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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

-------------------

FORM 10-Q



[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 27, 2003


or

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

For the transition period from ______ to ______

Commission File Number 1 - 3506

- -------------------

GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

GEORGIA

93-0432081

(State of Incorporation)

(IRS Employer Id. Number)

 
 

133 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E., ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)


(404) 652 - 4000

(Telephone Number of Registrant)


- -------------------



Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.         Yes   X       No          

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
    Yes     X           No          

 

As of the close of business on October 31, 2003, Georgia-Pacific Corporation had 254,131,254 shares of Georgia-Pacific Common Stock outstanding.


PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
- -------------------------------------------

 
 
 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Georgia-Pacific Corporation and Subsidiaries

 
 

Third Quarter

First Nine Months

(In millions, except per share amounts)

2003

2002

2003

2002

Net sales

$    5,278 

$   6,152 

$   14,893 

$  18,170 

Costs and expenses:
  Cost of sales
  Selling and distribution
  Depreciation, amortization and accretion
  General and administrative
  Interest, net
  Other (income) losses, net


4,059 
331 
261 
216 
204 
(81)


4,808 
506 
255 
274 
199 
13 


11,664 
965 
783 
617 
617 
(18)


14,090 
1,500 
774 
806 
653 
231 

Total costs and expenses

4,990 

6,055 

14,628 

18,054 

Income before income taxes and accounting changes
Provision for income taxes

288 
99 

97 
31 

265 
70 

116 
72 

Income before accounting changes
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of taxes

189 
- - 

66 
- - 

195 
28 

44 
(545)

Net income (loss)

$     189 

$    66 

$    223 

$    (501)

Basic per share:
Income before accounting changes
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of taxes


$  0.76 
- - 


$  0.27 
- - 


$  0.78 
0.11 


$   0.19 
(2.34)

Net income (loss)

$  0.76 

$  0.27 

$  0.89 

$    (2.15)

Diluted per share:
Income before accounting changes
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of taxes


$  0.75 
- - 


$  0.27 
- - 


$  0.78 
0.11 


$   0.19 
(2.33)

Net income (loss)

$  0.75 

$  0.27 

$  0.89 

$    (2.14)

Shares (denominator):
  Weighted average shares outstanding
Dilutive securities:
   Options and restricted stock


250.2 

1.5 


240.6 

0.2 


250.1 

0.5 


233.5 

0.6 

  Total assuming conversion

251.7 

240.8 

250.6 

234.1 

 
 

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

 
 

2


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
Georgia-Pacific Corporation and Subsidiaries

First Nine Months

(In millions, except per share amount)

2003

2002

Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operations:
  Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of taxes
  Other (income) losses, net
  Depreciation, amortization and accretion
  Deferred income taxes
  Increase in receivables
  Decrease (increase) in inventories
  Increase in accounts payable
  Change in other working capital
  Change in taxes payable/receivable
  Change in other assets and other long-term liabilities
  Other


$     223 

(28)
(18)
783 
(67)
(282)
27 
74 

334 
119 
23 


$   (501)

545 
231 
774 
(63)
(211)
(20)
125 
(66)
(11)
(60)
17 

   Cash provided by operations

1,191 

760 

Cash flows from investing activities
Property, plant and equipment investments
Net proceeds from sales of assets
Other


(480)
27 
(26)


(439)
24 
(19)

   Cash used for investing activities

(479)

(434)

Cash flows from financing activities
Repayments of long-term debt
Additions to long-term debt
Fees paid to issue debt
Net decrease in bank overdrafts
Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt
Proceeds from option plan exercises
Employee stock purchase plan
Cash dividends paid ($0.375 per share)


(6,318)
5,680 
(48)
(54)
190 

- - 
(94)


(3,374)
3,390 
(8)
(10)
(264)

37 
(87)

   Cash used for financing activities

(640)

(312)

Increase in cash and equivalents
    Balance at beginning of period

72 
35 

14 
31 

    Balance at end of period

$      107 

$      45 

 
 

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

 
 

3


 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
Georgia-Pacific Corporation and Subsidiaries

(In millions, except shares and per share amounts)

September 27,
2003

December 28,
2002

ASSETS
Current assets
  Cash and equivalents
  Receivables, less allowances of $41 and 39, respectively
  Inventories
  Deferred income tax assets
  Taxes receivable
  Other current assets



$       107 
2,100 
2,126 
35 
- - 
490 



$        35 
1,777 
2,136 
35 
334 
409 

Total current assets

4,858 

4,726 

Property, plant and equipment
  Land, buildings, machinery and equipment, at cost
  Accumulated depreciation


19,201 
(10,135)


18,857 
(9,535)

Property, plant and equipment, net

9,066 

9,322 

Goodwill, net

7,615 

7,663 

Intangible assets, net

662 

676 

Other assets

2,287 

2,242 

Total assets

$   24,488 

$   24,629 

 
 
 

4


 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Continued)
Georgia-Pacific Corporation and Subsidiaries

(In millions, except shares and per share amounts)

September 27,
2003

December 28,
2002

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
  Secured borrowings and other short-term notes
  Current portion of long-term debt
  Accounts payable
  Accrued compensation
  Other current liabilities



$      900 
1,017 
1,554 
250 
1,159 



$     710 
621 
1,532 
291 
891 

Total current liabilities

4,880 

4,045 

Long-term debt, excluding current portion

9,186 

10,185 

Other long-term liabilities

4,165 

4,397 

Deferred income tax liabilities

1,416 

1,442 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)

 

Shareholders' equity
  Preferred stock, no par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized;
    no shares issued or outstanding
  Junior preferred stock, no par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized;
    no shares issued or outstanding
  Common stock, par value $0.80; 400,000,000 shares authorized;
    253,926,000 and 250,238,000 shares issued and outstanding
  Additional paid-in capital
  Retained earnings
  Long-term incentive plan deferred compensation
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss



- 

- 

203 
3,478 
1,597 
(54)
(383)



- 

- 

200 
3,413 
1,468 
(2)
(519)

Total shareholders' equity

4,841 

4,560 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$   24,488 

$   24,629 

 

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

 
 

5


 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Unaudited)
Georgia-Pacific Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

Third Quarter

First Nine Months

(In millions)

2003

2002

2003

2002

Net income (loss)
 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
  Foreign currency translation adjustments
  Derivative instruments
    Fair market value adjustments on derivatives
    Reclassification adjustments for losses included in net income
  Unrealized (loss) gain on securities
  Minimum pension liability adjustment

$      189 



(1)

- 
- 

$      66 

(24)

(5)

(1)
- 

$     223 

127 

(4)


- 

$      (501)

96 

(14)
37 
(1)
(71)

Comprehensive income (loss)

$     193 

$      43 

$     359 

$     (454)

 
 

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

 
 

6


 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION
September 27, 2003

   

 1.

PRINCIPLES OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES. These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Georgia-Pacific Corporation and subsidiaries. We prepared the consolidated financial statements following the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim reporting. As permitted under those rules, certain footnotes or other financial information that are normally required by GAAP (accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America) can be condensed or omitted. All significant intercompany balances and transactions were eliminated in consolidation. We made certain reclassifications to the 2002 consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2003 presentation. During the first quarter of 2003, we realigned our reportable segments for financial reporting purposes to align reporting with our current operating structure.

   
 

We are responsible for the unaudited financial statements included in this document. The financial statements include all normal and recurring adjustments that are considered necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The results of operations of the three and nine month periods ended September 27, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year. These consolidated financial statements and other information included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2002.

   
 

We classify certain shipping and handling costs as selling and distribution expenses. Shipping and handling costs included in selling and distribution expenses were $104 million and $300 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, respectively, and $146 million and $431 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2002, respectively.

   
 

Other (income) losses, net

   
 

The following amounts are included in Other (income) losses, net:

Third Quarter

First Nine Months

(In millions)

2003

2002

2003

2002

Asset impairments:
  Unisource
  Old Town
  White City
  Other
Litigation settlement
Asbestos liability insurance receivable increase
Loss (gain) on asset sales, retirements and disposals


$      - 
- - 
12 
- - 
21 
(118)


$      - 
- - 
- - 
- - 
- - 
- - 
13 


$       - 
74 
12 

21 
(118)
(15)


$      208 
- - 
- - 

- - 
- - 
22 

Other (income) losses, net

$    (81)

$     13 

$    (18)

$     231 

 
 

Stock-Based Compensation

   
 

We account for our stock-based compensation plans under APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and disclose the pro forma effects of the plans on net income and earnings per share as provided by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123, Accounting for Stock-

 
 

7


 

 

Based Compensation ("SFAS No. 123"). Accordingly, because the fair market value on the date of grant was equal to the exercise price, we did not recognize any compensation cost for stock options. In May 2003, certain stock options were exchanged for restricted shares of common stock. Had compensation cost for the options not exchanged been determined based on the fair value at the grant dates during the third quarters and first nine months of 2003 and 2002 under the plan consistent with the method of SFAS No. 123, the pro forma net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share would have been as follows:

Third Quarter
- --------------------------------

First Nine Months
- ----------------------------------

(In millions, except per share amounts)

2003

2002

2003

2002

Net income (loss) as reported
Less total stock-based employee compensation expense
   determined under the fair value based method, net of taxes

$      189 

(2)

$      66 

(5)

$     223 

(10)

$      (501)

(20)

Pro forma net income (loss)

187 

61 

213 

(521)

Stock based employee compensation cost, net of taxes,
   included in the determination of net income as reported




13 


Basic net income (loss) per share:
   As reported
   Pro forma


0.76 
0.75 


0.27 
0.25 


0.89 
0.85 


(2.15)
(2.23)

Diluted net income (loss) per share:
   As reported
   Pro forma


0.75 
0.74 


0.27 
0.25 


0.89 
0.85 


(2.14)
(2.22)

 
 

On May 6, 2003, our shareholders approved a resolution requesting our Board of Directors to establish a policy of expensing the costs of all future stock options. On November 7, 2003, our Board of Directors approved the adoption of SFAS No. 123, commencing with the fourth quarter of 2003, effective at the beginning of 2003. We will utilize the prospective method in accordance with SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation -- Transition and Disclosure, and apply the expense recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to stock options awarded in 2003 and thereafter. The amount of additional compensation expense to be recognized in each quarter of 2003 relating to the 2003 stock option awards is insignificant.

   
   

 

Accounting Changes

   
 

On December 29, 2002, we adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations ("SFAS No. 143"). Under the provisions of SFAS No. 143, entities are required to record the estimated fair value of an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it was incurred.

   
 

Effective December 30, 2001, we adopted SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations ("SFAS No. 141"), and SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets ("SFAS No. 142"). SFAS No 141 requires that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001. SFAS No. 142 requires that entities assess the fair value of the net assets underlying all acquisition-related goodwill on a reporting unit basis.

