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Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated interim financial statements of Chesapeake Corporation and subsidiaries included herein are unaudited, except for the December 28, 2003, consolidated balance sheet, which was derived from audited financial statements. As of April 4, 2004, the Land Development segment was liquidated, and this segment is now accounted for as a discontinued operation (see Note 6). These statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and, in accordance with those rules and regulations, we have condensed or omitted certain information and footnotes normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"). We believe that the disclosures made are adequate for a fair presentation of results of our operations and financial position. In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, all of a normal re curring nature, necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented herein. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make extensive use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Our 52-53 week fiscal year ends on the Sunday nearest to December 31. Fiscal year 2004 contains 53 weeks, and fiscal year 2003 contains 52 weeks. The additional week in 2004 is included in the first quarter.

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K; additional details on our significant accounting policies are provided therein. The results of operations for the 2004 interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. Certain prior-year data have been reclassified to conform to the 2004 presentation.

In this report, unless the context requires otherwise, references to "we," "us," "our," "Chesapeake" or the "Company" are intended to mean Chesapeake Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Stock Options

Our stock-based compensation plans include stock options and equity-based compensation. We use the intrinsic value method of accounting for our stock option plans in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations. Accordingly, no compensation expense has been recognized for our stock options since all options granted had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant. The following table represents the compensation expense, and related effect on earnings, for our stock option plans if the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation had been applied, rather than the intrinsic value method.

Pro forma disclosures for stock option accounting may not be representative of the effects on reported net income in future periods.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Staff Position No. 106-1 ("FSP 106-l"), Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 ("the Act"). The Act provides prescription drug benefits to retirees under Medicare Part D and provides subsidies to plan sponsors providing certain prescription drug benefits if they are determined to be "actuarially equivalent" to those under Medicare. FSP 106-1 permits a sponsor of a postretirement healthcare plan that provides a prescription drug benefit to make a one-time election to defer accounting for the effect of the Act and requires certain disclosures regardless of whether the sponsor elects to defer. The guidance in FSP 106-1 is effective for interim or annual financial statements of fiscal years ending after December 7, 2003. Chesapeake elected to defer recognizing the effects of the Act in the accounting for its plan for the year ende d December 28, 2003, and the quarter ended April 4, 2004.

In May 2004, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 106-2 ("FSP 106-2"), Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. FSP 106-2 provides guidance on accounting for the effects of the Act and requires certain disclosures. FSP 106-2 is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after June 15, 2004, with earlier application encouraged. FSP 106-2 supersedes FSP 106-1 when it becomes effective, or upon earlier adoption. Chesapeake has adopted FSP 106-2 as of July 4, 2004. Based on actuarial estimates of the impact of the Act on Chesapeake, we believe the Act is not material to Chesapeake and, therefore, does not qualify as a significant event requiring immediate recognition. Chesapeake will incorporate the effects of the Act into the valuation performed at our next regular measurement date of September 30, 2004.

Note 2. Earnings Per Share ("EPS")

Calculation

Basic EPS is calculated using the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares during each period. Diluted EPS is calculated using the weighted-average number of diluted outstanding common shares during each period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if holders of options or other contracts to issue common stock exercised or converted their holdings into common stock that would then share in earnings. Outstanding stock options and performance-based restricted stock represent the only potentially dilutive effects on our weighted-average shares.

There were no significant dilutive shares as of July 4, 2004, or as of June 29, 2003, for purposes of calculating diluted EPS. As of July 4, 2004, and June 29, 2003, 1.5 million and 1.7 million, respectively, of potentially dilutive common shares were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common stock during the period or their vesting criterion were not met.

Common Stock Public Offering

On March 15, 2004, we completed the sale of 3.65 million shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $24 per share. Our net proceeds from the sale of these shares, after deducting discounts, commissions and expenses, were approximately $82.6 million. On April 8, 2004, the underwriters for our common stock offering partially exercised their over-allotment option and acquired an additional 0.4 million shares at a public offering price of $24 per share. Our net proceeds from the sale of these additional shares, after deducting discounts, commissions and expenses, were approximately $9.2 million. (See Note 8 for a description of the use of proceeds.)

