 
these efforts, we entered this year confident in our ability to produce strong 
financial results, and we are pleased to report on our success in delivering 
against this commitment in 2010.

10

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

 
DELIVERING FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 

Neenah’s results for 2010 demonstrate solid execution  
of our business strategies. Net sales increased  
15 percent, to $658 million. The increase was achieved  
in spite of the almost $12 million impact of a weaker 
Euro. Our businesses realized higher volumes, 
an improved product mix and increased pricing. 
Technical Products grew more than 20 percent and 
now accounts for almost 60 percent of consolidated 
sales. We also expanded our international presence, 
and sales outside North America now represent 
approximately 45 percent of total sales.

Income from continuing operations grew to  
$55 million in 2010 from $16 million in 2009. Excluding 
the one-time impact of a $3 million gain on the sale 
of the Ripon mill in 2010 and a $17 million charge for 
the closure of that facility in 2009, operating income 

increased by almost $19 million, or more than  
50 percent. This improvement was achieved in spite 
of record high fiber prices during the year. Our  
teams did an excellent job of countering the more 
than $32 million rise in fiber prices, as we continued 
to benefit from the cost reductions implemented  
during the financial crisis, significantly higher volumes, 
price increases, and a more profitable mix of  
products. We remained focused on increasing our 
operating margins, which improved to almost  
8 percent of sales in 2010, from 6 percent in 2009, 
excluding Ripon related items.

Earnings per share, adjusted for special items 

such as the Woodlands sale and the closure of  
the Ripon mill, were $1.47 in 2010, nearly double the 
adjusted earnings per share of $0.76 in 2009. 

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

11

STRONG BALANCE SHEET 

Our business performance and strong cash flow  
generation, supplemented by almost $86 million in 
proceeds from the sale of the Woodlands and Ripon 
mill, enabled us to increase our cash position by more 
than $40 million while reducing debt by approxi-
mately $75 million. Our performance was recognized 
by the major credit rating agencies, which upgraded 
the rating of Neenah Paper debt in March of 2010. 

We announced early in 2011 that we will further 

reduce our debt and call approximately $65 million  

of our bonds. With this action, we will have reduced 
our debt levels by more than $165 million since  
the third quarter of 2008, when the financial crisis hit. 
More importantly, through our stronger operating 
performance, along with non-core asset sales, we have  
improved our capital structure significantly. And,  
with a revolving credit facility of $100 million, we have 
ample liquidity and flexibility for growth. 

GROWING SHAREHOLDER VALUE AND DIVIDEND

Our share price increased in concert with the strong 
performance of the business during the past year,  
rising 41 percent during 2010, on top of the 58 percent  
increase in 2009. In both years, Neenah’s perfor-
mance outpaced both broad market indices and 
peer companies.

$28 million. Another key contributor to the improve-
ment was a reduction in working capital levels across 
all of our businesses. We ended the year with working 
capital at 14 percent of sales, versus 16 percent last 
year. All of this also contributed to free cash flow of 
more than $35 million.

We have mentioned in past years that Return 

We, along with our Board of Directors, believe 

on Invested Capital is a key metric against which we 
measure our performance, as well as an important 
benchmark for shareholders. During 2010 we raised 
our return level to above 8 percent from just below 
6 percent for the prior year. While improvements in 
our top line and margins were the primary drivers, 
we remain disciplined in our capital spending, which 
at $17 million was well below our depreciation of 

that an attractive dividend is a priority and a key  
component of delivering shareholder value. That is 
why we maintained our dividend in 2009, when many 
companies reduced or suspended dividends due  
to economic conditions. In November 2010, the Board 
voted to increase our quarterly dividend 10 percent, 
to $0.11 per share from $0.10 per share, effective  
with the dividend payable in March 2011. 

12

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

TECHNICAL PRODUCTS 

WINNING THROUGH SPECIALIZATION

Success in our Technical Products business is  
determined by the ways in which we use Neenah’s 
exceptional technical knowledge and process  
capabilities to bring unique solutions to our custom-
ers and the market. This solution-oriented approach 
creates a strong long-term partnership, and provides 
the basis for serving specialized market segments 
and applications. Over time, this has enabled us to 
move to a mix of higher performing and, therefore, 
higher margin products. Focus on innovation remains 
a priority, both to grow the business and to replace 
our more mature products. In our Technical Products 
business, new products contributed more than 
$10 million to sales last year. 

In 2010, we were very pleased to receive 
both the “Growth and Innovation Excellence” and 
“Supplier of the Year” awards from Avery Dennison’s 
office products division. While we are proud to 
receive awards and accolades, the most important 
“win” is the ability to create new business opportu-
nities such as helping Avery bring to market a new 
name-badge product, which will support growth 
in 2011. 

In another example of innovation, we provided  

a specialized base for a customer’s new premium  
tape product, which now has national distribution  
at a retail level. In Europe, we used our saturation  
capabilities to create a new masking tape from 
recycled fibers, which satisfies local requirements 
for sustainable materials in publicly funded construc-
tion projects. For the Asian market, we developed 

abrasive products that are making strong inroads  
in the markets, by substituting an engineered, better-
performing solution for traditional silica-on-kraft 
paper products. 

During the year we announced a $10 million 

investment to expand our meltblown nonwoven 
capacity in Germany. The meltblown process enables 
us to combine specialized nonwoven polymers onto 
other substrates, enhancing our ability to meet  
complex performance needs, ranging from automo-
tive and industrial filtration to filters in high-end 
single-serving coffee makers. The new capacity came 
online as planned in the first quarter of 2011 and  
will allow us to continue to support the growth of our 
higher value filtration products. 

 Net sales of Technical Products increased 

21 percent in 2010, to $384 million. Volumes 
increased in most product lines, including our largest 
product group, transportation filtration, which rose 
more than 20 percent and reflected growing demand 
in markets outside of our European base. In  
addition to higher volumes, we realized a more  
profitable product mix, higher average selling prices 
and continued improvements in cost efficiencies. 
These factors helped us make progress toward  
our key objective of double-digit operating margins 
in Technical Products, with an improvement to 8 per-
cent in 2010, versus 5 percent last year. Operating 
income of $29 million set an all-time record and more 
than doubled from the prior year, overcoming  
more than $20 million of higher input costs. 

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

13

FINE PAPER

LEVERAGING OUR LEADERSHIP

Neenah’s competitive strength in Fine Paper starts 
with our industry-leading brands – such as CLASSIC®, 
ENVIRONMENT®, ESSE® and SUNDANCE® Papers – 
which have the strongest name recognition in the 
marketplace, reinforced by our unparalleled commit-
ment to quality, marketing support and service.  
By building on our traditional strong position in text 
and cover products, while expanding in promising 
new areas, we met our objective to deliver growth in 
excess of the overall fine paper market. Revenues  
in growth areas such as packaging, labels and interna-
tional markets were up 18 percent year-over-year. 
In 2010, we continued to refine our text and 
cover product lines to build on our market leadership. 
Neenah launched the industry’s most comprehensive  
range of papers for digital printing, featuring  
16 different colors and 13 textures. A new brand, 
CONSERVATION® Paper, was introduced to offer a 
value alternative in the 100 percent post consumer 
category. Late in the year, we began to supply  
envelopes in Neenah Paper grades directly to our 
customers. And we have continued to build on  
our partnership with Crane & Co. to exclusively manu-
facture, market and sell their highly regarded line  
of fine business papers.

An element of our strategy is to move beyond 

the traditional printing environment, where our  
paper is used to present printed content in a premium 
manner, into applications where paper quality and 
characteristics become part of the essence of a  
customer’s brand itself. This focus on “image-making”  
opens up new revenue streams and growth potential, 
as reflected in the expansion of our labels and  
packaging solutions, which are becoming a larger 
part of our business. Many brands of wines and 
spirits, organic foods and other premium consumer 
products now include labeling provided by Neenah. 
We also have introduced packaging for cosmetics and 

other high-end consumer products, using a 100 per-
cent post-consumer content folding board.

International markets are a growing part of 

our Fine Paper business. Our team has focused on 
selected regions such as Asia and South America, 
expanding our presence in a cost-effective manner 
by redeploying sales, marketing, logistics and other 
resources to those markets. In Asia, for example, 
where the increasing affluence of the population 
is creating demand for fine writing papers, we 
relaunched our STARWHITE® and SUNDANCE® brands 
and are emphasizing our breadth of color and  
texture offerings. We achieved growth in excess of  
18 percent in our international business in 2010 
and we will continue to resource and focus on 
this opportunity.

Innovative marketing and service initiatives 
continue to be key drivers of our progress in Fine 
Paper. Our redesigned neenahpaper.com website has 
been very well received by the design community. It 
features an expanded Personal Proof program, which 
enables designers to order a custom print of their 
artwork on a wide range of Neenah papers. In cus-
tomer service, we have enhanced our industry leading 
quality and delivery guarantees. An example of our 
confidence in Neenah quality – and our willingness to 
stand behind our products – is our new 110 percent 
print guarantee on CLASSIC CREST® Papers.

Net sales for Fine Paper were $273 million  
in 2010, an increase of 7 percent, driven primarily by 
volume growth, as our teams continue to show that 
they can outperform the market. Operating income 
for the business was $37 million, increasing 7 percent 
from 2009 after excluding the impact of the  
Ripon mill closure and sale. The increase was achieved 
despite more than $15 million in higher pulp costs, 
reflecting the power of our brands and the success of 
our teams in delivering benefits from higher volume, 
increased selling prices and cost efficiencies.

14

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY

We are proud of our continuing progress in the area 
We are proud of our continuing progress in the area 
of safety, which remains a top priority. In 2010, our 
of safety, which remains a top priority. In 2010, our 
reportable safety incident rate improved 14 percent. 
reportable safety incident rate improved 14 percent. 
We are pleased with our ongoing improvement in 
We are pleased with our ongoing improvement in 
safety, and we continue to work toward our goal of 
safety, and we continue to work toward our goal of 
world-class performance.
world-class performance.

In 2010, we maintained our commitment to 
In 2010, we maintained our commitment to 

environmental sustainability, both in our products 
environmental sustainability, both in our products 
and our processes. With our new CONSERVATION® 
and our processes. With our new CONSERVATION® 

brand of fine papers, we have expanded our offer-
brand of fine papers, we have expanded our offer-
ing of 100 percent post-consumer fiber products. 
ing of 100 percent post-consumer fiber products. 
We continue to use more FSC-certified pulp in our 
We continue to use more FSC-certified pulp in our 
products, including our new “green” masking tape. 
products, including our new “green” masking tape. 
Operationally, we continue to make progress against 
Operationally, we continue to make progress against 
our environmental objectives, including reduced 
our environmental objectives, including reduced 
water usage and improved water treatment, eliminat-
water usage and improved water treatment, eliminat-
ing solid waste, and expanding the use of renewable 
ing solid waste, and expanding the use of renewable 
energy sources. 
energy sources. 

MANAGEMENT SUCCESSION

The Board of Directors announced an executive  
succession plan in late 2010, under which John 
O’Donnell, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating 
Officer, will succeed me as President and Chief 
Executive Officer in May 2011. At that time, I will 
retire as CEO, but continue in the capacity of Non-
Executive Chairman of the Board. 

John is well suited and prepared for the role. 
He has more than two decades of experience in the 
industry, has led major global businesses, and has 

been a principal driver of the progress of our Fine Paper  
business since late 2007, when we recruited him to 
Neenah. The Board of Directors has worked for more 
than a year, both internally and with outside advisors, 
to ensure that this transition will be seamless and 
successful. The Board and I are excited about working 
with John, and we are confident that he and the  
entire Neenah team are well equipped to achieve 
great success in the future.

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

15

FOCUSED ON GROWTH

Neenah has come through the challenging economic 
Neenah has come through the challenging economic 
cycle in a strong position. We are leaders in our  
cycle in a strong position. We are leaders in our  
traditional markets and are penetrating new specialty 
traditional markets and are penetrating new specialty 
areas where we can produce increasing value. At 
areas where we can produce increasing value. At 
the same time, we have demonstrated our ability to 
the same time, we have demonstrated our ability to 
improve the efficiency of our operations, produce 
improve the efficiency of our operations, produce 
sustainable and significant cash flows, and achieve a 
sustainable and significant cash flows, and achieve a 
capital structure that offers the flexibility to pursue 
capital structure that offers the flexibility to pursue 
future growth opportunities. We worked very hard to 
future growth opportunities. We worked very hard to 
enhance both the product composition and risk pro-
enhance both the product composition and risk pro-
file of the Company by divesting pulp, and we expect 
file of the Company by divesting pulp, and we expect 
to maintain this improved profile and build on the 
to maintain this improved profile and build on the 
core businesses we have today.
core businesses we have today.

Going forward, we will build on this solid  
Going forward, we will build on this solid  

foundation. We will use our technical, supply chain 
foundation. We will use our technical, supply chain 
and marketing expertise to capture new opportunities. 
and marketing expertise to capture new opportunities. 
We will expand our market share by making Neenah 
We will expand our market share by making Neenah 
increasingly valuable and relevant to our customers. 
increasingly valuable and relevant to our customers. 
We will continue to pursue growth in the international 
We will continue to pursue growth in the international 
marketplace. We will ensure that the company has a 
marketplace. We will ensure that the company has a 
talented, capable and motivated team to lead Neenah 
talented, capable and motivated team to lead Neenah 
toward an exciting future. And we will operate in  
toward an exciting future. And we will operate in  
a disciplined manner, staying focused on delivering  
a disciplined manner, staying focused on delivering  
attractive returns on invested capital and rising 
attractive returns on invested capital and rising 
shareholder value. 
shareholder value. 

I would like to express my thanks for the hard 
I would like to express my thanks for the hard 

work and energy of our people, the loyalty of our  
work and energy of our people, the loyalty of our  
customers, the guidance of our Board of Directors and  
customers, the guidance of our Board of Directors and  
the support of our shareholders. It has been a privi-
the support of our shareholders. It has been a privi-
lege to work with the Neenah team as we spun off  
lege to work with the Neenah team as we spun off  
from Kimberly-Clark and then successfully trans-
from Kimberly-Clark and then successfully trans-
formed the Company into a leader in our Technical 
formed the Company into a leader in our Technical 
Products and Fine Paper markets. We have achieved 
Products and Fine Paper markets. We have achieved 
our objective of creating a transformed company, 
our objective of creating a transformed company, 
focused on profitable markets, that is supported 
focused on profitable markets, that is supported 
by our strong financial base, and a great team with a 
by our strong financial base, and a great team with a 

commitment to quality and service and an innovative, 
commitment to quality and service and an innovative, 
“can do” spirit. I am confident that Neenah Paper 
“can do” spirit. I am confident that Neenah Paper 
will continue to deliver on its exciting potential in the 
will continue to deliver on its exciting potential in the 
years ahead.
years ahead.

ABOUT THAT ANNUAL REPORT... 
ABOUT THAT ANNUAL REPORT... 
I would be remiss if I ended without mentioning last 
I would be remiss if I ended without mentioning last 
year’s “hardcover” annual report. I received a few  
year’s “hardcover” annual report. I received a few  
letters from shareholders commenting on the beauty 
letters from shareholders commenting on the beauty 
of it, but some also questioned the cost and the need 
of it, but some also questioned the cost and the need 
for what one shareholder referred to as a “bullet-
for what one shareholder referred to as a “bullet-
proof” cover. I’m glad it got your attention, as this  
proof” cover. I’m glad it got your attention, as this  
is what we do for a living with our products! We work 
is what we do for a living with our products! We work 
hard to manage spending, and the total cost did  
hard to manage spending, and the total cost did  
not exceed the prior year’s level. The cover material  
not exceed the prior year’s level. The cover material  
was one of the Technical Products grades, so it was  
was one of the Technical Products grades, so it was  
a great showcase for our capabilities. We are proud 
a great showcase for our capabilities. We are proud 
to say that the report got the attention of others 
to say that the report got the attention of others 
too – as it won the overall “Best in Class” award at 
too – as it won the overall “Best in Class” award at 
the leading international annual report competi-
the leading international annual report competi-
tion conducted by the graphic design industry, and 
tion conducted by the graphic design industry, and 
more importantly was recognized by our customers 
more importantly was recognized by our customers 
throughout the year. We are proud of what we make 
throughout the year. We are proud of what we make 
and sell, and our annual reports reflect it. Thanks.
and sell, and our annual reports reflect it. Thanks.

Sincerely,
Sincerely,

Sean T. Erwin
Sean T. Erwin
Chairman, President and  
Chairman, President and  
Chief Executive Officer 
Chief Executive Officer 

16

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

PART III: NEENAH PAPER AT A GLANCE
PART III: NEENAH PAPER AT A GLANCE

Superior products and strong performance 
Superior products and strong performance 
working together
working together

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report
Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

17
17

NEENAH PAPER AT A GLANCE
NEENAH PAPER AT A GLANCE

AT NEENAH, OUR MISSION  
AT NEENAH, OUR MISSION  
IS TO BE 
IS TO BE 
 THE FIRST CHOICE  
 THE FIRST CHOICE  
FOR PREMIUM BRANDED  
FOR PREMIUM BRANDED  
AND CUSTOMIZED PRODUCTS.  
AND CUSTOMIZED PRODUCTS.  
OUR GOAL  
OUR GOAL  
IS TO CREATE VALUE  
IS TO CREATE VALUE  
FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND  
FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND  
STOCKHOLDERS  
STOCKHOLDERS  
THROUGH INNOVATION, SERVICE  
THROUGH INNOVATION, SERVICE  
AND EXCELLENCE  
AND EXCELLENCE  
IN EXECUTION.  
IN EXECUTION.  
IT IS OUR EMPLOYEES WHO  
IT IS OUR EMPLOYEES WHO  
DRIVE THIS VALUE.
DRIVE THIS VALUE.

18
18

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report
Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

NEENAH 
NEENAH 
TECHNICAL PRODUCTS
TECHNICAL PRODUCTS

NEENAH 
NEENAH 
FINE PAPER
FINE PAPER

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report
Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

19
19

NEENAH TECHNICAL PRODUCTS
NEENAH TECHNICAL PRODUCTS

Neenah is a leading producer of Technical 
Neenah is a leading producer of Technical 
Products, using paper, film, nonwovens  
Products, using paper, film, nonwovens  
and other substrates to produce specialized, 
and other substrates to produce specialized, 
industrial and graphic materials that  
industrial and graphic materials that  
employ saturation, coating and other 
employ saturation, coating and other 
function-enhancing processes to deliver 
function-enhancing processes to deliver 
specified performance. 
specified performance. 

Our products include filtration media, 
Our products include filtration media, 
specialty tape and coated abrasive 
specialty tape and coated abrasive 
backings, as well as durable tag, label and 
backings, as well as durable tag, label and 
wall coverings. Specific end uses include 
wall coverings. Specific end uses include 
transportation, household and industrial 
transportation, household and industrial 
applications, medical packaging, retail image 
applications, medical packaging, retail image 
transfer papers and many others. 
transfer papers and many others. 

The Technical Products group serves 
The Technical Products group serves 
customers in as many as 70 countries through  
customers in as many as 70 countries through  
manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and 
manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and 
Germany, supported by R&D efforts focused 
Germany, supported by R&D efforts focused 
on developing the new processes  
on developing the new processes  
and products that will meet customers’  
and products that will meet customers’  
needs and drive our growth.
needs and drive our growth.

20
20
20

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report
Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

Filtration
Filtration

Specialty 
Specialty 

Tape
Tape

Technical Products
Technical Products

Component 
Component 

Materials
Materials

Graphics & 
Graphics & 

Wall 
Wall 

Covering
Covering

Air Filter Media
Air Filter Media

Oil Filter Media
Oil Filter Media

Fuel Filter Media
Fuel Filter Media

Cabin Filter Media
Cabin Filter Media

Power Tool Filters
Power Tool Filters

Vacuum Cleaner Bags
Vacuum Cleaner Bags

Blood Filtration
Blood Filtration

Industrial Filtration
Industrial Filtration

Beverage Filtration
Beverage Filtration

Indoor Painting
Indoor Painting

Outdoor Painting
Outdoor Painting

Automotive Lacquering
Automotive Lacquering

Carton Sealing Tapes 
Carton Sealing Tapes 

Color Coding
Color Coding

Protective Surface Covering
Protective Surface Covering

Adhesive Coated
Adhesive Coated

Vinyl Graphics Transfer
Vinyl Graphics Transfer

Packaging 
Packaging 

Coated Abrasives
Coated Abrasives

Medical Packaging
Medical Packaging

Veneer Backing
Veneer Backing

Automotive Dashboards
Automotive Dashboards

Printing Blankets 
Printing Blankets 

Furniture Surface Overlay
Furniture Surface Overlay

Release Papers
Release Papers

Screen Printing Plates
Screen Printing Plates

Carbon Fiber Base
Carbon Fiber Base

Heat Transfer
Heat Transfer

Bookcovering Material
Bookcovering Material

  Outdoor Maps
  Outdoor Maps

Hospital ID Bracelets
Hospital ID Bracelets

Passport Covers 
Passport Covers 

Pressure Sensitive Labels
Pressure Sensitive Labels

Pharmaceutical Labels
Pharmaceutical Labels

Garment Brand Labeling
Garment Brand Labeling

Racing Numbers
Racing Numbers

Finished Wallpapers
Finished Wallpapers

Paintable Wallpapers
Paintable Wallpapers

 Embossed Wallpapers
 Embossed Wallpapers

Wallpapers on Demand
Wallpapers on Demand

  Wall Decals 
  Wall Decals 

Digitally Printed Wallpapers
Digitally Printed Wallpapers

Liner for Glazing
Liner for Glazing

Backing for Flexible Flooring
Backing for Flexible Flooring

Acoustic Ceilings
Acoustic Ceilings

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report
Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

21
21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NEENAH FINE PAPER
NEENAH FINE PAPER

Neenah is the leader in the North American 
Neenah is the leader in the North American 
Fine Paper market. We are a world-class 
Fine Paper market. We are a world-class 
manufacturer of premium writing, text and 
manufacturer of premium writing, text and 
cover materials, cotton fiber papers and 
cover materials, cotton fiber papers and 
specialty items. 
specialty items. 

Built on a tradition of quality and service,  
Built on a tradition of quality and service,  
we market some of the most recognized and 
we market some of the most recognized and 
preferred premium papers in North America, 
preferred premium papers in North America, 
with distinguished brands including CLASSIC®, 
with distinguished brands including CLASSIC®, 
CLASSIC CREST®, ESSE®, SUNDANCE® and 
CLASSIC CREST®, ESSE®, SUNDANCE® and 
ENVIRONMENT® Papers. 
ENVIRONMENT® Papers. 

A pioneer in eco-friendly paper products,  
A pioneer in eco-friendly paper products,  
our ENVIRONMENT® Paper is the premier 
our ENVIRONMENT® Paper is the premier 
offering of recycled content papers  
offering of recycled content papers  
in the market. Neenah’s leadership role is 
in the market. Neenah’s leadership role is 
supported by our broad range of colors, 
supported by our broad range of colors, 
textures and other product features. 
textures and other product features. 

Our products are in demand wherever  
Our products are in demand wherever  
image counts: for high-end printing needs, 
image counts: for high-end printing needs, 
business identification materials, private 
business identification materials, private 
watermark stationery, marketing and 
watermark stationery, marketing and 
promotional materials, reports, brochures  
promotional materials, reports, brochures  
and specialized uses such as upscale 
and specialized uses such as upscale 
packaging and labels.
packaging and labels.

22
22

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report
Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

Stationery
Stationery

 Business Cards
 Business Cards

Annual Reports
Annual Reports

Brochures 
Brochures 

Luxury Retail Packaging 
Luxury Retail Packaging 

 Wine Labels
 Wine Labels

Pocket Folders
Pocket Folders

Direct-Mail Advertising
Direct-Mail Advertising

Shopping Bags
Shopping Bags

Menus
Menus

Sustainability Reports
Sustainability Reports

Music Packaging
Music Packaging

Greeting Cards
Greeting Cards

Coasters
Coasters

Fine Paper
Fine Paper

CLASSIC CREST® Papers
CLASSIC CREST® Papers

CLASSIC® Linen Papers
CLASSIC® Linen Papers

CLASSIC® Laid Papers
CLASSIC® Laid Papers

CLASSIC COLUMNS® Papers
CLASSIC COLUMNS® Papers

CLASSIC COTTON® Papers
CLASSIC COTTON® Papers

CONSERVATION® Papers
CONSERVATION® Papers

CRANE® Papers
CRANE® Papers

ENVIRONMENT® Papers
ENVIRONMENT® Papers

STARWHITE® Papers
STARWHITE® Papers

SUNDANCE® Papers
SUNDANCE® Papers

EAMES™ Papers
EAMES™ Papers

ESSE® Papers
ESSE® Papers

OXFORD® Papers
OXFORD® Papers

UV/ULTRA® II Translucent Papers
UV/ULTRA® II Translucent Papers

CLEARFOLD® Translucent Papers
CLEARFOLD® Translucent Papers

CAPITOL BOND® Papers
CAPITOL BOND® Papers

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report
Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

23
23

NEENAH FACILITIES
NEENAH FACILITIES

Customer Service 
Customer Service 
Center
Center

Research and 
Research and 
Development
Development

Finishing 
Finishing 
Center
Center

Manufacturing
Manufacturing

Corporate 
Corporate 
Headquarters
Headquarters

Alpharetta, 
Alpharetta, 
Georgia
Georgia

Weidach, 
Weidach, 
Germany
Germany

Whiting, 
Whiting, 
Wisconsin
Wisconsin

Appleton, 
Appleton, 
Wisconsin
Wisconsin

Neenah, 
Neenah, 
Wisconsin
Wisconsin

Munising, 
Munising, 
Michigan
Michigan

Lahnstein, 
Lahnstein, 
Germany
Germany

Bruckmuehl, 
Bruckmuehl, 
Germany
Germany

24
24

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report
Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

26

51

Business Summary 

Consolidated  
Balance Sheets 

29

Selected Financial Data 

32

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

47

Management’s Annual Report  
on Internal Control  
Over Financial Reporting 

48

Reports of Independent  
Registered  
Public Accounting Firm  

50

Consolidated Statements  
of Operations 

52

Consolidated Statements  
of Changes in  
Stockholders’ Equity 

53

Consolidated Statements  
of Cash Flows 

54

Notes to Consolidated  
Financial Statements 

90

Leadership

91

Shareholder  
Information

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

25

BUSINESS SUMMARY

In this report, unless the context requires otherwise, refer-
ences to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Neenah” or the “Company” 
are intended to mean Neenah Paper, Inc. and its 
consolidated subsidiaries.

OV E R V I E W

We are a leading producer of technical products and pre-
mium fine papers. We have two primary operations: our 
technical products business and our fine paper business.
 Our technical products business is a leading 
international producer of transportation and other filter 
media, durable, saturated and coated substrates for a 
variety of end uses, and nonwoven wall coverings. Our 
technical products business is organized into five global 
strategic business units (“SBUs”) which sell into 17 prod-
uct categories. We focus on categories where we believe 
we are a market leader or have a competitive advantage, 
which include, among others, transportation and other 
filter media, specialty tape, label, abrasive, medical packag-
ing, nonwoven wall coverings and image transfer technical 
products markets. We are also a global supplier of mate-
rials used for customer-specific applications in furniture 
and book covers. Our customers are located in more than 
70 countries. Our technical products manufacturing facili-
ties are located in Munising, Michigan and near Munich and 
Frankfurt, Germany.

Our fine paper business is a leading producer  

of premium writing, text, cover and specialty papers used in 
corporate identity packages, corporate annual reports,  
invitations, personal stationery, labels and high-end  
packaging for point of purchase advertising. Our products 
include some of the most recognized and preferred papers  
in North America, where we enjoy leading market positions in  
many of our product categories. We sell our products pri-
marily to authorized paper distributors, converters and  
specialty businesses. Our fine paper manufacturing facilities 
are located in Appleton, Neenah and Whiting, Wisconsin.

P R O D U C T S

T E C H N I C A L  P R O D U C T S . The technical products busi-
ness is a leading producer of filtration media and durable, 
saturated and coated substrates for a variety of end uses, 
including tapes, premask, abrasives, labels, medical pack-
aging, decorative components, wall covering, and image 

transfer papers. Our technical products business had 
net sales of approximately $384 million, $318 million and 
$397 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. JET-
PRO®, SofStretch™, KIMDURA®, MUNISING LP®, PREVAIL™, 
NEENAH®, Gessner® and varitess® are brands of our techni-
cal products business.

 In general, the products of our technical prod-
ucts business are sold to other manufacturers as key com-
ponents for their finished products. The technical products 
business is organized into five SBUs: Filtration; Tape; 
Component Materials, Graphics and Identification; and  
Wall Covering to sell its products into major market seg-
ments. Several of the key market segments served, including  
tape and abrasives, are global in scope.

The Filtration SBU produces filtration media pri-

marily for induction air, fuel, oil, and cabin air applications in 
automotive transportation. Transportation filtration media 
are sold to suppliers of automotive companies as original 
equipment on new cars and trucks as well as to the auto-
motive aftermarket. This business is primarily in Europe.

The Tape SBU produces both saturated and 
unsaturated crepe and flat paper tapes and sells them 
to manufacturers to produce finished pressure sensitive 
products for sale in automotive, automotive aftermarket, 
transportation, manufacturing, building construction, and 
industrial general purpose applications.

The Component Materials SBU is a leading pro-

ducer of latex saturated and coated papers for use by a 
wide variety of manufacturers. Finished lightweight sand-
paper is sold in the automotive, automotive aftermarket, 
construction, metal and woodworking industries for both 
waterproof and dry sanding applications. Premask paper 
is used as a protective over wrap for products during the 
manufacturing process and for applying signs, labeling 
and other finished products. Medical packaging paper is a 
polymer impregnated base sheet that provides a breathable 
sterilization barrier. When sealed together with film, this 
paper becomes a medical packaging material that allows 
sterilization from steam, ethylene oxide, or gamma radia-
tion and at the same time provides unique barrier proper-
ties. The Component Materials SBU also produces a line of 
release papers and furniture backers.