   
 

In January 2003, the FASB released Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (FIN 46). Fin 46 requires that all primary beneficiaries of Variable Interest Entities (VIE) consolidate that entity. FIN 46 is effective immediately for VIEs created after January 31, 2003 and to VIEs to which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date. It applies in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003, to VIEs in which an enterprise holds a variable interest it acquired before February 1, 2003. In October 2003, the FASB delayed the implementation of FIN 46 until after December 15, 2003, for all entities acquired before February 1, 2003.

 

8


 

The only non-consolidated entity that we have identified as a potential VIE is the GA-MET joint venture partnership. We have a 50% interest in this partnership that owns and operates our main office building in Atlanta, GA. We currently account for our investment in this partnership under the equity method. We are in the process of performing tests to determine if the GA-MET joint venture is a VIE and will finalize our analysis in the fourth quarter of 2003. At September 27, 2003, the GA-MET partnership had assets of $92 million and debt of $129 million.

   

 2.

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES. The effective tax rate in 2003 was different from the statutory rate primarily because of lower international income tax rates, utilization of state tax credits and the first quarter reversal of approximately $10 million of income tax contingency reserves no longer required in Europe. The effective tax rate in 2002 was different from the statutory rate primarily because of the second quarter write-off of nondeductible goodwill, offset somewhat by lower international income tax rates and state tax credits.

   

 3.

EARNINGS PER SHARE. Basic earnings (loss) per share was computed based on net income (loss) and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share reflect the assumed issuance of common shares under long-term incentive stock option, restricted stock and stock purchase plans and pursuant to the terms of the 7.5% Premium Equity Participating Security Units ("PEPS Units") that were redeemed during the third quarter of 2002. The computation of diluted earnings per share does not assume conversion or exercise of securities that would have an antidilutive effect on earnings per share.

   

 4.

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES -- CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS. The cash impact of interest and income taxes is reflected in the table below. The effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash was not material in either period.

   
   

      First nine months

 

(In millions)

2003

2002

   
 

Total interest costs
Interest capitalized

$      622  
(5)

$      659  
(6)

 

Interest expense

$      617  

$      653  

 

Interest paid

$      525  

$      608  

 

Income tax (refunds received) paid, net

$     (236)

$      104  

 

Redemption of senior deferrable notes and issuance of
   common stock


$         
-  


$      863  

   

 5.

ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES. During the second quarter of 2003, we sold certain packaging assets and recorded a pre-tax gain of $18 million in the packaging segment. This gain was reflected in "Other (income) losses, net" in the accompanying statements of operations.

   
 

Effective November 2, 2002, we sold a 60% controlling interest in Unisource Worldwide, Inc. ("Unisource"), our paper distribution business, to an affiliate of Bain Capital Partners, LLC, and retained the remaining 40% equity interest in Unisource. In connection with this disposal, we recorded a pretax loss of $298 million ($30 million after taxes) in the fourth quarter of 2002 in the paper distribution segment. In addition, we entered into a financing lease arrangement with a third party regarding certain warehouse facilities used by Unisource. As part of these transactions, we:

 
 

9


 

a)

received $471 million in cash during fiscal 2002 in connection with the disposition and repaid debt;

 

b)

received $169 million in cash as a result of the financing lease arrangement accounted for by us as a capital lease;

 

c)

received two payment-in-kind notes from Unisource for $70 million and $100 million, which accrue interest at an annual interest rate of 7% and 8%, respectively, and mature in November 2012; and

 

d)

entered into a sublease with Unisource for certain warehouses retained by us.

   
 

In addition, in the second quarter of 2003, we received a cash refund of more than $193 million from the related income tax benefit of the Unisource sale.

   
 

As part of this transaction, we entered into a loan agreement with Unisource pursuant to which we agreed to provide, subject to certain conditions, a $100 million subordinated secured loan to Unisource. This subordinated loan, if drawn, will mature in May 2008 and bears interest at a fluctuating rate based on LIBOR. No amounts were outstanding under this loan at September 27, 2003. In addition, we have also agreed to provide certain employee benefits and other administrative services to Unisource pursuant to an agreement with a two-year term. We also agreed to provide certain insurance coverage (including related letters of credit) to Unisource, generally for a period of five years, including workers' compensation, general liability, automobile liability and property insurance.

   
 

Beginning in November 2002, we have accounted for our 40% investment in Unisource using the equity method and have reported its results in the bleached pulp and paper segment.

   
 

During the first nine months of 2002, we disposed of and sold various assets for a total of $24 million in cash and recognized a pretax loss of $22 million that was reflected in "Other (income) losses, net" in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

   
 

In September 2003, we announced that we are exploring strategic alternatives for our building products distribution business, including its possible sale.

   

 6.

ASSET IMPAIRMENT AND RESTRUCTURING. On October 15, 2003, we announced that we would idle chemical production operations at our White City, Ore., facility. The determination to close the chemical operations was based on continued decline in demand for urea formaldehyde resins. In connection with this announcement, we determined that the value of related chemical producing assets at this location was impaired. Accordingly, in the third quarter of 2003, we recorded a pre tax impairment charge to earnings in the building products segment of $12 million. Following the impairment charge, the carrying value of the related assets was approximately $5 million. In addition, we recorded a pre tax charge of approximately $2 million for employee termination costs in the third quarter of 2003. Any further severance or business exit costs associated with the idled operations will be charged to earnings when the related liability is incurred. The fair value of the impaired assets was determined by an independent appraisal. The impairment charge was recorded in "Other (income) losses, net" in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 
 

10


 

On April 4, 2003, we announced that we would close tissue-manufacturing and converting operations at our Old Town, Maine mill. The mill's pulp and dryer operations are continuing to operate. The determination to close the tissue operations was based on excess capacity of tissue production, the mill's geographic location and high energy and fiber costs. In connection with this closure, we determined that the value of related tissue assets and certain pulp assets at this location was impaired. Accordingly, in the first quarter of 2003, we recorded a pre tax impairment charge to earnings in the North America consumer products segment and bleached pulp and paper segment of $25 million and $49 million, respectively. In the second quarter of 2003, we recorded a pre-tax charge of $7 million and $4 million in the North America consumer products segment for related severance and business exit costs, respectively. Following the impairment charge, the carrying value of fixed assets was approximately $75 million. In the third quarter of 2003, we recorded a pre tax credit of $2 million for business exit cost accruals that were no longer needed at the Old Town mill. Any further severance or business exit costs associated with the closed operations will be charged to earnings when the related liability is incurred. The fair value of the impaired assets was determined using the present value of expected future cash flows. The impairment charge was recorded in "Other losses, net" in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

   
 

On May 2, 2003, the Governor of Maine announced an economic support plan that will enable us to restart one of our closed tissue machines along with eight converting lines and retain related manufacturing and support personnel at our Old Town Mill. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, none of the impairment charge recorded in the first quarter of 2003 has been reversed.

   
 

In connection with the acquisition of Fort James, we recorded liabilities totaling approximately $78 million for employee termination costs relating to approximately 960 hourly and salaried employees. In addition, we determined that we would strategically reposition our communication papers business to focus on faster-growing paper segments by retiring four high-cost paper machines and associated pulping facilities at our Camas, Washington mill and recorded liabilities of approximately $26 million to exit these activities. In addition, we recorded liabilities of $35 million primarily for lease and contract termination costs at administrative facilities that have been or will be closed in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Virginia, Wisconsin and Europe. During 2002 and 2001, approximately 779 employees were terminated and approximately $69 million of the reserve was used to pay termination benefits. During the first nine months of 2003, approximately 161 employees were termina ted and approximately $5 million of the reserve was used to pay termination benefits. The remaining employee terminations and Camas closing activities (primarily demolition activities) are expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2004 due to timing of receipt of the requisite permits. The leases and contracts at the administrative facilities expire through 2012. The following table provides a rollforward of these reserves from December 28, 2002 through September 27, 2003:

   
 

Type of Cost

(In millions)

Liability
Balance at
December 28, 2002

Use

Liability
Balance at
Sept. 27, 2003

 

 

Employee termination
Facility closing costs

$     9
48

$   (5)
(16)

$      4
32

 

 

Total

$   57

$   (21)

$    36

 

 
 

11


 

 7.

INVENTORY VALUATION. Inventories include costs of materials, labor, and plant overhead. We use the dollar value method for computing LIFO inventories. The major components of inventories were as follows:

   
 

(In millions)

September 27,
2003

December 28,
2002

 

Raw materials
Finished goods
Supplies
LIFO reserve

$            595  
1,112  
520  
(101)

$           590  
1,116  
507  
(77)

 

Total inventories

$          2,126  

$         2,136  

   

 8.

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS. Effective December 30, 2001, we adopted SFAS No. 141 and SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 141 eliminates the pooling of interests method of accounting for business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001. SFAS No. 142 requires that entities assess the fair value of the net assets underlying all acquisition-related goodwill on a reporting unit basis effective beginning in 2002. When the fair value is less than the related carrying value, entities are required to reduce the amount of goodwill. Our reporting units are: structural panels; lumber; industrial wood products; gypsum; chemical; building products distribution; packaging; pulp; paper; North American tissue, towel and napkin; Dixie, and international consumer products.

   
 

The adoption of SFAS No. 142 required us to perform an initial impairment assessment on all goodwill as of the beginning of 2002 for each of our reporting units. In this assessment, we compared the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. The fair values of the reporting units were calculated based on the present value of expected future cash flows. The assumptions used in these discounted cash flow analyses were consistent with the reporting unit's internal planning. The cumulative effect of the adoption of this accounting principle was an after-tax charge to earnings of $545 million ($2.33 diluted loss per share) effective at the beginning of fiscal year 2002. The $545 million goodwill impairment related only to our former Unisource paper distribution reporting unit. The principal facts and circumstances leading to the impairment of the paper distribution reporting unit's goodwill included a diminution of synergies originally expected to be received from the white paper mills sold to Domtar, Inc. in 2001, and changes in the marketplace for coated and uncoated free sheet paper subsequent to the acquisition of Unisource.

   
 

On August 13, 2002, we entered into a letter of intent to sell a 60% controlling interest in our Unisource paper distribution business to Bain Capital Partners, LLC. Based on the terms of this letter of intent, we concluded that the fair value of this business was further diminished. Accordingly, in the second quarter of 2002, we recorded an after-tax charge of $170 million, which is comprised of an additional goodwill impairment charge of $106 million and a pretax long-lived asset impairment charge of $102 million ($64 million after tax) in the paper distribution segment.

   
 

During the first nine months of 2003, we reduced goodwill by $92 million for certain deferred taxes and tax contingencies recorded in connection with the Fort James acquisition that were no longer required.