Note 3. Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is as follows:

Note 4. Financial Instruments

In January 2004 we terminated a cross currency interest rate swap and received a cash settlement of $7.3 million from the counterparty. Of this amount, approximately $6.3 million will be recognized as an interest rate yield adjustment over the remaining life of the underlying debt.

During the second quarter of 2004, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement to manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The swap agreement represents a contract to exchange six month LIBOR-based interest payments for fixed-rate interest payments periodically over the life of the agreement. The swap agreement is designated as a cash flow hedge on a notional amount of 20 million pounds Sterling of indebtedness through 2007.

Note 5. Acquisitions and Dispositions

During the second quarter of 2003, we settled substantially all of our indemnification obligations to St. Laurent Paperboard (U.S.) Inc. related to the 1997 sale of our former kraft products mill in West Point, Virginia. As a result of the settlement, we reduced our accrual for estimated environmental liabilities by $22.2 million in the second quarter of 2003, which resulted in a gain on sale of business of approximately $11.2 million, or $7.7 million net of income taxes.

Note 6. Discontinued Operations

Our former Land Development segment owned real estate that we retained when we sold the timberland associated with our former pulp and paper operations because we believed this land was more valuable when sold for development or other uses. The real estate was marketed to third parties for residential and commercial development, real estate investment and land conservation. As of the end of the first quarter of 2004, the remainder of the Land Development segment was liquidated and, as a result, this segment is now accounted for as a discontinued operation.

Summarized results of discontinued operations are shown separately in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings, and results for the prior periods have been restated for this presentation. Net sales from discontinued operations were $0.6 million for the six months ended July 4, 2004, and $1.4 million and $5.7 million, respectively, for the quarter and six months ended June 29, 2003. Interest costs charged to discontinued operations were negligible for the first six months of 2004, as well as the second quarter of 2003. Interest costs charged to discontinued operations were $0.1 million for the first six months of 2003. Interest costs consist of an allocated amount based on the relationship of net assets to be discontinued to the sum of consolidated net assets plus nonallocable debt. There were no sales from discontinued operations and no interest costs charged to discontinued operations in the second quarter of 2004, since the Land Development segment was liquidated at the end o f the first quarter of 2004.

Note 7. Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for continuing operations for the first half of 2004 was approximately 115 percent compared to an effective income tax rate for continuing operations of approximately 24 percent for the first half of 2003. During the second quarter and first half of 2004, our income taxes were reduced by: approximately $3.0 million related to the costs of the extinguishment of debt; approximately $2.6 million related to the favorable settlements of 1998 to 2002 United States Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") tax audits and 1999 to 2001 United Kingdom Inland Revenue tax audits; and approximately $0.8 million related to a reduction in the Belgian statutory tax rate. 

The IRS has proposed certain adjustments relating to our tax treatment of our disposition of assets of Wisconsin Tissue Mills Inc. in 1999. We have estimated our maximum potential exposure with respect to the matter to be approximately $24 million; however, we are disputing the proposed adjustment as we continue to believe that our tax treatment of the transaction was correct and our tax advisor has confirmed its view that we should prevail in any dispute with the IRS related to this matter. Accordingly, no amount has been accrued for this proposed IRS adjustment. We expect to defend the matter vigorously through the IRS appeal process and, if necessary, through litigation. We do not expect that the ultimate resolution of this matter will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Note 8. Debt

In February 2004, our $250 million (or the equivalent in foreign currency) senior credit facility was amended and restated and its maturity extended to February 2009. The amended and restated senior credit facility permits us to obtain, under certain circumstances, up to $200 million in additional term debt financing without requiring the consent of the senior credit facility lenders. Subject to the terms of the agreement, a portion of the borrowing capacity of the revolving credit facility may, and net proceeds of any additional term debt component of the facility shall, be used to finance acquisitions and to refinance other debt. With certain exceptions and limitations, the senior credit facility is collateralized by a pledge of the inventory, equipment, receivables and intangible assets of Chesapeake and its United States subsidiaries, and a pledge of the capital stock or other equity interests of Chesapeake's significant subsidiaries, and is guaranteed by Chesapeake's United States sub sidiaries and the United Kingdom borrowers. The amended and restated senior credit facility includes other terms and conditions substantially similar to the previous facility in effect at December 28, 2003.

