INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO NEW
For the period ended Mar 31, 2025. Filed May 7, 2025.
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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Mar 31, 2025 · Filed May 7, 2025
Contents
Note
NOTE 16 - DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
As a multinational company, International Paper is exposed to market risks, such as changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates and commodity prices.
International Paper periodically uses derivatives and other financial instruments to hedge exposures to interest rate, commodity and currency risks. International Paper does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. For hedges that meet the hedge accounting criteria at inception, International Paper formally designates and documents the instrument as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge or a net investment hedge of a specific underlying exposure.
Derivative and Hedging Accounting Policy
The Company and its subsidiaries are exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing financial arrangements. The Company uses derivative financial instruments, primarily commodity swaps and forward contracts, to manage currency and commodity risks associated with the Company’s underlying business activities and the financing of these activities. As a matter of policy, we do not use financial instruments for speculative purposes.
ASC 815 requires entities to recognize all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedge accounting relationship and, further, on the type of hedge accounting relationship.
For those derivative or nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments under ASC 815, a company must designate the hedging instrument, based upon the exposure being hedged, as a fair value hedge, cash flow hedge, or a net investment hedge.
Gains or losses on cash flow hedges are deferred as a component of AOCI or losses and are reclassified into earnings at the time the hedged item affects earnings, presented in the same income statement line item as the underlying hedged item (i.e., in “cost of products sold” when the hedged transactions are commodity cash flows associated with energy purchases to facilitate operations). If it becomes probable that a forecasted transaction will not occur, previously deferred gains and losses related to those forecasted transactions would be recognized in earnings in the current period.
Gains and losses on net investment hedges are recorded in the cumulative translation adjustment component of AOCI, offsetting the translation adjustment of the net investment being hedged. Any deferred gains or losses previously recorded in the cumulative translation adjustment component of AOCI will remain in AOCI until the hedged net investment is sold or substantially liquidated, at which time the cumulative deferred gains or losses are reclassified into earnings as a component of gain or loss on the sale of the hedged net investment.
To qualify for hedge accounting, a specified level of hedge effectiveness between the hedging instrument and the item being hedged must be achieved at inception and maintained throughout the hedged period. We formally document our risk management objectives, our strategies for undertaking the hedge transactions, the nature of and relationships between the hedging instruments and hedged items, and the method for assessing hedge effectiveness. Additionally, for qualified hedges of forecasted transactions, we specifically identify the significant characteristics and expected terms of the forecasted transactions.
Our designated derivative contracts include commodity swap contracts and forward contracts. Commodity swap contracts effectively modify the Company’s exposure to changes in natural gas and electricity prices by allowing the Company to purchase energy on a fixed-rate basis. Forward contracts effectively modify the Company’s exposure to fluctuations in the cost of carbon credits by allowing the Company to purchase carbon credits on a fixed-rate basis. These agreements involve the receipt of floating-rate amounts in exchange for fixed-rate amounts over the life of the agreements.
Commodity Risk Management
The Company has entered into commodity swap and commodity forward contracts which have been designated as cash flow hedges of commodity price risk associated with forecasted purchases and sales of various commodities used in the Company’s operations. These commodity contracts are used to manage exposure to changes in natural gas, electricity, and carbon credit prices. Individual commodity contracts are entered into up to three years prior to the occurrence of the hedged transactions.
Foreign Currency Risk Management
The Company and its subsidiaries periodically use non-derivative, foreign currency denominated loans to hedge the Company’s foreign currency exposure related to the translation of its net investment in foreign subsidiaries. Certain of these loans are designated as net investment hedges.
The component of the gains and losses on our net investment in these designated foreign operations, driven by changes in foreign exchange rates, are economically offset by remeasurements of our foreign-currency denominated debt.