 
 

12


 

 

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the first nine months of 2003 are as follows:

(In millions)

North America Consumer Products

International Consumer Products

Packaging

Bleached Pulp and Paper

Balance as of December 28, 2002
Reclassifications
Goodwill acquired during the year
Foreign currency translation

$  5,938 
(75)
- 
- 

$    785 
(17)

- -
 
38 

$    631 


- - 

$    275 

- - 
- - 

Balance as of September 27, 2003

$  5,863 

$    806 

$    637 

$    275 

 

 

(In millions)

Building Products Manufacturing

Building Products Distribution

All Other

Consolidated

Balance as of December 28, 2002
Reclassifications
Goodwill acquired during the year
Foreign currency translation

$    34 

- - 

$      

- - 
- - 

$      

- - 
- - 

$   7,663 
(92)

38 

Balance as of September 27, 2003

$    34 

$      - 

$      - 

$   7,615 

 
 

In order to align our goodwill impairment analysis with our strategic forecasting and to provide adequate time to complete the analysis each year, beginning in 2003 we changed the period in which we perform our annual goodwill impairment test from the fourth fiscal quarter to the third fiscal quarter of each year.

 
 

13


 

 

 

Intangible Assets

   
 

The following table sets forth information for intangible assets subject to amortization:

   
   

As of September 27, 2003

As of December 28, 2002

 


(In millions)

Gross Carrying
Amount

Accumulated
Amortization

Gross Carrying
Amount

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Trademarks
Patents and
  other

$   619 

128 

$   37 

48 

$   618 

122 

$   28 

36 

 

   Total

$   747 

$   85 

$   740 

$   64 

   
 

Aggregate Amortization Expense:
    First nine months of 2003

Estimated Amortization Expense:
    For fiscal year 2003
    For fiscal year 2004
    For fiscal year 2005
    For fiscal year 2006
    For fiscal year 2007


$    23 
=====

$   29 
29 
29 
20 
20 

 
   

 9.

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS. Effective December 29, 2002, we changed our method of accounting for asset retirement obligations in accordance with SFAS No. 143. Under SFAS No. 143, we recognize asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred if a reasonable estimate of the fair value can be made. When the liability is initially recorded, we capitalize the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, we will recognize a gain or loss for any difference between the settlement amount and the liability recorded.

   
 

The cumulative effect of the change on prior years resulted in an after-tax credit to income of $28 million (net of income taxes of $19 million), or $0.11 diluted earnings per share, for the first nine months of 2003. The effect of the change on the first nine months of 2003 was to decrease income before the cumulative effect of the accounting changes by approximately $3 million related to depreciation and accretion expense recorded during the period. The pro forma effects of the application of SFAS No. 143 as if the statement had been adopted on December 30, 2001 (instead of December 29, 2002) are presented below (pro forma amounts assuming the accounting change is applied retroactively, net of tax):

 
 

14


 

 

(in millions, except per share amounts)

Third Quarter

First Nine Months

   

2003

2002

2003

2002

 

Income before accounting changes, as reported
Add back: landfill closure expense recorded
Depreciation expense
Accretion expense

$       189 
- - 
- - 
- - 

$     66  
1  
- -  
(1)

$      195 
- - 
- - 
- - 

$     44  
3  
- -  
(2)

 

Pro forma income before accounting changes

$     189 

$      66  

$     195 

$     45  

 

Pro forma basic income before accounting
   change, per share
Pro forma diluted income before accounting
   change, per share


$     0.76 

$     0.75 


$   0.27  

$   0.27  


$   0.78 

$   0.78 


$   0.19  

$   0.19  

   
 

Our asset retirement obligations consist primarily of landfill capping and closure and post-closure costs and quarry reclamation costs. We are legally required to perform capping and closure and post-closure care on the landfills and reclamation on the quarries. In accordance with SFAS No. 143, for each landfill and quarry we recognized the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation and capitalized that cost as part of the cost basis of the related asset. The related assets are being depreciated on a straight-line basis over 25-years. We have additional asset retirement obligations with indeterminate settlement dates; the fair value of these asset retirement obligations cannot be estimated due to the lack of sufficient information to estimate a range of potential settlement dates for the obligation. An asset retirement obligation related to these assets will be recognized when we know such information.

   
 

The following table describes changes to our asset retirement obligation liability:

   
 

(In millions)

First Nine Months 2003

 

Asset retirement obligation at the beginning of the year
Net transition adjustment
Accretion expense

$      69  
(20)
3  

 

Asset retirement obligation at the end of the third quarter

$      52  

   
 

The actual and pro forma asset retirement obligation liability balances as if SFAS No. 143 had been adopted on December 30, 2001 (instead of December 29, 2002) were as follows:

   
 

(In millions)

September 27,
2003
(actual)

December 28,
2002
(pro forma)

 

Liability for asset retirement
   obligations at beginning of period
Liability for asset retirement
   obligations at end of period


$    49 

$    52 


$    44 

$    49 

 
 

15


 

10.

DEBT. Our total debt decreased by $413 million to $11,103 million at September 27, 2003 from $11,516 million at December 28, 2002. At September 27, 2003, the weighted average interest rate on our total debt, including outstanding interest rate exchange agreements, was 6.78%.

   
 

As of September 27, 2003, we had $900 million outstanding under our accounts receivable secured borrowing program, which expires in December 2003. G-P Receivables, Inc. ("G-P Receivables") is a wholly owned subsidiary and is the special purpose entity into which the receivables of participating domestic subsidiaries are sold. G-P Receivables, in turn, sells an interest in the receivables to the various banks and entities. This program is accounted for as a secured borrowing. The receivables outstanding under these programs and the corresponding debt are included as both "Receivables" and "Secured borrowings and other short-term notes," respectively, in the accompanying balance sheets. As collections reduce previously pledged interests, new receivables may be pledged. G-P Receivables is a separate corporate entity and its assets will be available first and foremost to satisfy the claims of its creditors.

   
 

On June 3, 2003, we completed a $500 million senior notes offering, consisting of $350 million of 7.375% notes due in 2008 and $150 million of 8% notes due in 2014, all of which were guaranteed by Fort James Corporation and Fort James Operating Company, a subsidiary of Fort James Corporation. The 8% senior notes due 2014 will be callable at our option beginning in 2009. Net proceeds from the offering were used to pay down a portion of our Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility. On October 3, 2003, we completed an offer to exchange these notes. We have paid approximately $8 million in fees and expenses associated with these transactions. The fees are being amortized over the term of the senior notes.

   
 

On January 30, 2003, we completed a $1.5 billion of senior notes offering, consisting of $800 million of 9.375% notes due in 2013 and $700 million of 8.875% notes due in 2010, all of which were guaranteed by Fort James Corporation. In the fourth quarter of 2003, we intend to cause Fort James Operating Company to guarantee these notes as well. The 9.375% notes due in 2013 are callable at our option beginning in 2008. Net proceeds from the offering were used to completely repay the Senior Capital Markets Bridge Facility, and to pay down approximately $1 billion outstanding under our Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility. On September 9, 2003, we completed an offer to exchange these notes. We have paid approximately $34 million in fees and expenses associated with these transactions. The fees are being amortized over the term of these senior notes.

   
 

On September 1, 2003 and August 1, 2003, a $10 million variable rate industrial revenue bond and a $1 million, 6.88% industrial revenue bond matured, respectively. Also, on August 22, 2003, a $300 million variable rate note matured.

   
 

On September 30, 2003, Moody's Investors Service announced that it had assigned our revolving credit facility debt a rating of SGL-3, which indicates adequate liquidity. On January 21, 2003, Moody's Investors Service announced that it had downgraded our senior implied and issuer debt ratings from Ba1 to Ba2 and our senior unsecured notes from Ba1 to Ba3. On January 29, 2003, Fitch Ratings announced that it had lowered our senior unsecured long-term debt ratings from BB+ to BB and withdrew our commercial paper rating. On September 27, 2002, Standard & Poor's changed our long-term corporate credit rating to "BB-plus" from "BBB-minus" and our short-term rating to "B" from "A-3."

   
 

The indentures associated with the $500 million and $1.5 billion senior notes offerings completed on June 3, 2003 and January 30, 2003, respectively, allow Georgia-Pacific and the guarantors of the senior notes to incur any debt so long as we meet a fixed charges coverage ratio of 2.00 to 1.00 (as defined in the indentures). In addition, we can incur other items of permitted debt (as defined in the indentures) without being in compliance with the fixed charge coverage ratio. The senior notes indentures allow us to make restricted payments if certain conditions are met. We can, however, make permitted payments without complying with such conditions. These offerings also contain various non-financial covenants. We were in compliance with these debt covenants as of September 27, 2003.

 
 

16


 

 

We elected to reduce the commitments under the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility effective June 6, 2003. Amounts available thereunder are now comprised of (i) $2,500 million in revolving loans and (ii) $500 million in term loans due November 2005.

   
 

Borrowings under the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at market rates. These interest rates may be adjusted according to a rate grid based on our debt ratings. Fees include a facility fee of 0.4% per annum on the aggregate commitments of the lenders as well as up-front fees. As of September 27, 2003, we paid $8 million in commitment fees and $4 million in amendment fees. Fees and margins may also be adjusted according to a pricing grid based on our debt ratings. At September 27, 2003, $791 million was borrowed under the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility, at a weighted-average interest rate of 3.3%. Amounts outstanding under the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility are included in "Long-term debt, excluding current portion" on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

   
 

The amounts outstanding under our Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility include the following:

   


(In millions)

September 27, 2003

 

Commitments:
  Revolving Loans
  Term Loans


$   2,500  
500  

 

Credit facilities available

3,000  

 

Amounts Outstanding:
  Letter of Credit Agreements*
  Revolving Loans due November 2005, average rate of 3.29%
  Term Loans due November 2005, average rate of 3.37%


(597)
(291)
(500)

 

Total credit balance

(1,388)

 

Total credit available

$   1,612  

 

                       

 
 

*

The Letter of Credit Agreements only include Standby Letters of Credit from Bank of America.

   
 

The Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility requires a maximum leverage ratio (as defined in the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility agreement) of 67.50% on September 27, 2003 and January 3, 2004; and 65.00% on April 3, 2004 and thereafter. The restrictive covenants also require a minimum interest coverage ratio (as defined in the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility agreement), of 2.25 to 1.00 on September 27, 2003 and January 3, 2004; 2.50 to 1.00 on April 3, 2004; 2.75 to 1.00 on July 3, 2004; and 3.00 to 1.00 on October 2, 2004 and thereafter. In addition, the restrictive covenants require a minimum net worth (as defined in the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility agreement) that changes quarterly and a maximum debt level of $12,594 for so long as our leverage ratio exceeds 65.00%. We were in compliance with these debt covenants as of September 27, 2003, with a leverage ratio of 64.12%, an interest coverage ratio of 2.46 to 1.00, a debt balance (as defined in the Multi-Yea r Revolving Credit Facility agreement) of $10,933 million and an adjusted net worth as defined below:

 
 

17


 

       
 


(In millions)

September 27,
2003

 

 

Adjusted Net Worth:
  Net Worth
  Goodwill impairments
  Minimum Pension Liability


$   4,841  
651  
625  

 

 

Adjusted Net Worth

6,117  

 

 

Required Net Worth:
  80% of Net Worth as of the Credit Agreement closing date
  50% of Net Income from fourth quarter 2000 to third quarter 2003*
  Proceeds of new capital stock or other equity interests from fourth quarter 2000
    to second quarter 2003
  The Timber Company Net Worth


4,650  
191  

1,081  
(329)

 

 

Required Net Worth

5,593  

 

 

Adjusted Net Worth surplus

$     524  

 

 
 

                       

 

*

Does not include quarters with net losses.