On April 19, 2004, $82.6 million of the net proceeds from our common stock offering (see Note 2 for more details on the common stock offering) was used to redeem 40.0 million pounds Sterling principal amount of our 10.375 percent senior subordinated notes due 2011 at a redemption price equal to 110.375 percent of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. The costs of extinguishing this debt early, which primarily consisted of the redemption premium of 10.375 percent and a write-off of deferred financing fees, were approximately $8.4 million. The remaining net proceeds from the public stock offering of approximately $9.2 million were used to repay outstanding borrowings under our senior credit facility.

Note 9. Employee Retirement and Postretirement Benefits

In December 2003, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 132 (revised 2003) ("SFAS 132"), Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits, which we adopted at the end of 2003. SFAS 132 requires the disclosure of the components of the net periodic benefit cost recognized during interim periods. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of those components:

The net pension expense above does not reflect any potential subsidy resulting from the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (See Note 1).

Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies

Environmental Matters

The costs of compliance with existing environmental regulations are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") and similar state "Superfund" laws impose liability, without regard to fault or to the legality of the original action, on certain classes of persons (referred to as potentially responsible parties or "PRPs") associated with a release or threat of a release of hazardous substances into the environment. Financial responsibility for the remediation and restoration of contaminated property and for natural resource damages can extend to previously owned or used properties, waterways and properties owned by third parties, as well as to properties currently owned and used by a company even if contamination is attributable entirely to prior owners. As discussed below, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") has given notice of its intent to list the Lower Fox River in Wisconsin on the National Priorities List under CERCLA and identified our subsidiary, Wisconsin Tissue Mills Inc., now WTM I Company ("WT") , as a PRP for the Lower Fox River site.

Except for the Fox River matter, we have not been identified as a PRP at any other CERCLA-related sites. However, there can be no assurance that we will not be named as a PRP at any other sites in the future or that the costs associated with additional sites would not be material to our financial position or results of operations.

In June 1994, the U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service ("FWS"), a federal natural resources trustee, notified WT that it had identified WT as a PRP for natural resources damage liability under CERCLA arising from alleged releases of polychlorinatedbiphenyls ("PCBs") in the Fox River and Green Bay System in Wisconsin from WT's former recycled tissue mill in Menasha, Wisconsin. In addition to WT, six other companies (Appleton Papers, Inc., Fort Howard Corporation, P.H. Glatfelter Company ("Glatfelter"), NCR Corporation, Riverside Paper Corporation and U.S. Paper Mills Corporation) have been identified as PRPs for the Fox River site. The FWS and other governmental and tribal entities, including the State of Wisconsin ("Wisconsin"), allege that natural resources, including federal lands, state lands, endangered species, fish, birds, tribal lands or lands held by the U.S. in trust for various Indian tribes have been exposed to PCBs that were released from facilities located al ong the Lower Fox River. On January 31, 1997, the FWS notified WT of its intent to file suit, subject to final approval by the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ"), against WT to recover alleged natural resource damages, but the FWS has not yet instituted such litigation. On June 18, 1997, the EPA announced that it was initiating the process of listing the Lower Fox River on the CERCLA National Priorities List of hazardous waste sites. On September 30, 2003, EPA and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ("DNR"), in connection with the issuance of General Notice Letters under CERCLA to the PRPs requesting a good faith offer to conduct the remedial design for downstream portions of the Lower Fox River site, also notified Menasha Corporation and Sonoco Products Company that those companies were also considered potentially liable for the cost of response activities at the Lower Fox River site.