The Graphics and Identification SBU produces 

label and tag products from saturated (latex impregnated) 
base label stock and purchased synthetic base label stock. 
Top coatings are applied to the base label stock to allow 

26

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

B U S I N E S S   S U M M A R Y

for high quality variable and digital printing. The synthetic 
label stock is recognized as a high quality, UV (ultra-violet) 
stable product used for outdoor applications. The business 
sells its label and tag stock to pressure sensitive coaters , 
who in turn sell the coated label and tag stock to the label 
printing community. Image transfer papers are used to 
transfer an image from paper to tee shirts, hats, coffee 
mugs, and other surfaces. The Graphics and Identification 
SBU produces and applies a proprietary imaging coating to 
its image transfer papers for use in digital printing applica-
tions. Image transfer papers are primarily sold through large 
retail outlets and through master distributors. Decorative 
components papers are made from light and medium 
weight latex saturated papers which can then be coated for 
printability. Decorative components papers are primarily 
sold to coater converters, distributors, publishers and print-
ers for use in book covers, stationery and fancy packaging. 
The Graphics and Identification SBU also produces and sells 
clean room papers and durable printing papers into their 
respective markets.

The Wall Covering SBU produces a line of sub- 

strates made from saturated and coated wet-laid non wovens 
and markets to converters serving primarily European com-
mercial and do-it-yourself markets.

F I N E PA P E R . The fine paper business manu-
factures and sells world-class branded premium writing, 
text, cover and specialty papers used in corporate identity 
packages, corporate annual reports, invitations, personal 
stationery, labels and high-end packaging for point of pur-
chase advertising. Our fine paper business had net sales of 
approximately $273 million, $256 million and $336 million in 
2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 Premium writing papers are used for business 

and personal stationery, corporate identity packages, enve-
lopes and similar end-use applications. Market leading writ-
ing papers are sold by the fine paper business under the 
CLASSIC®, ENVIRONMENT®, NEENAH®, CAPITOL BOND® 
and NEUTECH® trademarks, which are denoted by a brand 
watermark in each sheet of writing paper. Our fine paper 
business has an exclusive agreement to manufacture, market 
and distribute Crane & Co.’s CRANE’S CREST®, CRANE’S 
BOND®, CRANE’S LETTRA®, CRANE’S PALETTE™ and 
CRANE’S® Choice Papers branded fine papers. The fine 
paper business also sells private watermarked paper and 
other specialty writing papers.

Text and cover papers are used in applications 

such as corporate brochures, pocket folders, corporate 
annual reports, advertising inserts, direct mail, business 
cards, hang tags, scrapbooks, and a variety of other uses 
where colors, textured finishes or heavier weight papers 
are desired. Our brands in this category include CLASSIC®, 
CLASSIC CREST®, STARWHITE®, SUNDANCE®, ESSE® and 
ENVIRONMENT®. We also sell a variety of custom colors, 
paper finishes, and duplex/laminated papers. The fine paper  
business also produces and sells other specialty papers, includ-
ing translucent papers, art papers, papers for optical 
scanning and other specialized applications, under the UV/
ULTRA® II translucent paper trademark and other brands.

M A R K E T S A N D C U S T O M E R S

T E C H N I C A L P R O D U C T S . The technical products business 
relies on five SBUs to sell its products globally into 17 prod-
uct categories. Such categories, broadly defined as polymer 
impregnated and synthetic paper, include papers used as 
raw materials in the following applications: filtration, tape, 
component materials for manufactured products, graphics 
and identification, and wall covering.

Several products (filtration media, wall coverings, 
abrasives, tapes, labels) are used in markets that are directly 
affected by economic business cycles. Other market seg-
ments such as image transfer papers used in small/home 
office and consumer applications are relatively stable. Price 
competition is common in most of the segments served by 
the technical products business and has increased due to a 
trend of using film and other lower cost substrates instead 
of paper in some applications.

The technical products business relies on a team 
of direct sales representatives and customer service repre-
sentatives to market and sell approximately 95 percent of 
its sales volume directly to customers and converters. Less 
than five percent of the sales of the technical products busi-
ness are sold through industrial distributors.

The technical products business has over 

500 customers worldwide. The distribution of sales in 2010 
was approximately 55 percent in Europe, 25 percent in 
North America and 20 percent in Latin America and Asia. 
Customers typically convert and transform base papers  

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

27

B U S I N E S S   S U M M A R Y

and film into finished rolls and sheets by adding adhesives, 
coatings and finishes. These transformed products are then 
sold to end-users.

F I N E PA P E R . Premium writing, text and cover 

papers represent approximately three percent of the 
North American uncoated free sheet market. The uncoated 
free sheet market has been declining two to four percent 
annually due to the increasing use of electronic media for 
communication. For 2010, the American Forestry and Paper 
Associations (the “AF&PA”) reported a six percent year-
over-year industry decline in the premium text and cover 
uncoated free sheet paper category. Lower industry volume 
reflected a decline in consumption for a number of key end-
use market segments, including real estate, hospitality and 
advertising. The stationery segment of the uncoated free 
sheet market is divided into cotton and sulfite grades. The 
text and cover paper segment of the market, used in cor-
porate identification applications, is split between smooth 
papers and textured papers. Text papers have traditionally 
been utilized for special, high-end collateral material such 
as corporate brochures, annual reports and special-edition 
books. Cover papers are primarily used for business cards, 
pocket folders, brochures and report covers, including cor-
porate annual reports.

The fine paper business sells its products through 

our sales and marketing organizations primarily in three 
channels: authorized paper distributors, converters and 
direct sales. Sales to distributors, including distributor 
owned paper stores, account for approximately 70 per-
cent of revenue in the fine paper business. Approximately 
six percent of the sales of our fine paper business are 
exported to international distributors.

Sales to the fine paper business’s two largest 
customers (both of which are distributors) represented 
approximately 30 percent of its total sales in 2010. We prac-
tice limited distribution to improve our ability to control 

the marketing of our products. Although a complete loss of 
either of these customers would cause a temporary decline 
in the business’s sales volume, the decline could be partially 
offset by expanding sales to existing distributors, and fur-
ther offset over a several month period with the addition of 
new distributors.

C O N C E N T R AT I O N . For the years ended 
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, no customer accounted 
for more than ten percent of our consolidated net sales.
The following tables present further informa-

tion about our businesses by geographic area (dollars 
in millions):

Net sales
United States 
Europe 
  Consolidated 

Total Assets 
United States 
Canada 
Europe 

Total  

Year Ended December 31, 

2010 

2009 

2008

 $413.6 
 244.1  
 $657.7 

$360.9  
213.0  
$573.9  

$467.3   
265.0   
$732.3   

December 31, 

2010 

2009 

2008

$308.9 
0.1 
 297.7  
$606.7 

$330.0  
5.4  
301.2  
$636.6  

$371.8   
3.3   
314.9   

$690.0

Net sales and total assets are attributed to geo-
graphic areas based on the physical location of the selling 
entities and the physical location of the assets. See Note 14 
of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, “Business 
Segment and Geographic Information,” for information with 
respect to net sales, profits (losses) and total assets by busi-
ness segment.

28

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
     
 
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth our selected historical financial 
and other data. You should read the information set forth 
below in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and 
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” 
and our historical consolidated financial statements and the 
notes to those consolidated financial statements included 
elsewhere in this Annual Report. The statement of operations 
data for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 
and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2010 and 
2009 set forth below are derived from our audited historical 
consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this 
Annual Report. The balance sheet data as of December 31,  
2008, 2007 and 2006 and the statement of operations data 
for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 set forth 
below are derived from our historical consolidated financial 
statements not included in this Annual Report.

During the preparation of the interim finan-
cial statements for the three and nine months ended 
September 30, 2010, the Company identified a $2.8 million 
overstatement of accounts payable that was primarily the 
result of invalid inventory pricing adjustments beginning 
in 2006 and certain inventory transactions in 2008. These 
errors resulted in an overstatement of accounts payable and  
cost of products sold of $0.4 million and $2.4 million for the 
years ended December 31, 2006 and 2008, respectively.  
The net effect of these corrections on the statement of  
operations for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 
2006 and on the consolidated balance sheet data as of 
December 31, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 is presented in  
the following table. We believe the effects of these prior 
period corrections are not material to any prior period  
consolidated financial statements. See Note 1 of Notes  
to Consolidated Financial Statements, “Background and 
Basis of Presentation – Prior Year Adjustments.” 

(Dollars in millions, except per share data) 

2010 

2009 

2008 

2007 

2006

Year Ended December 31, 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data
Cost of products sold 
Operating income 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes 
Provision for income taxes 
Income from continuing operations 
Net income 
Earnings from continuing operations per basic share 
Earnings from continuing operations per diluted share 

(Dollars in millions) 

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
Working capital 
Total assets 
Total liabilities 
Total stockholders’ equity 

$ – 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
  – 

$ – 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

$ (2.4) 
2.4 
2.4 
0.9 
1.5 
1.5 
0.10  
0.10 

December 31, 

$ – 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

$ (0.4)
0.4 
0.4
–
0.4
0.4
0.02
0.02

2010 

2009 

2008 

2007 

2006

$ – 
– 
– 
– 

$ 2.8 
(0.9) 
(2.8) 
1.9 

$ 2.8 
(0.9) 
(2.8) 
1.9 

$ 0.4 
– 
(0.4) 
0.4 

$ 0.4
–
(0.4)
0.4

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

29

     
     
S E L E C T E D   F I N A N C I A L   D A T A

(Dollars in millions, except per share data) 

2010 

2009 

2008 

2007 (f) 

2006 (g)

Year Ended December 31, 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data
Net sales  
Cost of products sold 
Gross profit 
Selling, general and administrative expenses 
Other income – net 
Loss (gain) on closure and sale of the Ripon Mill (b) 
Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charge (c) 
Operating income (loss) 
Interest expense – net 
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 
Provision (benefit) for income taxes 
Income (loss) from continuing operations 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes (a) (d) (e) (j) 
Net income (loss) 

$657.7 
537.7 
120.0 
69.3 
(1.0) 
(3.4) 
– 
55.1 
20.3 
34.8 
9.8 
25.0 
134.1 
$159.1 

$573.9 
472.3 
101.6 
69.1 
(1.0) 
17.1 
– 
16.4 
23.2 
(6.8) 
(5.0) 
(1.8) 
0.6 
$   (1.2) 

$ 732.3 
630.8 
101.5 
75.2 
(11.3) 
– 
54.5 
(16.9) 
25.0 
(41.9) 
3.9 
(45.8) 
(111.2) 
$(157.0) 

$767.0 
635.5 
131.5 
79.3 
(1.7) 
– 
– 
53.9 
25.4 
28.5 
(3.7) 
32.2 
(22.0) 
$  10.2 

$405.0
305.0
100.0
54.4
(0.5)
–
–
46.1
16.9
29.2
9.4
19.8
43.1
$  62.9

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations per basic share 

$  1.69 

$ (0.12) 

$  (3.14) 

$  2.15 

$  1.33

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations per diluted share 

$  1.61 

$ (0.12) 

$  (3.14) 

$  2.11 

$  1.33

Cash dividends per common share 

$  0.40 

$  0.40 

$   0.40 

$  0.40 

$  0.40

Other Financial Data
Net cash flow provided by (used for):
  Operating activities 
  Capital expenditures 
  Other investing activities (a) (d) (f) (g) 

Financing activities (f) (g) 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (h) (i) 

(Dollars in millions) 

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
Working capital 
Total assets 
Long-term debt 
Total liabilities 
Total stockholders’ equity (a) 

(a)   In March 2010, Neenah Canada sold approximately 475,000 acres of 

woodland assets in Nova Scotia (the “Woodlands”) to Northern Pulp,  
for C$82.5 million ($78.6 million). The sale resulted in a pre-tax gain,  
net of fees and other transaction costs, of $74.1 million. The sale of  
the Woodlands resulted in the substantially complete liquidation  
of the Company’s investment in Neenah Canada. In accordance with 
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 830, Foreign Currency 
Matters (“ASC Topic 830”), $87.9 million of cumulative currency transla-
tion adjustments attributable to the Company’s Canadian subsidiaries 
have been reclassified into earnings and recognized as part of the gain 
on sale of the Woodlands. The transaction did not generate a cash tax 
liability because the tax basis for the Woodlands was approximately 
equal to the sale price. See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial 
Statements, “Discontinued Operations.”

30

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

$  54.5 
(17.4) 
83.9 
(78.3) 
2.6x 

$  64.9 
(8.4) 
0.1 
(54.2) 
– 

$   13.1 
(30.0) 
(0.4) 
18.2 
– 

$  69.5 
(58.3) 
(55.1) 
43.8 
2.1x 

$  65.8
(25.1)
(102.6)
50.8
2.5x

2010 

2009 

2008 

2007 (f) 

2006 (g)

December 31, 

$129.9 
606.7 
231.3 
447.5 
159.2 

$  98.8 
636.6 
263.6 
527.0 
109.6 

$147.1 
689.1 
340.5 
584.1 
105.0 

$120.9 
937.8 
321.2 
656.7 
281.1 

$   93.3
742.5
282.3
559.4
183.1

(b)   In October 2010, we sold the remaining assets of the Ripon Mill to 
Diamond Pet Food Processors of Ripon, LLC (“Diamond”) for gross 
proceeds of approximately $9 million. Pursuant to the terms of the 
transaction, Diamond acquired all the assets and assumed responsibility 
for substantially all the remaining liabilities associated with the Ripon 
Mill. We recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of $3.4 million in the 
fourth quarter of 2010.

In May 2009, we permanently closed the Ripon Mill. The closure 
resulted in a pre-tax charge of $17.1 million, comprised of approximately 
$5.8 million in non-cash charges primarily for losses related to the car-
rying value of property, plant and equipment, a curtailment loss of 
$0.8 million related to postretirement benefit plans in which employ-
ees of the Ripon Mill participated and cash payments for contract 
terminations, severances and other employee costs of approximately 
$10.5 million.

     
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
  
S E L E C T E D   F I N A N C I A L   D A T A

 (1)   In March 2010, Neenah Canada sold the Woodlands to Northern 

Pulp for C$82.5 million ($78.6 million) resulting in a pre-tax gain 
of $74.1 million. The substantially complete liquidation of the 
Company’s investment in Neenah Canada resulted in the reclassifica-
tion of $87.9 million of cumulative currency translation adjustments 
attributable to the Company’s Canadian subsidiaries in accordance 
with ASC Topic 830. See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial 
Statements, “Discontinued Operations.”

(2)   During the first quarter of 2008, we determined that the estimated 
value we would receive from a sale of the Pictou Mill indicated that 
we would not recover the carrying value of the mill’s long-lived 
assets. As a result, for the year ended December 31, 2008, we 
recognized aggregate non-cash, pre-tax impairment charges of 
$91.2 million to write off the carrying value of the Pictou Mill’s long-
lived assets. In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2008, we 
recorded a pre-tax loss of $29.4 million to recognize the loss on dis-
posal of the Pictou Mill.

(3)   In conjunction with the sale of the Pictou Mill, Northern Pulp 

assumed responsibility for all pension and other postretirement 
benefit obligations for active and retired employees of the mill. 
We accounted for the transfer of the Nova Scotia, Canada, defined 
benefit pension plan (the “Nova Scotia Plan”) to Northern Pulp as a 
settlement of postretirement benefit obligations pursuant to ASC 
Topic 715, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (“ASC Topic 715”). 
For the year ended December 31, 2008, we recognized a non-cash, 
pre-tax settlement loss of $53.7 million for the reclassification of 
deferred pension and other postretirement benefit adjustments 
related to the Nova Scotia Plan from accumulated other comprehen-
sive income to the loss on disposal of the Pictou Mill.

(4)   In December 2007, the Ontario Plan was terminated and all out-
standing pension obligations for active employees were settled 
through the purchase of annuity contracts or lump-sum payments 
pursuant to participant elections. For the year ended December 31, 
2008, Neenah Canada recognized a non-cash pre-tax settlement 
loss of $38.7 million upon termination of the Ontario Plan.

(5)   In August 2006, Neenah Canada made a payment to the pension 

trust of approximately $10.8 million for the purchase of annuity con-
tracts to settle its pension liability for current retirees. As a result, 
Neenah Canada recognized a pension curtailment and settlement loss 
of approximately $26.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2006.

(6)   In June 2006, Neenah Canada sold approximately 500,000 acres 
of woodlands in Nova Scotia for gross proceeds of $139.1 million. 
The transaction resulted in a net pre-tax gain of $131.7 million. 
Neenah Canada immediately recognized approximately $122.6 mil-
lion of such gain and deferred approximately $9.1 million which was 
recognized in income pro-rata through December 2007. For the 
years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, Neenah Canada recog-
nized $6.2 million and $2.9 million, respectively, of such deferred 
gain in income.

(c)   For the year ended December 31, 2008, we recognized a pre-tax loss of 
$52.7 million (we did not recognize a tax benefit related to the non-tax-
deductible loss) to write off the excess of the carrying value of goodwill 
assigned to Neenah Germany over the estimated fair value of goodwill. 
In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2008, we recognized a 
non-cash pre-tax charge of approximately $1.8 million for the impair-
ment of certain trade names and customer-based intangible assets 
acquired in the Neenah Germany acquisition.

(d)   In February 2008, we committed to a plan to sell our pulp mill in Pictou, 

Nova Scotia (the “Pictou Mill”) and the Woodlands. In June 2008, 
Neenah Canada sold the Pictou Mill to Northern Pulp. Neenah Canada 
made a payment of approximately $10.3 million to Northern Pulp in 
connection with the sale of the Pictou Mill. In addition, we paid approxi-
mately $3.3 million of transaction costs. In August 2006, we transferred 
our Terrace Bay mill and related woodlands operations to Buchanan in 
exchange for a payment of approximately $18.6 million.

(e)   For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the results of 
operations of the Pictou Mill and the Woodlands and the loss on dis-
posal of the Pictou Mill are reported as discontinued operations in the 
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data. The consolidated results 
of operations for all other periods presented have been restated to 
reflect the results of operations of the Terrace Bay mill, the Pictou Mill 
and the Woodlands and the loss on transfer of the Terrace Bay mill as 
discontinued operations.

(f)   In March 2007, we acquired the stock of Fox Valley Corporation and 
its subsidiary, Fox River, for approximately $54.7 million in cash. We 
financed the acquisition through a combination of cash and debt drawn 
against our existing revolving credit facility. The results of Fox River 
are being reported as part of our Fine Paper segment and have been 
included in our consolidated financial results since the acquisition date.

(g)   In October 2006, we purchased the outstanding interests of 

Neenah Germany from FiberMark, Inc. and FiberMark International 
Holdings LLC for approximately $220.1 million in cash. We financed the 
acquisition through a combination of cash and debt drawn against our 
existing revolving credit facility. The results of Neenah Germany are 
being reported as part of our Technical Products segment and have 
been included in our consolidated financial results since the acquisition 
date.

(h)   For purposes of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, 

earnings consist of income before income taxes (less interest) plus fixed 
charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, including amor-
tization of debt issuance costs, and the estimated interest portion of 
rental expense.
 For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, fixed charges 
exceeded earnings by $6.8 million and $41.9 million, respectively.
 The following table presents the results of discontinued operations: 

(i) 

(j) 

(Dollars in millions) 

2010 

2009 

2008 

2007 

2006

Year Ended December 31,

Discontinued operations:

Income (loss)  

from operations (2)(4)(5)(6)  $    1.0 

$ 2.8  $  (97.8)  $(31.6)  $ 76.3

  Gain on disposal of  
the Woodlands (1) 

Reclassification of cumulative  
 translation adjustments  
related to investments  
in Canada (1) 
Loss on disposal –  
Terrace Bay Mill 
Loss on disposal –  
Pictou Mill (2) 

74.1 

87.9 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(0.3) 

(29.4) 

Loss on settlement of  
 post-employment  
benefit plans (3) 
Gain (loss) on disposal 

Income (loss) before  
income taxes 
(Provision) benefit for  
income taxes 

– 
162.0 

– 
(0.3) 

(53.7) 
(83.1) 

163.0 

2.5 

(180.9) 

(31.6) 

69.8

(28.9) 

(1.9) 

69.7 

9.6 

(26.7)

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

–

–

(6.5)

–

–
(6.5)

Income (loss) from discontinued  
operations, net of taxes 

$134.1 

$ 0.6  $(111.2)  $(22.0)  $ 43.1

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

31

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF  
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis presents the factors 
that had a material effect on our results of operations dur-
ing the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. 
Also discussed is our financial position as of the end of those 
periods. You should read this discussion in conjunction 
with our consolidated financial statements and the notes to 
those consolidated financial statements included elsewhere 
in this Annual Report. This Management’s Discussion and 
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 
contains forward-looking statements. See “Forward-Looking 
Statements” for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and 
assumptions associated with these statements.

I N T R O D U C T I O N

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial 
Condition is intended to provide investors with an under-
standing of the historical performance of our business, its 
financial condition and its prospects. We will discuss and 
provide our analysis of the following:
•  Overview of Business;
•  Business Segments;
•  Results of Operations and Related Information;
•  Liquidity and Capital Resources;
•  Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements; and
•  Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates.

OV E R V I E W O F  B U S I N E S S

We are a leading producer of technical products and pre-
mium fine papers. We have two primary operations: our 
technical products business and our fine paper business.

In managing our businesses, we believe that 
achieving and maintaining a leadership position in our 
markets, responding effectively to competitive challenges, 
employing capital optimally, controlling costs and manag-
ing risks are important to long-term success. Changes in 
input costs and general economic conditions also impact 
our results. In this discussion and analysis, we will refer to 
these factors.
•  M A R K E T L E A D E R S H I P. Achieving and maintaining mar-
ket leadership through strong brands, product quality 
and performance, innovation and supply chain manage-
ment is an important factor in our results. Our fine paper 
business, with its well-known brands, has long been 
recognized as a leading manufacturer of world-class pre-
mium writing, text and cover papers used in corporate 

identity packages, corporate annual reports, invitations, 
personal stationery, labels and high-end packaging. 
Our technical products business is also recognized as a 
leading international supplier in the tape, filtration, com-
ponent materials, graphics and identification and wall 
covering markets with products that meet unique and 
exacting customer requirements.

•  C O M P E T I T I V E E N V I R O N M E N T. Our past results 

have been and our future prospects will be significantly 
affected by the competitive environment in which we 
operate. In most of our markets, our businesses compete 
directly with well-known competitors, some of which are 
larger and more diversified. Our businesses also face 
competitive pressures from lower value products.
•  E C O N O M I C C O N D I T I O N A N D I N P U T  C O S T S . The 
markets for all of our products are affected to a signifi-
cant degree by economic conditions, including fluctua-
tions in exchange rates, particularly for the Euro. Rapid 
changes in input costs, particularly for pulp, latex and 
natural gas, also affect our results.

B U S I N E S S S E G M E N T S

Our technical products business is a leading international 
producer of transportation and other filter media; durable, 
saturated and coated base papers for a variety of end uses 
and nonwoven wall coverings. We sell our technical prod-
ucts globally in 17 product categories through five SBUs. 
We focus on categories where we believe we are, or can 
be, a market leader, which include, among others, the tape, 
abrasive, transportation and other filtration media, nonwo-
ven wall coverings, medical packaging and image transfer 
technical products markets. We are also a global supplier 
of materials used for customer-specific applications in fur-
niture and book covers. Our customers are located in more 
than 70 countries. Our technical products manufacturing 
facilities are located in Munising, Michigan and near Munich 
and Frankfurt, Germany.

Our fine paper business is a leading producer 

of premium writing, text, cover and specialty papers used 
in corporate identity packages, corporate annual reports, 
invitations, personal stationery, labels and high-end pack-
aging. Our products include some of the most recognized 
and preferred papers in North America, where we enjoy 
leading market positions in many of our product categories. 
We sell our products primarily to authorized paper distribu-
tors, converters and specialty businesses, with sales to 

32

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

distributors and distributor-owned paper stores accounting 
for more than two-thirds of sales. We believe that our fine 
paper manufacturing facilities located in Appleton, Neenah 
and Whiting, Wisconsin are among the most efficient in 
their markets and make us one of the lowest cost producers 
in the product categories in which we compete.

R E S U LT S O F  O P E R AT I O N S A N D 

R E L AT E D  I N F O R M AT I O N

In this section, we discuss and analyze our net sales, income 
before interest and income taxes (which we refer to as 
“operating income” in this Management’s Discussion and 
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) 
and other information relevant to an understanding of our 
results of operations.

E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y

Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 
2010 showed substantial improvement from the depressed 
amounts reported in the prior year due to increased 
volume. Results for the year ended December 31, 2009 
reflected sharply reduced market demand due to severe 
global economic weakness, particularly in the first half of 
2009. In addition, higher selling prices and the benefits of 
cost reduction initiatives implemented in 2009 and 2010 
allowed us to partially offset the impact of higher manu-
facturing input costs.

In March 2010, Neenah Canada sold the Woodlands 

to Northern Pulp for C$82.5 million ($78.6 million). The sale of 
the Woodlands completed our transformation from an inte-
grated pulp and paper company into a technical products 
and premium fine paper company. Proceeds from the sale 
were used to repay in full $40 million of outstanding term 
loan borrowings and repay approximately $26 million in 
outstanding revolving credit borrowings which reduced the 
balance of outstanding revolving credit borrowings to zero.

R E S U LT S   O F   C O N T I N U I N G   O P E R A T I O N S
For the year ended December 31, 2010, consolidated net 
sales increased approximately $84 million from the prior 
year to $657.7 million primarily due to substantially higher 
shipments in both paper businesses which benefited from 
improved market conditions higher selling prices, the suc-
cessful execution of strategic initiatives and by our direct 
customers replenishing the supply chain. For the year 

ended December 31, 2010, average net selling prices were 
$25.9 million higher than the prior year period due to an 
approximately three percent increase in average selling 
prices and a more favorable sales mix in our Technical 
Products business. These favorable variances were partially 
offset by an $11.7 million decrease in sales in 2010 due 
to a weakening of exchange rates for the Euro versus the 
U.S. dollar.

Consolidated operating income of $55.1 million 

for the year ended December 31, 2010 more than tripled 
from the prior year. Consolidated operating income for the 
years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 include gains 
(losses) related to the closure of the Ripon Mill of $3.4 mil-
lion and $(17.1) million, respectively. Excluding these items, 
consolidated operating income increased $18.2 million or 
54 percent primarily due to increased volume, including the 
benefit of improved paper machine utilization, and continu-
ing benefits from initiatives implemented in 2009 to reduce 
spending, which more than offset the effect of higher man-
ufacturing input costs. For the year ended December 31, 
2010, consolidated operating margins, excluding items 
related to the closure and sale of the Ripon Mill, of 7.9 per-
cent increased more than two percentage points from the 
prior year.

R E S U LT S   O F   D I S C O N T I N U E D   O P E R A T I O N S
The sale of the Woodlands resulted in a pre-tax gain, net of 
fees and other transaction costs, of $74.1 million. The sale 
of the Woodlands resulted in the substantially complete 
liquidation of our investment in Neenah Canada. In accor-
dance with ASC Topic 830, $87.9 million of cumulative cur-
rency translation adjustments attributable to our Canadian 
subsidiaries were reclassified into earnings and recognized 
as part of the gain on sale of the Woodlands. The sale did 
not generate a cash tax liability because the tax basis for 
the Woodlands was approximately equal to the sale price. 
In addition, there were no tax consequences related to the 
repatriation of funds from the sale of the Woodlands.

For the year ended December 31, 2010, timber 
sales to Northern Pulp pursuant to a stumpage agreement 
resulted in net sales from discontinued operations of $1.4 mil-
lion compared to net sales of $3.7 million in the prior year. 
For the year ended December 31, 2010, pre-tax income from 
discontinued operations, excluding the gain on sale of the 
Woodlands, was $1.0 million compared to earnings from dis-
continued operations of $2.8 million in the prior year.

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

33

M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

A N A LY S I S   O F   N E T   S A L E S   –   Y E A R S   E N D E D   

The following table presents our net sales by seg-

ment for the periods indicated:

D E C E M B E R   3 1 ,   2 0 1 0 ,   2 0 0 9   A N D   2 0 0 8
The following table presents net sales by segment, 
expressed as a percentage of total net sales before inter-
segment eliminations:

Year Ended December 31, 

2010 

2009 

2008

58% 
42% 
100% 

55% 
45% 
100% 

54%
46%
100%

Net sales
Technical Products 
Fine Paper 
  Consolidated 

Year Ended December 31, 

2010 

2009 

2008

$384.3 
273.4 
$657.7 

$318.3 
255.6 
$573.9 

$396.8
335.5
$732.3

Technical Products  
Fine Paper 
Total  

C O M M E N T A R Y :

Y E A R   2 0 1 0   V E R S U S   2 0 0 9

Technical Products 
Fine Paper  
Consolidated 

Year Ended
December 31,  

2010 

2009 

$384.3 
273.4 
$657.7 

$318.3 
255.6 
$573.9 

Change in Net Sales Compared to the Prior Year

Change Due To

Total 
Change 

$66.0 
17.8 
$83.8 

Volume 

$57.7 
11.9 
$69.6 

Average 
Net Price 

$20.0 
5.9 
$25.9 

Currency

$(11.7)
–
$(11.7)

Consolidated net sales of $657.7 million for the 
year ended December 31, 2010 were $83.8 million higher 
than the prior year primarily due to increased volume in both 
segments which benefited from improved market condi-
tions and our direct customers replenishing the supply chain. 
For the year ended December 31, 2010, average net selling 
prices were $25.9 million higher than the prior year period 
due to an approximately three percent increase in average 
selling prices and a more favorable sales mix in our technical 
products business.
•   Net sales in our technical products business of $384.3 mil-
lion increased $66.0 million or 21 percent primarily due 
to an 18 percent increase in shipments. Higher sales 
volume reflected strong growth in transportation filter 
media, abrasive backing, wall covering and tape ship-
ments. Average net selling prices increased due to a more 
favorable product mix and a two percent improvement 
in average selling prices. These favorable variances were 
partially offset by an $11.7 million decrease in sales due 
to a weakening of exchange rates for the Euro versus the 
U.S. dollar.

•  Net sales in our fine paper business of $273.4 million 

increased $17.8 million or seven percent due to a five per-
cent increase in shipments and higher average net sell-
ing prices. The improved sales volume reflected higher 
shipments of both premium and value specialty papers, 
as well as non-branded products. In addition, we benefit-
ted from increased export sales to markets outside North 
America and strong growth in label, packaging and enve-
lope shipments, which in the aggregate grew by more 
than 20 percent in 2010. We believe that we were able to 
improve our market share position based on the AF&PA 
report of a six percent year-over-year industry decline in 
the premium writing, text and cover uncoated free sheet 
paper category. Average selling prices were approxi-
mately four percent higher than the prior year primarily as 
a result of pricing actions implemented in the second half 
of 2009 and throughout 2010 for both branded and non-
branded products. Higher average selling prices were par-
tially offset by a less favorable sales mix which reflected 
higher growth rates for lower-priced products relative to 
our branded products.