 

Our borrowing arrangements contain a number of financial and non-financial covenants, which restrict our activities. The more significant financial covenants are discussed above. In addition, certain agreements contain cross-default provisions.

   

 

Our continued compliance with these restrictive covenants is dependent on substantially achieving the current 2003 forecast, which is dependent on a number of factors, many of which are outside of our control. We believe the forecast is reasonable and we will remain in compliance with these covenants. Should events occur that result in noncompliance, we believe there are remedies available that are acceptable to our lenders and us.

   
 

Interest rate exchange agreements with a notional amount of $300 million matured on August 22, 2003. For the first nine months of 2003, interest rate exchange agreements increased interest expense by $9 million.

   
 

At September 27, 2003, we also had interest rate exchange agreements (a collar) that effectively capped $47 million of floating rate obligations to a maximum interest rate of 7.5% and established a minimum interest rate on these obligations of 5.5%. Our interest expense is unaffected by this agreement when the market interest rate falls within this range. During the first nine months of 2003, these agreements decreased interest expense by approximately $2 million. The agreements had a weighted-average maturity of approximately two years at September 27, 2003.

   
 

As of September 27, 2003, we had $1.5 billion of debt and equity securities available for issuance under a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2000.

 
 
 

18


 

11.

RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS COST SHARING. In April 2003, we changed the way that we share retiree medical costs for all of our active salaried employees and the majority of our retired salaried employees. This cost sharing change shifts all of the remaining retiree medical costs to the impacted plan participants over the next three to five years. Accordingly, at the end of the five-year period, we will no longer incur retiree medical costs for these impacted plan participants. This change results in a reduction to the retiree medical liability. The net effect of this reduction, approximately $107 million, is being amortized over 15 years, which represents the average expected remaining lives of remaining plan participants.

   

12.

OPTION EXCHANGE PROGRAM. On May 6, 2003, our shareholders approved a plan to offer eligible employees the opportunity to exchange certain outstanding stock options for restricted shares of our common stock and exchange certain outstanding stock appreciation rights ("SARs") for replacement SARs. On June 5, 2003, we completed this exchange program whereby eligible employees exchanged approximately 9,084,000 stock options with exercise prices ranging from $18.64 per share to $41.59 per share for 3,363,000 restricted shares of common stock valued at $17.77 per share. In addition, eligible employees exchanged approximately 3,286,000 SARs with exercise prices ranging from $24.44 per share to $29.47 per share for 2,640,000 replacement SARs with an exercise price of $17.77 per share. These restricted shares and replacement SARs vest in three annual installments, 25% each on June 5, 2004 and 2005, and 50% on June 5, 2006. Total compensation expense to be recognized over the three- year vesting period related to the restricted stock is approximately $59.8 million. The replacement SARs receive variable accounting treatment. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, we recognized compensation expense of $8.4 million and $10.3 million, respectively, related to the restricted stock and replacement SARs issued under this exchange program.

   

13.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES. We are involved in various legal proceedings incidental to our business and are subject to a variety of environmental and pollution control laws and regulations in all jurisdictions in which we operate. As is the case with other companies in similar industries, Georgia-Pacific faces exposure from actual or potential claims and legal proceedings involving environmental matters. Liability insurance in effect during the last several years provides only very limited coverage for environmental matters.

   
 

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

   
 

We are involved in environmental remediation activities at approximately 171 sites, both owned by us and owned by others, where we have been notified that we are or may be a potentially responsible party ("PRP") under the United States Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") or similar state "superfund" laws. Of the known sites in which we are involved, we estimate that approximately 40% are being investigated, approximately 20% are being remediated and approximately 40% are being monitored (an activity that occurs after either site investigation or remediation has been completed). The ultimate costs to us for the investigation, remediation and monitoring of many of these sites cannot be predicted with certainty, due to the often unknown nature and magnitude of the pollution or the necessary cleanup, the varying costs of alternative cleanup methods, the amount of time necessary to accomplish the cleanups, the evolving nature of cleanup t echnologies and governmental regulations, and the inability to determine our share of multiparty cleanups or the extent to which contribution will be available from other parties, all of which factors are taken into account to the extent possible in estimating our liabilities. We have established reserves for environmental remediation costs for these sites that we believe are probable and reasonably able to be estimated. To the extent that we are aware of unasserted claims, consider them probable, and can estimate their potential costs, we include appropriate amounts in the reserves.

   
 

Based on analyses of currently available information and previous experience with respect to the cleanup of hazardous substances, we believe it is reasonably possible that costs associated with these sites may exceed current reserves by amounts that may prove insignificant or that could range, in the aggregate, up to approximately $127 million. This estimate of the range of reasonably possible additional costs is less

 
 

19


 

 

certain than the estimates upon which reserves are based, and in order to establish the upper limit of this range, assumptions least favorable to us among the range of reasonably possible outcomes were used. In estimating both our current reserve for environmental remediation and the possible range of additional costs, we have not assumed we will bear the entire cost of remediation of every site to the exclusion of other known PRPs who may be jointly and severally liable. The ability of other PRPs to participate has been taken into account, based generally on their financial condition and probable contribution on a per-site basis.

   
 

Presented below is the activity in our environmental liability account for the last three fiscal years and first nine months of 2003 and 2002.

   
 


In millions

First Nine Months


Fiscal Year Ended

 

 

2003

2002

2002

2001

2000

 

Beginning balance
Expense charged to earnings:
  Related to previously existing matters
  Related to new matters
Amounts related to acquisitions/(divestitures):
  Amounts assumed by others in divestitures
  Original purchase price allocations
  Changes in allocation of purchase price
Reclassification of reserves
Payments

$   306  

-  
-  

-  
-  
-  
(3)
(6)

$   318 

13  
-  

-  
-  
-  
-  
(18)

$   318  

14  
-  

-  
-  
-  
-  
(26)

$   121  

2  
15  

-  
-  
207  
-  
(27)

$    57  

29  
2  

-  
49  
-  
-  
(16)

 

Ending balance

$    297  

$   313  

$   306  

$   318  

$   121  

   
 

KALAMAZOO RIVER SUPERFUND SITE

   
 

We are currently implementing an Administrative Order by Consent ("AOC") entered into with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("United States EPA") regarding an investigation of the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site. The Kalamazoo River Superfund Site is comprised of 35 miles of the Kalamazoo River, three miles of Portage Creek and a number of operable units in the form of landfills, waste disposal areas and impoundments. We became a PRP for the site in December 1990 by signing the AOC. There are two other named PRPs at this time. The contaminant of concern is polychlorinated biphenyls ("PCBs") in the river sediments and residuals in the landfills and waste disposal areas.

   
 

A draft Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study ("RI/FS") for the Kalamazoo River was submitted to the State of Michigan on October 30, 2000 by us and other PRPs. The draft RI/FS evaluated five remedial options ranging from no action to total dredging of the river and off-site disposal of the dredged materials. In February 2001, the PRPs, at the request of the State of Michigan, also evaluated 9 additional potential remedies. The cost for these remedial options ranges from $0 to $2.5 billion. The draft RI/FS recommends a remedy involving stabilization of over twenty miles of riverbank and long-term monitoring of the riverbed. The total cost for this remedy is approximately $73 million. It is unknown over what timeframe these costs will be paid out. The United States EPA has taken over management of the RI/FS and is evaluating the proposed remedy. We cannot predict what impact or change will result from the United States EPA's assuming management of the site.

   
 

We are paying 50% of the costs for the river portion of the RI/FS investigation based on an interim allocation. This 50% interim allocation includes the share assumed by Fort James prior to its acquisition by us. Several other companies have been identified by government agencies as PRPs, and all but one is believed to be financially viable. We are currently engaged in cost recovery litigation against two other parties, and have identified several more parties that may have some share of liability for the river.

 
 

20


 

 

As part of implementing the AOC, we have investigated the closure of two disposal areas which are contaminated with PCBs. The cost to remediate one of the disposal areas, the King Highway Landfill, was approximately $9 million. The remediation of that area is essentially complete and we are waiting for final approval of the closure from the State of Michigan. A 30-year post-closure care period will begin upon receipt of closure approval. Expenditures accrued for post-closure care will be made over the following 30 years. We are solely responsible for closure and post closure care of the King Highway Landfill.

   
 

It is anticipated that the cost for closure of the second disposal area, the Willow Boulevard/A Site landfill, will be approximately $8 million. We are still negotiating the final closure agreement with the State of Michigan. It is anticipated these costs will be paid out over the next five years, and for post-closure care for 30 years following certification of the closure. We are solely responsible for closure and post-closure care of the Willow Boulevard portion of the landfill, and are sharing investigation costs for the A Site portion of the landfill with Millennium Holdings on an equal basis. A final determination as to how closure and post-closure costs for the A Site will be allocated between us and Millennium Holdings has not been made, however, our share should not exceed 50%.

   
 

We have spent approximately $32.6 million on the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site through September 27, 2003 broken down as follows:

   
   

Site

 

(in millions)

 
   

River

 

$  18.5

 
   

King Highway

 

9.3

 
   

A Site

 

1.7

 
   

Willow Blvd.

 

                 3.1

 
       

           $  32.6

 
   
 

All of these amounts were charged to earnings.

   
 

The reserve for the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site is based on the assumption that the bank stabilization remedy will be selected as the final remedy by the United States EPA and the State of Michigan, and that the costs of the remedy will be shared by several other PRPs. Based on analyses of currently available information and previous experience with respect to the cleanup of hazardous substances, we believe that the reserves are adequate; however, it is reasonably possible that costs associated with the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site may exceed current reserves by amounts that may prove insignificant or that could range, in the aggregate, up to approximately $70 million.

   
 

FOX RIVER SUPERFUND SITE

   
 

The Fox River site in Wisconsin is comprised of 39 miles of the Fox River and Green Bay. The site was nominated by the United States EPA (but never finally designated) as a Superfund Site due to contamination of the river by PCBs through wastewater discharged from the recycling of carbonless copy paper from 1953-1971. We became a PRP through our acquisition of Fort James.