The notional amounts of financial instruments used in hedging transactions were as follows:
| In millions | March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships: | ||
| Electricity contract (MWh) | 0.7 | — |
| Natural gas contracts (MWh) | 6.2 | — |
| Carbon credit contracts (tons) | 0.7 | — |
| Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging Relationships: | ||
| External debt (EUR) | €3,198 | €— |
| Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments: | ||
| Electricity contract (MWh) | 0.2 | 0.3 |
The following table shows gains or losses recognized in AOCI, net of tax, related to derivative instruments:
| Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Three Months EndedMarch 31, | ||
| In millions | 2025 | 2024 |
| Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships: | ||
| Commodity contacts | $(52) | $— |
| Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging Relationships: | ||
| External debt | $8 | $— |
Based on our valuation at March 31, 2025, and assuming market rates remain constant through contract maturities, we expect transfers to earnings of the existing gain or losses reported in AOCI on cash flow hedges during the next 12 months to correspond with the current assets and liabilities portion of the derivative as disclosed below.
The amounts of gains and losses recognized in the statement of operations on financial instruments used in hedging transactions were as follows:
| Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI Into Income · Location of Gain (Loss)Reclassified from AOCI | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Months EndedMarch 31, | |||
| In millions · 2025 · 2024 | |||
| Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships: | |||
| Commodity contracts | $1 | $— | Cost of products sold |
| Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income · Location of Gain (Loss)In Statementof Operations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Months EndedMarch 31, | |||
| In millions · 2025 · 2024 | |||
| Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships: | |||
| Commodity contracts | $5 | $— | Cost of products sold |
| Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments: | |||
| Electricity contract | — | (9) | Cost of products sold |
| Commodity contracts | (6) | — | Cost of products sold |
| Total | $(1) | $(9) | |
Fair Value Measurements
The Company has not changed its valuation techniques for measuring the fair value of any financial assets or liabilities during the year. Transfers between levels, if any, are recognized at the end of the reporting period. International Paper’s derivatives are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Fair value hierarchies are further defined in Note 1 in the Company’s Annual Report.
The following table provides a summary of the impact of our derivative instruments in the balance sheet:
| Assets | Liabilities | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In millions | March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 |
| Derivatives designated as hedging instruments | ||||
| Commodity contracts – cash flow | $12 | $— | $38 | $— |
| Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | ||||
| Electricity contract | 1 | 3 | — | — |
| Commodity contract | 35 | — | 42 | — |
| Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | 36 | 3 | 42 | — |
| Total derivatives | $48(a) | $3(b) | $80(c) | $— |
(a)Includes $35 million recorded in Other current assets and $13 million recorded in Deferred charges and other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.
(b)Includes $3 million recorded in Other current assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.
(c)Includes $64 million recorded in Other current liabilities and $16 million recorded in Other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.
The above contracts are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements that provide rights of offset with each counterparty when amounts are payable on the same date in the same currency or in the case of certain specified defaults. Management has made an accounting policy election to not offset the fair value of recognized derivative assets and derivative liabilities in the balance sheet. The amounts owed to the counterparties and owed to the Company are considered immaterial with respect to each counterparty and in the aggregate with all counterparties.
NOTE 17 - RETIREMENT PLANS
International Paper operates both defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans as well as other post retirement benefit plans throughout our operations in accordance with local conditions and practice.
We sponsor and maintain the Retirement Plan of International Paper Company (the "Pension Plan"), a tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan that provides retirement benefits to substantially all hourly and union employees who work at a participating business unit. The Pension Plan was frozen as of January 1, 2019 for salaried participants.
The Pension Plan provides defined pension benefits based on years of credited service and either final average earnings (salaried employees and hourly employees receiving salaried benefits), hourly job rates or specified benefit rates (hourly and union employees).
In connection with our acquisition, International Paper acquired the existing DS Smith Group Pension plan (the "Group Plan"), a UK funded defined benefit plan providing pension benefits and lump sum benefits to members and dependents. The Group Plan closed to new entrants and future accruals as of April 30, 2011.