In January 2003, DNR and EPA released a Record of Decision (the "OU1-2 ROD") for Operable Units 1 and 2 ("OU1" and "OU2") of the Fox River site. OU1 is the reach of the river that is the farthest upstream and is immediately adjacent to the former WT mill. The OU1-2 ROD selects a remedy, consisting primarily of dredging, to remove substantially all sediment in OU1 with concentrations of PCBs of more than 1 part per million in order to achieve a surface weighted-average PCB concentration level ("SWAC") of not more than 0.25 parts per million. The OU1-2 ROD estimates the present-worth cost of the proposed remedy for OU1 is $66.2 million. Present-worth cost as stated in the OU1-2 ROD means capital costs in undiscounted 2001 dollars and long-term operation, maintenance and monitoring costs discounted at 6 percent. This estimate is an engineering cost estimate and the OU1-2 ROD states that the actual project cost is expected to be within +50 percent to -30 percent of the estimate. The OU1-2 ROD estimates that the proposed dredging remedy for OU1 will be accomplished over a six-year period after commencement of dredging. For OU2, the reach of the river covering approximately 20 miles downstream from OU1, the OU1-2 ROD proposes a remedy of monitored natural recovery over a 40-year period. The OU1-2 ROD states that the present-worth cost of the proposed remedy for OU2 is an engineering cost estimate of $9.9 million, based on estimated costs discounted at 6 percent.

On July 1, 2003, DNR and EPA announced that they had signed an agreement with WT under which WT will complete the design work for the sediment clean-up in OU1. The design work to be done by WT is estimated to cost approximately $3.7 million. On October 1, 2003, EPA and DNR announced that WT and Glatfelter had entered into a proposed Consent Decree (the "Consent Decree") regarding the remediation of OU1. The Consent Decree was entered on April 12, 2004. Under the terms of the Consent Decree, WT and Glatfelter agree to perform appropriate remedial action in accordance with the OU1-2 ROD. The remedial action will be performed under oversight by EPA and DNR. To fund the remedial action, WT and Glatfelter have each paid $25 million to an escrow account, and EPA and Wisconsin will use their best efforts to obtain an additional $10 million from another source to supplement the funding. Contributions and cooperation may also be obtained from local municipalities, and additional assistance may be sought from other potentially liable parties. WT will be reimbursed from the escrow account for up to $2 million of OU1 design costs expended under the July 1, 2003, design agreement.

Upon completion of the remedial action for OU1 to the satisfaction of EPA and Wisconsin, WT and Glatfelter will receive covenants not to sue from EPA and Wisconsin for OU1, subject to conditions typical of settlements under CERCLA. We believe the required remedial action for OU1 can be completed with the expected funding provided under the Consent Decree. If the funding provided through the Consent Decree is not adequate to pay for the required remedial action, WT and Glatfelter have the option, but not the obligation, to contribute additional funds to complete the remedial action. WT remains potentially liable for the additional costs necessary to achieve the performance standards for OU1 specified in the OU1-2 ROD.

Under the terms of the Consent Decree, WT also paid EPA and the State of Wisconsin $375,000 for past response costs, and paid $1.5 million for natural resource damages ("NRD") for the Fox River site and $150,000 for past NRD assessment costs. These payments have been credited toward WT's potential liability for response costs and NRD associated with the Fox River site as a whole. As discussed later in this section, we believe that WT is entitled to substantial indemnification from a prior owner of WT with respect to these costs, and the prior owner has reimbursed WT for the payments made as required in the Consent Decree.

In July 2003, EPA and DNR announced a Record of Decision (the "OU3-5 ROD") for Operable Units 3, 4 and 5 ("OU3," "OU4" and "OU5," respectively), the remaining operable units for this site. The OU3-5 ROD requires primarily dredging and disposal of PCB contaminated sediments from OU3 and OU4 (the downstream portion of the river) and monitored natural recovery in OU5 (Green Bay). The OU3-5 ROD remedy for OU3 and OU4 provides for removal of substantially all sediment with concentrations of PCBs of more than 1 part per million in order to achieve a SWAC of not more than 0.25 parts per million. The OU3-5 ROD estimates the present-worth cost of the proposed remedy for OU3-5 is $324 million. Present-worth cost as stated in the ROD means capital costs in undiscounted 2001 dollars and long-term operation, maintenance and monitoring costs discounted at 6 percent. This estimate is an engineering cost estimate, and the OU3-5 ROD states that the actual project cost is expected to be within +50 percent t o -30 percent of the estimate.