   
 

In late July of 2003, WDNR issued a Record of Decision ("ROD") setting forth a cleanup plan for the lower portions of the Fox River, including the area into which the Fort James mill discharged wastewater. The ROD now estimates the total cost of the cleanup at approximately $400 million. We are analyzing the ROD to understand its critical assumptions, including among others the volume of sediment to be dredged, the assumed cost of such dredging, the methods of disposing of the dredged wastes, and the possible use of remedies other than dredging. In addition, our share of the total cleanup cost has not been determined. Until these and other factors are known, we continue to believe our reserves for the cleanup are adequate, but depending on the resolution of such factors it is reasonably possible that our share of the total cleanup cost may not utilize our entire reserves, or it may exceed our reserves by amounts that could range from insignificant up to approximately $20 m illion.

 
 

21


 

 

Six other companies have been identified by the governments as PRPs, most of which are believed to be financially viable. Under an interim allocation, we are paying 30 percent of costs incurred by the PRPs in analyzing and responding to the various agency reports, including the RI/FS and PRAP. We believe our ultimate liability will be less than 30 percent. It is unknown over what timeframe these costs will be paid out.

   
 

We have spent approximately $34.0 million from 1995 to September 27, 2003 on the Fox River site, some of which was spent by Fort James prior to its acquisition by Georgia-Pacific.

   
 

We have entered into an agreement with the WDNR and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service ("FWS") that would settle claims for natural resource damages under CERCLA, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and state law for approximately $12.5 million, and to date have paid approximately $8.7 million of this amount. The agreement will be effective when entered by a Federal District Court in Wisconsin. The United States Department of Justice moved in March of 2003 for the agreement to be entered by the Federal District Court. The $12.5 million to be paid under this agreement is separate and apart from any costs related to remediation of the Fox River site.

   
 

In 1999 Georgia-Pacific and Chesapeake Corporation formed a joint venture to which a Chesapeake subsidiary, Wisconsin Tissue Mills, Inc., contributed tissue mills and other assets located along the Fox River. Wisconsin Tissue is one of the PRPs for the Fox River site. Chesapeake and Wisconsin Tissue specifically retained all liabilities arising from Wisconsin Tissue's status as a PRP, and indemnified the joint venture and us against these liabilities. In 2001, we (having acquired all of Chesapeake's interest) sold this joint venture to Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (publ) ("SCA") and indemnified SCA and the joint venture against all environmental liabilities (including all liabilities arising from the Fox River site for which Wisconsin Tissue is ultimately responsible) arising prior to the closing of the SCA sale. As part of the agreement pursuant to which we acquired Chesapeake's interest in the joint venture, Chesapeake specifically agreed that we would retain Chesapeake's prior indemnification for these liabilities.

   
 

WHATCOM WATERWAY SUPERFUND SITE

   
 

The Whatcom Waterway is a Federal channel located adjacent to our pulp and paper mill in Bellingham, Washington. The State declared the Whatcom Waterway a Superfund site due to historical contamination of sediments with woody debris, phenolics and mercury. On March 6, 1995, the Washington Department of Ecology named us as a Potentially Liable Party ("PLP") in the case. The State is presently preparing to name other PLPs in the case.

   
 

We completed an RI/FS and identified a preferred remedial alternative comprised of a combination of dredging, capping and habitat restoration with a total estimated cost of $23 million. It is anticipated these costs will be paid out over the next 5 to 10 years. We have completed interim remedial action and habitat restoration of a portion of the site. Environmental monitoring of this portion of the site is ongoing. The reserve for the Whatcom Waterway site is based on the assumptions that the $23 million proposed remedy involving limited dredging and capping will be selected by the State of Washington as the final remedy and that the cost of the remedy will be shared among a small group of PLPs.

   
 

We have spent approximately $3.4 million through September 27, 2003 on the Whatcom Waterway site, all of which was charged to earnings.

 
 

22


 

 

ASBESTOS LITIGATION

   
 

We, and many other companies, are defendants in suits brought in various courts around the nation by plaintiffs who allege that they have suffered personal injury as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products. Our asbestos liabilities relate primarily to joint systems products manufactured by Bestwall Gypsum Company and our gypsum business that contained small amounts of asbestos fiber. We acquired Bestwall in 1965, and discontinued using asbestos in the manufacture of these products in 1977.

   
 

These suits allege a variety of lung and other diseases based on alleged exposure to our products. In many cases, the plaintiffs are unable to demonstrate that they have suffered any compensable loss as a result of their exposure, or that any injuries they have incurred did in fact result from exposure to our products. Virtually all asbestos suits involve multiple defendants and seek money damages. We are unable to provide any meaningful disclosure about the total amount of these damages, for the following reasons: First, we do not track this data in any form since we do not consider the amount of damages, if any, alleged in the initial complaint relevant in assessing our exposure to asbestos liabilities. Second, we previously reviewed this issue and estimated that only a small percentage of the claims then pending against us contained any specific demand for damages, as opposed to a general demand for damages as the plaintiff may prove at trial, or a demand which was stated a s being in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limit of a particular court. Third, even those complaints which did contain a specific damage demand nearly always involved multiple defendants (anywhere from 30 to over 100), most of which never manufactured joint systems products. As part of that prior review (which we have not updated), we did not identify any complaint which stated a specific demand for money damages solely from us. Finally, even for claims which allege specific damages, plaintiffs' lawyers often allege the same amount of damages regardless of the specific disease a plaintiff may have. In addition, in many cases no specific disease is alleged, and thus the damages alleged are meaningless because the ultimate settlement value of any claim is significantly influenced by the actual disease the plaintiff is able to prove.

   
 

The following table presents information about the approximate number of Georgia-Pacific's asbestos claims during the past three fiscal years and the first nine months of each of 2003 and 2002:

   
   

First Nine Months

Fiscal Year Ended

   

2003

2002

2002

2001

2000

 

Claims Filed 1

34,100

32,200

41,700

39,700

55,600

 

Claims Resolved 2

35,900

28,100

35,100

30,900

46,000

 

Claims Unresolved at End of Period

67,000

66,300

68,800

62,200

53,400

   

                       

   

1

Claims Filed includes all asbestos claims for which service has been received and/or a file has been opened by Georgia-Pacific.

       
   

2

Claims Resolved includes asbestos claims which have been settled or dismissed or which are in the process of being settled or dismissed based upon agreements or understandings in place with counsel for the claimants.

 
 

In addition, Fort James Corporation, our wholly-owned subsidiary, currently is defending approximately 810 asbestos premises liability claims.

   
 

From the commencement of this litigation through September 27, 2003, we either had settled, had dismissed or were in the process of settling a total of approximately 305,600 asbestos claims. For this same period our asbestos payments, for liability, defense and administration, before insurance recoveries and tax benefits, totaled approximately $574 million. We generally settle asbestos claims for amounts we consider reasonable given the facts and circumstances of each claim.

   
 

In the Fall of 2001, we retained National Economic Research Associates (NERA) and Peterson Consulting, nationally recognized consultants in asbestos liability and insurance, to work with us to project the amount, net of insurance, that we would pay for our asbestos-related liabilities and defense costs through 2011. Based on the analysis of NERA and Peterson Consulting, at the end of 2001 we established reserves for the

 
 

23


 

 

probable and reasonably estimable asbestos liabilities and defense costs we believed we would pay through 2011, and established receivables for insurance recoveries that were deemed probable. In the fourth quarter of 2001, we recorded a pre-tax charge to earnings of $350 million to cover the projected asbestos liabilities and defense costs, net of expected insurance recoveries, we expected to pay through 2011.

   
 

NERA's estimate was based on historical data supplied by us and publicly available studies. NERA concluded that, based on the latency periods of asbestos-related diseases (both cancers and non-cancers), the peak incidence of these diseases occurred prior to 2002. It expected, based on the last dates of manufacture of asbestos-containing products in the United States, that the number of new diagnoses of asbestosis and other non-cancerous diseases would drop beginning in 2001. It also cited annual surveys of the National Cancer Institutes that show the annual incidence of mesothelioma began to decline in the mid-1990s. NERA expected these factors, as well as the advancing age of the allegedly exposed population, its movement away from work centers as its members retire, and NERA's view that many asbestos claims filed in the 1990s were based in part on mass screenings of possibly-exposed individuals, would result in the number of claims filed against us for asbestos-related injur ies beginning to decline in 2002. While the number of new claims filed against us in 2002 were slightly higher than in 2001, we were of the view that the number of new claims filed against us was consistent with NERA's estimate.

   
 

However, during 2002 we paid, pre-tax and before insurance, approximately $181 million for our asbestos liabilities and defense costs, which was $75 million more than we expected to pay based on NERA's estimate. These higher payments were caused by a $10 million judgment which we paid in one case decided on appeal by the Maryland Supreme Court in 2002, and higher than expected settlements paid in less than 1% of the total cases we resolved in 2002, all of which involved mesothelioma claims. During 2001, we paid, pre-tax and before insurance, approximately $84 million for our asbestos liabilities and defense costs. Because of 2002's higher asbestos liabilities and defense costs, we asked NERA to review its original estimate and adjust it as needed. NERA's revised estimate shows that our total, undiscounted asbestos liabilities, including defense costs, over the ten-year period from 2002 through 2012 will be slightly less than $1.2 billion, before any insurance recoveries and ig noring any possible tax benefits. The principal factor contributing to the increase in NERA's total estimate was the projected effect of the higher indemnity and defense costs we experienced in 2002 on our costs in future years. In addition, NERA extended its original estimate through 2012, which accounted for approximately $60 million of the total accrual, before insurance. We believe that NERA's projection represents its best estimate of the reasonably estimable asbestos costs we will incur based upon currently available information.

   
 

As they did at the end of 2001, we and Peterson Consulting analyzed publicly available information bearing on the creditworthiness of our various insurers, and employed insurance allocation methodologies which we and Peterson Consulting believed appropriate to ascertain the amount of probable insurance recoveries from our insurers for the accrued asbestos liabilities. The analysis took into account self-insurance reserves, policy exclusions, liability caps and gaps in our coverage, as well as insolvencies among certain of our insurance carriers. Although we and Peterson Consulting believe these assumptions are appropriate, there are other assumptions that could have been employed that would have resulted in materially lower insurance recovery estimates. Based on this analysis, our total expected insurance recoveries for our projected asbestos liabilities and costs over the period through 2012 will be about $670 million. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2002 we recorded an additional pre-tax charge to earnings of $315 million which, when added to amounts remaining from charges recorded in 2001, we believe are sufficient to cover our projected asbestos liabilities and defense costs, net of expected insurance recoveries. We recorded the reserves for our asbestos liabilities as "Other current liabilities" and "Other long-term liabilities," and the related insurance recoveries as "Other current assets" and "Other assets," in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

   
 

The charge to earnings taken in the fourth quarter of 2002 was due to the increase in our projected asbestos liabilities contained in NERA's revised estimate, insolvencies of certain insurance companies which wrote a part of our excess layers of product liability insurance, as well as assumptions by Peterson Consulting and us about the outcome of likely allocation and coverage issues involving this insurance. The insurance receivable recorded by us did not assume any recovery from insolvent carriers, and assumed that those

 
 

24


 

 

carriers which were solvent would continue to be solvent throughout the period of NERA's estimate. However, there were no assurances that those assumptions were correct. In June of 2003 one carrier for which we had recorded a future receivable of $22 million was declared insolvent; we are evaluating the potential impact, if any, that this might have on the total net insurance receivable given the current allocation, coverage, discount assumptions and other factors. Substantially all of the insurance recoveries deemed probable are from insurance companies rated A- (excellent) or better by A.M. Best Company. No more than 25% of such insurance recoveries are from any one company, though several of the insurers are under common control. We have limited amounts of product liability insurance remaining beyond the amounts recorded for the period through 2012.