Net periodic pension expense (income) for our qualified and nonqualified defined benefit plans and the Group Plan, comprised the following:
| Three Months EndedMarch 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| In millions | 2025 | 2024 |
| Service cost | $10 | $13 |
| Interest cost | 124 | 111 |
| Expected return on plan assets | (151) | (148) |
| Actuarial loss | 18 | 19 |
| Amortization of prior service cost | 4 | 3 |
| Settlement | 8 | — |
| Net periodic pension expense (income) | $13 | $(2) |
The components of net periodic pension expense (income) other than the Service cost component are included in Non-operating pension expense (income) in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
The Company’s funding policy for our pension plans is to contribute amounts sufficient to meet legal funding requirements, plus any additional amounts that the Company may determine to be appropriate considering the funded status of the plan, tax deductibility, the cash flows generated by the Company, and other factors. The Company madeno voluntary cash contributions to the qualified pension plan in the first three months of 2025 or 2024. The nonqualified defined benefit plans are funded to the extent of benefit payments, which totaled $33 million and $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
NOTE 18 - STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
International Paper's 2024 Long-term Incentive Compensation Plan (the "2024 LTICP') authorizes grants of restricted stock, restricted or deferred stock units, performance awards payable in cash or stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals, dividend equivalents, options, stock appreciation rights, other stock-based awards and cash-based awards at the discretion of the Management Development and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “MDCC”). On December 9, 2024, the MDCC approved the 2025 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "2025 LTIP"), pursuant to the 2024 LTICP, approving a sole performance metric of 100% relative total shareholder return ("TSR") for performance stock unit awards, effective January 1, 2025. As of March 31, 2025,7.0 million shares were available for grant under the LTICP.
Subsequent to the acquisition of DS Smith, the Company agreed to provide equity transition awards to DS Smith employees who became employees of the Company after closing of the transaction. The transition awards, which were granted in March 2025, consisted of time-based restricted stock units. The transition awards replaced the unvested portion of the 2024 DS Smith Performance Share Plan award granted to DS Smith employees in July 2024.
Stock-based compensation expense and related income tax benefits were as follows:
| Three Months EndedMarch 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| In millions | 2025 | 2024 |
| Total stock-based compensation expense (selling and administrative) | $32 | $9 |
| Income tax benefits related to stock-based compensation | 38 | 13 |
At March 31, 2025, $150 million, net of estimated forfeitures, of compensation cost related to time-based and performance-based shares and restricted stock attributable to future service had not yet been recognized. This amount will be recognized in expense over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years.
During the first three months of 2025, the Company granted 1.0 million performance units at an average grant date fair value of $66.30 and 0.9 million time-based units at an average grant date fair value of $54.17.
NOTE 19 - BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
As a result of the completed acquisition of DS Smith on January 31, 2025, the CODM now reviews and manages the financial results and operations of the following segments on the basis of the new organizational structure, Packaging Solutions North America, Packaging Solutions EMEA and Global Cellulose Fibers. The Packaging Solutions EMEA segment includes the Company's legacy EMEA Industrial Packaging business and the newly acquired EMEA DS Smith business. As such, amounts related to the Company's legacy EMEA Industrial Packaging business have been recast out of the Industrial Packaging segment into the new Packaging Solutions EMEA segment for all prior periods. The newly acquired North America DS Smith business has been included in the Packaging Solutions North America segment. Amounts related to the Company's legacy North America Industrial Packaging business have been reported in the Packaging Solutions North America segment for all prior periods.
Packaging Solutions North America and Packaging Solutions EMEA are primarily focused on producing fiber-based packaging. We produce linerboard, medium, whitetop, recycled linerboard, recycled medium and saturating kraft of which a majority of our production is converted into corrugated packaging and other packaging. The revenue for our Packaging Solutions North America and Packaging Solutions EMEA segments are derived from selling these products to our customers.
Global Cellulose Fibers primarily focuses on producing cellulose fibers which is a renewable raw material used in a variety of products people depend on every day such as diapers, towel and tissue products, feminine care, incontinence and other personal care products. In addition, our innovative specialty pulps serve as a sustainable raw material used in textiles, construction materials, paints, coatings and more. The revenue for our Global Cellulose Fibers segment is derived from selling these products to our customers.