34

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

  
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

Y E A R   2 0 0 9   V E R S U S   2 0 0 8

Technical Products 
Fine Paper 
  Consolidated 

Year Ended
December 31,  

Change in Net Sales Compared to the Prior Year

Change Due To

2009 

2008 

$318.3 
255.6 
$573.9 

$396.8 
335.5 
$732.3 

Total 
Change 

$  (78.5) 
(79.9) 
$(158.4) 

Volume 

$  (64.5) 
(84.4) 
$(148.9) 

Average 
Net Price 

$(3.0) 
4.5 
$ 1.5 

Currency

$(11.0)
–
$(11.0)

Consolidated net sales of $573.9 million for the 
year ended December 31, 2009 were $158.4 million lower 
than the prior year primarily due to lower volumes. In addi-
tion, results reflected unfavorable currency translation effects 
due to the weakening of the Euro versus the U.S. dollar.
•  Net sales in our technical products business of 

$318.3 million decreased $78.5 million, or 20 percent, 
primarily due to a 16 percent decrease in shipments. 
Lower sales volume reflected decreased demand in most 
markets due to weaker economic conditions and inven-
tory destocking by our direct customers, particularly in 
the first half of 2009. Sales were also lower as a result of 
unfavorable currency translation effects due to average 
Euro/U.S. dollar exchange rates that were five percent 
lower in 2009 than in the prior year. Net sales were also 
adversely affected by lower selling prices for certain 
products in our European business, particularly in the 
Tape and Wall Cover SBUs, which were influenced by 
currency factors for export prices and additional market 
capacity, respectively.
 Net sales in our fine paper business of $255.6 million 
decreased $79.9 million, or 24 percent, primarily due to 
a 25 percent decrease in shipments. We believe that we 
were able to improve our market share position based on 
the AF&PA report of a 27 percent year-over-year industry 
decline in the premium writing, text and cover uncoated 
free sheet paper category. Lower sales volume reflected a 
sharp decline in consumption for a number of key end-use 
market segments, including advertising, financial institu-
tions and the transportation and real estate segments. 
Market demand began to decline in late 2008 and con-
tinued throughout 2009. The increase in average net price 
reflected the realization of price increases on branded 

• 

and non-branded products that were implemented in 
2008. Price increases of approximately three percent on 
branded products announced late in 2009 did not mean-
ingfully impact results until 2010.

A N A LY S I S   O F   O P E R A T I N G   I N C O M E  – 

Y E A R S   E N D E D   D E C E M B E R   3 1 ,   2 0 1 0 ,   2 0 0 9   A N D   2 0 0 8
The following table sets forth line items from our consoli-
dated statements of operations as a percentage of net sales 
for the periods indicated and is intended to provide a per-
spective of trends in our historical results:

Net sales 
Cost of products sold 
Gross profit 
Selling, general and  

administrative expenses 

Other income – net 
Loss (gain) on closure and  
sale of the Ripon Mill 

Goodwill and other intangible  
asset impairment charge 

Operating income (loss) 
Interest expense – net 
Income (loss) from continuing  
  operations before  

income taxes 

Provision (benefit) for  

income taxes 
Income (loss) from  

Year Ended December 31, 

2010 

2009 

2008

100.0% 
81.8 
18.2 

100.0% 
82.3 
17.7 

100.0%
86.1
13.9

10.5 
(0.2) 

(0.5) 

– 
8.4 
3.1 

5.3 

1.5 

12.1 
(0.2) 

3.0 

– 
2.8 
4.0 

10.3
(1.5)

–

7.4
(2.3)
3.4

(1.2) 

(5.7)

(0.9) 

0.6

continuing operations 

3.8% 

(0.3)% 

(6.3)%

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

35

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

The following table sets forth our operating 

In accordance with Generally Accepted 

income (loss) by segment for the periods indicated:

Operating income (loss)
Technical Products 
Fine Paper 
Unallocated corporate costs 
  Consolidated operating  

Year Ended December 31, 

2010 

2009 

2008

$ 29.2 
40.5 
(14.6) 

$ 14.4 
17.5 
(15.5) 

$(41.7)
35.8
(11.0)

income (loss) as reported 

55.1 

16.4 

(16.9)

Adjustments for Unusual Items
Fine Paper adjustments

Loss (gain) on closure and  
sale of the Ripon Mill 

  Gain on sale of  

Fox River assets 

Total 

Technical Products adjustment
  Goodwill impairment charge 
Unallocated corporate  
costs adjustment
Settlement of Terrace Bay  

retiree litigation 
Total Adjustments 

  Consolidated operating  

(3.4) 

17.1 

– 
(3.4) 

– 
17.1 

–

(6.3)
(6.3)

– 

– 

54.5

– 
(3.4) 

– 
17.1 

(4.3)
43.9

income as adjusted 

$ 51.7 

$ 33.5 

$ 27.0

Accounting Principles in the United States (“GAAP”), 
consolidated operating income (loss) includes the pre-
tax effects of unusual items. We believe that by adjusting 
reported operating income (loss) to exclude the effects of 
these items, the resulting adjusted operating income is on a 
basis that reflects the results of our ongoing operations. We 
believe that investors gain additional perspective of under-
lying business trends and results by providing a measure of 
operating results that excludes certain gains and losses that 
are not expected to affect future consolidated or segment 
operating performance. Adjusted operating income is not a 
recognized term under GAAP and should not be considered 
in isolation or as a substitute for operating income derived in  
accordance with GAAP. Other companies may use differ-
ent methodologies for calculating their non-GAAP financial 
measures and, accordingly, our non-GAAP financial mea-
sures may not be comparable to their measures.

C O M M E N T A R Y :

Y E A R   2 0 1 0   V E R S U S   2 0 0 9

Technical Products 
Fine Paper(c) 
Unallocated corporate costs 
Consolidated 

Year Ended
December 31,  

2010 

2009 

$ 29.2 
40.5 
(14.6) 
$ 55.1 

$ 14.4 
17.5 
(15.5) 
$ 16.4 

Total 
Change 

$14.8 
23.0 
0.9 
$38.7 

Change in Operating Income Compared to the Prior Year

Change Due To

Material 

Volume 

Net Price(a) 

Costs(b) 

Currency 

Other(c)

$24.1 
5.4 
– 
$29.5 

$13.1 
4.0 
– 
$17.1 

$(20.2) 
(12.7) 
– 
$(32.9) 

$(0.2) 
– 
– 
$(0.2) 

$ (2.0)
26.3
0.9
$25.2

(a)  Includes price changes, net of changes in product mix.
(b)  Includes price changes for raw materials and energy.
(c)   For the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, results for the Fine Paper segment include gains (losses) of $3.4 million and $(17.1) million, respectively, 

related to the closure and sale of the Ripon Mill.

Consolidated operating income of $55.1 mil-

lion for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased 
$38.7 million compared to the prior year. Operating results 
for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 include 
gains (losses) of $3.4 million and $(17.1) million, respec-
tively, related to the closure of the Ripon Mill in May 2009. 
Excluding these items, consolidated operating income for 

the year ended December 31, 2010 increased $18.2 mil-
lion from the prior year due to favorable volume (including 
the benefit of improved paper machine utilization), higher 
selling prices and the benefits of actions taken across all 
businesses to reduce costs and control spending. These 
favorable factors were only partially offset by higher manu-
facturing input costs, particularly for pulp and latex.

36

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

•  Operating income for our technical products business 

of $29.2 million increased $14.8 million compared to the 
prior year due to favorable volume (including the benefit 
of improved paper machine utilization) and higher sell-
ing prices. These favorable factors were partially offset 
by higher manufacturing input costs, principally for pulp 
and latex volume. For the year ended December 31, 2010, 
operating margins in our Technical Products segment of 
7.6 percent increased more than three percentage points 
from the prior year.

•  Operating income for our fine paper business of 

$40.5 million increased $23.0 million from the prior 
year period. Operating results for the years ended 
December 31, 2010 and 2009 include gains (losses) of 
$3.4 million and $(17.1) million, respectively, related  
to the closure of the Ripon Mill in May 2009. Excluding 

these items, operating income increased $2.5 million 
from the prior year primarily due to higher selling prices, 
favorable volume and a more efficient cost structure fol-
lowing cost reduction initiatives implemented in 2009 
and 2010. These favorable variances more than offset 
approximately $12.7 million in higher manufacturing 
input costs, including for hardwood pulp; and a less 
favorable product mix due to faster growth rates for 
relatively lower priced products. For the year ended 
December 31, 2010, operating margins in our Fine 
Paper segment, excluding unusual items, of approxi-
mately 13.6 percent were essentially unchanged from 
the prior year.

•  Unallocated corporate expenses decreased $0.9 million 
compared to the prior year due to the benefits of cost 
control initiatives implemented in 2009.

Y E A R   2 0 0 9   V E R S U S   2 0 0 8

Technical Products(e) 
Fine Paper(d) 
Unallocated corporate costs(f) 
Consolidated 

Year Ended
December 31,  

2009 

2008 

$ 14.4 
17.5 
(15.5) 
$ 16.4 

$(41.7) 
35.8 
(11.0) 
$(16.9) 

Total 
Change 

$ 56.1 
(18.3) 
(4.5) 
$ 33.3 

Change in Operating Income (Loss) Compared to the Prior Year

Change Due To

Material 

Volume 

Net Price(a) 

Costs(b) 

Currency 

Other(c)

$(23.2) 
(23.4) 
– 
$(46.6) 

$(6.3) 
5.4 
– 
$(0.9) 

$12.6 
13.3 
– 
$25.9 

$(0.1) 
– 
– 
$(0.1) 

$ 73.1
(13.6)
(4.5)
$ 55.0

(a)  Includes price changes, net of changes in product mix.
(b)  Includes price changes for raw materials and energy.
(c)   Includes $30.7 million of improvements from reductions in other manufacturing costs, distribution, selling, general and administrative expenses and net 

improvements of $26.8 million related to items described in notes (d), (e) and (f).

(d)   For the year ended December 31, 2009, results for the Fine Paper segment include a pre-tax charge of $17.1 million related to the closure of the  

Ripon Mill. For the year ended December 31, 2008 results for the Fine Paper segment include gains of $6.3 million from the sale of certain Fox River assets.

(e)   For the year ended December 31, 2008, results for the Technical Products segment include a non-cash pre-tax goodwill and other intangible asset  

impairment charge of $54.5 million.

(f)   For the year ended December 31, 2008, unallocated corporate costs include a gain of $4.3 million for a settlement of certain benefits earned by Terrace 

Bay retirees.

Consolidated operating income of $16.4 million 
for the year ended December 31, 2009 increased $33.3 mil-
lion compared to the prior year. Operating results for the 
year ended December 31, 2009 include costs of $17.1 mil-
lion related to the closure of the Ripon Mill in May 2009. 
Operating results for the year ended December 31, 2008, 
include a charge of $54.5 million related to the impair-
ment of goodwill and other intangible assets, and gains of 
approximately $6.3 million from the sale of certain Fox River 
assets and $4.3 million the settlement of certain Terrace 
Bay postretirement benefits. Excluding such items, consoli-
dated operating income for the year ended December 31, 
2009 increased $6.5 million from the prior year due to 
actions taken across all businesses to reduce costs and con-
trol spending and from lower manufacturing input costs, 

particularly for pulp and latex. These favorable factors were 
partially offset by lower volume and reductions in paper 
machine operating schedules.
•  Operating income for our technical products business 
of $14.4 million increased $56.1 million compared to 
the prior year. Excluding the asset impairment charge, 
operating income for our technical products business 
increased $1.6 million from the prior year primarily due 
to lower spending resulting from the implementation 
of cost reduction initiatives and from lower manufac-
turing input costs, principally for pulp and latex. These 
favorable factors were partially offset by lower volume, 
reduced paper machine operating schedules and, to a 
lesser extent, lower average net selling prices.

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

37

 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

•  Operating income for our fine paper business of 

•  In general, our effective tax rate differs from the 

U.S. statutory tax rate of 35 percent primarily due to  
the benefits of our corporate tax structure and the pro-
portion of pre-tax income in jurisdictions with marginal 
tax rates that differ from the U.S. statutory tax rate.  
For the year ended December 31, 2010, we recorded an 
income tax provision related to continuing operations 
of $9.8 million which resulted in an effective income tax 
rate of approximately 28 percent. For the year ended 
December 31, 2009, we recorded an income tax benefit 
related to continuing operations of $5.0 million which 
resulted in an effective income tax (benefit) rate of 
approximately (74) percent. Our effective tax benefit 
rate for the year ended December 31, 2009 was signifi-
cantly affected by the proportion of earnings generated 
in tax jurisdictions with tax rates that differ from the 
35 percent statutory tax rate in the United States, the 
effects of accruals for uncertain tax positions and the 
level of pretax losses. For the year ended December 31, 
2008, we recorded an income tax provision related to 
continuing operations of $3.9 million which resulted in an 
effective income tax rate of approximately nine percent. 
Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 
2008 was significantly affected by the non tax deduct-
ible nature of the goodwill impairment charge and 
an increase in the limitation on available tax benefits 
acquired in the Fox River acquisition. Excluding such 
items, our effective income tax rate for the year ended 
December 31, 2008 was approximately 36 percent. For a 
reconciliation of effective tax provision (benefit) rate to 
the U.S. federal statutory provision (benefit) tax rate, see 
Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, 
“Income Taxes.”

L I Q U I D I T Y A N D C A P I TA L R E S O U R C E S

Net cash flow provided  
  by (used in):
Operating activities  
Investing activities
  Capital expenditures 
  Proceeds from asset sales 
  Other investing activities 

Total 

Year Ended December 31, 

2010 

2009 

2008

$ 54.5 

$ 64.9 

$ 13.1

(17.4) 
86.7 
(2.8) 
66.5 

(8.4) 
0.8 
(0.7) 
(8.3) 

(30.0)
0.2
(0.6)
(30.4)

Financing activities 

(78.3) 

(54.2) 

18.2

$17.5 million decreased $18.3 million compared to the 
prior year. Excluding costs of $17.1 million associated 
with closing the Ripon Mill and the gain of approximately 
$6.3 million in 2008 from assets sales, operating income 
for our fine paper business increased $5.1 million primar-
ily due to lower manufacturing input costs, principally 
for hardwood pulp, lower operating and administrative 
spending due to cost reduction initiatives, including clos-
ing the Ripon Mill, and higher average net selling prices 
due to the realization of price increases implemented in 
2008. These favorable factors were partially offset by the 
effects of lower volume and reductions in paper machine 
operating schedules.

•  Unallocated corporate expenses increased $4.5 mil-

lion compared to the prior year. Unallocated corporate 
expense for the year ended December 31, 2008 included 
a non-cash gain of approximately $4.3 million related 
to the settlement of certain postretirement benefits we 
retained following the sale of our Terrace Bay pulp mill. 
Excluding this gain, unallocated corporate expenses 
were essentially unchanged from the prior year.

A D D I T I O N A L   S TAT E M E N T   O F   O P E R AT I O N S   C O M M E N TA R Y:
•  Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense of 
$69.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 was 
essentially unchanged from the prior year. For the year 
ended December 31, 2010, SG&A expense as a percent-
age of net sales was approximately 10.5 percent and 
was 1.6 percentage points lower than the prior year. For 
the year ended December 31, 2009, SG&A expense of 
$69.1 million was $6.1 million lower than the prior year 
primarily due to cost control initiatives implemented 
in 2009.

•  For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, 
we incurred $20.5 million, $23.4 million and $25.0 mil-
lion, respectively, of interest expense. The decrease 
in interest expense for 2010 as compared to 2009 was 
primarily due to lower average debt levels in 2010 as a 
result of the repayment of all term loan and U.S. revolv-
ing credit borrowings with proceeds from the sale of the 
Woodlands. The decrease in interest expense for 2009 
as compared to 2008 was due to lower average borrow-
ings and lower average interest rates. In addition, during 
the fourth quarter of 2009, we recognized additional 
interest expense of approximately $1.4 million for costs 
incurred in conjunction with amending and restating 
our bank credit agreement and to write-off deferred 
financing costs associated with our previous bank 
credit agreement.

38

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

 
  
 
 
 
M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

O P E R A T I N G   C A S H   F L O W   C O M M E N T A R Y :
•  Cash provided by operating activities of $54.5 million for 
the year ended December 31, 2010 was $10.4 million less 
than cash provided by operating activities of $64.9 mil-
lion in the prior year. Cash provided by operations in the 
prior year reflected a $27.4 million decrease in our invest-
ment in working capital, including the receipt of a refund 
of U.S. income taxes of approximately $10.9 million. For 
the year ended December 31, 2010, our investment in 
working capital increased $3.9 million. Excluding work-
ing capital changes, cash provided by operations for 
the current year increased $20.9 million from the prior 
year primarily due to higher operating earnings in the 
current year.

•  Cash provided by operating activities of $64.9 million 
for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $51.8 mil-
lion favorable to cash provided by operating activities of 
$13.1 million in the prior year. The favorable comparison 
to the prior year reflected a $27.4 million decrease in our 
investment in working capital, including a refund of U.S. 
income taxes. For the year ended December 31, 2008, 
our investments in working capital increased $22.6 mil-
lion. Excluding working capital changes, cash provided 
by operations for 2009 increased $1.8 million from the 
prior year.

•  As of December 31, 2010, we had approximately 
$96.7 million of U.S. Federal and $95.4 million of 
U.S. State NOLs that may be carried forward to offset 
future taxable income through 2030.

I N V E S T I N G   C O M M E N T A R Y :
•  For the year ended December 31, 2010, cash provided by 
investing activities was $66.5 million, compared to cash 
used by investing activities of $8.3 million in the prior year. 
Cash provided by investing activities for the year ended 
December 31, 2010 includes net proceeds from the sale 
of the Woodlands and the Ripon Mill of $78.0 million and 
$8.7 million, respectively.

•  Capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 

2010 were $17.4 million compared to spending of 
$8.4 million in the prior year. We have aggregate planned 
capital expenditures for 2011 of approximately $20 mil-
lion to $25 million. We believe that the level of our 
capital spending for 2011 will allow us to expand capa-
bilities to successfully pursue strategic initiatives and 
to maintain the efficiency and cost effectiveness of our 
manufacturing assets.

•  For the year ended December 31, 2010, we invested 

$3.5 million in long-term marketable securities.
•  For the year ended December 31, 2009, cash used 

in investing activities was $8.3 million, a decrease of 
$22.1 million versus the prior year due to a reduction  
in capital spending of $21.6 million.

•  For the year ended December 31, 2008, cash used in 

investing activities includes payments by Neenah Canada 
of approximately $10.3 million to Northern Pulp in con-
nection with the transfer of the Pictou Mill. In addition, 
we paid approximately $3.3 million in transaction costs. 
Such payments were more than offset by proceeds from 
asset sales of $13.8 million, primarily from the sale of  
certain Fox River assets.

F I N A N C I N G   C O M M E N T A R Y :
Our liquidity requirements are provided by cash generated 
from operations and short- and long-term borrowings.  
We used the net proceeds of $78.0 million from the sale of 
the Woodlands to extinguish our senior secured term loan  
(the “Term Loan”) by repaying in full $40 million of out-
standing Term Loan borrowings and repaying approxi-
mately $26 million in outstanding revolving credit 
borrowings which reduced the balance of outstanding 
revolving credit borrowings to zero. In addition, we made 
$3.1 million in contract termination payments related to 
the closure of the Ripon Mill that became due and payable 
upon the sale of the Woodlands.
•  For the year ended December 31, 2010, cash and 
equivalents increased $42.7 million from $5.6 mil-
lion at December 31, 2009 to $48.3 million at 
December 31, 2010.

•  For the year ended December 31, 2010, debt decreased 
$74.3 million from $319.2 million at December 31, 2009 
to $244.9 million at December 31, 2010.

•  Availability under our revolving credit facility varies over 
time depending on the value of our inventory, receiv-
ables and various capital assets. As of December 31, 
2010, no amounts were outstanding under our revolving 
credit agreement and we had $81.5 million of borrowing 
availability. In addition, we have €6.0 million ($8.0 million, 
based on exchange rates at December 31, 2010) of avail-
able credit under our German revolving line of credit. 
In November 2010, Neenah Germany renewed the 
German revolving line of credit on an “evergreen” basis. 
Subsequent to November 2011, the agreement may be 
terminated by either the Company or HypoVereinsbank 
upon giving proper notice.

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

39

M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

•  We paid aggregate annual cash dividends of $0.40 per 
share or approximately $5.9 million, $5.9 million and 
$6.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 
2009 and 2008, respectively. In November 2010, we 
announced a ten percent increase in the annual cash 
dividend to $0.44 per share. Dividends will be paid 
in four equal quarterly installments effective with the 
March 2011 dividend payment.

•  For the year ended December 31, 2010, we purchased 

$2 million principal amount of our Senior Notes at slightly 
less than par value. From time to time we may purchase 
additional Senior Notes.

In February 2011, we elected to conduct an early 
redemption on March 10, 2011 (the “Partial Redemption”) 
of $65 million in aggregate principal amount of our 
Senior Notes. There are $223 million of Senior Notes out-
standing with a call premium of 2.458% as of the date of the 
Partial Redemption. The Partial Redemption is expected 
to be financed by approximately $40 million of cash on 
hand, with the remainder to be provided by borrowings 
under our existing revolving credit facility. Following the 
Partial Redemption, $158 million in Senior Notes will be 

outstanding and interest expense on the Senior Notes will 
be reduced by approximately $5 million per year. Following 
the Partial Redemption, we expect to continue to have 
adequate liquidity to satisfy our cash needs.
•  We have required debt payments through December 31, 
2011 of $13.6 million. Such payments include required 
amortization payments on our German Loan Agreement 
of approximately $1.7 million and $11.9 million on our 
German Line of Credit which was extended for an addi-
tional 12 months in November 2010. As a result of the 
Partial Redemption, debt payments for the year ending 
December 31, 2011 will be $78.6 million.

Management believes that our ability to generate 

cash from operations and our borrowing capacity are ade-
quate to fund working capital, capital spending and other 
cash needs for the next 12 months. Our ability to generate 
adequate cash from operations beyond 2011 will depend 
on, among other things, our ability to successfully imple-
ment our business strategies, control costs in line with mar-
ket conditions and manage the impact of changes in input 
prices and currencies. We can give no assurance we will be 
able to successfully implement these items.

C O N T R A C T U A L   O B L I G A T I O N S
The following table presents the total contractual obligations for which cash flows are fixed or determinable as of December 31, 2010:

(In millions) 

Long-term debt payments (a) 
Interest payments on long-term debt (a)(b) 
Open purchase orders (c) 
Other post-employment benefit obligations (d) 
Contributions to pension trusts 
Liability for uncertain tax positions 
Operating leases 
Minimum purchase commitments (e) 
Total contractual obligations 

2011 

$  13.6 
17.3 
59.2 
2.9 
3.3 
8.6 
1.4 
4.8 
$111.1 

2012 

$   1.7 
16.7 
– 
2.3 
3.3 
– 
0.9 
1.6 
$26.5 

2013 

$  1.6 
16.7 
– 
2.6 
3.4 
– 
0.8 
0.1 
$25.2 

2014 

$224.7 
15.9 
– 
2.9 
3.3 
– 
0.6 
– 
$247.4 

2015 

$1.7 
0.1 
– 
3.0 
– 
– 
0.5 
– 
$5.3 

Beyond 
2015 

$  1.6 
– 
– 
18.1 
– 
– 
0.7 
– 
$20.4 

Total

$244.9
66.7
59.2
31.8
13.3
8.6
4.9
6.5
$435.9

(a)   In February 2011, we elected to conduct a Partial Redemption of $65 million in aggregate principal amount of our Senior Notes. The Partial Redemption 
is expected to be financed by approximately $40 million of cash on hand, with the remainder to be provided by borrowings under our existing revolving 
credit facility. Following the Partial Redemption, $158 million in Senior Notes will be outstanding and required debt payments of approximately $159.7 mil-
lion during the year ending December 31, 2014.

(b)   Interest payments on long-term debt include interest on variable-rate debt at December 31, 2010 weighted-average interest rates.
(c)   The open purchase orders displayed in the table represent amounts we anticipate will become payable within the next 12 months for goods and services 

that we have negotiated for delivery.

(d)   The above table includes future payments that we will make for postretirement benefits other than pensions. Those amounts are estimated using actuarial 

assumptions, including expected future service, to project the future obligations.

(e)   The minimum purchase commitments in 2011 are primarily for natural gas contracts. Although we are primarily liable for payments on the above operat-
ing leases and minimum purchase commitments, based on historic operating performance and forecasted future cash flows, we believe our exposure to 
losses, if any, under these arrangements is not material.

40

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

A D O P T I O N O F N E W   

AC C O U N T I N G P R O N O U N C E M E N T S

For the year ended December 31, 2010, we did not adopt 
any amendments to the ASC that had a material effect on 
our financial position, results of operations, cash flows or 
financial statement disclosures.

C R I T I C A L AC C O U N T I N G P O L I C I E S A N D 

U S E  O F E S T I M AT E S

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) in  
the United States requires estimates and assumptions 
that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures 
of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial state-
ments and net sales and expenses during the reporting 
period. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and 
changes in these estimates are recorded when known.  
The critical accounting policies used in the preparation of 
the consolidated financial statements are those that are 
important both to the presentation of financial condition 
and results of operations and require significant judgments 
with regard to estimates used. These critical judgments 
relate to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, dis-
closure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported 
amounts of expenses.

The following summary provides further infor-
mation about the critical accounting policies and should 
be read in conjunction with the notes to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements. We believe that the consistent appli-
cation of our policies provides readers of our financial 
statements with useful and reliable information about our 
operating results and financial condition.

We have discussed the application of these criti-

cal accounting policies with our Board of Directors and 
Audit Committee.

I N V E N T O R I E S
We value U.S. inventories at the lower of cost, using the 
Last-In, First-Out (“LIFO”) method for financial reporting 
purposes, or market. German inventories are valued at 
the lower of cost, using a weighted-average cost method, 
or market. The First-In, First-Out value of U.S. inventories 
valued on the LIFO method was $57.0 million and $58.2 mil-
lion at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively and 

exceeded such LIFO value by $12.3 million and $8.7 mil-
lion, respectively. Cost includes labor, materials and 
production overhead.

I N C O M E   T A X E S
As of December 31, 2010, we have recorded aggregate 
deferred income tax assets of $64.3 million related to 
temporary differences, net operating losses and credits. 
We have established a valuation allowance of $1.7 million 
against certain state deferred income tax assets in states 
where we no longer have operations. As of December 31, 
2009, our aggregate deferred income tax assets were 
$99.7 million and had a valuation allowance against such 
deferred income tax assets of $1.5 million. In determining 
the need for valuation allowances, we consider many fac-
tors, including specific taxing jurisdictions, sources of tax-
able income, income tax strategies and forecasted earnings 
for the entities in each jurisdiction. A valuation allowance 
would be recognized if, based on the weight of available 
evidence, we conclude that it is more likely than not that 
some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will 
not be realized.

As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, our liability 
for uncertain income taxes positions was $8.6 million and 
$10.5 million, respectively. In evaluating and estimating tax 
positions and tax benefits, we consider many factors which 
may result in periodic adjustments and which may not accu-
rately anticipate actual outcomes.

P E N S I O N   B E N E F I T S
Substantially all active employees of our U.S. paper opera-
tions participate in defined benefit pension plans and/or 
defined contribution retirement plans. Neenah Germany 
has defined benefit plans designed to provide a monthly 
pension benefit upon retirement to substantially all of its 
employees in Germany. In addition, we maintain a supple-
mental retirement contribution plan (the “SERP”) which is 
a non-qualified defined benefit plan. We provide benefits 
under the SERP to the extent necessary to fulfill the intent 
of its defined benefit retirement plans without regard to the 
limitations set by the IRS on qualified defined benefit plans.
Our funding policy for qualified defined benefit 
plans is to contribute assets to fully fund the accumulated 
benefit obligation, as required by the Pension Protection 
Act of 2006. Subject to regulatory and tax deductibil-
ity limits, any funding shortfall is to be eliminated over a 

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

41

M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

reasonable number of years. Nonqualified plans providing 
pension benefits in excess of limitations imposed by the tax-
ing authorities are not funded. There is no legal or govern-
mental obligation to fund Neenah Germany’s benefit plans 
and, as such, the plans are currently unfunded.

factors, including reduced pension liabilities arising from 
higher discount rates used to calculate our pension obliga-
tions or (iii) other actuarial gains, including whether such 
accumulated actuarial losses at each measurement date 
exceed the “corridor” determined under ASC Topic 715.

Consolidated pension expense for defined 

benefit pension plans was $6.3 million, $9.2 million and 
$7.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 
and 2008, respectively. The weighted-average expected 
long-term rate of return on pension fund assets used to 
calculate pension expense was 8.00 percent, 7.92 percent 
and 8.02 percent for the years ended December 31, 2010, 
2009 and 2008, respectively. The expected long-term rate 
of return on pension fund assets held by our pension trusts 
was determined based on several factors, including input 
from pension investment consultants and projected long-
term returns of broad equity and bond indices. We also 
considered the plans’ historical ten-year and 15-year com-
pounded annual returns. We anticipate that, on average, 
actively managed U.S. pension plan assets will generate 
annual long-term rates of return of at least eight percent. 
Our expected long-term rate of return on the assets in the 
plans is based on an asset allocation assumption of about 
60 percent with equity managers, with expected long-term 
rates of return of approximately ten percent, and 40 percent 
with fixed income managers, with an expected long-term 
rate of return of about six percent. The actual asset alloca-
tion is regularly reviewed and periodically rebalanced to the 
targeted allocation when considered appropriate. We eval-
uate our investment strategy and long-term rate of return 
on pension asset assumptions at least annually.