   
 

We recently completed agreements with two insurers of our asbestos liabilities which generally provide that the Corporation will be able to recover more insurance from those carriers that it had assumed when it was projecting its insurance receivables in 2002. The corresponding credit related to the increase in these receivables was recorded in the third quarter of 2003 and was reflected in "Other income (losses), net" in the accompanying statements of operations, and as an accrual for the first nine months of 2003 in the table set forth below. We expect to monetize a portion of our insurance receivable in the fourth quarter of 2003.

   
 

The following table summarizes accruals to, and payments from, our reserve for our total asbestos personal injury liabilities, and receipts from our insurance carriers, and additions to our expected insurance receivables, for the last three fiscal years and first nine months of each of 2003 and 2002 (dollars in millions):

   
   

First Nine Months

Fiscal Year End

   

2003

2002

2002

2001

2000

 

Asbestos Liabilities
Beginning Balance
Accruals
Payments


$   1,162.5  
-  
(134.4)


$    836.6  
-  
(131.8)


$     836.6  
507.0  
(181.1)


$     136.5  
783.7  
(83.6)


$     88.0  
106.1  
(57.6)

 

Ending Balance

$   1,028.1  

$    704.8  

$  1,162.5  

$    836.6  

$    136.5  

 

Insurance Receivable
Beginning Balance
Accruals
Receipts


$      669.7  
118.6*
(77.1)


$    527.2  
-  
(18.8)


$    527.2  
192.0  
(49.5)


$    171.9  
420.9  
(65.6)

 
$    105.6  
102.6  
(36.3)

 

Ending Balance

$      711.2  

$    508.4 

$    669.7  

$    527.2  

$    171.9  

 

* $74 million after-tax or 29 cents per diluted share.

   
 

The analyses of NERA and Peterson Consulting in both 2001 and 2002 are based on their professional judgment. The more important assumptions in NERA's projection of the number of claims that will be filed against us include the population exposed to asbestos-containing products manufactured by Georgia-Pacific, the expected occurrence of various diseases in these exposed populations, the rate at which these exposed populations actually file claims, and activities of the asbestos plaintiffs' bar designed to maximize its profits from these claims. The cost of settling claims is driven by these same assumptions, as well as by prevailing judicial and social environments in the jurisdictions in which claims are filed, the rulings by judges and the attitudes of juries in those jurisdictions, the demands of the asbestos plaintiffs' bar with respect to the value of each claim, the insolvencies of other defendants to a particular claim, and the impact of verdicts against other defendants on settlement demands against us.

   
 

Generally, NERA's projections assume:

 
 

25


 

 

*      That the number of new claims to be filed against us each year through 2012 will decline at a fairly constant rate each year beginning in 2003;

*      That the percentage of claims settled by us will be about three-quarters of the total number of claims resolved (whether by settlement or dismissal) each year through 2012;

*      That the average estimated per case settlement costs, as adjusted to reflect the higher indemnity costs experienced in 2002, are anticipated to decrease slightly over the period through 2012; and

*      That the total amounts paid by us in settlements, and in defense and administrative costs, will decline at varying rates over the period through 2012.

   
 

Among the more important assumptions made by Peterson in projecting our future insurance recoveries are the resolution of allocation issues among various layers of insurers, the application of particular theories of recovery based on decided cases, and the continuing solvency of various insurance companies.

   
 

Given these assumptions, and the uncertainties involved in each of them, our actual asbestos liabilities, defense costs and insurance recoveries could be higher or lower than those currently projected and/or recorded. However, these assumptions are only some of those contained in the NERA and Peterson projections, and all of these assumptions are only one aspect of the overall projections made by those firms. Changes in the foregoing assumptions, or others, whether from time to time or over the period covered by these projections, may or may not affect the validity of the overall projections. We intend to monitor our accrued asbestos liabilities, defense costs and insurance recoveries against these overall projections, and we will make adjustments to these accruals as required by generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, unless federal asbestos legislation has been enacted by the end of 2003, we plan on extending our projections of asbestos liabilities an additio nal year, through 2013, and accruing such amounts, and any other adjustments required by generally accepted accounting principles, in the fourth quarter of this year.

   
 

For all of these reasons, it is possible that our currently accrued asbestos liabilities will not be accurate, that our accrued insurance recoveries will not be realized, or that we will be required in the future to incur additional charges relating thereto. Given these uncertainties, we believe that it is reasonably possible that we will incur asbestos liabilities for the period through 2012 and beyond in amounts in excess of the NERA estimate, but cannot estimate such excess amount at this time. We believe that it is reasonably possible that such excess liabilities could be material to our operating results in any given quarter or year but, based on the information available to us at present, do not believe that it is reasonably possible that the additional liabilities would have a material adverse effect on our long-term results of operations, liquidity or consolidated financial position.

   
 

OTHER LITIGATION

   
 

On April 14,1997, a class action lawsuit alleging claims under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") was filed against us and the Georgia-Pacific Corporation Salaried Employees Retirement Plan (the "Plan") (together, the "Defendants") in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, seeking recovery of alleged underpayments of lump-sum benefits to persons taking early retirement from the Corporation (the "Plaintiff class"), together with interest, attorney's fees, and costs. After the District Court granted the Defendants' motion for summary judgment in March 1999, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reversed the District Court's ruling in August 2000 and remanded the case for further proceedings, holding that the terms of the Plan required a calculation of lump-sum benefits that could result in additional payments to members of the class. In September 2000, the Defendants filed a petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc with the Eleventh Circuit, which was denied. The Defendants also filed a petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court in January 2001, which was denied. In March 2002, the District Court issued an Order granting in part and denying in part the summary judgment motions of both the Plaintiff class and the Defendants. In addition, the Order remanded some issues to the Plan administrator for interpretation. The Plan Administrator has rendered its decisions on these issues and the Court has scheduled argument for December 2003 on these issues.

 
 

26


 

 

We have determined that, in all likelihood, damages will be awarded to the Plaintiff class, which will require the Plan to make additional payments to members of the class and may in turn affect our net periodic pension cost and obligation to fund the Plan over time. In November 2002, the Defendants reached a settlement in principle with the Plaintiff class subject to definitive documents, which settlement would not result in a material impact on our funding obligation or results of operations. However, early in the first quarter of 2003, the settlement negotiations were terminated. Notwithstanding termination of the negotiations, the Plaintiff class filed a motion seeking a ruling that an enforceable agreement was reached. After a hearing on the issues in June 2003, the District Court ruled that the parties had not reached an enforceable settlement agreement.

   
 

In September 2003, we reached an agreement to settle a class action antitrust lawsuit filed against us and other manufacturers of containerboard and recorded a charge of $21 million in the third quarter of 2003 to accrue for this settlement. However, a significant number of plaintiffs opted out of the class and have brought suit against the same defendants, making substantially the same allegations. Those cases are pending. This charge is reflected in "Other income (losses), net" in the accompanying statements of operations.

   
 

In August 1995, Fort James, at the time a publicly-held corporation, transferred certain assets and liabilities of its communications paper and food packaging businesses to two newly formed companies, Crown Vantage, Inc. ("CV"), (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fort James) and CV's subsidiary Crown Paper Co. ("CP"). CP then entered into a $350 million credit facility with certain banks and issued $250 million face amount of senior subordinated notes. Approximately $483 million in proceeds from these financings were transferred to Fort James in payment for the transferred assets and other consideration. CV also issued to Fort James a pay-in-kind note with a face amount of $100 million. CV shares were then spun off to the Fort James shareholders and CV operated these businesses as a stand-alone company beginning in August 1995.

   
 

In March 2001, CP and CV filed for bankruptcy. Various creditors have indicated that the borrowings made by CP and CV, and the payments to Fort James for the assets transferred to CV and CP, caused those companies to become insolvent, and that the transfer of these assets therefore was a fraudulent conveyance. In April 2001, Fort James filed suit against CP and CV in Federal Bankruptcy Court in Oakland, California seeking a declaratory judgment that the transactions did not involve any fraudulent conveyance and that other parties and actions were the cause of the bankruptcy of CV and CP. In September 2001, CV filed suit against Fort James asserting, among other claims, that the transactions described above constituted fraudulent conveyances and seeking unspecified damages. Fort James does not believe that any of its actions in establishing CV or CP involved a fraudulent conveyance or caused the bankruptcy of those companies, and it intends to defend itself vigorously.

   
 

Although the ultimate outcome of these environmental matters and legal proceedings cannot be determined with certainty, based on presently available information management believes that adequate reserves have been established for probable losses with respect thereto. Management further believes that the ultimate outcome of these and other environmental matters and legal proceedings could be material to operating results in any given quarter or year but will not have a material adverse effect on our long-term results of operations, liquidity or consolidated financial position.

 
 

27


 

 

GUARANTEES AND INDEMNIFICATIONS

   
 

Georgia-Pacific is a party to contracts in which it is common for us to agree to indemnify third parties for certain liabilities that arise out of or relate to the subject matter of the contract. In some cases, this indemnity extends to related liabilities arising from the negligence of the indemnified parties, but usually excludes any liabilities caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct. We cannot estimate the potential amount of future payments under these indemnities until events arise that would trigger a liability under the indemnities.

   
 

We are a 50% partner in a joint venture ("GA-MET") with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company ("Metropolitan"). GA-MET owns and operates our main office building in Atlanta, Georgia. We account for the investment in GA-MET under the equity method. In the event of foreclosure, each partner has severally guaranteed payment of one-half of any shortfall of collateral value to the outstanding secured indebtedness. Based on present market conditions and building occupancy, the likelihood of any obligation to us with respect to this guarantee is considered remote.

   
 

Additionally, in connection with the sale of assets and the divestiture of businesses, we may agree to indemnify the buyer of the assets and related parties for certain losses or liabilities incurred by the buyer with respect to (i) the representations and warranties made to the buyer by us in connection with the sale and (ii) liabilities related to the pre-closing operations of the assets sold. Indemnities related to pre-closing operations generally include environmental liabilities, tax liabilities, and other liabilities not assumed by the buyer in the transaction.

   
 

Indemnities related to the pre-closing operations of sold assets normally do not represent additional liabilities of Georgia-Pacific, but simply serve to protect the buyer from potential liability associated with our obligations existing at the time of the sale. As with any liability, we have previously accrued for those pre-closing obligations that are considered probable and reasonably estimable. We have not accrued any additional amounts as a result of the indemnities summarized below, which result from significant asset sales and divestures in recent years.