Based on information available to us at this time, we believe that the range of reasonable estimates of the total cost of remediation and restoration for the Fox River site is $280 million to $1.59 billion. The low end of this range assumes costs estimated in the OU1-2 ROD and the OU3-5 ROD and takes into account the -30 percent engineering estimating factor. The upper end of the range assumes costs estimated by consultants for the PRPs and includes a +50 percent engineering estimating factor. The OU1-2 ROD and the OU3-5 ROD indicate that most of the active remediation and restoration at the site is expected to take place in the next 10 years.

Based on current information and advice from our environmental consultants, we believe that the 1 part per million remedial action level, and the resulting aggressive effort to remove substantial amounts of PCB-contaminated sediments (most of which are buried under cleaner material or are otherwise unlikely to move) and dispose of the sediment off-site, as contemplated by the OU1-2 ROD and the OU3-5 ROD are excessive and would be environmentally detrimental and therefore inappropriate. The OU1-2 ROD includes provisions that a contingent remedy for OU1 consisting of a combination of dredging and capping may be implemented if certain conditions in the OU1-2 ROD are met and such remedy would provide the same level of protection to human health and the environment as the selected remedy. We believe that alternative remedies that are less intrusive than those selected in the OU1-2 ROD and the OU3-5 ROD are more environmentally appropriate, cost effective and responsible methods of managing the risks attributable to the sediment contamination. Any enforcement of a definitive remedial action plan may be subject to judicial review.

On October 25, 2000, the federal and tribal natural resources trustees released a Restoration and Compensation Determination Plan ("RCDP") presenting the federal and tribal trustees' planned approach for restoring injured federal and tribal natural resources and compensating the public for losses caused by the release of PCBs at the Fox River site. The RCDP states that the final natural resource damage claim (which is separate from, and in addition to, the remediation and restoration costs that will be associated with remedial action plans) will depend on the extent of PCB clean-up undertaken by EPA and DNR, but estimates past interim damages to be $65 million, and, for illustrative purposes only, estimates additional costs of restoration to address present and future PCB damages in a range of $111 million to $268 million. To date, Wisconsin has not issued any estimate of natural resource damages. We believe, based on the information currently available to us, that the estimate of natural resource damages in the RCDP represents the reasonably likely upper limit of the total natural resource damages. We believe that the alleged damages to natural resources are overstated in the RCDP and joined in the PRP group comments on the RCDP to that effect. No final assessment of natural resource damages has been issued.

Under CERCLA, each PRP generally will be jointly and severally liable for the full amount of the remediation and restoration costs and natural resource damages, subject to a right of contribution from other PRPs. In practice, PRPs generally negotiate among themselves to determine their respective contributions to any multi-party activities based upon factors including their respective contributions to the alleged contamination, equitable considerations and their ability to pay. In draft analyses by DNR and federal government consultants, the volume of WT's PCB discharges into the Fox River has been estimated to range from 2.72 percent to 10 percent of the total discharges of PCBs. This range may not be indicative of the share of the cost of the remediation and restoration costs and natural resource damages that ultimately will be allocated to WT because of: inaccuracies or incompleteness of information about mill operations and discharges; inadequate consideration of the nature and loc ation of various discharges of PCBs to the river, including discharges by persons other than the named PRPs and the relationship of those discharges to identified contamination; uncertainty of the geographic location of the remediation and restoration eventually performed; uncertainty about the ability of other PRPs to participate in paying the costs and damages; and uncertainty about the extent of responsibility of the manufacturers of the carbonless paper recycled by WT which contained the PCBs. We have evaluated the ability of other PRPs to participate in paying the remediation and restoration costs and natural resource damages based on our estimate of their reasonably possible shares of the liability and on public financial information indicating their ability to pay such shares. While we are unable to determine at this time what shares of the liability for the Fox River costs will be paid by the other identified PRPs (or other entities who are subsequently determined to have liability), based on informa tion currently available to us and the analysis described above, we believe that most of the other PRPs have the ability to pay their reasonably possible shares of the liability.