Pension expense is estimated based on the fair 

value of assets rather than a market-related value that aver-
ages gains and losses over a period of years. Investment 
gains or losses represent the difference between the 
expected return calculated using the fair value of the assets 
and the actual return based on the fair value of assets. The 
variance between the actual and the expected gains and 
losses on pension assets is recognized in pension expense 
more rapidly than it would be if a market-related value for 
plan assets was used. As of December 31, 2010, our pension 
plans had cumulative unrecognized investment losses  
and other actuarial losses of approximately $33.3 million. 
These unrecognized net losses may increase our future pen-
sion expense if not offset by (i) actual investment returns 
that exceed the assumed investment returns, (ii) other 

The discount (or settlement) rate that is utilized 
for determining the present value of future pension obliga-
tions in the United States is generally based on the yield for 
a theoretical basket of AA-rated corporate bonds currently 
available in the market place, whose duration matches the 
timing of expected pension benefit payments. The discount 
(or settlement) rate that is utilized for determining the pres-
ent value of future pension obligations in Germany is gener-
ally based on the IBOXX index of AA-rated corporate bonds 
adjusted to match the timing of expected pension benefit 
payments. The weighted-average discount rate utilized 
to determine the present value of future pension obliga-
tions at December 31, 2010 and 2009 was 5.86 percent and 
6.17 percent, respectively.

Our consolidated pension expense in 2011 is 

based on the expected weighted-average long-term rate 
of return on assets and the weighted-average discount rate 
described above and various other assumptions. Pension 
expense beyond 2011 will depend on future investment per-
formance, our contributions to the pension trusts, changes 
in discount rates and various other factors related to the 
covered employees in the plans.

The fair value of the assets in our defined benefit 

plans at December 31, 2010 of approximately $192 million 
increased approximately $24 million from the fair value of 
about $168 million at December 31, 2009, as investment 
gains and employer contributions exceeded benefit pay-
ments. At December 31, 2010, the projected benefit obliga-
tions of our defined benefit plans exceeded the fair value 
of plan assets by approximately $60 million, which was 
approximately $6 million smaller than the $66 million deficit 
at December 31, 2009. The accumulated benefit obligation 
exceeded the fair value of plan assets by approximately 
$48.2 million and $51.3 million at December 31, 2010 and 
2009, respectively. Contributions to pension trusts for the 
year ended December 31, 2010 were $12.6 million, com-
pared with $10.2 million for the year ended December 31, 
2009. In addition, we made direct benefit payments for 
unfunded supplemental retirement benefits of approxi-
mately $2.5 million and $2.3 million for the years ended 
December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

42

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

I M P A I R M E N T   O F   L O N G - L I V E D   A S S E T S

P R O P E R T Y,   P L A N T   A N D   E Q U I P M E N T
Property, plant and equipment are tested for impairment 
in accordance with ASC Topic 360, Property, Plant, and 
Equipment (“ASC Topic 360”), whenever events or changes 
in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such 
long-lived assets may not be recoverable from future net 
pre-tax cash flows. Impairment testing requires significant 
management judgment including estimating the future suc-
cess of product lines, future sales volumes, growth rates for 
selling prices and costs, alternative uses for the assets and 
estimated proceeds from disposal of the assets. Impairment 
testing is conducted at the lowest level where cash flows 
can be measured and are independent of cash flows of 
other assets. An asset impairment would be indicated if the 
sum of the expected future net pre-tax cash flows from the 
use of the asset (undiscounted and without interest charges) 
is less than the carrying amount of the asset. An impairment 
loss would be measured based on the difference between 
the fair value of the asset and its carrying amount. We 
determine fair value based on an expected present value 
technique using multiple cash flow scenarios that reflect a 
range of possible outcomes and a risk free rate of interest 
are used to estimate fair value.

The estimates and assumptions used in the 

impairment analysis are consistent with the business plans 
and estimates we use to manage our business opera-
tions. The use of different assumptions would increase or 
decrease the estimated fair value of the asset and would 
increase or decrease the impairment charge. Actual out-
comes may differ from the estimates.

G O O D W I L L   A N D   O T H E R   I N T A N G I B L E   A S S E T S   

W I T H   I N D E F I N I T E   L I V E S
Goodwill arising from a business combination is recorded as 
the excess of purchase price and related costs over the fair 
value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed 
in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations 
(“ASC Topic 805”). All of our goodwill was acquired in 
conjunction with the acquisition of Neenah Germany in 
October 2006.

Under ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill 

and Other (“ASC Topic 350”), goodwill is subject to impair-
ment testing at least annually. A fair-value-based test is 
applied at the reporting unit level, which is generally one 
level below the operating segment level. The test compares 

the fair value of an entity’s reporting units to the carrying 
value of those reporting units. This test requires various 
judgments and estimates. We estimate the fair value of the 
reporting unit using a market approach in combination with 
a discounted operating cash flow approach. We record an 
adjustment to goodwill for any goodwill that is determined 
to be impaired.

Impairment of goodwill is measured as the 

excess of the carrying amount of goodwill over the fair 
values of recognized assets and liabilities of the reporting 
unit. We test goodwill for impairment at least annually on 
November 30 in conjunction with preparation of our annual 
business plan, or more frequently if events or circumstances 
indicate it might be impaired.

Certain trade names are estimated to have indefi-

nite useful lives and as such are not amortized. Intangible 
assets with indefinite lives are annually reviewed for impair-
ment in accordance with ASC Topic 350.

Our annual test of goodwill for impairment at 

November 30, 2010 and 2009 indicated that the carrying 
amount of goodwill assigned to Neenah Germany was con-
sidered recoverable. Significant assumptions used in devel-
oping the discounted operating cash flow approach were 
revenue growth rates and pricing, costs for manufacturing 
inputs, levels of capital investment and estimated cost of 
capital for high, medium and low growth environments.
Our annual test of goodwill for impairment at 
November 30, 2008, indicated that the carrying value of 
Neenah Germany exceeded its estimated fair value. For the 
year ended December 31, 2008, we recognized a non-cash 
pre-tax loss of $52.7 million (we did not recognize a tax ben-
efit related to the non tax deductible loss) for the excess of 
the carrying value of goodwill assigned to Neenah Germany 
over the estimated fair value of goodwill. The impairment 
loss was primarily due to a substantial increase in the esti-
mated cost of capital we used to calculate the present value 
of Neenah Germany’s estimated future cash flows which 
resulted in a substantially lower estimated fair value. The 
higher estimated cost of capital reflected market/finan-
cial conditions at the time the annual impairment test was 
performed which indicated higher risk premiums for debt 
and equity.

As of December 31, 2010, a one percentage 

point increase in the estimate for our cost of capital used 
in the impairment test would result in an approximately 
$35 million change in the estimated fair value of the 

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

43

 
F O R E I G N   C U R R E N C Y   R I S K
Our reported operating results are affected by changes 
in the exchange rates of the Euro relative to the U.S. dol-
lar. For the year ended December 31, 2010, a hypothetical 
ten percent decrease in the exchange rates of the Euro 
relative to the U.S dollar would have decreased our income 
before income taxes by approximately $1.4 million. We do 
not hedge our exposure to exchange risk on reported oper-
ating results.

Currency transactional exposures are sensitive to 

changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the 
Euro. We performed a sensitivity test to quantify the effects 
that possible changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar 
would have on pre-tax comprehensive income based on the 
transactional exposure at December 31, 2010. The effect is 
calculated by multiplying our net monetary asset or liability 
position by a ten percent change in the exchange rate of 
the Euro versus the U.S. dollar. As of December 31, 2010, a 
ten percent unfavorable change in the exchange rate of the 
U.S. dollar against the Euro involving balance sheet transac-
tional exposures would have resulted in net pre-tax losses 
of approximately $3 million.

The translation of the balance sheets of our 
German operations from Euros into U.S. dollars is also 
sensitive to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar 
against the Euro. Consequently, we performed a sensitiv-
ity test to determine if changes in the exchange rate would 
have a significant effect on the translation of the balance 
sheets of our German operations into U.S. dollars. These 
translation gains or losses are recorded as unrealized trans-
lation adjustments (“UTA,” a component of comprehensive  
income) within stockholders’ equity. The hypothetical 
change in UTA is calculated by multiplying the net assets 
of our German operations by a ten percent change in the 
exchange rate of the Euro versus the U.S. dollar. As of 
December 31, 2010, a ten percent unfavorable change in 
the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the Euro would 
have decreased our stockholders’ equity by approximately 
$18 million. The hypothetical decrease in UTA is based on 
the difference between the December 31, 2010 exchange 
rate and the assumed exchange rate.

M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

Neenah Germany and a corresponding reduction in the 
implied value of goodwill but would not result in an impair-
ment of goodwill.

O T H E R   I N T A N G I B L E   A S S E T S   W I T H   F I N I T E   L I V E S
Acquired intangible assets with finite useful lives are amor-
tized on a straight-line basis over their respective esti-
mated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and 
reviewed for impairment in accordance with ASC Topic 360. 
Intangible assets consist primarily of customer relationships, 
trade names and acquired intellectual property. Such intan-
gible assets are amortized using the straight-line method 
over estimated useful lives of between ten and 15 years.
Our annual test of other intangible assets for 
impairment at November 30, 2010 and 2009 indicated 
that the carrying amount of such assets was recoverable. 
During our annual test of other intangible assets for impair-
ment at November 30, 2008, we determined that certain 
trade names and customer based intangible assets were 
impaired. For the year ended December 31, 2008, we 
recognized a non-cash pre-tax charge of approximately 
$1.8 million for the impairment of such assets.

S T O C K - B A S E D   C O M P E N S A T I O N
We account for stock-based compensation in accordance 
with the fair value recognition provisions of ASC Topic 718, 
Compensation – Stock Compensation (“ASC Topic 718”). The 
amount of stock-based compensation cost recognized 
is based on the fair value of grants that are ultimately 
expected to vest and is recognized pro-rata over the requi-
site service period for the entire award.

Q UA N T I TAT I V E A N D Q UA L I TAT I V E   

D I S C LO S U R E S A B O U T M A R K E T R I S K

As a multinational enterprise, we are exposed to risks  
such as changes in commodity prices, foreign currency 
exchange rates, interest rates and environmental regulation. 
A variety of practices are employed to manage these risks, 
including operating and financing activities and, where 
deemed appropriate, the use of derivative instruments. 
Derivative instruments are used only for risk management 
purposes and not for speculation or trading.

Following is a description of our most signifi- 

cant risks.

44

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

 
M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

C O M M O D I T Y   R I S K

P U L P
We purchase the wood pulp used to produce our products 
on the open market, 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 and govern-
ment regulation. We do not have significant influence over 
the price paid for our wood pulp purchases. Therefore, an 
increase in wood pulp prices could occur at the same time 
that prices for our products are decreasing and have an 
adverse effect on our results of operations, financial posi-
tion and cash flows.

Based on 2010 pulp purchases, a ten percent 

increase in the average market price for pulp (approximately 
$90 per ton) would have increased our annual costs for pulp 
purchases by approximately $15 million.

O T H E R   M A N U F A C T U R I N G   I N P U T S
We purchase a substantial portion of the other manufac-
turing inputs necessary to produce our products on the 
open market, 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 and government 
regulation. We do not have significant influence over our 
costs for such manufacturing inputs. Therefore, an increase 
in other manufacturing inputs could occur at the same time 
that prices for our products are decreasing and have an 
adverse effect on our results of operations, financial posi-
tion and cash flows.

While we believe that alternative sources of criti-
cal supplies would be available, an interruption in supply of 
single source specialty grade latex or specialty softwood 
pulp to our technical products business or cotton fiber for 
our fine paper business could disrupt and eventually cause 
a shutdown of production of certain technical products and 
fine paper products.

We generate substantially all of the electrical 

energy used by our Munising mill and approximately 40 per-
cent and 20 percent of the electrical energy at our Appleton 
and Bruckmühl mills, respectively. Availability of energy is 
not expected to be a problem in the foreseeable future, but 
the purchase price of such energy can and likely will fluctu-
ate significantly based on fluctuations in demand and other 

factors. There is no assurance that we will be able to obtain 
electricity or natural gas purchases on favorable terms in 
the future.

I N T E R E S T   R A T E   R I S K
We are exposed to interest rate risk on our fixed rate debt 
and our variable-rate bank debt. At December 31, 2010, 
we had $233.0 million of fixed rate debt outstanding and 
$11.9 million of variable-rate borrowings outstanding. We 
are exposed to fluctuations in the fair value of our fixed rate 
long-term debt resulting from changes in market interest 
rates, but not to fluctuations in our earnings or cash flows. 
At December 31, 2010, the estimated fair market value 
of our fixed rate debt was $237.1 million based upon the 
quoted market price of the Senior Notes or rates currently 
available to us for debt of the same remaining maturities.  
A 100 basis point increase in interest rates would increase 
our annual interest expense on outstanding variable-rate 
borrowings by approximately $0.1 million.

We could in the future, reduce our exposure to 

interest rate fluctuations on our variable-rate debt by enter-
ing into interest rate hedging arrangements, although those 
arrangements could result in us incurring higher costs than 
we would incur without the arrangements.

E N V I R O N M E N T A L   R E G U L A T I O N / C L I M A T E   C H A N G E   L E G I S L A T I O N
Our manufacturing operations are subject to extensive 
regulation primarily by U.S., German and other international 
authorities. We have made significant capital expenditures 
to comply with environmental laws, rules and regulations. 
Due to changes in environmental laws and regulations, 
including potential future legislation to limit GHG emissions, 
the application of such regulations and changes in envi-
ronmental control technology, we are not able to predict 
with certainty the amount of future capital spending to be 
incurred for environmental purposes. Taking these uncer-
tainties into account, we have planned capital expenditures 
for environmental projects during the period 2011 through 
2013 of approximately $1 million to $2 million annually.

We believe these risks can be managed and will 

not have a material adverse effect on our business or our 
consolidated financial position, results of operations or 
cash flows.

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

45

 
 
 
M A N A G E M E N T ’ S   D I S C U S S I O N   A N D   A N A LY S I S

F O R WA R D - LO O K I N G S TAT E M E N T S

Certain statements in this annual report may constitute 
“forward-looking” statements as defined in Section 27A of 
the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), Section 21E 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange 
Act”), the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 
(the “PSLRA”), or in releases made by the Securities 
Exchange Commission (“SEC”), all as may be amended from 
time to time. Statements contained in this annual report 
that are not historical facts may be forward-looking state-
ments within the meaning of the PSLRA. Any such forward-
looking statements reflect our beliefs and assumptions and 
are based on information currently available to us and are 
subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may 
cause actual results to be materially different from those 
presented herein including but not limited to: (i) increases in 
commodity prices, (particularly for pulp, energy and latex) 
due to constrained global supplies or unexpected supply 
disruptions; (ii) the cost and/or availability of raw materials 
and energy; (iii) changes in market demand for our prod-
ucts due to global economic conditions; (iv) fluctuations 
in exchange rates (in particular changes in the U.S. dollar/
Euro currency exchange rates) and interest rates; (v) the 
competitive environment; (vi) capital and credit market 
volatility; (vii) fluctuations in global equity and fixed-income 
markets; (viii) unanticipated expenditures related to the cost 
of compliance with environmental and other governmental 
regulations; (ix) our ability to control costs and implement 

measures designed to enhance operating efficiencies; 
(x) the loss of current customers or the inability to obtain 
new customers; (xi) increases in the funding requirements 
for our pension and postretirement liabilities; (xii) changes 
in asset valuations including write-downs of assets includ-
ing fixed assets, inventory, accounts receivable, deferred 
tax assets or other assets for impairment or other reasons; 
(xiii) our existing and future indebtedness; (xiv) strikes, labor 
stoppages and changes in our collective bargaining agree-
ments and relations with our employees and unions; and 
(xv) other risks that are detailed from time to time in reports 
we file with the SEC. These and other factors could cause  
or contribute to actual results differing materially from any  
forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail 
in our filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements 
are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, 
uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual 
results, performance or achievements, or industry results,  
to be materially different from any future results, per-
formance or achievements expressed or implied by such 
forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to 
publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether 
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 
These cautionary statements are being made pursuant  
to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the PSLRA with 
the intention of obtaining the benefits of the “safe harbor” 
provisions of such laws. The Company cautions investors 
that any forward-looking statements we make are not guar-
antees or indicative of future performance.

46

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT ON  
INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The Company’s management is responsible for establish-
ing and maintaining effective internal control over financial 
reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15a-15(f) under 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s inter-
nal control over financial reporting is designed to provide 
reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and 
board of directors regarding the preparation and fair pre-
sentation of published financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal con-

trol over financial reporting may not prevent or detect 
misstatements. Therefore, even those systems deter-
mined to be effective can provide only reasonable assur-
ance with respect to financial statement preparation and 
presentation.

Management assessed the effectiveness of the 

Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of 
December 31, 2010. The scope of management’s assess-
ment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial 
reporting includes all of the Company’s businesses. In 
making this assessment, management used the criteria 

set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations 
of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control – 
Integrated Framework. Based upon its assessment, 
management believes that as of December 31, 2010, 
the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting 
were effective.

The effectiveness of internal control over financial 

reporting as of December 31, 2010, has been audited by 
Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent registered public 
accounting firm who also audited the Company’s consoli-
dated financial statements. Deloitte & Touche’s attestation 
report on the Company’s internal control over financial 
reporting follows. 

Neenah Paper, Inc
March 9, 2011

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

47

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED  
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Neenah Paper, Inc., Alpharetta, Georgia

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting 
of Neenah Paper, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of 
December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal 
Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee 
of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. 
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining 
effective internal control over financial reporting and for its 
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over finan-
cial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s 
Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. 
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 assur-
ance 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, testing and evaluating the design and 
operating effectiveness of internal control based on the 
assessed risk, and 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 by, or under the supervi-
sion of, the company’s principal executive and principal 
financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, 
and effected by the company’s board of directors, manage-
ment, and other personnel to provide reasonable assur-
ance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the 
preparation of financial statements for external purposes 
in accordance with generally accepted accounting prin-
ciples. 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, accu-
rately 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 gen-
erally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and 
expenditures of the company are being made only in accor-
dance with authorizations of management and directors of 
the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regard-
ing prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisi-
tion, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could 
have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal 

control over financial reporting, including the possibility of 
collusion or improper management override of controls, 
material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be 
prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections 
of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control 
over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the 
risk that the 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, the Company maintained, in all 
material respects, effective internal control over financial 
reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on the criteria 
established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework 
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of 
the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with the stan-

dards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board 
(United States), the consolidated financial statements as of 
and for the year ended December 31, 2010 of the Company 
and our report dated March 9, 2011 expressed an unqualified 
opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

Atlanta, Georgia
March 9, 2011

48

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED  
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Neenah Paper, Inc., Alpharetta, Georgia

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance 
 sheets of Neenah Paper, Inc. and subsidiaries (the 
“Company”) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the 
related consolidated statements of operations, changes in 
stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three 
years in the period ended December 31, 2010. These finan-
cial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s 
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion  
on the 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, such consolidated financial state-

ments present fairly, in all material respects, the finan-
cial position of Neenah Paper, Inc. and subsidiaries as 
of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of their 
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years 
in the period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity 
with accounting principles generally accepted in the 
United States of America. 

We have also audited, in accordance with the 
standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight 
Board (United States), the Company’s internal control 
over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based 
on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated 
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report 
dated March 9, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion on 
the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Atlanta, Georgia
March 9, 2011

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

49

TT
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF 

OPERATIONS

(In millions, except share and per share data) 

Net sales
Cost of products sold
Gross profit

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  Other income – net

Loss (gain) on closure and sale of the Ripon Mill
Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charge

Operating income (loss)
Interest expense 
Interest income

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

Provision (benefit) for income taxes 
Income (loss) from continuing operations

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes (Note 5)

Net income (loss)
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share

Basic
  Continuing operations 
  Discontinued operations 

  Diluted

  Continuing operations 
  Discontinued operations 

Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding (in thousands)

Basic   
Diluted 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

2009 

2008

$657.7 
537.7 
120.0 
69.3 
(1.0)
(3.4)
–
55.1 
20.5 
(0.2)
34.8 
9.8 
25.0 
134.1 
$159.1 

$ 1.69 
9.05 
$10.74 

$ 1.61 
8.60 
$10.21 

$573.9 
472.3 
101.6 
69.1 
(1.0) 
17.1 
–
16.4 
23.4
(0.2) 
(6.8) 
(5.0) 
(1.8) 
0.6 
$ (1.2) 

$ (0.12) 
0.04 
$ (0.08) 

$ (0.12) 
0.04 
$ (0.08) 

$ 732.3
630.8
101.5
75.2
(11.3)
–
54.5
(16.9)
25.0
–
(41.9)
3.9
(45.8)
(111.2)
$(157.0)

$ (3.14)
(7.59)
$(10.73)

$ (3.14)
(7.59)
$(10.73)

14,744 
15,512 

14,655 
14,655 

14,642
14,642

50 
50

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report
Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except share data) 

ASSETS
Current Assets
  Cash and cash equivalents 
Accounts receivable, net 
Inventories 
Income taxes receivable 
Deferred income taxes 
Prepaid and other current assets 
Assets held for sale (Note 4 and Note 5)

Total Current Assets

Property, Plant and Equipment – net
Deferred Income Taxes
Goodwill (Note 4)
Intangible assets – net (Note 4)
Other Assets
TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities

Debt payable within one year 
Accounts payable 
Accrued expenses

Total Current Liabilities

Long-term Debt
Deferred Income Taxes
Noncurrent Employee Benefits and Other Obligations
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Contingencies and Legal Matters (Notes 12)
Stockholders’ Equity
  Common stock, par value $0.01 – authorized: 100,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding:

15,237,203 shares and 15,085,709 shares 

Treasury stock, at cost: 426,201 shares and 410,654 shares
Additional paid-in capital 
Accumulated deficit
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

Total Stockholders’ Equity

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31,

2010 

2009

$  48.3
70.7
69.4
–
19.5
14.1
–
222.0
261.9
43.1
41.5
24.0
14.2
$606.7

$  13.6
30.4
48.1
92.1
231.3
19.4
104.7
447.5

$     5.6
67.7
70.7
0.8
61.7
13.7
10.0
230.2
284.4
36.5
44.9
27.5
13.1
$ 636.6

$  55.6
27.2
48.6
131.4
263.6
23.7
108.3
527.0

0.1
(10.4)
249.0
(62.0)
(17.5)
159.2
$606.7

0.1
(10.2)
243.4
(215.2)
91.5
109.6
$ 636.6

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report
Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

51
51

 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN 

TT

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In millions,
shares in thousands) 

December 31, 2007
Net loss
Other comprehensive income (loss)
  Unrealized foreign

currency translation

Adjustment to pension and other
  benefit liabilities
Loss on cash flow hedges

Dividends declared
Excess tax benefits from stock-
  based compensation
Share purchases
Restricted stock vesting (Note 10)
Stock-based compensation
December 31, 2008
Net loss
Other comprehensive income (loss)

Unrealized foreign

currency translation

  Adjustment to pension and
  other benefit liabilities

Dividends declared
Restricted stock vesting (Note 10)
Stock-based compensation
December 31, 2009
Net income
Other comprehensive loss
Unrealized foreign currency translation
Adjustment to pension and other
  benefit liabilities
Reclassification of cumulative

translation adjustments related
to investments in Canada

Dividends declared
Stock options exercised
Restricted stock vesting (Note 10)
Stock-based compensation
December 31, 2010

Common Stock

Shares 

Amount 

Treasury 
Stock 

Additional 

  Accumulated 
Other

Paid-In  Accumulated  Comprehensive  Comprehensive
Income/(Loss)
Capital 

Income 

Deficit 

14,969 

$0.1 

$ (0.4) 

$235.3 

$ (45.1) 
(157.0)

$ 98.5

$(157.0)

86 

(9.4)
(0.3)

15,055 

0.1 

(10.1) 

(0.6) 

4.0 
238.7 

31 

(0.1) 

15,086

0.1 

(10.2) 

4.7 
243.4 

(6.0) 

(208.1) 
(1.2) 

(5.9) 

(215.2) 
159.1

(30.1) 

(30.1)

16.3
(0.3)

16.3
(0.3)
$(171.1)

84.4 

4.1 

3.0

91.5 

$ 

(1.2)

4.1

3.0
$     5.9

$ 159.1

(15.1)

(15.1)

(6.0)

(6.0)

86
65

(0.2)

15,237

$0.1

$(10.4)

0.7

4.9
$249.0

$ (62.0)

$(17.5)

(5.9)

(87.9)

(87.9)
$  50.1

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

52
52

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report
Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

   
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions)

OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

2009 

2008

$159.1

$(1.2) 

$(157.0)

Depreciation and amortization
Stock-based compensation

  Deferred income tax provision (benefit)
  Gain on sale of the Woodlands (Note 5) 

Reclassification of cumulative translation adjustments related to

investments in Canada (Note 1 and Note 5) 

Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charge (Note 4)

  Asset impairment loss 

Loss on disposal – transfer of the Pictou Mill

  Amortization of deferred revenue – transfer of the Pictou Mill

Loss on disposal – transfer of the Pictou Mill post-employment benefit plans 

  Ripon Mill (gain) on sale and non-cash closure charges 
Gain on curtailment of post employment benefit plan 
(Gain) loss on other asset dispositions

  Net cash provided by (used in) changes in operating working capital (Note 15)
  Pension and other post-employment benefits 
  Other  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures 
Net proceeds from sale of the Woodlands (Note 5)
Increase in investments 
Proceeds from asset sales
Payments in conjunction with the transfer of the Pictou Mill
Other  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
Debt issuance costs
Repayments of long-term debt
Short-term borrowings 
Repayments of short-term borrowings 
Cash dividends paid
Share purchases (Note 10) 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
Other  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

31.3
4.9
37.0
(74.1)

(87.9)
–
–
–
–
–
(3.4)
–
0.2
(3.9)
(7.8)
(0.9)
54.5

(17.4)
78.0
(3.5)
8.7
–
0.7
66.5

0.1
–
(71.5)
13.3
(14.8)
(5.9)
–
0.7
(0.2)
(78.3)
–
42.7
5.6
$ 48.3

34.5 
4.7 
(9.4) 
–

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
6.3 
– 
0.2 
27.4
2.4 
– 
64.9 

(8.4)
– 
– 
0.8 
–
(0.7)
(8.3)

45.5
(2.9)
(87.6) 
12.2
(15.4) 
(5.9) 
– 
– 
(0.1) 
(54.2) 
(0.1) 
2.3
3.3
$   5.6

38.6
4.0
(56.1)
–

–
54.5
91.2
29.4
(2.8)
53.7
–
(4.3)
(6.3)
(22.6)
(7.6)
(1.6)
13.1

(30.0)
–
–
13.8
(13.6)
(0.6)
(30.4)

53.7
–
(34.6)
18.7
(3.3)
(6.0)
(9.4)
–
(0.9)
18.2
–
0.9
2.4
$   3.3

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report
Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

53
53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in millions, except as noted)

ONE

Background and Basis of Presentation

B A C K G R O U N D
Neenah Paper, Inc. (“Neenah” or the “Company”) is a 
Delaware corporation incorporated in April 2004. The 
Company has two primary operations: its technical products 
business and its fine paper business.

The technical products business is an inter national 
producer of transportation and other filter media, durable, 
saturated and coated substrates for a variety of end uses 
and nonwoven wall coverings. The fine paper business is 
a producer of premium writing, text, cover and specialty 
papers used in corporate identity packages, corporate 
annual reports, invitations, personal stationery, labels and 
high-end packaging for point of sale advertising.

In February 2008, the Company commit-

ted to a plan to sell its pulp mill in Pictou, Nova Scotia 
(the “Pictou Mill”) and approximately 475,000 acres of 
woodland assets in Nova Scotia (the “Woodlands”). In 
June 2008, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, 
Neenah Paper Company of Canada (“Neenah Canada”) sold 
the Pictou Mill to Northern Pulp Nova Scotia Corporation 
(“Northern Pulp”), a new operating company jointly owned 
by Atlas Holdings LLC (“Atlas”) and Blue Wolf Capital 
Management LLC (“Blue Wolf”). Pursuant to the terms of 
the transaction, Northern Pulp assumed all of the assets and 
liabilities associated with the Pictou Mill, as well as exist-
ing customer contracts, supply agreements, labor agree-
ments and pension obligations. The sale did not include 
the Woodlands.

In March 2010, Neenah Canada sold the 

Woodlands to Northern Timber Nova Scotia Corporation, 
an affiliate of Northern Pulp, for C$82.5 million ($78.6 mil-
lion). The sale resulted in a pre-tax gain, net of fees and 
other transaction costs, of $74.1 million. The sale of the 
Woodlands resulted in the substantially complete liquida-
tion of the Company’s investment in Neenah Canada. In 
accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 
Topic 830, Foreign Currency Matters (“ASC Topic 830”), 
$87.9 million of cumulative currency translation adjustments 

attributable to the Company’s Canadian subsidiaries have 
been reclassified into earnings and recognized as part of 
the gain on sale of the Woodlands. The transaction did not 
generate a cash tax liability because the tax basis for the 
Woodlands was approximately equal to the sale price. For 
the year ended December 31, 2010, the results of opera-
tions, the gain on sale of the Woodlands ($74.1 million) and 
the reclassification into earnings of cumulative currency 
translation adjustments attributable to the Company’s 
Canadian subsidiaries ($87.9 million) are reported as discon-
tinued operations in the consolidated statement of opera-
tions. The results of operations of the Pictou Mill and the 
Woodlands and the loss on disposal of the Pictou Mill are 
reported as discontinued operations for the years ended 
December 31, 2009 and 2008. See Note 5, “Discontinued 
Operations – Sale of the Pictou Mill and the Woodlands.”

B A S I S   O F   P R E S E N T A T I O N
The consolidated financial statements include the financial 
statements of the Company and its wholly owned and major-
ity owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company balances 
and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

P R I O R   Y E A R   A D J U S T M E N T S
During the preparation of the interim financial statements 
for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, 
the Company identified a $2.8 million overstatement of 
accounts payable that was primarily the result of invalid 
inventory pricing adjustments beginning in 2006 and cer-
tain inventory transactions in 2008. These errors resulted in 
an overstatement of accounts payable and cost of products 
sold of $0.4 million and $2.4 million for the years ended 
December 31, 2006 and 2008, respectively. The Company 
has restated the statement of operations for the year ended 
December 31, 2008 for the $2.4 million overstatement of 
cost of products sold. The Company has reflected the cor-
rection of the errors on the consolidated balance sheet  
as of December 31, 2009 with a decrease in accounts pay-
able of $2.8 million, a decrease of $0.9 million in noncurrent 
deferred income taxes and an increase of $1.9 million in 
stockholders’ equity. The Company believes the effects of 
these prior period corrections are not material to any prior 
period consolidated financial statements.