   
 

*

Unisource -- In connection with the sale of 60% of our Unisource paper distribution subsidiary to an affiliate of Bain Capital Partners, LLC, we agreed to indemnify Unisource for certain losses resulting from breaches of our representations and warranties contained in the sale agreement. We are not required to pay under this general indemnification obligation until claims against us, on a cumulative basis, exceed $8 million. Upon exceeding this $8 million threshold, we are generally obligated to provide indemnification for any losses in excess of $8 million, up to a limit of $150 million. This general indemnification obligation expires on May 2, 2005, provided that Unisource may make certain claims with respect to various (i) tax and employee benefit matters until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations and (ii) environmental matters until late 2007.

 

*

Domtar Inc. -- In connection with the sale of certain of our paper and pulp mills to Domtar Inc. ("Domtar"), we agreed to indemnify Domtar for certain losses resulting from breaches of our representations and warranties contained in the sale agreement. We are not required to pay under this general indemnification obligation until claims against us, on a cumulative basis, exceed $16.5 million. Upon exceeding this $16.5 million threshold, we generally are obligated to provide indemnification for any losses in excess of $16.5 million, up to a limit of $500 million. The majority of these general indemnification obligations expired on March 31, 2003, and Domtar has asserted some claims under these provisions. However, we remain subject to certain claims by Domtar for various environmental liabilities assumed by it until mid 2011. Our liability with respect to these environmental claims is capped at $100 million, yet remains subject to the $16.5 million threshold di scussed above.

 

*

SCA -- In connection with the sale of our away-from-home tissue manufacturing assets to Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) ("SCA"), we agreed to indemnify SCA with respect to certain losses resulting from breaches of our representations and warranties contained in the sale agreement.

 
 

28


 

   

We are not required to pay under this general indemnification obligation until claims against us, on a cumulative basis, exceed $2 million. Upon exceeding this $2 million threshold, we generally are obligated to provide indemnification for any losses in excess of $1 million, up to a limit of $425 million. The majority of these general indemnification obligations expired on March 2, 2003, and SCA has asserted some claims under these provisions. However, we remain subject to certain claims by SCA for various environmental claims until early 2009. Unlike our $425 million limit on liability with respect to general claims, our liability with respect certain environmental claims made by SCA is capped at $850 million, less the amount of any indemnification payments previously made under our general indemnification obligations.

 

*

Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. -- In connection with the sale of our timberlands to Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. via the spin-off of The Timber Company, we agreed to indemnify Plum Creek with respect to certain losses resulting from breaches of limited representations and warranties contained in the separation agreement. This indemnity, which we believe is significantly narrow, generally is not capped at a maximum potential liability and does not expire.

 

*

Norampac, Inc. -- As part of an asset exchange with Norampac, we agreed to indemnify Norampac with respect to any losses resulting from (i) the breach of limited representations and warranties contained in the asset exchange agreement, (ii) any pre-exchange liabilities related to the exchanged facility not assumed by Norampac, and (iii) any environmental liability related to the pre-exchange operations of the exchanged facility. We are not required to pay under this general indemnification obligation until claims against us, on a cumulative basis, exceed $500,000. Upon exceeding this threshold, we generally are obligated to provide indemnification for any losses in excess of $500,000, up to a limit of $10 million. The majority of these general indemnification obligations and the environmental liability indemnity expire in April 2006.

   
 

We do not believe that any amounts that we may be required to pay under the indemnities set forth in the agreements relating to the divestitures summarized above will be material to our results of operations, financial position, or liquidity. We will accrue a liability related to a specific indemnity when future payment is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable.

 
 

29


 

14.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION. Fort James is an issuer of certain securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, thus subjecting it to reporting requirements under Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Fort James guaranteed our $500 million and $1.5 billion senior notes offerings, which were completed on June 3, 2003 and January 30, 2003, respectively. Fort James Operating Company, a subsidiary of Fort James, guarantees the $500 million senior notes and the securities issued by Fort James. Similarly, certain of our domestic subsidiaries guarantee our Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility. Each subsidiary issuer or subsidiary guarantor is 100% owned by us and all guarantees are full and unconditional.

   
 

Certain assets and liabilities are administered by us, and, accordingly, are maintained at the Corporation and thus are not reflected on the balance sheets of our subsidiaries. The statements of operations properly reflect all results of operations of each respective entity. The following condensed consolidating financial information is presented in lieu of consolidated financial statements for Fort James and Fort James Operating Company because the securities issued by Fort James are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by us:

 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME
THIRD QUARTER 2003

 



In millions


Georgia-Pacific
Corp.


Fort James
Corp.

Fort James
Guarantor
Subsidiary

Fort James
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


Consolidating
Adjustments


Consolidated
Amounts

Net sales

$     2,945 

$      - 

$    1,186 

$     512 

$     1,212 

$   (577)

$   5,278 

Costs and expenses
  Cost of sales
  Selling and distribution
  Depreciation, amortization
    and accretion
  General and administrative
  Interest, net
  Other (income) losses,
    including equity income
    in affiliates


2,432 
141 

115 
127 
131 


(226)


- - 
- - 

- - 
- - 



(100)


818 
115 

61 
36 
104 


- - 


367 
43 

30 
39 
(59)


(1)


1,019 
32 

55 
14 
23 


15 


(577)
- - 

- - 
- - 
- - 


231 


4,059 
331 

261 
216 
204 


(81)

Total costs and expenses

2,720 

(95)

1,134 

419 

1,158 

(346)

4,990 

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


225 

36 


95 

(2)


52 

19 


93 

26 


54 

20 


(231)

- - 


288 

99 

Net income (loss)

$   189 

$     97 

$    33 

$     67 

$     34 

$   (231)

$    189 

 
 

30


 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME
THIRD QUARTER 2002

 



In millions


Georgia-Pacific
Corp.


Fort James Corp.

Fort James
Guarantor
Subsidiary

Fort James
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


Consolidating
Adjustments


Consolidated
Amounts

Net sales

$    2,547 

$    - 

$    1,264 

$     456 

$     2,547 

$   (662)

$    6,152 

Costs and expenses
  Cost of sales
  Selling and distribution
  Depreciation, amortization
    and accretion
  General and administrative
  Interest, net
  Other losses (income),
    including equity income
    in affiliates


2,193 
118 

110 
136 
124 


(147)


- - 
- - 

- - 
- - 
14 


(123)


852 
127 

63 
44 
88 



318 
40 

24 
33 
(49)



2,107 
221 

58 
61 
22 



(662)
- - 

- - 
- - 
- - 


275 


4,808 
506 

255 
274 
199 


13 

Total costs and expenses

2,534 

(109)

1,175 

368 

2,474 

(387)

6,055 

Income (loss) before income
  taxes
(Benefit) provision for
  income taxes


13 

(53)


109 


89 

27 


88 

28 


73 

28 


(275)

- - 


97 

31 

Net (loss) income

$   66 

$    108 

$    62 

$    60 

$   45 

$    (275)

$    66 

 
 

31


 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FIRST NINE MONTHS 2003

 



In millions


Georgia-Pacific
Corp.


Fort James Corp.

Fort James
Guarantor
Subsidiary

Fort James
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


Consolidating
Adjustments


Consolidated
Amounts

Net sales

$    7,974 

$     - 

$    3,609 

$    1,546 

$     3,553 

$   (1,789)

$    14,893 

Costs and expenses
  Cost of sales
  Selling and distribution
  Depreciation, amortization
    and accretion
  General and administrative
  Interest, net
  Other (income) losses,
    including equity income
    in affiliates


6,828 
387 

345 
339 
397 


(463)


- - 
- - 

- - 
- - 
14 


(235)


2,561 
349 

189 
113 
317 


75 


1,101 
135 

86 
116 
(179)


(1)


2,963 
94 

163 
49 
68 


18 


(1,789)
- - 

- - 
- - 
- - 


588 


11,664 
965 

783 
617 
617 


(18)

Total costs and expenses

7,833 

(221)

3,604 

1,258 

3,355 

(1,201)

14,628 

(Loss) income before income   taxes and accounting changes
(Benefit) provision for
  income taxes


141 

(79)


221 

(5)





288 

78 


198 

74 


(588)

- - 


265 

70 

Income (loss) before
  accounting changes
Cumulative effect of
  accounting changes,
  net of taxes


220 



226 






22 


210 


- - 


124 



(588)


- - 


195 


28 

Net (loss) income

$    223 

$    228 

$     25 

$    210 

$     125 

$   (588)

$     223 

 
 

32


 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FIRST NINE MONTHS 2002

 



In millions


Georgia-Pacific
Corp.


Fort James Corp.

Fort James
Guarantor
Subsidiary

Fort James
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


Consolidating
Adjustments


Consolidated
Amounts

Net sales

$    7,412 

$    - 

$    3,733 

$    1,317 

$    7,516 

$   (1,808)

$  18,170 

Costs and expenses
  Cost of sales
  Selling and distribution
  Depreciation, amortization
    and accretion
  General and administrative
  Interest, net
  Other losses (income),
    including equity income
    in affiliates


6,312 
349 

339 
387 
429 


252 


- - 
- - 

- - 
- - 
39 


(357)


2,477 
369 

184 
131 
266 



942 
117 

67 
97 
(145)



6,167 
665 

184 
191 
64 


212 


(1,808)
- - 

- - 
- - 
- - 


121 


14,090 
1,500 

774 
806 
653 


231 

Total costs and expenses

8,068 

(318)

3,428 

1,080 

7,483 

(1,687)

18,054 

(Loss) income before income
  taxes and accounting changes
(Benefit) provision for
  income taxes


(656)

(155)


318 

(14)


305 

114 


237 

71 


33 

56 


(121)

- - 


116 

72 

(Loss) income before
  accounting changes
Cumulative effect of
  accounting changes,
  net of taxes


(501)


- - 


332 


- - 


191 


- - 


166 


- - 


(23)


(545)


(121)


- - 


44 


(545)

Net (loss) income

$   (501)

$    332 

$     191 

$    166 

$   (568)

$     (121)

$     (501)

 
 

33


CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FIRST NINE MONTHS 2003

 



In millions


Georgia-Pacific
Corp.


Fort James Corp.