The ultimate cost to WT of remediation and restoration costs and natural resource damages related to the Fox River site and the time periods over which the costs and damages may be incurred cannot be predicted with certainty at this time due to uncertainties with respect to: what remediation and restoration will be implemented; the actual cost of that remediation and restoration; WT's share of any multi-party remediation and restoration costs and natural resource damages; the outcome of the federal and state natural resource damage assessments; the timing of any remediation and restoration; the evolving nature of remediation and restoration technologies and governmental regulations; controlling legal precedent; the extent to which contributions will be available from other parties; and the scope of potential recoveries from insurance carriers and prior owners of WT. While such costs and damages cannot be predicted with certainty at this time, we believe that WT's reasonably likely shar e of the ultimate remediation and restoration costs and natural resource damages associated with the Fox River site, without considering the payments made to date under the Consent Decree, may fall within the range of $36 million to $130 million, payable over a period of up to 40 years. In our estimate of the lower end of the range, we have assumed remediation and restoration costs as estimated in the OU1-2 ROD and the OU3-5 ROD, and the low end of the governments' estimates of natural resource damages and WT's share of the aggregate liability. In our estimate of the upper end of the range, we have assumed large-scale dredging at a higher cost than estimated in the OU1-2 ROD and the OU3-5 ROD, and that our share of the ultimate aggregate liability for all PRPs will be higher than we believe it will ultimately be determined to be. We have accrued an amount for the Fox River liability based on our estimate of the reasonably probable costs within the range as described above.

We believe that, pursuant to the terms of a stock purchase agreement between Chesapeake and Philip Morris Incorporated (now known as Philip Morris USA Inc., or "PM USA," a wholly owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc.), a former owner of WT, we are entitled to substantial indemnification from PM USA with respect to the liabilities related to this matter. Based on the terms of that indemnity, we believe that the costs and damages within our estimated range of liability should be indemnified by PM USA. We understand, however, that PM USA is subject to certain risks (including litigation risk in cases relating to health concerns regarding the use of tobacco products). Accordingly, there can be no assurance that PM USA will be able to satisfy its indemnification obligations in the future. However, PM USA is currently meeting its indemnification obligations under the stock purchase agreement and, based on our review of currently available financial information, we believe that PM USA has th e financial ability to continue to meet its indemnification obligations.

Pursuant to the Joint Venture Agreement with Georgia-Pacific Corporation for Georgia-Pacific Tissue, LLC, WT has retained liability for, and the third party indemnity rights associated with, the discharge of PCBs and other hazardous materials in the Fox River and Green Bay System. Based on currently available information, we believe that if remediation and restoration are done in an environmentally appropriate, cost effective and responsible manner, and if natural resource damages are determined in a reasonable manner, the matter is unlikely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations. However, because of the uncertainties described above, there can be no assurance that the ultimate liability with respect to the Lower Fox River site will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

It is our policy to accrue estimated future expenditures for environmental obligations when it is probable such costs will be incurred and when a range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Future expenditures for environmental obligations are not discounted unless the aggregate amount of the obligations, and the amount and timing of the cash payments, are fixed and readily determinable. Our accrued environmental liabilities totaled approximately $52.4 million as of July 4, 2004, of which approximately $4.9 million was considered short-term. We periodically review the status of all significant existing or potential environmental issues and adjust our accrual as necessary. The accrual does not reflect any possible future insurance or indemnification recoveries.

We are a party to various other legal actions, which are ordinary and incidental to our business. While the outcome of legal actions cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe the outcome of any of these proceedings, or all of them combined, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