54

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

TWO

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

U S E   O F   E S T I M A T E S
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 
(“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and 
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets 
and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and 
the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the 
reporting periods. Actual results could differ from these 
estimates, and changes in these estimates are recorded 
when known. Significant management judgment is required 
in determining the accounting for, among other things, pen-
sion and postretirement benefits, retained insurable risks, 
allowances for doubtful accounts and reserves for sales 
returns and cash discounts, purchase price allocations, use-
ful lives for depreciation and amortization, future cash flows 
associated with impairment testing for tangible and intan-
gible long-lived assets, income taxes, contingencies, inven-
tory obsolescence and market reserves and the valuation of 
stock-based compensation.

R E V E N U E   R E C O G N I T I O N
The Company recognizes sales revenue when all of the 
following have occurred: (1) delivery has occurred, (2) per-
suasive evidence of an agreement exists, (3) pricing is fixed 
or determinable, and (4) collection is reasonably assured. 
Delivery is not considered to have occurred until the cus-
tomer takes title and assumes the risks and rewards of 
ownership. The timing of revenue recognition is largely 
dependent on shipping terms. In general, the Company’s 
shipments are designated free on board shipping point and 
revenue is recognized at the time of shipment. Sales are 
reported net of allowable discounts and estimated returns. 
Reserves for cash discounts, trade allowances and sales 
returns are estimated using historical experience.

E A R N I N G S   P E R   S H A R E   ( “ E P S ” )
The Company computes basic earnings (loss) per share 
(“EPS”) in accordance with Accounting Standards 
Codification (“ASC”) Topic 260, Earnings Per Share (“ASC 
Topic 260”). In accordance with ASC Topic 260, share-based 

awards with non-forfeitable dividends are classified as 
participating securities. In calculating basic earnings per 
share, this method requires net income to be reduced by 
the amount of dividends declared in the current period for 
each participating security and by the contractual amount 
of dividends or other participation payments that are paid 
or accumulated for the current period. Undistributed earn-
ings for the period are allocated to participating securities 
based on the contractual participation rights of the security 
to share in those current earnings assuming all earnings 
for the period are distributed. Holders of restricted stock, 
restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and RSUs with performance 
conditions have contractual participation rights that are 
equivalent to those of common stockholders. Therefore, 
the Company allocates undistributed earnings to restricted 
stock, RSUs, RSUs with performance conditions and com-
mon stockholders based on their respective ownership per-
centage, as of the end of the period.

ASC Topic 260 also requires companies with par-
ticipating securities to calculate diluted earnings per share 
using the “Two Class” method. The “Two Class” method 
requires the denominator to include the weighted-average 
participating securities along with the additional share 
equivalents from the assumed conversion of stock options 
calculated using the “Treasury Stock” method, subject to 
the anti-dilution provisions of ASC Topic 260.

Diluted EPS was calculated to give effect to all 

potentially dilutive common shares using the “Treasury 
Stock” method. Outstanding stock options, stock appre-
ciation rights (“SARs”) and certain RSUs with performance 
conditions represent the only potentially dilutive non-
participating security effects on the Company’s weighted-
average shares. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 
2009 and 2008, approximately 1,590,000, 1,700,000 and 
1,510,000 potentially dilutive options, respectively, were 
excluded from the computation of dilutive common shares 
because the exercise price of such options exceeded the 
average market price of the Company’s common stock 
for the period the options were outstanding. In addition, 
as a result of the loss from continuing operations for the 
years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, approximately 
160,000 and 130,000 incremental shares resulting from the 
assumed exercise or vesting of potentially dilutive securities 
were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calcula-
tion, as the effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

55

N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

The following table presents the computation of 

basic and diluted shares of common stock used in the cal-
culation of EPS (amounts in millions, except share and per 
share amounts):

Income (loss) from  

continuing operations 
Distributed and undistributed  

amounts allocated to  
  participating securities (a) 
Income (loss) from continuing  
  operations available to  
common stockholders 

Income (loss) from discontinued  
  operations, net of 
income taxes 

Distributed and undistributed  

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

2009 

2008

$  25.0 

 $  (1.8) 

$  (45.8)

(0.1) 

–  

(0.1)

 24.9 

 (1.8) 

(45.9)

 134.1 

 0.6 

(111.2)

 amounts allocated to  
participating securities (a) 
Net income (loss) available to  
common stockholders 
Weighted-average basic  
shares outstanding 

Add: Assumed incremental  
 shares under stock  
compensation plans 

Assuming dilution 
Earnings (Loss) Per  
  Common Share
Basic
Continuing operations 
Discontinued operations 

Diluted
Continuing operations 
Discontinued operations 

 (0.6) 

– 

–

 $158.4 

 $  (1.2) 

$(157.1)

 14,744 

 14,655 

14,642

 768 
 15,512 

– 
 14,655 

–
14,642

 $  1.69 
 9.05  
 $10.74 

 $  1.61 
 8.60 
 $10.21 

 $(0.12) 
 0.04 
 $(0.08) 

 $(0.12) 
 0.04 
 $(0.08) 

$  (3.14)
(7.59)
$(10.73)

$  (3.14)
(7.59)
$(10.73)

(a)   In accordance with ASC Topic 260, for the years ended December 31, 

2009 and 2008, undistributed losses have been allocated entirely to 
common stockholders due to the fact that the holders of participat-
ing securities are not contractually obligated to share in the losses of 
the Company.

56

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

F I N A N C I A L   I N S T R U M E N T S
Cash and cash equivalents include all cash balances 
and highly liquid investments with an initial maturity of 
three months or less. The Company places its temporary 
cash investments with high credit quality financial institu-
tions. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, $0.7 million and 
$0.8 million, respectively, of the Company’s cash and cash 
equivalent is restricted to the payment of postretirement 
benefits for certain former Fox River executives.

I N V E N T O R I E S
U.S. inventories are valued at the lower of cost, using 
the Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) method for financial report-
ing purposes, or market. German inventories are val-
ued at the lower of cost, using a weighted-average cost 
method, or market. The FIFO value of inventories valued 
on the LIFO method was $57.0 million and $58.2 million at 
December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Cost includes 
labor, materials and production overhead. For the years 
ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company rec-
ognized income (expense) of approximately $0.1 million 
and $(0.1) million, respectively, due to the liquidation of 
LIFO inventories.

F O R E I G N   C U R R E N C Y
Balance sheet accounts of Neenah Germany and 
Neenah Canada are translated from Euros and Canadian 
dollars, respectively, into U.S. dollars at period-end 
exchange rates, and income and expense accounts are 
translated at average exchange rates during the period. 
Translation gains or losses related to net assets located in 
Germany and Canada are recorded as unrealized foreign 
currency trans lation adjustments within accumulated other 
comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Gains 
and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions 
(transactions denominated in a currency other than the  
entity’s functional currency) are included in Other income – 
net in the consolidated statements of operations.

P R O P E R T Y   A N D   D E P R E C I A T I O N
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accu-
mulated depreciation. Certain costs of software developed 
or obtained for internal use are capitalized. When property, 
plant and equipment are sold or retired, the costs and  
the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the  

  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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accounts, and the gains or losses are recorded in other 
(income) expense – net. For financial reporting purposes, 
depreciation is principally computed on the straight-line 
method over the estimated useful asset lives. Weighted- 
average useful lives are approximately 33 years for build-
ings, nine years for land improvements and 17 years for 
machinery and equipment. For income tax purposes, accel-
erated methods of depreciation are used.

Estimated useful lives are periodically reviewed 

and changed when warranted. Long-lived assets are 
reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in cir-
cumstances indicate that their cost may not be recoverable. 
An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated 
undiscounted future pre-tax cash flows from the use of the 
asset are less than its carrying amount. Measurement of 
an impairment loss is based on the excess of the carrying 
amount of the asset over its fair value. Fair value is generally 
measured using discounted cash flows.

The costs of major rebuilds and replacements 
of plant and equipment are capitalized, and the cost of 
maintenance performed on manufacturing facilities, com-
posed of labor, materials and other incremental costs, is 
charged to operations as incurred. Start-up costs for new or 
expanded facilities are expensed as incurred.

The Company accounts for asset retirement obli-
gations (“AROs”) in accordance with ASC Topic 410, Asset 
Retirements and Environmental Obligations, which requires 
companies to make estimates regarding future events in 
order to record a liability for AROs in the period in which a 
legal obligation is created. Such liabilities are recorded at 
fair value, with an offsetting increase to the carrying value 
of the related long-lived asset. As of December 31, 2010, 
the Company is unable to estimate its AROs for environ-
mental liabilities at its manufacturing facilities.

G O O D W I L L   A N D   O T H E R   I N T A N G I B L E   A S S E T S
The Company follows the guidance of ASC Topic 805, 
Business Combinations (“ASC Topic 805”), in recording 
goodwill arising from a business combination as the excess 
of purchase price and related costs over the fair value of  
identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. All  
of the Company’s goodwill was acquired in conjunction with 
the acquisition of the stock of FiberMark Services GmbH & Co.  
KG and the stock of FiberMark Beteiligungs GmbH (collec-
tively, “Neenah Germany”) in October 2006.

Under ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and 
Other (“ASC Topic 350”), goodwill is subject to impairment 
testing at least annually. A fair-value-based test is applied  
at the reporting unit level, which is generally one level 
below the operating segment level. The test compares 
the fair value of an entity’s reporting units to the carrying 
value of those reporting units. This test requires various 
judgments and estimates. The Company estimates the fair 
value of the reporting unit using a market approach in com-
bination with a discounted operating cash flow approach. 
Impairment of goodwill is measured as the excess of the 
carrying amount of goodwill over the fair values of rec-
ognized and unrecognized assets and liabilities of the 
reporting unit. An adjustment to goodwill will be recorded 
for any goodwill that is determined to be impaired. The 
Company tests goodwill for impairment at least annually on 
November 30 in conjunction with preparation of its annual 
business plan, or more frequently if events or circumstances 
indicate it might be impaired. The Company last tested 
goodwill for impairment as of November 30, 2010 and no 
impairment was indicated. The Company’s test of good-
will for impairment as of November 30, 2008 indicated an 
impairment of goodwill. See Note 4, “Goodwill and Other 
Intangible Assets.”

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amor-
tized on a straight-line basis over their respective estimated 
useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed 
for impairment in accordance with ASC Topic 360, Property, 
Plant, and Equipment. Intangible assets consist primar-
ily of customer relationships, trade names and acquired 
intellectual property. Such intangible assets are amortized 
using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives 
of between ten and 15 years. Certain trade names are esti-
mated to have indefinite useful lives and as such are not  
amortized. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are reviewed 
for impairment at least annually in accordance with ASC 
Topic 350. See Note 4, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”

R E S E A R C H   E X P E N S E
Research and development costs are charged to expense as 
incurred and are recorded in “Selling, general and adminis-
trative expenses” on the consolidated statement of opera-
tions. See Note 15, “Supplemental Data – Supplemental 
Statement of Operations Data.”

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

57

N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

F A I R   V A L U E   O F   F I N A N C I A L   I N S T R U M E N T S
The carrying amounts reflected in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and 
accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short maturities. The fair value of short and long-term debt is estimated 
using current market prices for the Company’s publicly traded debt or rates currently available to the Company for debt of 
the same remaining maturities. The following table presents the carrying value and the fair value of the Company’s debt at 
December 31, 2010 and 2009.

Senior Notes (7.375% fixed rate) 
Neenah Germany project financing (3.8% fixed rate) 
Revolving bank credit facility (variable rates) 
Term Loan (variable rates) 
Neenah Germany revolving line of credit (variable rates) 
Other debt (2.9% fixed rate) 

Long-term debt 

December 31, 

2010 

2009

Carrying  
Value 

Fair 
Value 

Carrying 
Value 

$223.0 
10.0 
– 
– 
11.9 
– 
$244.9 

$227.5 
9.6 
– 
–  
11.9 
– 
$249.0 

$225.0 
12.5 
27.9 
40.0 
12.9 
0.9 
$319.2 

Fair
Value

$208.6
12.0
27.9
40.0
12.9
0.9
$302.3

O T H E R   C O M P R E H E N S I V E   I N C O M E   ( L O S S )
Comprehensive income (loss) includes, in addition to net income (loss), gains and losses recorded directly into stockhold-
ers’ equity on the consolidated balance sheet. These gains and losses are referred to as other comprehensive income items. 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consists of foreign currency translation gains and (losses), deferred gains 
and (losses) on “available-for-sale” securities and cash flow hedges, and adjustments related to pensions and other post-
retirement benefits. The Company does not provide income taxes for foreign currency translation adjustments related to 
indefinite investments in foreign subsidiaries. The sale of the Woodlands resulted in the substantially complete liquidation 
of the Company’s investment in Neenah Canada. In accordance with ASC Topic 830, for the year ended December 31, 2010, 
$87.9 million of cumulative currency translation adjustments attributable to the Company’s Canadian subsidiaries have been 
reclassified into earnings and recognized as part of the gain on sale of the Woodlands. There were no tax consequences 
related to the repatriation of funds from the sale of the Woodlands.

Changes in the components of other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:

Pretax 
Amount 

2010 

Tax 
Effect 

Net 
Amount 

Pretax 
Amount 

2009 

Tax 
Effect 

Net 
Amount 

Pretax 
Amount 

2008

Tax 
Effect 

Net
Amount

Year Ended December 31, 

$  (15.1) 

$   – 

$  (15.1) 

$4.1  

$    – 

$4.1 

$(30.1) 

$      – 

$(30.1)

(9.0) 

3.0 

(6.0) 

4.6 

(1.6) 

3.0 

26.4 

(10.1) 

16.3

Foreign currency  
translation 

Adjustment to pension  

and other  

  benefit liabilities 
Reclassification of  

 cumulative translation  
adjustments related to  
investments in Canada 

Deferred loss on cash  

flow hedges 

Other comprehensive  

(87.9) 

– 

– 

– 

(87.9) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

–

(0.5) 

0.2  

(0.3)

income (loss) 

$(112.0) 

$3.0 

$(109.0) 

$8.7 

$(1.6) 

$7.1 

$  (4.2) 

$  (9.9) 

$(14.1)

58

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

The components of accumulated other compre-
hensive income (loss), net of applicable income taxes are 
as follows:

Company paid approximately $3.5 million and $6.5 million 
of such costs during the years ended December 31, 2010 
and 2009, respectively.

Foreign currency translation 
Adjustment to pension and other  

 benefit liabilities (net of income  
tax benefits of $17.0 million and  
$14.0 million, respectively) 

Accumulated other comprehensive  

December 31,

2010 

2009

$   9.8 

$112.8

(27.3) 

(21.3)

income (loss) 

$(17.5) 

$  91.5

A C C O U N T I N G   S T A N D A R D S   C H A N G E S
As of December 31, 2010, no amendments to the ASC had 
been issued but not adopted by the Company that will 
have or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on its 
results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

THREE

Closure of the Ripon Mill

In May 2009, the Company permanently closed its Fine 
Paper mill located in Ripon, California (the “Ripon Mill”). 
The closure resulted in a pre-tax charge of $17.1 million for 
the year ended December 31, 2009. The charge was com-
prised of approximately $5.8 million in non-cash charges, 
primarily for losses related to the carrying value of property, 
plant and equipment, a curtailment loss of $0.8 million 
related to postretirement benefit plans in which employ-
ees of the Ripon Mill participated (see Note 8) and cash 
payments for contract terminations and severance and 
other employee costs of approximately $10.5 million. The 

In October 2010, the Company sold the remain-

ing long-lived assets of the Ripon Mill, primarily composed 
of land and buildings, to Diamond Pet Food Processors 
of Ripon, LLC (“Diamond”) for gross proceeds of approxi-
mately $9 million. Pursuant to the terms of the transaction, 
Diamond acquired all the assets and assumed responsibility 
for substantially all the remaining liabilities associated with 
the Ripon Mill. The Company recognized a pre-tax gain on 
the sale of approximately $3.4 million.

The Company accounted for the costs associated 

with the closure of the Ripon Mill in accordance with ASC 
Topic 420, Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations. The Company 
paid approximately $1.8 million in severance benefits to 
97 former employees of the Ripon Mill. The following table 
presents the status of such closure costs as of and for the 
years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009:

Contract 
termination 
and other 
costs 

Severance  
benefits 

Total 

 $ 1.8 

$ 8.7 

$10.5

 (1.7) 

(4.8) 

(6.5)

 0.1 

3.9 

4.0

(0.1) 

(3.4) 

(3.5)

Amounts accrued during  

 the year ended  
December 31, 2009 

Payments for the year ended  
  December 31, 2009 
Accrued exit costs at  
  December 31, 2009 
Payments for the year ended  
  December 31, 2010 
Change in estimates  

recognized in income 

– 

(0.5) 

(0.5)

Accrued exit costs at  
  December 31, 2010 

$    – 

$    – 

$     –

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

59

  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

FOUR

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

As of December 31, 2010, the Company had goodwill of 
$41.5 million which is not amortized. The following table 
presents changes in goodwill (all of which relates to the 
Company’s Technical Products segment) for the years 
ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:

  Accumulated 
Impairment 
Losses 

Gross 
Amount 

Balance at December 31, 2007 
  Goodwill impairment charge 
Foreign currency translation 
Balance at December 31, 2008 
Foreign currency translation 
Balance at December 31, 2009 
Foreign currency translation 

 $106.6 
– 
(10.1) 
96.5 
2.4 
98.9 
(7.5) 
Balance at December 31, 2010  $  91.4 

$      – 
(52.7) 
– 
(52.7) 
(1.3) 
(54.0) 
4.1 
$(49.9) 

Net

$106.6
(52.7)
(10.1)
43.8
1.1
44.9
(3.4)
$  41.5

I M P A I R M E N T
As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the carrying amount 
of goodwill assigned to Neenah Germany was considered 
recoverable. As of December 31, 2010, a one percent-
age point increase in the Company’s estimate for its cost 
of capital used in the impairment test would result in an 
approximately $35 million change in the estimated fair value 
of Neenah Germany and a corresponding reduction in the 
implied value of goodwill but would not result in an impair-
ment of goodwill.

The Company’s annual test of goodwill for impair-

ment at November 30, 2008, indicated that the carrying 
value of Neenah Germany exceeded its estimated fair 
value. The Company estimated fair value using a market 
approach in combination with a probability-weighted-
discounted operating cash flow approach for a number of 
scenarios representing differing operating and economic 
assumptions. Significant assumptions used in developing 
the discounted operating cash flow approach were revenue 
growth rates and pricing, costs for manufacturing inputs, 
levels of capital investment and estimated cost of capital for 
high, medium and low growth environments. The Company 
measured the estimated fair value of goodwill as the excess 
of the carrying amount of Neenah Germany over the fair  
values of recognized assets and liabilities of the reporting 
unit. The Company recorded an impairment adjustment to 
goodwill for the excess of the carrying value of goodwill 
assigned to Neenah Germany over the estimated fair  
value of goodwill. For the year ended December 31, 2008, 
the Company recognized a pre-tax loss of $52.7 million (the  
Company did not recognize a tax benefit related to the non  
tax deductible loss) for the impairment of goodwill assigned 
to Neenah Germany. The impairment loss was primar-
ily due to a substantial increase in the estimated cost of 
capital the Company used to calculate the present value 
of Neenah Germany’s estimated future cash flows which 
resulted in a substantially lower estimated fair value. The 
higher estimated cost of capital reflected market/finan-
cial conditions at the time the annual impairment test was 
performed which indicated higher risk premiums for debt 
and equity.

60

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

O T H E R   I N T A N G I B L E   A S S E T S
As of December 31, 2010, the Company had net identifiable intangible assets of $24.0 million. All such intangible assets were 
acquired in the Neenah Germany and Fox River acquisitions. The following table details amounts related to those assets.

Amortizable intangible assets
  Customer based Intangibles 

Trade names and Trademarks 

  Acquired Technology 
Unamortizable intangible assets 
Trade names 
Total    

Weighted-average
amortization 
period (years) 

 15 
 10 
 10 
 10 
Not amortized 

December 31, 

2010 

2009

Gross  Accumulated 
Amount  Amortization 

Gross  Accumulated
Amount  Amortization

$14.4 
6.1 
1.1 
21.6 
9.3 
$30.9 

$(4.1) 
(2.3) 
(0.5) 
(6.9) 
– 
$(6.9) 

$15.5 
6.6 
1.2 
23.3 
9.9 
$33.2 

$(3.4)
(1.9)
(0.4)
(5.7)
–
$(5.7)

As of December 31, 2010, $21.1 million and 

$2.9 million of such intangible assets are reported 
within the Technical Products and Fine Paper seg-
ments, respectively. See Note 14, “Business Segment 
and Geographic Information.” Aggregate amortization 
expense of acquired intangible assets for the years 
ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $1.6 mil-
lion, $1.8 million and $1.9 million, respectively and was 
reported in Cost of Products Sold on the Consolidated 
Statement of Operations. Estimated annual amortiza-
tion expense for each of the next five years is approxi-
mately $1.6 million.

The Company’s annual test of other intan-

gible assets for impairment at November 30, 2010 
and 2009 indicated that the carrying amount of such 
intangible assets was recoverable. The Company deter-
mined during its annual test of intangible assets for 
impairment at November 30, 2008 that certain trade 
names and customer based intangible assets acquired 
in the Neenah Germany acquisition were impaired at 
December 31, 2008. For the year ended December 31, 
2008, the Company recognized a non-cash pre-tax 
charge of approximately $1.8 million for the impairment 
of such intangible assets.

FIVE

Discontinued Operations

S A L E   O F   T H E   P I C T O U   M I L L   A N D   T H E   W O O D L A N D S
In March 2010, Neenah Canada sold the Woodlands 
to Northern Pulp for C$82.5 million ($78.6 million). 
The sale resulted in a pre-tax gain, net of fees and 
other transaction costs, of $74.1 million. The sale of 
the Woodlands resulted in the substantially com-
plete liquidation of the Company’s investment in 
Neenah Canada. In accordance with ASC Topic 830, 
$87.9 million of cumulative currency translation adjust-
ments attributable to the Company’s Canadian subsid-
iaries were reclassified into earnings and recognized 
as part of the gain on sale of the Woodlands. The sale 
of the Woodlands represented the cessation of the 
Company’s operating activities in Canada; however, the 
Company will have certain continuing post-employment 
benefit obligations related to its Canadian operations. 
The transaction did not generate a cash tax liability 
because the tax basis for the Woodlands was approxi-
mately equal to the sale price.

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

Net proceeds from the sale were used to 

repay in full $40 million of outstanding term loan bor-
rowings and repay approximately $26 million in out-
standing revolving loans which reduced the balance 
of such outstanding loans under the Company’s bank 
credit agreement to zero. In addition, the Company 
made approximately $3.1 million in contract termi-
nation payments related to the closure of the Ripon 
Mill that became due and payable upon the sale of 
the Woodlands.

In June 2008, Neenah Canada sold the Pictou 

Mill to Northern Pulp, an operating company jointly 
owned by Atlas Holdings LLC and Blue Wolf Capital 
Management LLC. In connection with the transfer of the 
Pictou Mill, Neenah Canada made payments of approxi-
mately $10.3 million to Northern Pulp. In addition, the 
Company incurred transaction costs of approximately 
$3.3 million. Pursuant to the terms of the transaction, 
Northern Pulp assumed all of the assets and liabilities 
associated with the Pictou Mill.

In conjunction with the sale of the Pictou Mill, 
the Company entered into a stumpage agreement (the 
“Stumpage Agreement”) which allowed Northern Pulp to 
harvest softwood timber from the Woodlands. For calen-
dar year 2008, Northern Pulp paid a nominal amount for 
approximately 236,000 metric tons of softwood timber 
harvested under the Stumpage Agreement. As a result, 
the Company recorded $2.8 million in deferred revenue 
for the estimated fair value of the timber to be harvested 
by Northern Pulp in calendar 2008. For the year ended 
December 31, 2008, the Company recognized all of such 
deferred revenue. For timber purchases during calendar 
year 2009, Northern Pulp paid the stumpage rate charged 
by the Nova Scotia provincial government for harvesting on 
government licensed lands. The Stumpage Agreement was 
terminated in March 2010 in conjunction with the sale of the 
Woodlands. For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 
2009, the Company recognized revenue of approximately 
$1.4 million and $3.7 million, respectively, related to timber 
sales pursuant to the Stumpage Agreement.

During the first quarter of 2008, the Company 

The following table presents the results of discon-

determined that the estimated value it would receive 
from a sale of the Pictou Mill indicated that it would 
not recover the carrying value of the mill’s long-lived 
assets. As a result, the Company recognized aggregate 
non-cash, pre-tax impairment charges of $91.2 mil-
lion to write-off the carrying value of the Pictou Mill’s 
long-lived assets. In addition, for the year ended 
December 31, 2008, the Company recorded a pre-tax 
loss of $29.4 million to recognize the loss on disposal of 
the Pictou Mill.

In conjunction with the sale of the Pictou 

Mill, Northern Pulp assumed responsibility for all pen-
sion and other postretirement benefit obligations for 
active and retired employees of the mill. The Company 
accounted for the transfer of the Nova Scotia, Canada 
defined benefit pension plan (the “Nova Scotia Plan”) 
as a settlement of postretirement benefit obligations 
pursuant to ASC Topic 715, Compensation–Retirement 
Benefits (“ASC Topic 715”). For the year ended 
December 31, 2008, the Company recognized a non-
cash, pre-tax settlement loss of $53.7 million for the 
reclassification of deferred pension and other postre-
tirement benefit adjustments related to the Nova Scotia 
Plan from accumulated other comprehensive income to loss 
from discontinued operations in the consolidated state-
ment of operations.

62

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

tinued operations:

Net sales, net of  

Year Ended December 31, 

2010 

2009 

2008 

$    1.4 

intersegment sales 
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from operations  $    1.0 
Gain on disposal of  
the Woodlands 
Reclassification of  

74.1 

$ 3.7 

$ 101.9

$ 2.8 

$  (97.8)

– 

–

 cumulative translation  
adjustments related  
to investments in Canada (a) 
Loss on disposal – Pictou Mill (b) 
Loss on settlement of post- 

employment benefit plans 

Gain (loss) on disposal 
Income (loss) before  
income taxes 

(Provision) benefit for  

income taxes 

Income (loss) from discontinued  

87.9 
– 

– 
162.0 

– 
(0.3) 

– 
(0.3) 

–
(29.4)

(53.7)
(83.1)

163.0 

2.5 

(180.9)

(28.9) 

(1.9) 

69.7

 operations, net of  
income taxes 

$134.1 

$ 0.6 

$(111.2)

(a)   The reclassification of cumulative foreign currency translation gains had 

no tax consequences.

(b)   For the year ended December 31, 2008, the loss from operations 

includes aggregate non-cash, pre-tax impairment charges of $91.2 mil-
lion to write-off the carrying value of the Pictou Mill’s long-lived assets.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

SIX

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. Income tax expense (benefit) 
represented 28.2 percent, (73.5) percent and 9.3 percent of income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 
for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The following table presents the principal reasons for 
the difference between the effective income tax provision (benefit) rate and the U.S. federal statutory income tax provision 
(benefit) rate:

U.S. federal statutory income tax (benefit) rate 
U.S. state income taxes, net of federal income tax effect 
Uncertain income tax positions 
Nondeductible goodwill and other  

intangible asset impairment charge 

Limitation on tax benefits available to Fox River 
Foreign tax rate and structure differences 
Other differences – net 
Effective income tax (benefit) rate 

Year Ended December 31, 

2010 

2009 

2008

35.0% 
1.9% 
(1.1)% 

– 
– 
(10.3)% 
2.7% 
28.2% 

$12.2 
0.7 
(0.4) 

– 
– 
(3.6) 
0.9 
$  9.8 

(35.0)% 
(3.3)% 
39.1% 

– 
– 
(47.2)% 
(27.1)% 
(73.5)% 

$(2.4) 
(0.2) 
2.7 

– 
– 
(3.2) 
(1.9) 
$(5.0) 

(35.0)% 
0.6% 
– 

35.0% 
9.3% 
1.1% 
(1.7)% 
9.3% 

$(14.6)
0.3
–

14.6
3.9
0.4
(0.7)
$   3.9

The Company’s effective income tax (benefit) rate 

The following table presents the components of 

can be affected by many factors, including, but not limited 
to, changes in the mix of earnings in taxing jurisdictions with 
differing statutory rates, changes in corporate structure as 
a result of business acquisitions and dispositions, changes 
in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, the 
results of audit examinations of previously filed tax returns 
and changes in tax laws.

The following table presents the U.S. and foreign 

components of income (loss) from continuing operations 
before income taxes:

Income (loss) from continuing  
  operations before  

income taxes:

U.S. 
Foreign 
Total 

2010 

2009 

2008

$20.6 
14.2 
$34.8 

$(13.3) 
6.5 
$  (6.8) 

$   5.5
(47.4)
$(41.9)

Year Ended December 31,

  Deferred:

the provision (benefit) for income taxes:

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

2009 

2008

Provision (benefit) for  

income taxes:

  Current:

Federal 
State 
Foreign 
Total current tax provision 

$(0.4) 
(0.1) 
3.6 
3.1 

$   2.5 
1.0 
1.9 
5.4 

(7.5) 
(0.6) 
(2.3) 

$ 1.7
(0.3)
1.2
2.6

3.9
1.3
(3.9)

1.3

Federal 
State 
Foreign 
Total deferred tax  
  provision (benefit) 
Total provision (benefit) for  

7.2 
1.2 
(1.7) 

6.7 

(10.4) 

income taxes 

$ 9.8 

$  (5.0) 

$ 3.9

The Company has elected to treat its Canadian 

operations as a branch for U.S. income tax purposes. 
Therefore, the amount of income (loss) before income taxes 
from Canadian operations are included in the Company’s 
consolidated U.S. income tax returns, and such amounts are 
subject to U.S. income taxes.