The CODM assesses performance for these segments and decides how to allocate resources based on business segment operating profit. Business segment operating profits (losses) are also used by International Paper's CODM to measure the earnings performance of its businesses and to focus on on-going operations.
INFORMATION BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
The following tables illustrate reportable segment revenue, significant segment expenses, and measures of a segment’s profit or loss for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024. The table also reconciles these amounts to Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity earnings.
| In millions | Packaging Solutions North America | Packaging Solutions EMEA | Global Cellulose Fibers | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Sales | $3,702 | $1,550 | $643 | $5,895 |
| Corporate and Intrasegment Sales | 6 | |||
| Total Net Sales | 5,901 | |||
| Less: | ||||
| Cost of products sold | 2,569 | 1,147 | 460 | |
| Selling and administrative expenses | 282 | 93 | 42 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 413 | 107 | 51 | |
| Distribution expenses | 266 | 151 | 66 | |
| Other segment items (a) | 30 | 6 | 7 | |
| Business Segment Operating Profit (Loss) | 142 | 46 | 17 | 205 |
| Interest Expense, net | 81 | |||
| Adjustment for less than wholly owned subsidiaries (b) | (1) | |||
| Corporate expenses, net | 8 | |||
| Net special items (i) | 249 | |||
| Non-operating pension (income) expense | 3 | |||
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity earnings (loss) | $(135) | |||
(i)Includes a charge of $221 million for transaction and other costs related to the DS Smith acquisition, a charge of $78 million for severance and other costs related to the closure of our Red River containerboard mill in Campti, LA, a net gain of $67 million related to sale of fixed assets primarily associated with our permanently closed Orange, TX containerboard mill and a net charge of $17 million for other items.
| In millions | Packaging Solutions North America | Packaging Solutions EMEA | Global Cellulose Fibers | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Sales | $3,486 | $348 | $704 | $4,538 |
| Corporate and Intrasegment Sales | 81 | |||
| Total Net Sales | 4,619 | |||
| Less: | ||||
| Cost of products sold | 2,488 | 260 | 550 | |
| Selling and administrative expenses | 284 | 25 | 58 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 203 | 16 | 54 | |
| Distribution expenses | 288 | 22 | 82 | |
| Other segment items (a) | 31 | 1 | 7 | |
| Business Segment Operating Profit (Loss) | 192 | 24 | (47) | 169 |
| Interest Expense, net | 46 | |||
| Adjustment for less than wholly owned subsidiaries (b) | (2) | |||
| Corporate expenses, net | 24 | |||
| Net special items | 28 | |||
| Non-operating pension (income) expense | (12) | |||
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity earnings (loss) | $85 | |||
Assets
| In millions | March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging Solutions North America | $16,564 | $14,501 |
| Packaging Solutions EMEA | 17,689 | 1,276 |
| Global Cellulose Fibers | 2,836 | 2,857 |
| Corporate and other | 4,079 | 4,166 |
| Assets | $41,168 | $22,800 |
Capital Expenditures
| In millions | March 31, 2025 | March 31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging Solutions North America | $182 | $193 |
| Packaging Solutions EMEA | 106 | 18 |
| Global Cellulose Fibers | 36 | 34 |
| Subtotal | 324 | 245 |
| Corporate and other | 6 | 6 |
| Capital Expenditures | $330 | $251 |
External Sales By Segment (c)
| In millions | March 31, 2025 | March 31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging Solutions North America | $3,668 | $3,460 |
| Packaging Solutions EMEA | 1,550 | 348 |
| Global Cellulose Fibers | 637 | 704 |
| Other | 46 | 107 |
| Net Sales | $5,901 | $4,619 |
(a)Other segment items includes Taxes other than payroll.
(b)Operating profits for industry segments include each segment’s percentage share of the profits of subsidiaries included in that segment that are less than wholly-owned. The pre-tax earnings for these subsidiaries is added here to present consolidated earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings.
(c)External sales by segment are defined as those made to parties outside International Paper’s consolidated group, whereas sales by segment in the Net Sales table are determined using a management approach and include intersegment sales.
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