We have entered into agreements for the sale of assets or businesses that contain provisions in which we agree to indemnify the buyers or third parties involved in the sale for certain liabilities or risks related to the sale. In these sale agreements, we typically agree to indemnify the buyers or other involved third parties against a broadly-defined range of potential "losses" (typically including, but not limited to, claims, costs, damages, judgments, liabilities, fines or penalties, and attorneys' fees) arising from: (i) a breach of our representations or warranties in the sale agreement or ancillary documents; (ii) our failure to perform any of the covenants or obligations of the sale agreement or ancillary documents; and (iii) other liabilities expressly retained or assumed by us related to the sale. Most of our indemnity obligations under these sale agreements are: (i) limited to a maximum dollar value significantly less than the final purchase price; (ii) limited by time within whi ch indemnification claims must be asserted (often between one and three years); and (iii) subject to a deductible or "basket." Many of the potential indemnification liabilities under these sale agreements are unknown, remote or highly contingent, and most are unlikely to ever require an indemnity payment. Furthermore, even in the event that an indemnification claim is asserted, liability for indemnification is subject to determination under the terms of the applicable sale agreement, and any payments may be limited or barred by a monetary cap, a time limitation or a deductible or basket. For these reasons, we are unable to estimate the maximum potential amount of the potential future liability under the indemnity provisions of the sale agreements. However, we accrue for any potentially indemnifiable liability or risk under these sale agreements for which we believe a future payment is probable and a range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Other than the Fox River matter discussed in Environmental Matters above, as of July 4, 2004, we believe our liability under such indemnification obligations was immaterial.

In the ordinary course of our business, we may enter into agreements for the supply of goods or services to customers that provide warranties to their customers on one or more of the following: (i) the quality of the goods and services supplied by us; (ii) the performance of the goods supplied by us; and (iii) our compliance with certain specifications and applicable laws and regulations in supplying the goods and services. Liability under such warranties often is limited to a maximum amount, by the nature of the claim or by the time period within which a claim must be asserted. As of July 4, 2004, we believe our warranty obligations under such supply agreements were immaterial.

In the ordinary course of our business, we may enter into service agreements with service providers in which we agree to indemnify the service provider against certain losses and liabilities arising from the service provider's performance of the agreement. Generally, such indemnification obligations do not apply in situations in which the service provider is grossly negligent, engages in willful misconduct or acts in bad faith. As of July 4, 2004, we believe our liability under such service agreements was immaterial.

Note 11. Segment Disclosure

We currently conduct our business in two segments: the Paperboard Packaging segment and the Plastic Packaging segment. Our Paperboard Packaging segment designs and manufactures folding cartons, leaflets, labels and other value-added paperboard packaging products. The primary end-use markets for this segment are pharmaceutical and healthcare; international and branded products (such as alcoholic drinks, confectioneries, cosmetics and fragrances); tobacco; and food and household. Our Plastic Packaging segment designs and manufactures plastic containers, bottles, preforms and closures. The primary end-use markets for this segment are agrochemicals and other specialty chemicals, and food and beverages. General corporate expenses are shown as Corporate. The following tables summarize the net sales, earnings from continuing operations before interest and taxes, depreciation and identifiable assets for each of our segments:

Our former Land Development segment owned real estate that we retained when we sold the timberland associated with our former pulp and paper operations because we believed this land was more valuable when sold for development or other uses. The real estate was marketed to third parties for residential and commercial development, real estate investment and land conservation. The Land Development segment was liquidated as of the end of the first quarter of 2004 and, as a result, this segment is now accounted for as a discontinued operation.

Earnings from continuing operations before interest and taxes is abbreviated hereafter as EBIT. Consistent with our segment reporting in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, EBIT by segment excludes any restructuring charges and gains on sales of businesses. Excluding these amounts from our calculation of segment EBIT is consistent with how our management reviews segment performance and, we believe, affords the reader consistent measures of our operating performance.

The following table sets forth second quarter and year-to-date net sales and EBIT by business segment and on a consolidated basis:

Net sales for the second quarter of 2004 were $239.3 million, an increase of 13 percent over the comparable period in 2003. Net sales before the favorable effect of foreign currency exchange rates were up 4 percent for the second quarter of 2004 compared to the second quarter of 2003. Sales volume across the paperboard and plastic packaging sectors for the second quarter of 2004 increased over the prior-year quarter with the exception of the tobacco packaging sector and the food and beverage packaging sector, which experienced declines in sales volume. Net sales for the first half of 2004 increased 18 percent over net sales for the first half of 2003 and increased 6 percent before the favorable effect of foreign currency exchange rates compared to the first half of 2003. The increase in net sales before the favorable effect of foreign currency exchange rates for the first half of 2004 was primarily due to increased sales volume in the pharmaceutical sector of the Paperboard Packagin g segment and in the Plastic Packaging segment. These increases were partially offset by lower sales volume in the tobacco and international and branded sectors for the first half of 2004.