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

The asset and liability approach is used to rec-

As of December 31, 2010, the Company had 

ognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected 
future tax consequences of temporary differences between 
the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabili-
ties. The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities 
are as follows:

December 31,

2010 

2009

Net current deferred income tax assets
  Canadian timberlands 
Intangible assets 
  Net operating losses 
  Accrued liabilities 
  Employee benefits 

Inventory  

  Other  

$      – 
– 
14.3 
2.4 
1.1 
1.0 
1.0 

  Net current deferred income tax assets  

  before valuation allowance 

  Valuation allowance 

  Net current deferred income  

19.8 
(0.3) 

$ 28.2
20.1
7.7
3.9
1.3
(0.1)
1.3

62.4
(0.7)

tax assets 

19.5 

61.7

Net noncurrent deferred income tax assets
  Net operating losses and credits 
  Employee benefits 
  Other long-term obligations 
  Accumulated depreciation 
  Other  

  Net noncurrent deferred income tax  
assets before valuation allowance 

  Valuation allowance 

  Net noncurrent deferred income  

32.9 
32.5 
0.2 
(21.0) 
(0.1) 

44.5 
(1.4) 

tax assets 
Total deferred income tax assets 

43.1 
$ 62.6 

Net noncurrent deferred income tax liability
  Accumulated depreciation 

Intangibles 
Interest limitation 
  Employee benefits 
  Other  

$ 20.4 
5.4 
(4.0) 
(2.3) 
(0.1) 

27.1
32.3
0.6
(22.7)
–

37.3
(0.8)

36.5
$ 98.2

$ 22.8
6.2
(3.2)
(1.7)
(0.4)

  Net noncurrent deferred income  

tax liabilities 

$ 19.4 

$ 23.7

As of December 31, 2010, a valuation allowance 

of $1.7 million has been provided against certain state 
deferred income tax assets in states where the Company no 
longer has operations. In determining the need for valuation 
allowances, the Company considers many factors, includ-
ing specific taxing jurisdictions, sources of taxable income, 
income tax strategies and forecasted earnings for the enti-
ties in each jurisdiction. A valuation allowance is recognized 
if, based on the weight of available evidence, the Company 
concludes that it is more likely than not that some portion or 
all of the deferred income tax asset will not be realized.

64

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

$96.7 million of U.S. Federal and $95.4 million of U.S. State 
net operating losses (“NOLs”). If not used, substantially all 
of the NOLs will expire in various amounts between 2028 
and 2030. The Company also has preacquisition and rec-
ognized built-in carryovers of approximately $15.1 million, 
net of expected limitations. In addition, the Company has 
$2.8 million of AMT carryovers, which can be carried for-
ward indefinitely.

No provision for U.S. income taxes has been 

made for undistributed earnings of certain of the Company’s 
foreign subsidiaries which have been indefinitely rein-
vested. The Company is unable to estimate the amount of 
U.S. income taxes that would be payable if such undistrib-
uted foreign earnings were repatriated.

The following is a tabular reconciliation of the 
total amounts of uncertain tax positions as of and for the 
years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:

Balance at January 1, 

Increases in prior period  

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

$10.5 

2009 

$13.9 

2008

$13.3

tax positions 

1.7 

4.2 

0.2

  Decreases in prior period  

tax positions 

(3.5) 

(0.1) 

(1.0)

Increases in current period  

tax positions 

– 

0.5 

1.4

  Decreases due to settlements  

  with tax authorities 
Balance at December 31, 

(0.1) 
$  8.6 

(8.0) 
$10.5 

–
$13.9

If recognized, approximately $3.8 million of the 
benefit for uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2010 
would favorably affect the Company’s effective tax rate in 
future periods. While the timing is uncertain, the Company 
expects the settlement of audits in the next 12 months will 
result in the elimination of substantially all of the liabilities 
for uncertain income tax positions that were accrued as of 
December 31, 2010.

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files 
income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, vari-
ous U.S. state jurisdictions and foreign jurisdictions. The 
Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal examination 
for years before 2007 and with few exceptions, state and 
local examinations for years before 2000 and non-U.S. 
income tax examinations for years before 2004. As of 
December 31, 2010, the 2007 and 2008 tax years were 
being audited by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) 
and the 2004 through 2007 tax years were being audited by 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

the German tax authorities. For a discussion of uncertain-
ties related to tax matters see Note 12, “Contingencies and 
Legal Matters.”

the condensed consolidated statement of operations. As 
of December 31, 2010, $223 million of Senior Notes were 
issued and outstanding.

The Company recognizes accrued interest and 
penalties related to uncertain income tax positions in the 
Provision (benefit) for income taxes on the consolidated 
statements of operations. As of December 31, 2010 and 
2009, the Company had $0.7 million accrued for interest 
related to uncertain income tax positions.

SEVEN

Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

Senior Notes (7.375% fixed rate) due 2014 
Revolving bank credit facility  
(variable rates), due 2013 

Term Loan (variable rates), due 2013 (a) 
Neenah Germany project financing  
 (3.8% fixed rate) due in 16 equal  
semi-annual installments  
beginning June 2009 

Neenah Germany revolving line of  

credit (variable rates) 

Other debt 
Total Debt 
Less: Debt payable within one year 
Long-term debt 

December 31,

2010 

2009

$223.0 

$225.0

– 
– 

27.9
40.0

10.0 

12.5

11.9 
– 
244.9 
13.6 
$231.3 

12.9
0.9
319.2
55.6
$263.6

(a)   The Company extinguished the Term Loan in March 2010 by repaying 
in full $40 million of outstanding Term Loan borrowings with proceeds 
from the sale of the Woodlands.

S E N I O R   U N S E C U R E D   N O T E S
On November 30, 2004, the Company completed an under-
written offering of ten-year senior unsecured notes (the 
“Senior Notes”) at an aggregate face amount of $225 mil-
lion. Interest on the Senior Notes is payable May 15 and 
November 15 of each year. The Senior Notes are fully 
and unconditionally guaranteed by substantially all of the 
Company’s subsidiaries, with the exception of our non-
Canadian international subsidiaries. During the year ended 
December 31, 2010, the Company purchased $2 million 
principal amount of Senior Notes for slightly less than par 
value. The Company recognized a pre-tax loss of approxi-
mately $25 thousand in connection with these purchases, 
including the write-off of related unamortized debt issu-
ance costs. The loss is recorded in Other income – net on 

In February 2011, the Company elected to con-
duct an early redemption on March 10, 2011 (the “Partial 
Redemption”) of $65 million in aggregate principal amount 
of the Senior Notes. The Company expects to finance the 
Partial Redemption with approximately $40 million of cash 
on hand, with the remainder to be provided by borrow-
ings under our existing revolving credit facility. Following 
the Partial Redemption, $158 million in Senior Notes will 
be outstanding.

A M E N D E D   A N D   R E S T A T E D   S E C U R E D   

R E V O LV I N G   C R E D I T   F A C I L I T Y
On November 5, 2009, the Company renewed and 
modified its Bank Credit Agreement by entering into an 
amended and restated credit agreement (as amended 
and restated, the “Restated Credit Agreement”) by and 
among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries as co-
borrowers, Neenah Canada, as guarantor, the lenders 
listed in the Restated Credit Agreement and JPMorgan 
Chase Bank, N.A., as agent for the lenders. The Restated 
Credit Agreement consists of a $100 million senior, secured 
revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”) and (ii) a $40 million 
senior secured term loan (the “Term Loan”). The Company’s 
ability to borrow under the Revolver is limited to the low-
est of (a) $100 million; (b) the Company’s borrowing base 
(as determined in accordance with the Restated Credit 
Agreement) and (c) the applicable cap on the amount of 
“credit facilities” under the indenture for the Senior Notes. 
In addition, under certain conditions, the Company has the 
ability to increase the size of the Revolver by up to $50 mil-
lion. The total commitment under the Restated Credit 
Agreement cannot exceed $150 million. The Restated 
Credit Agreement terminates on November 30, 2013.

In March 2010, the Company used proceeds  
from the sale of the Woodlands to extinguish the Term  
Loan by repaying in full $40 million of outstanding Term Loan  
borrowings. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had 
$40.0 million in outstanding Term Loan borrowings at a 
weighted-average interest rate of 4.5 percent per annum.
The Revolver bears interest at either (1) a prime 

rate-based index plus a percentage ranging from 1.50% 
to 2.00%, or (2) LIBOR plus a percentage ranging from 
3.00% to 3.50%, depending upon the amount of availability 
under the Revolver. The Company is also required to pay a 
monthly facility fee on the unused amount of the Revolver 
commitment at a per annum rate ranging between 0.50% 
and 0.75%, depending upon usage under the Revolver.

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

The Restated Credit Agreement is secured  

by substantially all of the assets of the Company and the sub-
sidiary borrowers, including the capital stock of such subsidiar-
ies, and is guaranteed by Neenah Canada. Neenah Canada’s 
guaranty is secured by substantially all of that subsidiary’s 
assets. Neenah Germany is not obligated with respect to the 
Restated Credit Agreement, either as a borrower or a guaran-
tor; however, the Company has directly or indirectly pledged 
65% of its equity interest in Neenah Germany as security for 
the obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries under the 
Restated Credit Agreement.

As of December 31, 2009, the weighted-average 

interest rate on outstanding Revolver borrowings was 
4.6 percent per annum. Interest on amounts borrowed under 
the Revolver is paid monthly. Amounts outstanding under 
the Revolver may be repaid, in whole or in part, at any time 
without premium or penalty except for specified make-whole 
payments on LIBOR-based loans. All principal amounts out-
standing under the Revolver are due and payable on the date 
of termination of the Restated Credit Agreement. Borrowing 
availability under the Revolver varies over time depending on 
the value of the Company’s inventory, receivables and various 
capital assets (the “Borrowing Base”). Borrowing availability 
under the Revolver is reduced by outstanding letters  
of credit and reserves for certain other items as defined in  
the Restated Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2010, the  
Company had approximately $0.8 million of letters of credit 
and other items outstanding which reduced availability and 
$81.5 million of borrowing availability under the Revolver.

The Restated Credit Agreement contains events 

of default customary for financings of this type, including 
failure to pay principal or interest, materially false represen-
tations or warranties, failure to observe covenants and other 
terms of the Restated Credit Agreement, cross-defaults to 
certain other indebtedness, bankruptcy, insolvency, various 
ERISA violations, the incurrence of material judgments and 
changes in control.

The Restated Credit Agreement contains cov-

enants with which the Company must comply during 
the term of the agreement. Among other things, such 
covenants restrict the Company’s ability to incur certain 
additional debt, make specified restricted payments and 
capital expenditures, authorize or issue capital stock, enter 
into transactions with affiliates, consolidate or merge with 
or acquire another business, sell certain of its assets, or 
dissolve or wind up. In addition, the terms of the Restated 
Credit Agreement require the Company to achieve and 
maintain compliance with a fixed charge coverage ratio if 
availability under the Restated Credit Agreement is less 
than $20 million. At December 31, 2010, the Company was 
in compliance with all covenants.

The Company’s ability to pay cash dividends 
on its common stock is limited under the terms of both 
the Restated Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes. At 
December 31, 2010, under the most restrictive terms of 
these agreements, the Company’s ability to pay cash divi-
dends on its common stock is limited to a total of $8 million 
in a 12-month period.

O T H E R   D E B T
In December 2006, Neenah Germany entered into an 
agreement with HypoVereinsbank and IKB Deutsche 
Industriebank AG to provide €10.0 million of project financ-
ing with a term of ten years for the construction of a satu-
rator. Principal outstanding under the agreement may be 
repaid at any time without penalty. Interest on amounts 
outstanding is based on actual days elapsed in a 360-day 
year and is payable semi-annually. As of December 31, 2010, 
€7.5 million ($10.0 million, based on exchanges rates at 
December 31, 2010) was outstanding under this agreement.

Neenah Germany has a revolving line of credit 
(the “German Line of Credit”) with HypoVereinsbank that 
provides for borrowings of up to €15 million for general cor-
porate purposes. The German Line of Credit is secured by 
the domestic accounts receivable of Neenah Germany. As of 
December 31, 2010 and 2009, the weighted-average interest 
rate on outstanding Line of Credit borrowings was 3.8 per-
cent per annum and 4.1 percent per annum, respectively. In 
November 2010, Neenah Germany renewed the German Line 
of Credit on an “evergreen” basis. Subsequent to November 
2011, the agreement may be terminated by either the 
Company or HypoVereinsbank upon giving proper notice. 
Neenah Germany has the ability to borrow in either Euros or 
U.S. dollars. Interest is computed on U.S. dollars loans at the 
rate of 8.5 percent per annum and on Euro loans at EURIBOR 
plus a margin of 1.5 percent. Interest is payable quarterly 
and principal may be repaid at any time without penalty. 
As of December 31, 2010, €9.0 million ($11.9 million, based 
on exchange rates at December 31, 2010) was outstanding 
under the Line of Credit and €6.0 million ($8.0 million, based 
on exchanges rates at December 31, 2010) of credit was avail-
able. Neenah Germany’s ability to pay dividends or transfer 
funds to the Company is limited under the terms of the 
German Line of Credit, to not exceed certain limits defined 
in the agreement without lender approval or repayment of 
the amount outstanding under the line, which was €9.0 mil-
lion ($11.9 million, based on exchange rates at December 31, 
2010) at December 31, 2010. In addition, the terms of the 
German Line of Credit require Neenah Germany to maintain 
a ratio of stockholder’s equity to total assets equal to or 
greater than 45 percent. The Company was in compliance 
with all provisions of the agreement as of December 31, 2010.

66

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

P R I N C I P A L   P AY M E N T S
The following table presents the Company’s required debt payments:

Debt payments 

2011(b) 

$13.6 

2012 

$1.7 

2013(a) 

2014(a)(c) 

2015 

Thereafter 

Total

$1.6 

$224.7 

$1.7 

$1.6 

$244.9

(a)  Includes principal payments on the Senior Notes of $223 million.
(b)  As a result of the Partial Redemption, debt payments for the year ending December 31, 2011 will be $78.6 million.
(c)  The Company believes the Partial Redemption will reduce required debt payments in the year ending December 31, 2014 by approximately $65 million.

EIGHT

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

P E N S I O N   P L A N S
Substantially all active employees of the Company’s 
U.S. paper operations participate in defined benefit pen-
sion plans and/or defined contribution retirement plans. 
Neenah Germany has defined benefit plans designed to 
provide a monthly pension upon retirement for substantially 
all its employees in Germany. In addition, the Company 
maintains a supplemental retirement contribution plan (the 
“SERP”), which is a nonqualified defined benefit plan.  
The Company provides benefits under the SERP to the 
extent necessary to fulfill the intent of its defined benefit 
retirement plans without regard to the limitations set by the 
Internal Revenue Code on qualified defined benefit plans.
For the year ended December 31, 2010, benefit 
payments under the SERP exceeded the sum of expected 
service cost and interest costs for the plan for calendar 
2010. In accordance with ASC Topic 715, Compensation – 
Retirement Benefits (“ASC Topic 715”), the Company mea-
sured the liabilities of the SERP as of September 30, 2010 
and recognized a settlement loss of $0.3 million.

The closure of the Ripon Mill (see Note 3, 

“Closure of the Ripon Mill”) resulted in the elimination 
of expected years of future service for mill employees 
eligible to participate in the Company’s defined benefit 
pension plans and postretirement medical plan. In accor-
dance with ASC Topic 715, the Company measured the 
assets and liabilities of the affected postretirement plans 
as of May 31, 2009 and recognized an aggregate curtail-
ment loss of approximately $0.8 million for the year ended 
December 31, 2010.

The Company’s funding policy for qualified 

defined benefit plans for its U.S. paper operations is to 
contribute assets to fully fund the accumulated benefit obli-
gation. Subject to regulatory and tax deductibility limits, 
any funding shortfall is to be eliminated over a reasonable 

number of years. Nonqualified plans providing pension 
benefits in excess of limitations imposed by taxing authori-
ties are not funded. There is no legal or governmental 
obligation to fund Neenah Germany’s benefit plans and 
as such the Neenah Germany defined benefit plans are 
currently unfunded.

The Company uses the fair value of pension plan 

assets to determine pension expense, rather than averaging 
gains and losses over a period of years. Investment gains 
or losses represent the difference between the expected 
return calculated using the fair value of the assets and 
the actual return based on the fair value of assets. The 
Company’s pension obligations are measured annually as 
of December 31. As of December 31, 2010, the Company’s 
pension plans had cumulative unrecognized investment 
losses and other actuarial losses of approximately $33.3 mil-
lion recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.

O T H E R   P O S T R E T I R E M E N T   B E N E F I T   P L A N S
The Company maintains health care and life insurance ben-
efit plans for active employees of the Company and former 
employees of the Canadian pulp operations. The plans are 
generally noncontributory for employees who were eligible 
to retired on or before December 31, 1992 and contributory 
for most employees who became eligible to retire on or 
after January 1, 1993. The Company does not provide a sub-
sidized benefit to most employees hired after 2003.

The Company’s obligations for postretirement 
benefits other than pensions are measured annually as of 
December 31. At December 31, 2010, the assumed inflation-
ary health care cost trend rates used to determine obliga-
tions at December 31, 2010 and costs for the year ended 
December 31, 2011 were 8.4 percent gradually decreasing 
to an ultimate rate of 4.5 percent in 2027. The assumed 
inflationary health care cost trend rates used to determine 
obligations at December 31, 2009 and cost for the year 
ended December 31, 2010 were 8.7 percent gradually 
decreasing to an ultimate rate of 4.5 percent in 2027.

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

67

  
 
 
  
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

The following table reconciles the benefit obligations, plan assets, funded status and net liability information of 

the Company’s pension and other postretirement benefit plans.

Change in Benefit Obligation:
  Benefit obligation at beginning of year 

Service cost 
Interest cost 

  Currency 
  Actuarial loss (gain) 
  Benefit payments from plans 
  Plan participant contributions 
  Plan amendments 

(Gain) loss on plan curtailment 

  Gain on plan settlement 
  Benefit obligation at end of year 
Change in Plan Assets: 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 

  Actual gain (loss) on plan assets 
  Employer contributions 
  Benefit payments 

Settlement payments 
Fair value of plan assets at end of year 

Funded Status: 
  Reconciliation of Funded Status 

Fair value of plan assets 
  Projected benefit obligation 
  Net liability recognized in statement of financial position 
Amounts recognized in statement of financial position consist of: 
  Current liabilities 
  Noncurrent liabilities 
  Net amount recognized 

Pension Benefits 

Postretirement  
Benefits Other  
than Pensions

Year Ended December 31, 

2010 

2009 

2010 

2009

$234.7 
4.4 
14.0 
(2.6) 
13.0 
(10.8) 
– 
0.9 
(0.2) 
(0.7) 
$252.7 

$168.2 
20.5 
12.6 
(8.4) 
(0.7) 
$192.2 

$192.2 
252.7 
$ (60.5) 

$   (2.1) 
(58.4) 
$ (60.5) 

$214.2 
4.5 
14.3 
0.9 
11.9 
(10.6) 
– 
– 
(0.5) 
– 
$234.7 

$142.9 
23.3 
10.2 
(8.2) 
– 
$168.2 

$168.2 
234.7 
$ (66.5) 

$   (2.2) 
(64.3) 
$ (66.5) 

$ 37.9 
1.6 
2.2 
(0.2) 
3.7 
(3.4) 
0.2 
– 
– 
– 
 $ 42.0 

$      – 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 $      – 

$      – 
42.0 
$ 42.0 

$  (2.9) 
(39.1) 
$(42.0) 

$ 36.8
1.9
2.5
0.5
(1.5)
(2.9)
0.2
–
0.4
–
$ 37.9

$      –
–
–
–
–
 $      –

$      –
37.9
$(37.9)

$  (2.6)
(35.3)
$(37.9)

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:

Accumulated actuarial loss 
Prior service cost  

Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income 

Pension Benefits 

Postretirement 
Benefits Other 
than Pensions

December 31, 

2010 

$33.3 
1.3 
$34.6 

2009 

$28.3 
0.6 
$28.9 

2010 

$7.0 
2.0 
$9.0 

2009

$3.3
2.4
$5.7

68

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

Summary disaggregated information about the pension plans follows:

Projected benefit obligation 
Accumulated benefit obligation 
Fair value of plan assets 

C O M P O N E N T S   O F   N E T   P E R I O D I C   B E N E F I T   C O S T

Assets 
Exceed ABO 

ABO 
Exceeds Assets 

December 31, 

Total

2010 

$101.4 
91.1 
95.2 

2009 

$94.6 
82.0 
82.9 

2010 

2009 

2010 

2009

$151.3 
149.3 
97.0 

$140.1 
137.5 
85.3 

$252.7 
240.4 
192.2 

$234.7
219.5
168.2

Pension Benefits 

Postretirement Benefits 
Other than Pensions

Year Ended December 31, 

Service cost 
Interest cost 
Expected return on plan assets (a) 
Recognized net actuarial loss 
Amortization of unrecognized transition asset 
Amortization of prior service cost 
Amount of curtailment (gain) loss recognized 
Amount of settlement loss recognized 
Net periodic benefit cost 
Less: Cost related to discontinued operations 

2010 

2009 

2008 

$   4.4 
14.0 
(13.8) 
1.3 
– 
0.1 
– 
0.3 
6.3 
– 

$   4.5 
14.3 
(11.3) 
1.4 
– 
0.1 
0.2 
– 
9.2 
– 

$   6.8 
18.5 
(19.8) 
1.4 
(0.1) 
1.0 
– 
– 
7.8 
1.9 

2010 

$1.6 
2.2 
– 
0.1 
– 
0.4 
– 
– 
4.3 
– 

Net periodic benefit cost related to continuing operations 

$   6.3 

$   9.2 

$   5.9 

$4.3 

2009 

$1.9 
2.5 
– 
0.3 
– 
0.4 
0.6 
– 
5.7 
– 

$5.7 

2008

$ 2.2
2.5
–
1.3
–
(5.0)
–
–
1.0
0.6

$ 0.4

(a)   The expected return on plan assets is determined by multiplying the fair value of plan assets at the prior year-end (adjusted for estimated current year cash 

benefit payments and contributions) by the expected long-term rate of return.

O T H E R   C H A N G E S   I N   P L A N   A S S E T S   A N D   B E N E F I T   O B L I G A T I O N S   

I N   O T H E R   C O M P R E H E N S I V E   I N C O M E

Net periodic benefit expense 
Accumulated actuarial gain 
Prior service cost (credit) 
Transition asset 
Total recognized in other comprehensive income 
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and  
  other comprehensive income 

Pension Benefits 

Postretirement Benefits 
Other than Pensions

2010 

$  6.3 
5.0 
0.7 
– 
5.7 

Year Ended December 31, 

2009 

$ 9.2 
(2.6) 
(0.3) 
– 
(2.9) 

2008 

$   7.8 
(14.5) 
(9.6) 
0.1 
(24.0) 

2010 

$ 4.3 
3.7 
(0.4) 
– 
3.3 

2009 

$ 5.7 
(1.7) 
(0.7) 
– 
(2.4) 

2008

$ 1.0
(7.6)
5.3
–
(2.3)

$12.0 

$ 6.3 

$(16.2) 

$ 7.6 

$ 3.3 

$(1.3)

The estimated net actuarial loss and prior service cost for the defined benefit pension plans expected to be amor-
tized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year are $1.6 million 
and $0.2 million, respectively. The estimated net actuarial loss and prior service cost for postretirement benefits other than 
pension expected to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost over the 
next fiscal year is $0.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

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69

 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

W E I G H T E D - A V E R A G E   A S S U M P T I O N S   U S E D   T O   

D E T E R M I N E   B E N E F I T   O B L I G A T I O N S   A T   D E C E M B E R   3 1

Discount rate 
Rate of compensation increase 

W E I G H T E D - AV E R A G E   A S S U M P T I O N S   U S E D   T O   

D E T E R M I N E   N E T   P E R I O D I C   B E N E F I T   C O S T   F O R   Y E A R S   E N D E D   D E C E M B E R   3 1

Pension Benefits 

Postretirement  
Benefits Other 
than Pensions

2010 

5.86% 
3.91% 

December 31, 

2009 

6.17% 
3.91% 

2010 

5.70% 
– 

2009

5.92%
–

Pension Benefits 

Postretirement Benefits 
Other than Pensions

Year Ended December 31, 

2010 

2009 

2008 

2010 

6.06% 
8.00% 
3.91% 

6.80% 
7.92% 
3.43% 

6.10% 
8.02% 
3.30% 

5.92% 
– 
– 

2009 

6.00% 
– 
– 

2008

6.00%
– 
– 

the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measure-
ments). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under 
ASC Topic 820 are described below:

Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unad-
justed quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in 
active markets that the plan has 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;

•   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 unobserv-
able and significant to the fair value measurement.

The asset’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 attempt to maximize the use of observable inputs 
and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Discount rate 
Expected long-term return on plan assets 
Rate of compensation increase 

E X P E C T E D   L O N G - T E R M   R A T E   O F   R E T U R N   A N D 

I N V E S T M E N T   S T R A T E G I E S
The expected long-term rate of return on pension fund 
assets held by the Company’s pension trusts was deter-
mined based on several factors, including input from 
pension investment consultants and projected long-term 
returns of broad equity and bond indices. Also considered 
were the plans’ historical ten-year and 15-year compounded 
annual returns. It is anticipated that, on average, actively 
managed U.S. pension plan assets will generate annual long- 
term rates of return of at least eight percent. The expected 
long-term rate of return on the assets in the plans was 
based on an asset allocation assumption of approximately 
60 percent with equity managers, with expected long-term 
rates of return of approximately ten percent, and 40 percent 
with fixed income managers, with an expected long-term 
rate of return of about six percent. The actual asset alloca-
tion is regularly reviewed and periodically rebalanced to the 
targeted allocation when considered appropriate.

P L A N   A S S E T S   –   F A I R   V A L U E   M E A S U R E M E N T S
The Company measures the fair value of pension plan assets 
in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements 
and Disclosures (“ASC Topic 820”) which establishes a frame-
work for measuring fair value. ASC Topic 820 provides a fair 
value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation tech-
niques 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 

70

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N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the fair value of the Company’s pension plan 

assets as of December 31, 2010:

Equity securities:
  Domestic 

International 
Debt securities 
Cash and equivalents 

Total assets at fair value 

Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2010

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

Total

$   – 
– 
– 
1.9 
$1.9 

$  84.3 
34.3 
71.7 
– 
$190.3 

$ – 
– 
– 
– 
$ – 

$  84.3
34.3
71.7
1.9
$192.2

Pension plan asset allocations are as follows:

Percentage of Plan Assets 
at December 31, 

2010 

2009 

2008

Asset Category
Equity securities 
Debt securities 
Cash and money-market funds 

Total  

62% 
37% 
1% 
100% 

59% 
37% 
4% 
100% 

55%
44%
1%
100%

The Company’s investment objectives for pension 
plan assets is to ensure, over the long-term life of the pen- 
sion plans, an adequate pool of assets to support the benefit  
obligations to participants, retirees and beneficiaries. 
Specifically, these objectives include the desire to: (a) invest 
assets in a manner such that future assets are available to 
fund liabilities, (b) maintain liquidity sufficient to pay current 
benefits when due and (c) diversify, over time, among asset 
classes so assets earn a reasonable return with acceptable 
risk to capital.

The target investment allocation and permissible 

allocation range for plan assets by category are as follows:

Asset Category
Equity securities 
Debt securities / Fixed Income 

Strategic 
Target 

Permitted 
Range

 65% 
 35% 

60–70%
30–40%

As of December 31, 2010, no company or group 

of companies in a single industry represented more than 
five percent of plan assets.

The Company’s investment assumptions are 

established by an investment committee composed 
of members of senior management and are validated 

periodically against actual investment returns. As of 
December 31, 2010, the Company’s investment assumptions 
are as follows:
(a)  the plan should be substantially fully invested at all times 
because substantial cash holdings will reduce long-term 
rates of return;

(b)  equity investments will provide greater long-term returns 
than fixed income investments, although with greater 
short-term volatility;

(c)  it is prudent to diversify the plan investment across major 

asset classes;

(d)  allocating a portion of plan assets to foreign equities will 
increase portfolio diversification, decrease portfolio risk 
and provide the potential for long-term returns;

(e)  investment managers with active mandates can reduce 

portfolio risk below market risk and potentially add value 
through security selection strategies, and a substan-
tial portion of plan assets should be allocated to such 
active mandates;

 (f)  a component of passive, indexed management can ben-
efit the plans through greater diversification and lower 
cost, and a portion of the plan assets should be allocated 
to such passive mandates; and

(g)  it is appropriate to retain more than one investment 
manager, given the size of the plans, provided that  
such managers offer asset class or style diversification.
For the years ended December 31, 2010, 
2009 and 2008, no plan assets were invested in the 
Company’s securities.

C A S H   F L O W S
At December 31, 2010, the Company expects to make 
aggregate contributions to qualified and nonqualified pen-
sion trusts and payments of pension benefits for unfunded 
pension plans of approximately $20 million (based on 
exchange rates at December 31, 2010).

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

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F U T U R E   B E N E F I T   P AY M E N T S
The following benefit payments, which reflect expected 
future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:

Pension Plans 

Postretirement Benefits 
Other than Pensions

2011   
2012   
2013   
2014   
2015   
Years 2016–2020 

 $11.9 
 19.4 
 13.0 
 13.2 
 13.8 
 84.7 

$2.9
2.3
2.6
2.9
3.0
18.1

H E A LT H   C A R E   C O S T   T R E N D S
Assumed health care cost trend rates affect the amounts 
reported for postretirement health care benefit plans. A 
one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost 
trend rates would have the following effects:

Effect on total of service and  
interest cost components 

Effect on postretirement  
  benefit obligation 

One Percentage-Point

Increase 

Decrease

$0.7 

$(0.8)

1.6 

(2.8)

D E F I N E D   C O N T R I B U T I O N   R E T I R E M E N T   P L A N S
Company contributions to defined contribution retirement 
plans are primarily based on the age and compensation 
of covered employees. Contributions to these plans, all of 
which were charged to expense, were $1.5 million in 2010, 
$1.4 million in 2009 and $1.6 million in 2008. In addition, the 
Company maintains a supplemental retirement contribu-
tion plan (the “SRCP”) which is a non-qualified, unfunded 
defined contribution plan. The Company provides benefits 
under the SRCP to the extent necessary to fulfill the intent 
of its defined contribution retirement plans without regard 
to the limitations set by the Internal Revenue Code on quali-
fied defined contribution plans. For each of the years ended 
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company recog-
nized expense related to the SRCP of less than $0.1 million.

I N V E S T M E N T   P L A N S
The Company provides voluntary contribution investment 
plans to substantially all North American employees. Under 
the plans, the Company matches a portion of employee 
contributions. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 
2009 and 2008, costs charged to expense for company 
matching contributions under these plans were $1.3 million, 
$1.5 million and $1.8 million, respectively.

NINE

Stock Compensation Plans

The Company established the 2004 Omnibus Stock and 
Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”) in December 2004 and 
reserved 3,500,000 shares of $0.01 par value common stock 
(“Common Stock”) for issuance under the Omnibus Plan. 
Pursuant to the terms of the Omnibus Plan, the compensa-
tion committee of the Company’s Board of Directors may 
grant various types of equity-based compensation awards, 
including incentive and nonqualified stock options, SARs, 
restricted stock, RSUs, RSUs with performance conditions 
(“Performance Shares”) and performance units, in addition 
to certain cash-based awards. All grants under the Omnibus 
Plan will be made at fair market value and no grant may be 
repriced. In general, the options expire ten years from the 
date of grant and vest over a three-year service period. As 
of December 31, 2010, approximately 1,300,000 shares of 
Common Stock were reserved for future issuance under 
the Omnibus Plan. As of December 31, 2010, the number 
of shares available for future issuance was not reduced by 
outstanding SARs because the closing market price for 
the Company’s common stock was less than the exercise 
price of all outstanding SARs. The Company accounts for 
stock-based compensation pursuant to the fair value recog-
nition provisions of ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock 
Compensation (“ASC Topic 718”).

For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 

and 2008, the Company recognized in its provision (benefit) 
for income taxes on the consolidated statement of opera-
tions excess tax benefits (costs) related to the exercise or 
vesting of stock-based awards of approximately $(0.2) mil-
lion, $(0.7) million and $0.5 million, respectively.

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N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. 
Options awarded to LTIP participants expire in ten years 
and one-third vest on each of the first three anniversaries of 
the date of grant. Options awarded to nonemployee mem-
bers of the Board of Directors expire in ten years and vest 
on the first anniversary of the date of grant. The weighted-
average grant date fair value for stock options granted for 
the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $5.72 per 
share and $2.67 per share, respectively, and was estimated 
using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the fol-
lowing assumptions:

V A L U A T I O N   A N D   E X P E N S E   I N F O R M A T I O N   

U N D E R   A S C   T O P I C   7 1 8
Substantially all stock-based compensation expense 
has been recorded in selling, general and administrative 
expenses. The following table summarizes stock-based 
compensation costs and related income tax benefits.

Stock-based  

compensation expense 

Income tax benefit 
Stock-based compensation,  
net of income tax benefit 

Year Ended December 31,

2010  

2009 

2008

$ 4.9 
(1.9) 

$ 4.7 
(1.8) 

$ 4.0
(1.5)

$ 3.0 

$ 2.9 

$ 2.5

Year Ended  
December 31,

2010  

5.9 
2.9% 
55.3% 
2.9% 

2009

5.9
2.4%
51.6%
4.9%

The following table summarizes total compen-
sation costs related to the Company’s equity awards and 
amounts recognized in the year ended December 31, 2010.

Expected life in years 
Interest rate 
Volatility 
Dividend yield  

Unrecognized compensation  
cost – December 31, 2009 

Grant date fair value current year grants 
Compensation expense recognized 
Grant date fair value of shares forfeited   
Unrecognized compensation  
cost – December 31, 2010 

Expected amortization period (in years)   

Stock 
Options 

Restricted 
Stock

 $ 1.4 
1.1 
(1.5) 
– 

$ 1.0 
1.7 

$ 1.4
4.7
(3.4)
(0.3)

$ 2.4
1.8

S T O C K   O P T I O N S
For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company 
awarded nonqualified stock options to Long-Term Incentive 
Plan (the “LTIP”) participants to purchase approximately 
202,000 shares of common stock (subject to forfeiture due 
to termination of employment and other conditions). In 
addition, the Company awarded to nonemployee members 
of its Board of Directors nonqualified stock options to pur-
chase 5,600 shares of common stock. For the year ended 
December 31, 2010, the weighted-average exercise price of 
such nonqualified stock option awards was $13.68 per share. 
The exercise price of the options was equal to the market 

Expected volatility was estimated by refer-

ence to the historical stock price performance of a peer 
group of companies. The expected term was estimated 
based upon historical data for Kimberly-Clark stock option 
awards. The risk-free interest rate was based on the yield on 
U.S. Treasury bonds with a remaining term approximately 
equivalent to the expected term of the stock option award. 
Forfeitures were estimated at the date of grant.

The following table summarizes stock option 

activity under the Omnibus Plan for the year ended 
December 31, 2010:

Options outstanding – 
  December 31, 2009 
Add: Options granted 
Less: Options exercised 
Less: Options forfeited/cancelled 
Options outstanding –  
  December 31, 2010 

Number of 
Stock 
Options 

  Weighted- 
Average 
Exercise 
Price

 2,269,848 
207,190 
86,071 
50,330 

$     23.60
$13.68
$  8.03
$  6.14

2,340,637 

$23.23

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73

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

The status of outstanding and exercisable stock options as of December 31, 2010, summarized by exercise price, follows:

Options Vested or Expected to Vest 

Options Exercisable

Exercise Price 

$  7.41–$21.13 
$24.01–$29.43 
$30.15–$34.61 
$35.92–$42.24 

Remaining 
Number of  Contractual Life 
(Years) 

 Weighted-Average  Weighted- 
Average 
Exercise 
Price 

Options 

961,970 
345,886 
686,080 
328,943 
2,322,879 

8.4 
5.1 
3.4 
3.2 
5.7 

$10.79 
$26.29 
$32.71 
$37.34 
$23.33 

Aggregate 
Intrinsic 

Value(a) 

$8.6 
– 
– 
– 
$8.6 

Number of 
Options 

290,637 
308,634 
686,080 
328,943 
1,614,294 

Weighted- 
Average 
Exercise 
Price 

$11.68 
$26.36 
$32.71 
$37.34 
$28.65 

Aggregate 
Intrinsic 
Value(a)

$2.3
–
–
–
$2.3

(a)   Represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value as of December 31, 2010 that option holders would have received had they exercised their options as of such 

date. The pre-tax intrinsic value is based on the closing market price for the Company’s common stock of $19.68 on December 31, 2010.

The aggregate pre-tax intrinsic value of stock 

options exercised for the year ended December 31, 2010 was 
$0.9 million.

No stock options were exercised for the years 

ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

The following table summarizes the status of the 

Company’s unvested stock options as of December 31, 2010 
and activity for the year then ended:

Number of 

  Weighted- 
Average 
Stock  Grant Date 
Fair Value

Options 

Outstanding – December 31, 2009 
Add: Options granted 
Less: Options vested 
Less: Options forfeited/cancelled 
Outstanding – December 31, 2010 

 906,051 
207,190 
375,657 
11,241 
726,343 

$3.85
$5.72
$4.76
$6.35
$3.88

As of December 31, 2010, certain participants 

met age and service requirements that allowed their 
options to qualify for accelerated vesting upon retire-
ment. As of December 31, 2010, there were approximately 
235,000 stock options subject to accelerated vesting that 
such participants would have been eligible to exercise if 
they had retired as of such date. The aggregate grant date 
fair value of options subject to accelerated vesting was 
$0.9 million. For the year ended December 31, 2010, stock-
based compensation expense for such options was $0.4 mil-
lion. For the year ended December 31, 2010, the aggregate 
grant date fair value of options vested, including options 
subject to accelerated vesting, was $2.7 million. Stock 
options that reflect accelerated vesting for expense recog-
nition become exercisable according to the contract terms 
of the stock option grant.

74

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

P E R F O R M A N C E   S H A R E S
For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company 
granted target awards of 183,500 Performance Units to LTIP 
participants. The measurement period for the Performance 
Units was January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010. On 
December 31, 2010, approximately 298,200 RSUs equal to 
163 percent of the Performance Unit target were awarded 
based on the Company’s return on invested capital, rev-
enue growth for the Technical Products segment, the level 
of cash flow for the Fine Paper segment and total return to 
shareholders relative to a peer group of companies and the 
Russell 2000® Value small capitalization index during the 
measurement period. The RSUs will vest on December 31, 
2012. During the vesting period, the holders of such RSUs 
are entitled to dividends-in-kind in the form of additional 
RSUs, but the shares do not have voting rights and are for-
feited in the event the holder’s employment is terminated 
for a reason other than death, disability or retirement. The 
weighted-average grant date fair value for the Performance 
Units was $23.03 per share. Compensation cost is recog-
nized pro rata over the vesting period.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, the 

Company granted target awards of 216,400 Performance 
Shares to LTIP participants. The measurement period 
for the Performance Shares is January 1, 2009 through 
December 31, 2011. Common Stock equal to between 
30 percent and 250 percent of the performance share tar-
get will be awarded based on the Company’s growth in 
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortiza-
tion (“EBITDA”) minus a capital charge and total return to 
shareholders relative to a peer group of companies and the 
Russell 2000® Value small cap index. The weighted-aver-
age grant date fair value for the Performance Shares was 
$10.59 per share.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, the 

Company granted target awards of 72,025 Performance 
Units (net of awards forfeited due to termination of 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

employment) to LTIP participants. The measurement period 
for the Performance Units was January 1, 2008 through 
December 31, 2010. On December 31, 2010, 79,349 shares 
of Common Stock equal to 100 percent of the Performance 
Unit target plus dividends-in-kind were awarded based on 
the Company’s growth in earnings before interest, taxes, 
depreciation and amortization (“EDITDA”) minus a capital 
charge and total return to shareholders relative to a peer 
group of companies and the Russell 2000® Value small cap 
index. The weighted-average grant date fair value for the 
Performance Shares was $13.75 per share.

R S U S
For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company 
awarded 8,910 RSUs to nonemployee members of the 
Company’s Board of Directors (“Director Awards”). The 
weighted-average grant date fair value of such awards was 
$18.90 per share. Director Awards vest one year from the 
date of grant. During the vesting period, the holders of 
Director Awards are entitled to dividends, but the shares 
do not have voting rights and are forfeited in the event the 
holder is no longer a member of the Board of Directors. In 
addition, the Company issued 39 RSUs in lieu of dividends on 
RSUs held by a non-U.S. member of the Board of Directors.

The following table summarizes the activity of the Company’s unvested stock-based awards (other than stock 

options) for the year ended December 31, 2010:

Outstanding – December 31, 2009 
Add: Shares granted(a) 
Shares vested 
Performance Shares vested 
Shares expired or cancelled 
Outstanding – December 31, 2010(b) 

  Weighted-Average 
Grant Date 
Fair Value 

RSUs 

Performance 
Shares 

  Weighted-Average 
Grant Date 
Fair Value

 66,497 
8,949 
(65,423) 
377,537 
– 
387,560 

$ 35.70 
$18.88 
$35.87 
$13.82 
– 
$13.97 

279,425 
183,500 
– 
(255,525) 
(1,600) 
205,800 

$ 11.41
$23.03
–
$20.42
$11.52
$10.59

(a)  Includes 39 RSUs granted to directors in lieu of cash dividends. Such dividends-in-kind vest concurrently with the underlying RSU.
(b)   The aggregate pre-tax intrinsic value of RSUs and Performance Shares as of December 31, 2010 was $5.9 million and $10.1 million, respectively. The aggregate 
pre-tax intrinsic value of Performance Shares was calculated on the shares that would be issued based on the Company’s achievement of performance targets 
if the performance period ended at December 31, 2010.

The aggregate pre-tax intrinsic value of 

On March 12, 2008, the Company’s sharehold-

restricted stock and RSUs that vested for the years ended 
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $2.5 million, 
$0.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

TEN

Stockholders’ Equity

C O M M O N   S T O C K
The Company has authorized 100 million shares of Common 
Stock. Holders of the Company’s Common Stock are enti-
tled to one vote per share.

For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 

and 2008, the Company acquired 15,547 shares, 4,910 
shares and 31,652 shares of Common Stock, respectively, 
at a cost of approximately $0.2 million, $0.1 million and 
$0.3 million, respectively, for shares surrendered by employ-
ees to pay taxes due on vested restricted stock awards.

ers approved a reverse/forward split of the issued and 
outstanding shares of Common Stock. The reverse/forward 
split consisted of a 1-for-50 reverse split of Common Stock 
followed immediately by a 50-for-1 forward split of Common 
Stock. Holdings of stockholders with fewer than 50 shares 
of Common Stock prior to the split were converted into 
fractional shares. Such fractional shares were purchased by 
the Company for $24.99 per share. The Company purchased 
360,548 shares of Common Stock at a total cost of approxi-
mately $9.4 million including transaction costs. The reverse/
forward split resulted in a significant reduction in share-
holder record keeping and mailing expenses and provided 
holders of fewer than 50 shares with a cost-effective way to 
efficiently dispose of their investment.

Each share of Common Stock contains a pre-

ferred stock purchase right that is associated with the share. 
These preferred stock purchase rights are transferred only 
with shares of Common Stock. The preferred stock pur-
chase rights become exercisable and separately certificated 

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

75

    
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
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only upon a “Rights Distribution Date” as that term is 
defined in the stockholder rights agreement adopted by 
the Company at the time of the Spin-Off. In general, a 
Rights Distribution Date occurs ten business days following 
either of these events: (i) a person or group has acquired or 
obtained the right to acquire beneficial ownership of 15 per-
cent or more of the outstanding shares of our Common 
Stock then outstanding or (ii) a tender offer or exchange 
offer is commenced that would result in a person or group 
acquiring 15 percent or more of the outstanding shares of 
our Common Stock then outstanding.

P R E F E R R E D   S T O C K
The Company has authorized 20 million shares of $0.01 par 
value preferred stock. The preferred stock may be issued 
in one or more series and with such designations and 
preferences for each series as shall be stated in the resolu-
tions providing for the designation and issue of each such 
series adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company. 
The Board of Directors is authorized by the Company’s 
articles of incorporation to determine the voting, dividend, 
redemption and liquidation preferences pertaining to each 
such series. No shares of preferred stock have been issued 
by the Company.

ELEVEN

Commitments

L E A S E S
The future minimum obligations under operating leases 
having a noncancelable term in excess of one year as of 
December 31, 2010, are as follows:

2011   
  2012   
  2013   
  2014   
  2015   
Thereafter  
Future minimum lease obligations  

76

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

The following table presents the Company’s 

rent expense under operating leases for the years ended 
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:

Rent expense 
Less: Amounts related to  
  discontinued operations 
Rent expense related to  
continuing operations 

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

$3.5 

2009 

$2.5 

– 

– 

2008

$3.3

0.5

$3.5 

$2.5 

$2.8

P U R C H A S E   C O M M I T M E N T S
The Company has certain minimum purchase commitments, 
none of which are individually material, that extend beyond 
December 31, 2010. Commitments under these contracts 
are approximately $4.8 million in 2011, $1.6 million in 2012 
and $0.1 million in 2013.

Although the Company is primarily liable for  

payments on the above-mentioned leases and purchase 
commitments, management believes exposure to losses,  
if any, under these arrangements is not material.

TWELVE

Contingencies and Legal Matters

L I T I G A T I O N
The Company is involved in certain legal actions and claims 
arising in the ordinary course of business. While the out-
come of these legal actions and claims cannot be predicted 
with certainty, it is the opinion of management that the 
outcome of any such claim which is pending or threatened, 
either individually or on a combined basis, will not have a 
material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condi-
tion, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.

I N C O M E   T A X E S
The Company is continuously undergoing examination by 
the IRS as well as various state and foreign jurisdictions. The 
IRS and other taxing authorities routinely challenge certain 
deductions and credits reported by the Company on its 
income tax returns. See Note 6, “Income Taxes,” for addi-
tional detail.

$1.4
0.9
0.8
0.6
0.5
0.7
$4.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

U S   T A X   A U D I T   –   T A X   Y E A R S   2 0 0 7   A N D   2 0 0 8
In December 2010, the IRS issued a Revenue Agent’s 
Report for the 2007 and 2008 tax years. In January 2011, 
the Company submitted a protest to the Appeals Division 
of the IRS with respect to certain unresolved issues which 
involve a proposed IRS adjustment with respect to dual con-
solidated losses (“DCLs”) and the recapture of NOLs ema-
nating from the Company’s former Canadian operations. 
The Company’s protest asserts that the IRS examination 
team made several errors in its assessment of the DCL rules 
and, as such, the proposed adjustment is erroneous. As of 
December 31, 2010, no amounts were reserved related to 
these issues. Management intends to vigorously contest this 
proposed adjustment, however, the outcome is uncertain 
and, should the Company not prevail, the outcome could 
have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of 
operations, cash flows and financial position. Although it is 
reasonably possible that these matters could be resolved 
during the next 12 months, the timing is uncertain.

G E R M A N   T A X   A U D I T   –   T A X   Y E A R S   2 0 0 4   T O   2 0 0 7
In November 2010, the Company received a tax examina-
tion report from the German tax authorities challenging  
certain interest expense deductions claimed on the 
Company’s tax returns for the years 2004 through 2007.  
The Company believes that the finding in the report 
is improper and will be rejected on appeal. As of 
December 31, 2010, no amounts were reserved related to 
these issues. Management intends to vigorously contest 
the finding in the report, however, the outcome is uncertain 
and, should the Company not prevail, the outcome could 
have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of 
operations, cash flows and financial position. Although it is 
reasonably possible that these matters could be resolved 
during the next 12 months, the timing is uncertain.

I N D E M N I F I C A T I O N S
Pursuant to a Distribution Agreement, an Employee Matters 
Agreement and a Tax Sharing Agreement, the Company has 
agreed to indemnify Kimberly-Clark for certain liabilities or 
risks related to the Spin-Off. Many of the potential indem-
nification liabilities under these agreements are unknown, 
remote or highly contingent. Furthermore, even in the 
event that an indemnification claim is asserted, liability 

for indemnification is subject to determination under the 
terms of the applicable agreement. For these reasons, the 
Company is unable to estimate the maximum potential 
amount of the possible future liability under the indemnity 
provisions of these agreements. However, the Company 
accrues for any potentially indemnifiable liability or risk 
under these agreements for which it believes a future pay-
ment is probable and a range of loss can be reasonably  
estimated. As of December 2009, management believes the 
Company’s liability under such indemnification obligations 
was not material to the consolidated financial statements.

E N V I R O N M E N T A L ,   H E A LT H   A N D   S A F E T Y   M A T T E R S
The Company is subject to federal, state and local laws, reg-
ulations and ordinances relating to various environmental, 
health and safety matters. The Company is in compliance 
with, or is taking actions designed to ensure compliance 
with, these laws, regulations and ordinances. However, the 
nature of the Company’s business exposes it to the risk of 
claims with respect to environmental, health and safety mat-
ters, and there can be no assurance that material costs or 
liabilities will not be incurred in connection with such claims. 
Except for certain orders issued by environmental, health 
and safety regulatory agencies, with which management 
believes the Company is in compliance and which manage-
ment believes are immaterial to the results of operations of 
the Company’s business, Neenah is not currently named as 
a party in any judicial or administrative proceeding relating 
to environmental, health and safety matters.

While the Company has incurred in the past  

several years, and will continue to incur, capital and operating 
expenditures in order to comply with environmental,  
health and safety laws, regulations and ordinances, man-
agement believes that the Company’s future cost of 
compliance with environmental, health and safety laws, 
regulations and ordinances, and its exposure to liability 
for environmental, health and safety claims will not have 
a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results 
of operations or liquidity. However, future events, such as 
changes in existing laws and regulations or contamination 
of sites owned, operated or used for waste disposal by 
the Company (including currently unknown contamination 
and contamination caused by prior owners and operators 
of such sites or other waste generators) may give rise to 

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

77

 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

additional costs which could have a material adverse effect 
on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations 
or liquidity.

The Company incurs capital expenditures  

necessary to meet legal requirements and otherwise relat-
ing to the protection of the environment at its facilities in 
the United States and internationally. For these purposes, the  
Company has planned capital expenditures for environmen-
tal projects during the period 2010 through 2012 of approx-
imately $1 million to $2 million annually. The Company’s 
anticipated capital expenditures for environmental projects 
are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our 
financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

E M P L O Y E E S   A N D   L A B O R   R E L A T I O N S
As of December 31, 2010, the Company had approximately 
1,660 regular full-time employees of whom 630 hourly and 
310 salaried employees were located in the United States 
and 480 hourly and 240 salaried employees were located 
in Germany.

Hourly employees at the Whiting, Neenah, 

Munising and Appleton paper mills are represented by the 
United Steelworkers Union (the “USW”). In October 2010, 
the Company and the USW signed a collective bargaining 
agreement for the Appleton paper mill that is effective 
through May 31, 2014. In May 2010, the Company and  
the USW signed a collective bargaining agreement for the 
Munising paper mill that is effective through July 14, 2013. 
The collective bargaining agreements for the Whiting and 
Neenah paper mills expire on January 31, 2013 and June 30, 
2013, respectively. Separately, the Appleton, Neenah, 
Whiting and Munising paper mills have bargained jointly 
with the union on pension matters. The agreement on pen-
sion matters will remain in effect through 2019.

Approximately 50 percent of salaried employees 

and 80 percent of hourly employees of Neenah Germany 
are eligible to be represented by the Mining, Chemicals 
and Energy Trade Union, Industriegewerkschaft Bergbau, 
Chemie and Energie (the “IG BCE”). In December 2010, 
the IG BCE and a national trade association represent-
ing all employers in the industry signed a new collec-
tive bargaining agreement covering union employees of 
Neenah Germany that expires in November 2011.

As of December 31, 2010, no hourly employees 

in the United States were covered by collective bargain-
ing agreements that have expired or will expire within the 

next 12-months. Union membership is voluntary and under 
German law does not need to be disclosed to the Company. 
As a result, the number of employees covered by the col-
lective bargaining agreement with the IG BCE that expires 
in November 2011 cannot be determined. The Company 
believes it has satisfactory relations with its employees cov-
ered by such collective bargaining agreements and does 
not expect the negotiation of new collective bargaining 
agreements to have a material effect on its results of opera-
tions or cash flows.

THIRTEEN

Transactions with Kimberly-Clark

For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company 
sold softwood and hardwood pulp to Kimberly-Clark 
Corporation (“Kimberly-Clark”) from the Pictou Mill. Net 
sales for the pulp sold to Kimberly-Clark for the year ended 
December 31, 2008 $37 million. All such revenue is reported 
as results of discontinued operations on the consolidated 
statements of operations.

P U L P   S U P P LY   A G R E E M E N T
In conjunction with the sale of the Pictou Mill, Northern 
Pulp assumed responsibility for pulp sales to Kimberly-Clark 
pursuant to a pulp supply agreement (the “Pulp Supply 
Agreement”). The Company guaranteed certain obligations 
under the Pulp Supply Agreement; however, in the event 
that Northern Pulp and Kimberly-Clark entered into an 
amended agreement or made other material changes to the 
Pulp Supply Agreement, the Company’s guarantee obliga-
tions cease. In January 2009, Northern Pulp and Kimberly-
Clark entered into a new pulp supply agreement thereby 
terminating the Company’s guarantee obligations.

O T H E R   A G R E E M E N T S   W I T H   K I M B E R LY - C L A R K
In 2004, the Company also entered into a (i) Distribution 
Agreement, (ii) Employee Matters Agreement, 
(iii) Corporate Services Agreement and (iv) Tax Sharing 
Agreement with Kimberly-Clark in connection with the 
spin-off by Kimberly-Clark of its technical products and 
fine paper businesses in the United States and its Canadian 
pulp business (collectively, the “Pulp and Paper Business”). 
These agreements provided for, among other things, (i) the 

78

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

principal corporate transactions required to effect the sepa-
ration of the Pulp and Paper Business from Kimberly-Clark, 
cross-indemnities principally designed to place financial 
responsibility for the obligations and liabilities of the Pulp 
and Paper Business with the Company and financial respon-
sibility for the obligations and liabilities of Kimberly-Clark’s 
retained businesses with Kimberly-Clark, (ii) employee 
liability transfers to the Company and retention of certain 
employment liabilities by Kimberly-Clark, (iii) various tran-
sitional corporate support services and (iv) the Company’s 
and Kimberly-Clark’s respective rights, responsibilities 
and obligations after the Spin-Off with respect to taxes 
attributable to the Company’s business, as well as any taxes 
incurred by Kimberly-Clark as a result of the failure of the 
Spin-Off to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 
of the Code.

The descriptions above are summaries of the 

principal provisions of the various agreements and are qual-
ified in their entirety by the respective agreements.

FOURTEEN

Business Segment and Geographic Information

The Company reports its operations in two segments: 
Technical Products and Fine Paper. The technical products 
business is an international producer of filtration media, 
durable, saturated and coated substrates for a variety of 
end uses, and nonwoven wall coverings. The fine paper 
business is a producer of premium writing, text, cover and 
specialty papers. Each segment employs different tech-
nologies and marketing strategies. Disclosure of segment 
information is on the same basis that management uses 
internally for evaluating segment performance and allocat-
ing resources. Transactions between segments eliminated 
in consolidation. The costs of shared services, and other 
administrative functions managed on a common basis, are 
allocated to the segments based on usage, where possible, 
or other factors based on the nature of the activity. General 
corporate expenses that do not directly support the opera-
tions of the business segments are shown as Unallocated 
corporate costs. The accounting policies of the reportable 
operating segments are the same as those described in 
Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.”

N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

B U S I N E S S   S E G M E N T S

Net sales
Technical Products 
Fine Paper 
  Consolidated 

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

2009 

2008

$384.3 
273.4 
$657.7 

$318.3 
255.6 
$573.9 

$396.8
335.5
$732.3

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

2009 

2008

Operating income (loss)
Technical Products (b) 
Fine Paper (a) 
Unallocated corporate costs (c) 
  Consolidated 

$ 29.2 
40.5 
(14.6) 
$ 55.1 

$ 14.4 
17.5 
(15.5) 
$ 16.4 

$(41.7)
35.8
(11.0)
$(16.9)

(a)   Operating earnings for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 

include gains (losses) related to the closure and sale of the Ripon Mill of 
$3.4 million and $(17.1) million, respectively.

(b)   The operating loss for the year ended December 31, 2008 includes a 

non-cash pre-tax goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charge 
of $54.5 million.

(c)   Unallocated corporate costs for the year ended December 31, 2008 

include a gain of approximately $4.3 million related to the settlement 
certain post-employment obligations for Terrace Bay retirees.

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

2009 

2008

Depreciation and amortization
Technical Products 
Fine Paper 
Corporate 
Total Continuing Operations 
Discontinued operations 
  Consolidated 

$16.9 
9.7 
4.7 
31.3 
– 
$31.3 

$17.8 
10.7 
6.0 
34.5 
– 
$34.5 

$18.9
11.4
6.4
36.7
1.9
$38.6

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

2009 

2008

Capital expenditures
Technical Products 
Fine Paper 
Corporate 
Total Continuing Operations 
Discontinued operations 
  Consolidated 

$10.7 
6.7 
– 
17.4 
– 
$17.4 

Total assets
Technical Products 
Fine Paper 
Assets held for sale 
Corporate and other 

Total 

$4.3 
4.0 
0.1 
8.4 
– 
$8.4 

$15.0
8.9
4.7
28.6
1.4
$30.0

December 31,

2010 

2009

$337.9 
162.2 
– 
106.6 
$606.7 

$353.2
165.6
10.0
107.8
$636.6

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79

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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G E O G R A P H I C   I N F O R M A T I O N

FIFTEEN

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

2009 

2008

Supplemental Data

Net sales
United States 
Europe 
  Consolidated 

Total assets
United States 
Canada 
Europe 
Total 

$413.6 
244.1 
$657.7 

$360.9 
213.0 
$573.9 

$467.3
265.0
$732.3

S U P P L E M E N T A L   S T A T E M E N T   O F   O P E R A T I O N S   D A T A

S U M M A R Y   O F   A D V E R T I S I N G   A N D   R E S E A R C H   E X P E N S E S

December 31,

2010 

2009

$308.9 
0.1 
297.7 
$606.7 

$330.0
5.4
301.2
$636.6

Advertising expense 
Research expense 

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

$6.1 
5.3 

2009 

$6.5 
5.5 

2008

$8.7
6.5

S U M M A R Y   O F   O T H E R   I N C O M E   –   N E T

Year Ended December 31,

Net sales are attributed to geographic areas 
based on the physical location of the entities. Segment 
identifiable assets are those that are directly used in the 
segments operations. Corporate assets are primarily cash, 
deferred income taxes and deferred financing costs.

C O N C E N T R A T I O N S
For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, 
sales to the fine paper business’s two largest customers 
(both of which are distributors) represented approxi-
mately 30 percent of its total sales. For the years ended 
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, no single customer 
accounted for more than ten percent of the Company’s con-
solidated revenue. Except for certain specialty latex grades 
and specialty softwood pulp used by Technical Products, 
management is not aware of any significant concentration 
of business transacted with a particular supplier that could, 
if suddenly eliminated, have a material adverse affect on 
its operations. An interruption in supply of a latex specialty 
grade or of specialty softwood pulp to our technical prod-
ucts business or cotton fiber to our fine paper business 
could disrupt and eventually cause a shutdown of produc-
tion of certain technical products and fine paper products.