Gross margin, which is defined as net sales less cost of products sold, for the second quarter of 2004 was $43.4 million compared to $39.8 million for the second quarter of 2003, and gross margin of $87.2 million for the first half of 2004 compared to $78.7 million for the first half of 2003. Consistent with the first quarter of 2004, the increases were largely due to favorable foreign currency exchange rates. In addition, higher sales volumes in both the pharmaceutical sector of the Paperboard Packaging segment and in the Plastic Packaging segment contributed to the increases. These increases were partially offset in the Paperboard Packaging segment by increased depreciation expense and start-up costs for two new German facilities serving the tobacco and international and branded packaging sectors. Gross margin as a percentage of net sales decreased approximately 1 percent in both the second quarter and first six months of 2004 compared to the same periods in 20 03.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses as a percentage of net sales were up approximately 1 percent for the second quarter of 2004 and relatively flat for the first half of 2004 when compared to the prior-year periods. The increase in SG&A expenses for the second quarter of 2004 over the comparable prior-year period was primarily due to increased employee costs.

During the second quarter of 2003, we settled substantially all of our environmental indemnification obligations to St. Laurent Paperboard (U.S.) Inc. related to the 1997 sale of a kraft products mill in West Point, Va. As a result of the settlement, the accrual for estimated environmental liabilities was reduced in the second quarter of 2003, which resulted in a gain of approximately $11.2 million, or $7.7 million net of income taxes.

EBIT for the second quarter of 2004 was $11.2 million compared to EBIT of $23.0 million for the second quarter of 2003. EBIT for the first half of 2004 was $23.5 million compared to EBIT of $34.7 million for the first half of 2003. In addition to the items noted above, changes in foreign currency exchange rates increased EBIT for the second quarter and first six months of 2004 by approximately $1.3 million and $3.5 million, respectively.

During the second quarter of 2004, we redeemed 40 million pounds Sterling outstanding principal amount of our 10-3/8 percent senior subordinated notes due 2011, which resulted in a loss on the extinguishment of debt of $8.4 million, or $5.4 million net of income taxes. The aggregate redemption price was $82.6 million, and the redemption of the subordinated notes was funded with a portion of the net proceeds of our recent public offering of approximately 4.05 million shares of our common stock.

Net interest expense from continuing operations of $8.6 million for the second quarter of 2004 decreased from $10.6 million in the second quarter of 2003, and net interest expense from continuing operations of $19.9 million for the first half of 2004 decreased from $22.3 million in the first half of 2003. We have local currency denominated debt on our balance sheet which serves as a partial natural hedge against currency fluctuations. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates increased net interest expense from continuing operations by $0.6 million, or 7 percent, and by $1.6 million, or 8 percent, respectively, for the second quarter and first half of 2004 compared to the prior year periods. The overall decreases in net interest expense from continuing operations were primarily due to the redemption of subordinated notes mentioned above and lower overall average interest rates.

During the second quarter and first half of 2004, our income taxes were reduced by: approximately $3.0 million related to the costs of the extinguishment of debt; approximately $2.6 million related to the favorable settlements of 1998 to 2002 United States Internal Revenue Service tax audits and 1999 to 2001 United Kingdom Inland Revenue tax audits; and approximately $0.8 million related to a reduction in the Belgian statutory tax rate. Without the costs of extinguishment of debt, the effective income tax rate from continuing operations is estimated to be approximately 18 percent for the full year of 2004 compared to 13 percent for the full year of 2003. (See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional income tax information.)

Discontinued operations had no net impact on earnings in 2004, as the after-tax operating loss from discontinued operations of $0.2 was offset by a $0.2 after-tax gain on the disposal of discontinued operations resulting from the settlement of accrued obligations. The after-tax operating income from discontinued operations in the second quarter and first half of 2003 was $0.6 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, and $2.7 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, respectively.

Net income for the second quarter of 2004 was breakeven compared to net income of $9.4 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2003. Net income for the first half of 2004 was $0.7 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to net income of $12.1 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, for the first half of 2003.