80

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

(Gain) loss on property disposals  $ 0.2 
Net realized and unrealized  
foreign currency gains 

Litigation settlement 
Terrace Bay employee benefits 
Other income – net 

Total other income – net 
Less: (Income) expense related  
to discontinued operations 
  Other income – net related to  
continuing operations 

2010 

(0.2) 
(0.3) 
0.6 
(1.3) 
(1.0) 

2009 

$ 0.2 

2008

$  (6.3)

(0.1) 
– 
0.7 
(1.0) 
(0.2) 

(0.7)
–
(4.4)
(1.4)
(12.8)

– 

0.8 

(1.5)

$(1.0) 

$(1.0) 

$(11.3)

S U P P L E M E N T A L   B A L A N C E   S H E E T   D A T A

S U M M A R Y   O F   A C C O U N T S   R E C E I V A B L E   –   N E T

Accounts Receivable:
From customers 
Other  
Less allowance for doubtful  

accounts and sales discounts 
Total 

S U M M A R Y   O F   I N V E N T O R I E S

Inventories by Major Class: 
  Raw materials 
  Work in progress 
Finished goods 
Supplies and other 

Excess of FIFO over LIFO cost 

Total 

December 31,

2010 

2009

$71.6 
1.0 

(1.9) 
$70.7 

$69.4
0.2

(1.9)
$67.7

December 31,

2010 

2009

$ 18.5 
13.3 
48.2 
1.7 
81.7 
(12.3) 
$ 69.4 

$16.6
11.7
49.4
1.7
79.4
(8.7)
$70.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

S U M M A R Y   O F   P R E P A I D   A N D   O T H E R   C U R R E N T   A S S E T S

S U M M A R Y   O F   N O N C U R R E N T   E M P L O Y E E   B E N E F I T S   

Prepaid and other current assets 
Spare parts 
Receivable from FiberMark for German taxes 

Total  

A S S E T S   H E L D   F O R   S A L E

December 31,

2010 

$  8.0 
5.6 
0.5 
$14.1 

2009

$  7.6
5.5
0.6
$13.7

A N D   O T H E R   O B L I G A T I O N S

Pension benefits 
Post-employment benefits  
  other than pensions (a) 
Other  

Total 

December 31,

2010 

2009

$  58.4 

$  64.3

44.3 
2.0 
$104.7 

40.7
3.3
$108.3

December 31,

(a)   Includes $5.0 million and $5.4 million in long-term disability benefits due 
to Terrace Bay retirees as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The Woodlands (Note 5) 
Ripon Mill property, plant and  
equipment – net (Note 3) 
Total  

2010 

$ – 

– 
$ – 

2009

$  3.8

6.2
$10.0

S U M M A R Y   O F   P R O P E R T Y,   P L A N T   A N D   E Q U I P M E N T   –   N E T

Land and land improvements 
Buildings 
Machinery and equipment 
Construction in progress 

Less accumulated depreciation  
  Net Property, Plant and Equipment   

December 31,

2010 

2009

$  20.8 
96.2 
439.6 
11.9 
568.5 
306.6 
$261.9 

$  21.9
97.8
445.1
4.8
569.6
285.2
$284.4

Depreciation expense for the years ended 

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $28.0 million, 
$30.1 million and $34.7 million, respectively. For the year 
ended December 31, 2010, less than $0.1 million in inter-
est expense was capitalized as part of the cost of capital 
projects. Interest expense capitalized as part of the costs 
of capital projects for the years ended December 31, 2010, 
2009 and 2008 was $0.1 million, $12 thousand and $0.5 mil-
lion, respectively.

S U M M A R Y   O F   A C C R U E D   E X P E N S E S

Accrued salaries and employee benefits 
Liability for uncertain income tax positions 
Accrued interest 
Accrued restructuring costs 
Accrued income taxes 
Other  

Total 

December 31,

2010 

$21.5 
8.6 
2.1 
0.2 
2.4 
13.3 
$48.1 

2009

$18.2
9.5
2.1
4.0
0.4
14.4
$48.6

S U P P L E M E N T A L   C A S H   F L O W   D A T A

N E T   C A S H   P R O V I D E D   B Y   ( U S E D   I N )   C H A N G E S   

I N   W O R K I N G   C A P I T A L

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

2009 

2008

$(3.0) 
Accounts receivable 
1.3 
Inventories 
Income taxes receivable (payable)  2.8 
(0.4) 
Prepaid and other current assets 
2.0 
Accounts payable 
(3.5) 
Accrued expenses 
Foreign currency effects on  
  working capital 

(3.1) 
$(3.9) 

Total 

$ (4.5) 
17.7 
9.8 
1.4 
(4.5) 
6.6 

0.9 
$27.4 

$ 48.7
(2.4)
(10.6)
2.6
(35.8)
(22.6)

(2.5)
$(22.6)

S U P P L E M E N T A L   D I S C L O S U R E   O F   C A S H   F L O W   I N F O R M A T I O N

Year Ended December 31,

2010 

2009 

2008

Cash paid during the year for  
 interest, net of interest  
expense capitalized 

Cash paid (received) during the  

 year for income taxes,  
net of refunds 

Non-cash investing activities:
Liability for equipment 
acquired 

$18.9 

$20.2 

$23.0

0.5 

(7.7) 

6.6

2.9 

1.8 

2.7

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

81

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

SIXTEEN

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information

Neenah Paper Company of Canada, Neenah Paper Michigan, Inc. and Neenah Paper Sales, Inc. (the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”) 
guarantee the Company’s Senior Notes. The Guarantor Subsidiaries are 100 percent owned by the Company and all guar-
antees are full and unconditional. The following condensed consolidating financial information is presented in lieu of  
consolidated financial statements for the Guarantor Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 and for the years  
ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. Certain deferred tax assets presented in the Guarantor Subsidiaries column  
as of December 31, 2009 were presented in the Neenah Paper, Inc. column as of December 31, 2010 as such assets will  
ultimately be realized by Neenah Paper, Inc. due to the substantially complete liquidation of Neenah Canada.

C O N D E N S E D   C O N S O L I D A T I N G   S T A T E M E N T   O F   O P E R A T I O N S

Year Ended December 31, 2010

Neenah 
Paper, Inc. 

Guarantor  Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries 

Subsidiaries 

Consolidating 
Adjustments 

Consolidated 
Amounts

Net sales  
Cost of products sold 
Gross profit 
Selling, general and administrative expenses 
Gain on sale of the Ripon Mill 
Other (income) expense – net 
Operating income 
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries 
Interest expense – net 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes 
Provision for income taxes 
Income from continuing operations 
Income from discontinued operations,  

net of income tax provision 

Net income 

$269.4 
204.9 
64.5 
44.2 
– 
(0.4) 
20.7 
(157.5) 
19.0 
159.2 
0.1 
159.1 

– 
$159.1 

$144.2 
117.1 
27.1 
10.7 
(3.4) 
0.6 
19.2 
– 
0.3 
18.9 
7.9 
11.0 

134.1 
$145.1 

$244.1 
215.7 
28.4 
14.4 
– 
(1.2) 
15.2 
– 
1.0 
14.2 
1.8 
12.4 

– 
$  12.4 

$        – 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
157.5 
– 
(157.5) 
– 
(157.5) 

– 
$(157.5) 

$657.7
537.7
120.0
69.3
(3.4)
(1.0)
55.1
–
20.3
34.8
9.8
25.0

134.1
$159.1

82

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

 
    
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

C O N D E N S E D   C O N S O L I D A T I N G   S T A T E M E N T   O F   O P E R A T I O N S

Year Ended December 31, 2009

Neenah 
Paper, Inc. 

Guarantor  Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries 

Subsidiaries 

Consolidating 
Adjustments 

Consolidated 
Amounts

Net sales  
Cost of products sold 
Gross profit 
Selling, general and administrative expenses 
Restructuring costs 
Other (income) expense – net 
Operating income (loss) 
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries 
Interest expense – net 
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 
Benefit for income taxes 
Income (loss) from continuing operations 
Income from discontinued operations,  

net of income tax provision 

Net income (loss) 

 $248.2 
 186.2 
 62.0 
 45.4 
 (0.4) 
 0.1 
 16.9 
 (2.5) 
 21.4 
 (2.0) 
 (0.8) 
 (1.2) 

 – 
 $   (1.2) 

C O N D E N S E D   C O N S O L I D A T I N G   S T A T E M E N T   O F   O P E R A T I O N S

$112.4 
92.6 
19.8 
10.0 
17.1 
0.9 
(8.2) 
– 
0.8 
(9.0) 
(4.0) 
(5.0) 

0.6 
$   (4.4) 

$213.3 
193.5 
19.8 
13.7 
0.4 
(2.0) 
7.7 
– 
1.0 
6.7 
(0.2) 
6.9 

– 
$    6.9 

$    – 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
2.5 
– 
(2.5) 
– 
(2.5) 

– 
$(2.5) 

$573.9
472.3
101.6
69.1
17.1
(1.0)
16.4
–
23.2
(6.8)
(5.0)
(1.8)

0.6
$   (1.2)

Year Ended December 31, 2008

Neenah 
Paper, Inc. 

Guarantor  Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries 

Subsidiaries 

Consolidating 
Adjustments 

Consolidated 
Amounts

Net sales  
Cost of products sold 
Gross profit 
Selling, general and administrative expenses 
Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charge 
Other (income) expense – net 
Operating income (loss) 
Equity in losses of subsidiaries 
Interest expense – net 
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 
Provision (benefit) for income taxes 
Income (loss) from continuing operations 
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit 
Net income (loss) 

 $ 284.2 
 228.3 
 55.9 
 47.6 
 – 
 0.6 
 7.7 
 146.3 
 21.6 
 (160.2) 
 (3.2) 
 (157.0) 
 – 
 $(157.0) 

$ 183.1 
160.5 
22.6 
12.3 
– 
(10.9) 
21.2 
– 
1.9 
19.3 
9.7 
9.6 
(111.2) 
$(101.6) 

$265.0 
242.0 
23.0 
15.3 
54.5 
(1.0) 
(45.8) 
– 
1.5 
(47.3) 
(2.6) 
(44.7) 
– 
$ (44.7) 

$       – 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(146.3) 
– 
146.3 
– 
146.3 
– 
$146.3 

$ 732.3
630.8
101.5
75.2
54.5
(11.3)
(16.9)
–
25.0
(41.9)
3.9
(45.8)
(111.2)
$(157.0)

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

83

 
    
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

C O N D E N S E D   C O N S O L I D A T I N G   B A L A N C E   S H E E T

ASSETS
Current assets
  Cash and cash equivalents 
  Accounts receivable – net 

Inventories 

  Deferred income taxes 

Intercompany amounts receivable 

  Prepaid and other current assets 

Total current assets 

  Property, plant and equipment at cost 

Less accumulated depreciation 
  Property, plant and equipment – net 

Investments in subsidiaries 
Deferred Income Taxes 
Goodwill  
Intangible assets, net 
Other Assets 
TOTAL ASSETS 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
  Debt payable within one year 
  Accounts payable 

Intercompany amounts payable 

  Accrued expenses 

Total current liabilities 

Long-term Debt 
Deferred Income Taxes 
Noncurrent Employee Benefits and Other Obligations 
TOTAL LIABILITIES 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 

December 31, 2010

Neenah 
Paper, Inc. 

Guarantor  Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries 

Subsidiaries 

Consolidating 
Adjustments 

Consolidated 
Amounts

$  45.0 
24.2 
33.7 
17.1 
17.3 
5.1 
142.4 
266.0 
189.5 
76.5 
237.1 
39.3 
– 
2.8 
8.4 
$506.5 

$       – 
14.5 
47.5 
27.5 
89.5 
223.0 
– 
34.8 
 347.3 
159.2 
$506.5 

$    2.4 
16.5 
9.0 
2.4 
47.5 
1.8 
79.6 
101.5 
66.3 
35.2 
– 
3.8 
– 
– 
0.1 
$118.7 

$       – 
5.2 
17.3 
7.7 
30.2 
– 
– 
34.2 
64.4 
54.3 
$118.7 

$    0.9 
30.0 
26.7 
– 
– 
7.2 
64.8 
201.0 
50.8 
150.2 
– 
– 
41.5 
21.2 
5.7 
$283.4 

$  13.6 
10.7 
– 
12.9 
37.2 
8.3 
19.4 
35.7 
100.6 
182.8 
$283.4 

$        – 
– 
– 
– 
(64.8) 
– 
(64.8) 
– 
– 
– 
(237.1) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
$(301.9) 

$        – 
– 
(64.8) 
– 
(64.8) 
– 
– 
– 
(64.8) 
(237.1) 
$(301.9) 

$  48.3
70.7
69.4
19.5
–
14.1
222.0
568.5
306.6
261.9
–
43.1
41.5
24.0
14.2
$606.7

$  13.6
30.4
–
48.1
92.1
231.3
19.4
104.7
447.5
159.2
$606.7

84

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

 
    
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

C O N D E N S E D   C O N S O L I D A T I N G   B A L A N C E   S H E E T

ASSETS
Current assets
  Cash and cash equivalents 
  Accounts receivable – net 

Inventories 
Income taxes receivable 

  Deferred income taxes 

Intercompany amounts receivable 

  Prepaid and other current assets 
  Assets held for sale 

Total current assets 

  Property, plant and equipment at cost 

Less accumulated depreciation 
  Property, plant and equipment – net 

Investments in subsidiaries 
Deferred Income Taxes 
Goodwill  
Intangible assets 
Other Assets 
TOTAL ASSETS 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
  Debt payable within one year 
  Accounts payable 

Intercompany amounts payable 

  Accrued expenses 

Total current liabilities 

Long-term Debt 
Deferred Income Taxes 
Noncurrent Employee Benefits and Other Obligations 
TOTAL LIABILITIES 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 

December 31, 2009

Neenah 
Paper, Inc. 

Guarantor  Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries 

Subsidiaries 

Consolidating 
Adjustments 

Consolidated 
Amounts

 $    2.1 
 23.8 
 38.1 
 0.3 
 4.7 
 68.7 
 5.2 
 – 
 142.9 
 262.2 
 180.3 
 81.9 
 281.1 
 10.2 
 – 
 2.9 
 6.5 
 $525.5 

 $  40.9 
 14.3 
 49.4 
 23.6 
 128.2 
 252.9 
 – 
 34.8 
 415.9 
 109.6 
 $525.5 

$    2.0 
16.1 
8.9 
0.5 
57.0 
49.4 
1.7 
10.0 
145.6 
99.5 
62.9 
36.6 
– 
26.3 
– 
– 
0.1 
$208.6 

$       – 
4.5 
68.7 
14.8 
88.0 
– 
– 
38.7 
126.7 
81.9 
$208.6 

$    1.5 
27.8 
23.7 
– 
– 
– 
6.8 
– 
59.8 
207.9 
42.0 
165.9 
– 
– 
44.9 
24.6 
6.5 
$301.7 

$  14.7 
8.4 
– 
10.2 
33.3 
10.7 
23.7 
34.8 
102.5 
199.2 
$301.7 

$        – 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(118.1) 
– 
– 
(118.1) 
– 
– 
– 
(281.1) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
$(399.2) 

$        – 
– 
(118.1) 
– 
(118.1) 
– 
– 
– 
(118.1) 
(281.1) 
$(399.2) 

$    5.6
67.7
70.7
0.8
61.7
–
13.7
10.0
230.2
569.6
285.2
284.4
–
36.5
44.9
27.5
13.1
$636.6

$  55.6
27.2
–
48.6
131.4
263.6
23.7
108.3
527.0
109.6
$636.6

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

85

 
    
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

C O N D E N S E D   C O N S O L I D A T I N G   S T A T E M E N T   O F   C A S H   F L O W S

OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash  
  provided by operating activities
  Depreciation and amortization 
Stock-based compensation 

  Deferred income tax provision (benefit) 
  Gain on sale of the Woodlands 
  Reclassification of cumulative translation adjustments  

related to investments in Canada 

  Gain on sale of Ripon Mill 

Loss on other asset dispositions 

  Net cash provided by (used in) changes in  

  operating working capital 
  Equity in earnings of subsidiaries 
  Pension and other post-employment benefits 
  Other  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures 
Net proceeds from sale of the Woodlands 
Increase in investments 
Proceeds from asset sales 
Other  
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 
Repayments of long-term debt 
Short-term borrowings 
Repayments of short-term borrowings 
Cash dividends paid 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 
Other  
Intercompany transfers – net 
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES 
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR 

Year Ended December 31, 2010

Neenah 
Paper, Inc. 

Guarantor  Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries 

Subsidiaries 

Consolidating 
Adjustments 

Consolidated 
Amounts

$ 159.1 

$145.1 

$ 12.4 

$(157.5) 

$159.1

13.1 
4.8 
2.2 
– 

– 
– 
0.2 

(0.3) 
(157.5) 
(0.9) 
0.8 
21.5 

(6.7) 
– 
(3.5) 
8.7 
(0.3) 
(1.8) 

0.1 
(69.9) 
– 
(1.0) 
(5.9) 
0.7 
(0.2) 
99.4 
23.2 
 42.9 
2.1 
$   45.0 

4.4 
– 
36.5 
(74.1) 

(87.9) 
(3.4) 
– 

1.0 
– 
(6.9) 
(1.6) 
13.1 

(2.6) 
78.0 
– 
– 
– 
75.4 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(88.1) 
(88.1) 
0.4 
2.0 
$    2.4 

13.8 
0.1 
(1.7) 
– 

– 
– 
– 

(4.6) 
– 
– 
(0.1) 
19.9 

(8.1) 
– 
– 
– 
1.0 
(7.1) 

– 
(1.6) 
13.3 
(13.8) 
– 
– 
– 
(11.3) 
(13.4) 
(0.6) 
1.5 
$   0.9 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
157.5 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
$        – 

31.3
4.9
37.0
(74.1)

(87.9)
(3.4)
0.2

(3.9)
–
(7.8)
(0.9)
54.5

(17.4)
78.0
(3.5)
8.7
0.7
66.5

0.1
(71.5)
13.3
(14.8)
(5.9)
0.7
(0.2)
–
(78.3)
42.7
5.6
$  48.3

86

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

 
    
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

C O N D E N S E D   C O N S O L I D A T I N G   S T A T E M E N T   O F   C A S H   F L O W S

Year Ended December 31, 2009

Neenah 
Paper, Inc. 

Guarantor  Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries 

Subsidiaries 

Consolidating 
Adjustments 

Consolidated 
Amounts

OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss) 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash  
  provided by operating activities
  Depreciation and amortization  
Stock-based compensation 
  Deferred income tax benefit 
  Ripon Mill non-cash charges 

Loss on other asset dispositions 

  Net cash provided by changes in operating working capital 
  Equity in earnings of subsidiaries 
  Pension and other post-employment benefits 
  Other  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures 
Proceeds from asset sales 
Other  
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 
Repayments of long-term debt 
Short-term borrowings 
Repayments of short-term borrowings 
Cash dividends paid 
Other  
Intercompany transfers – net 
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES 
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON  
  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR 

 $  (1.2) 

$(4.4) 

$   6.9 

$(2.5) 

$  (1.2)

 15.2 
 4.7 
 (2.8) 
 – 
 0.2 
 19.9 
 (2.5) 
 4.5 
 (0.9) 
 37.1 

 (3.4) 
 – 
 0.8 
 (2.6) 

 42.6 
 (85.8) 
 0.9 
 – 
 (5.9) 
 (0.1) 
 14.0 
 (34.3) 

4.6 
– 
(4.4) 
6.3 
– 
4.7 
– 
(2.9) 
1.0 
4.9 

(1.4) 
0.8 
(0.3) 
(0.9) 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(3.1) 
(3.1) 

14.7 
– 
(2.2) 
– 
– 
2.8 
– 
0.8 
(0.1) 
22.9 

(3.6) 
– 
(1.2) 
(4.8) 

– 
(1.8) 
11.3 
(15.4) 
– 
– 
(10.9) 
(16.8) 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
2.5 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

34.5
4.7
(9.4)
6.3
0.2
27.4
–
2.4
–
64.9

(8.4)
0.8
(0.7)
(8.3)

42.6
(87.6)
12.2
(15.4)
(5.9)
(0.1)
–
(54.2)

 – 
 0.2 
 1.9 
 $   2.1 

– 
0.9 
1.1 
$ 2.0 

(0.1) 
1.2 
0.3 
$   1.5 

– 
– 
– 
$    – 

(0.1)
2.3
3.3
$   5.6

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

87

 
    
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2008

Neenah 
Paper, Inc. 

Guarantor  Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries 

Subsidiaries 

Consolidating 
Adjustments 

Consolidated 
Amounts

 $(157.0) 

$(101.6) 

$(44.7) 

$ 146.3 

$(157.0)

7.4 
– 
(55.2) 
– 
91.2 
29.4 
(2.8) 

53.7 
(4.3) 
(6.7) 
7.5 
– 
(4.6) 
(1.1) 
12.9 

(7.4) 
(13.6) 
13.8 
0.8 
(6.4) 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(0.6) 
(7.6) 
(8.2) 
(1.7) 
2.8 
$     1.1 

15.8 
– 
(4.0) 
54.5 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
(8.8) 
– 
0.8 
(0.1) 
13.5 

(11.4) 
– 
– 
(0.1) 
(11.5) 

– 
– 
18.7 
(3.3) 
– 
– 
– 
(17.6) 
(2.2) 
(0.2) 
0.5 
$   0.3 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
(146.3) 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
$        – 

38.6
4.0
(56.1)
54.5
91.2
29.4
(2.8)

53.7
(4.3)
(6.3)
(22.6)
–
(7.6)
(1.6)
13.1

(30.0)
(13.6)
13.8
(0.6)
(30.4)

53.7
(34.6)
18.7
(3.3)
(6.0)
(9.4)
(0.9)
–
18.2
0.9
2.4
$     3.3

N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

C O N D E N S E D   C O N S O L I D A T I N G   S T A T E M E N T   O F   C A S H   F L O W S

 15.4 
 4.0 
 3.1 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 0.4 
 (21.3) 
 146.3 
 (3.8) 
 (0.4) 
 (13.3) 

 (11.2) 
 – 
 – 
 (1.3) 
 (12.5) 

 53.7 
 (34.6) 
 – 
 – 
 (6.0) 
 (9.4) 
 (0.3) 
 25.2 
 28.6 
  2.8 
 (0.9) 
 $     1.9 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss) 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash  
  provided by operating activities
  Depreciation and amortization 
Stock-based compensation 

  Deferred income tax provision (benefit) 
  Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charge 
  Asset impairment loss 

Loss on disposal – transfer of the Pictou Mill 

  Amortization of deferred revenue – transfer of the Pictou Mill 

Loss on disposal – transfer of the Pictou Mill  
  postretirement benefit plans 

  Gain on curtailment of postretirement benefit plan 

(Gain) loss on other asset dispositions 
Increase (decrease) in working capital 

  Equity in losses of subsidiaries 
  Pension and other postretirement benefits 
  Other  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures 
Payments in conjunction with transfer of the Pictou Mill 
Proceeds from asset sales 
Other  
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 
Repayments of long-term debt 
Short-term borrowings 
Repayments of short-term debt 
Cash dividends paid 
Share purchases 
Other  
Intercompany transfers – net 
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES 
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR 

88

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

 
    
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

SEVENTEEN

Unaudited Quarterly Data

Net Sales  
Gross Profit 
Operating Income 
Income From Continuing Operations 
Earnings Per Common Share From Continuing Operations:
Basic   
Diluted 

Net Sales  
Gross Profit 
Operating Income (Loss) 
Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations 
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share From Continuing Operations:
Basic   
Diluted 

(a)  Includes a gain of $3.3 million on disposal of the Ripon Mill.
(b)  Includes costs related to the closure of the Ripon Mill of $17.1 million.

First 

$167.3 
32.3 
16.4 
7.3 

$  0.50 
$  0.48 

First 

 $134.1 
 20.5 
 4.9 
 (0.7) 

 $ (0.05) 
 $ (0.05) 

Second 

$168.6 
32.2 
13.7 
6.3 

$  0.43 
$  0.41 

Second (b) 

$135.2 
24.2 
(10.5) 
(8.6) 

$ (0.58) 
$ (0.58) 

2010 Quarters

Third 

$161.5 
27.8 
11.7 
4.7 

$  0.32 
$  0.30 

2009 Quarters

Third 

$150.1 
28.3 
10.7 
3.4 

$  0.23 
$  0.23 

Fourth (a) 

Year  (a)

$160.3 
27.7 
13.3 
6.7 

$  0.45 
$  0.43 

Fourth 

$154.5 
28.6 
11.3 
4.1 

$  0.28 
$  0.28 

$657.7
120.0
55.1
25.0

$  1.69
$  1.61

Year (b)

$573.9
101.6
16.4
(1.8)

$ (0.12)
$ (0.12)

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

89

 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
LEADERSHIP

E X E C U T I V E T E A M

B OA R D O F D I R E C T O R S

Sean T. Erwin
Chairman of the Board,
President and  
Chief Executive Officer

John P. O’Donnell
Senior Vice President and 
Chief Operating Officer

Bonnie C. Lind
Senior Vice President, 
Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer

Steven S. Heinrichs
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel  
and Secretary

Dennis P. Runsten
President,  
Technical Products – U.S.

Julie A. Schertell
President, Fine Paper

Armin S. Schwinn
Managing Director, 
Neenah Germany

Sean T. Erwin  
Chairman of the Board,
President and 
Chief Executive Officer,
Neenah Paper, Inc.

Edward Grzedzinski
Former Chief Executive 
Officer, NOVA  
Information Systems

Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D.
Senior Strategic Advisor,  
Female Health Company 
and Former President and 
Chief Operating Officer, 
Female Health Company

Timothy S. Lucas, CPA
Independent Consultant,  
Lucas Financial Reporting 
and Former Director of 
Research, FASB

John F. McGovern
Partner, Aurora Capital LLC  
and Former Executive  
Vice President and 
Chief Financial Officer,  
Georgia Pacific Corporation

Philip C. Moore
Partner, 
McCarthy Tétrault, L.L.P.

John P. O’Donnell
Senior Vice President and 
Chief Operating Officer, 
Neenah Paper, Inc.

Stephen M. Wood, Ph.D.
President and 
Chief Executive Officer,  
FiberVisions Corporation

90

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

C O R P O R AT E   

R E G I S T R A R A N D   

H E A D Q UA R T E R S
Neenah Paper, Inc. 
3460 Preston Ridge Road 
Suite 600 
Alpharetta, GA 30005 
678.566.6500 
www.neenah.com

A N N UA L M E E T I N G   

O F S H A R E H O L D E R S
The 2011 annual meeting  
of the shareholders of  
Neenah Paper, Inc. will  
be held Wednesday,  
May 18, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., 
Eastern time at Neenah’s 
headquarters in  
Alpharetta, Georgia.

As of February 28, 2011, 
Neenah had approximately 
2,100 holders of record  
of its common stock.

T R A N S F E R AG E N T
BNY Mellon  
Shareowner Services 
P.O. Box 358010 
Pittsburgh, PA 15252 
Contact Center: 
Toll Free U.S. and Canada: 
877.498.8847 
International callers: 
201.680.6578
Toll Free
TDD for hearing impaired: 
800.231.5469
www.bnymellon.com/
shareowner/equityaccess

F I N A N C I A L A N D 

O T H E R  C O M PA N Y 

I N F O R M AT I O N
Our Annual Report on 
Form 10-K for the fiscal year 
ended December 31, 2010  
is available on our website 
at www.neenah.com.  
In addition, financial reports, 
recent filings with the 

Securities and Exchange 
Commission (SEC), news 
releases and other informa-
tion are available on our 
website. For a printed copy 
of our Form 10-K, without 
charge, please contact:
Neenah Paper, Inc. 
Attn: Stockholder Services 
3460 Preston Ridge Road 
Suite 600 
Alpharetta, GA 30005 
866.548.6569 
or via e-mail to investors@
neenahpaper.com

C E R T I F I C AT I O N S
Neenah has included as 
exhibits to its Annual Report 
on Form 10-K for the fiscal 
year ended December 31, 
2010 filed with the SEC,  
certifications of Neenah’s 
Chief Executive Officer  
and Chief Financial Officer  
certifying the quality of  
our public disclosure.  

T R A D E M A R K S
Brand names mentioned  
in this report are trade-
marks of Neenah Paper, 
Inc. Crane is a registered 
trademark of Crane and 
Co., Inc.

S T O C K E XC H A N G E
Neenah Paper’s common 
stock is traded on the  
New York Stock Exchange 
under the symbol NP.

I N D E P E N D E N T 

R E G I S T E R E D P U B L I C 

AC C O U N T I N G F I R M
Deloitte & Touche LLP 
191 Peachtree Street 
Suite 1500 
Atlanta, GA 30303

C O M PA R I S O N O F F I V E Y E A R  C U M U L AT I V E T O TA L R E T U R N *
Among Neenah Paper, Inc., the Russell 2000 Value Index,  
an Old Peer Group and a New Peer Group

$180

$160

$140

$120

$100

$80

$60

$40

$20

$0

12
05

12
06

12
07

12
08

12
09

12
10

Neenah Paper, Inc.
Russell 2000 Value
Old Peer Group: AbitibiBowater Inc., International Paper Company, 
P.H. Glatfelter Company, Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. and Wausau 
Paper Corp. The peer group average is weighted by market capitalization.
New Peer Group: AEP Industries Inc., Boise Inc., Buckeye Technologies Inc., 
CSS Industries, Inc., P.H. Glatfelter Company, KapStone Paper and Packaging 
Corporation, Minerals Technologies Inc., OMNOVA Solutions Inc., Polypore 
International, Inc., Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc., Verso Paper 
Corp. and Wausau Paper Corp. The peer group average is weighted by 
market capitalization.

* $100 invested on 12/31/05 in stock or index, including reinvestment 

of dividends. Fiscal year ending December 31.

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

91

COLOPHON

To minimize our  
environmental impact,  
the Neenah Paper, Inc. 
2010 Annual Report  
was printed on papers  
containing fibers  
from environmentally 
appropriate, socially 
beneficial and  
economically viable 
forest resources.

SW-COC-000885 FSC Trademark 
© 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. 
The mark of responsible forestr y.

PA P E R

C R E D I T S

Design and Production
Addison 
www.addison.com

Copywriting
Edward Nebb

Printing
Classic Color

I L LU S T R AT I O N

Dust Jacket: Marcos Chin

Cover: Mike Perry

Page 1: MVM

Page 9: Mario Hugo

Page 16: Micah Lidberg

Dust Jacket
CLASSIC CREST® Paper
Solar White
24 lb. writing

Cover
CLASSIC CREST® Paper
Solar White
165 lb. double thick cover

End Papers
ESSE® Paper
Pearlized Juniper
80 lb. text

Pages 1–8 
CLASSIC CREST® Paper
Classic Natural White
100 lb. text

Pages 9–16
ESSE® Paper
Willow
80 lb. text

Pages 17–24
CLASSIC CREST® Paper
Epic Black
80 lb. text

Pages 25–92
SUNDANCE® Paper
Warm White
80 lb. text

92

Neenah Paper, Inc. 2010 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
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CARBON FIBER

NEENAH PAPER, INC.
3460 PRESTON RIDGE ROAD
SUITE 600
ALPHARETTA, GA 30005
678.566.6500