Fort James
Guarantor
Subsidiary

Fort James
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


Consolidating
Adjustments


Consolidated
Amounts

Cash provided by (used for)
  operating activities


$    522 


$    5 


$   152 


$    438 


$   74 


$    - 


$   1,191 

Cash flows from investing
  activities:
    Property, plant and
      equipment investments
    Net proceeds from sales
      of assets
    Other




(169)

21 
(16)




- - 

- - 
- - 




(203)


- - 




(35)


(10)




(73)

- - 
- - 




- - 

- - 
- - 




(480)

27 
(26)

Cash used for investing
  activities


(164)


- - 


(201)


(41)


(73)


- - 


(479) 

Cash flows from financing
  activities:
    Net (decrease) increase
      in debt
    Net change in intercompany
      payable/invested equity
    Fees paid to issue debt
    Proceeds from option plan
     exercises
    Cash dividends paid




(674)

451 
(47)


(94)




18 

(23)
- - 

- - 
- - 




(21)

71 
- - 

- - 
- - 




(19)

(308)
- - 

- - 
- - 




194 

(191)
(1)

- - 
- - 




- - 

- - 
- - 

- - 
- - 




(502)

- 
(48)


(94)

Cash (used for) provided by
  financing activities


(360)


(5)


50 


(327)



- - 


(640)

(Decrease) increase in cash
  Balance at beginning of
    period

(2)



- - 



- - 

70 

18 



14 



- - 

72 

35 

  Balance at end of period

$       1 

$      - 

$     1 

$     88 

$     17 

$      - 

$     107 

 
 

34


 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FIRST NINE MONTHS 2002

 



In millions


Georgia-Pacific
Corp.


Fort James Corp.

Fort James
Guarantor
Subsidiary

Fort James
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


Consolidating
Adjustments


Consolidated
Amounts

Cash provided by (used for)
  operating activities


$     430 


$    109 


$    149 


$     6 


$     96 


$   (30)


$   760 

Cash flows from investing
  activities:
    Property, plant and
      equipment investments
    Net proceeds from sales
      of assets
    Other




(229)

30 
- - 




- - 

- - 
- - 




(93)

- - 
- - 




(43)


(2)




(74)

(8)
(17)




- - 

- - 
- - 




(439)

24 
(19)

Cash (used for) provided by
  investing activities


(199)


- - 


(93)


(43)


(99)


- - 


(434)

Cash flows from financing
  activities:
    Net increase (decrease)
      in debt
    Net change in intercompany
      payable/invested equity
    Fees paid to issue debt
    Proceeds from option plan
      exercises
    Employee stock purchase
      plan
    Cash dividends paid




143 

(319)
(8)



37 
(87)




(92)

(17)
- - 

- - 

- - 
- - 




(4)

(53)
- - 

- - 

- - 
- - 




(37)

90 
- - 

- - 

- - 
- - 




(268)

269 
- - 

- - 

- - 
- - 




- - 

30 
- - 

- - 

- - 
- - 




(258)

- - 
(8)



37 
(87)

Cash (used for) provided by
  financing activities


(230)


(109)


(57)


53 



30 


(312)

Increase in cash
  Balance at beginning of
    period



- - 



- - 

(1)

16 

12 

(2)

18 



- - 

14 

31 

  Balance at end of period

$    1 

$     - 

$     - 

$    28 

$    16 

$      - 

$     45 

 
 

35


 

 

CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2003

 



In millions


Georgia-Pacific
Corp.


Fort James Corp.

Fort James
Guarantor
Subsidiary

Fort James
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


Consolidating
Adjustments


Consolidated
Amounts

ASSETS
Current assets
  Cash and equivalents
  Receivables, less allowances
  Inventories
  Deferred income tax assets
  Intercompany interest
    receivable
  Other current assets



$           1 
(26)
840 
33 

451 
321 



$         - 
- - 
- - 
- - 

30 
- - 



$       1 
(2)
660 
(1)

- - 
28 



$          88 
519 
264 


15 
50 



$         17 
1,609 
362 


88 
117 



$        - 
- - 
- - 
- - 

(584)
(26)



$        107 
2,100 
2,126 
35 

- 
490 

Total current assets

1,620 

30 

686 

937 

2,195 

(610)

4,858 

Total property, plant and
  equipment, net


2,909 


- - 


3,248 


1,093 


1,816 


- - 


9,066 

Goodwill, net

491 

5,856 

813 

455 

7,615 

Intercompany note receivable

2,283 

1,958 

(1)

3,470 

204 

(7,914)

- 

Other assets

10,395 

8,979 

500 

322 

846 

(18,093)

2,949 

Total assets

$    17,698 

$    10,967 

$    10,289 

$    6,635 

$    5,516 

$    (26,617)

$ 24,488 

 
 

36


 

CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2003

 



In millions


Georgia-Pacific
Corp.


Fort James Corp.

Fort James
Guarantor
Subsidiary

Fort James
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


Consolidating
Adjustments


Consolidated
Amounts

LIABILITIES AND
  SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
  Short-term debt
  Accounts payable
  Intercompany interest
    payable
  Other current liabilities




$      50 
648 

88 
845 




$     928 
- - 

193 
18 




$        6 
188 

35 
254 




$      12 
471 

- - 
175 




$      921 
247 

268 
143 




$        - 
- - 

(584)
(26)




$       1,917 
1,554 

- - 
1,409 

Total current liabilities

1,631 

1,139 

483 

658 

1,579 

(610)

4,880 

Long-term debt, excluding
  current portion


8,352 


414 


257 


61 


102 


- - 


9,186 

Other long-term liabilities

2,517 

313 

521 

915 

(101)

4,165 

Deferred income tax liabilities

153 

662 

60 

541 

1,416 

Intercompany note payable

204 

921 

4,864 

70 

1,855 

(7,914)

- 

Shareholders'/invested equity

4,841 

8,493 

3,710 

5,265 

524 

(17,992)

4,841 

Total liabilities and
  shareholders' equity


$     17,698 


$     10,967 


$     10,289 


$     6,635 


$     5,516 


$     (26,617)


$   24,488 

 
 

37


 

CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF DECEMBER 28, 2002

 



In millions


Georgia-Pacific
Corp.


Fort James Corp.

Fort James
Guarantor
Subsidiary

Fort James
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


Consolidating
Adjustments


Consolidated
Amounts

ASSETS
Current assets
  Cash and equivalents
  Receivables, less allowances
  Inventories
  Deferred income tax assets
  Intercompany interest
    receivable
  Other current assets



$         3 
(11)
817 
33 

348 
641 



$         - 
- - 
- - 
- - 

- - 
- - 



$         - 
11 
704 
(16)

- - 
22 



$       18 
461 
239 
16 


25 



$       14 
1,316 
376 


71 
56 



$        - 
- - 
- - 
- - 

(425)
(1)



$        35 
1,777 
2,136 
35 

- - 
743 

Total current assets

1,831 

- 

721 

765 

1,835 

(426)

4,726 

Total property, plant and
  equipment, net


2,991 


- -
 


3,362 


1,061 


1,908 


- -
 


9,322 

Goodwill, net

485 

- 

5,931 

792 

455 

- 

7,663 

Intercompany note receivable

2,281 

1,956 

- 

3,310 

246 

(7,793)

- 

Other assets

10,442 

8,875 

465 

373 

823 

(18,060)

2,918 

Total assets

$  18,030 

$  10,831 

$  10,479 

$  6,301 

$   5,267 

$ (26,279)

$  24,629 

 
 

38


 

CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
AS OF DECEMBER 28, 2002

 



In millions


Georgia-Pacific
Corp.


Fort James Corp.

Fort James
Guarantor
Subsidiary

Fort James
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


Consolidating
Adjustments


Consolidated
Amounts

LIABILITIES AND
  SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
  Short-term debt
  Accounts payable
  Intercompany interest
    payable
  Other current liabilities




$        329 
659 

71 
734 




$       266 
- 

142 
23 




$         5 
208 

- 
197 




$       16 
426 

- 
134 




$      715 
239 

212 
93 




$         
- 
- 

(425)




$       1,331 
1,532 

- 
1,182 

Total current liabilities

1,793 

431 

410 

576 

1,259 

(424)

4,045 

Long-term debt, excluding
  current portion


8,706 


1,030 


266 


72 


111 


- -
 


10,185 

Other long-term liabilities

2,606 

- 

485 

530 

877 

(101)

4,397 

Deferred income tax liabilities

161 

- 

751 

(23)

553 

- 

1,442 

Intercompany note payable

204 

920 

4,727 

111 

1,832 

(7,794)

- 

Shareholders'/invested equity

4,560 

8,450 

3,840 

5,035 

635 

(17,960)

4,560 

Total liabilities and
  shareholders' equity


$  18,030 


$  10,831 


$  10,479 


$   6,301 


$   5,267 


$ (26,279)


$  24,629 

 
 

39


 

15.

OPERATING SEGMENT INFORMATION. We have six reportable operating segments: North America consumer products, international consumer products, packaging, bleached pulp and paper, building products manufacturing and building products distribution. During the first quarter of 2003, we realigned our reportable segments for financial reporting purposes to align reporting with the company's current operating structure. We made certain reclassifications to the 2002 segment data to conform to the 2003 presentation. The following represents selected operating data for each reportable segment for the three and nine months ended September 2003 and 2002.

   

CONSOLIDATED SELECTED OPERATING SEGMENT DATA (Unaudited)
Georgia-Pacific Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

(Dollar amounts in millions)

Third Quarter 2003

Third Quarter 2002

NET SALES TO UNAFFILIATED CUSTOMERS

       

North America consumer products
International consumer products
Packaging
Bleached pulp and paper
Paper distribution
Building products manufacturing
Building products distribution
Other

$   1,369  
474  
657  
541  
-  
1,041  
1,194  
2  

  26%
   9
  12
  10
   
-
  20
  23
   
-

$   1,337  
424  
666  
477  
1,407  
847  
994  
-  

  22%
  7
  11
  7
  23
  14
  16
  
-

Total net sales to unaffiliated customers

$   5,278  

 100%

$   6,152  

100%

INTERSEGMENT SALES
North America consumer products
International consumer products
Packaging
Bleached pulp and paper
Paper distribution
Building products manufacturing
Building products distribution
Other1


$        
-  
-  
30  
91  
-  
529  
2  
(652)


$       35  
-  
37  
183  
6  
461  
3  
(725)

Total intersegment sales

$       

 

$       

 

TOTAL NET SALES
North America consumer products
International consumer products
Packaging
Bleached pulp and paper
Paper distribution
Building products manufacturing
Building products distribution
Other1


$   1,369  
474  
687  
632  
-  
1,570  
1,196  
(650)


  26%
  9
  13
  12
  
-
  30
  22
(12)


$   1,372  
424  
703  
660  
1,413  
1,308  
997  
(725)


  22%
  7
  12
  11
  23
  21
  16
(12)

Total net sales

$   5,278  

100%

$   6,152  

100%

1

Includes elimination of intersegment sales.

 
 

40


 

 

CONSOLIDATED SELECTED OPERATING SEGMENT DATA (Unaudited)
Georgia-Pacific Corporation and Subsidiaries

     

(Dollar amounts in millions)

Third Quarter 2003

Third Quarter 2002

OPERATING PROFITS (LOSSES)
North America consumer products
International consumer products
Packaging
Bleached pulp and paper2
Paper distribution
Building products manufacturing
Building products distribution
Other3


$     164  
41  
77  
17  
 
156  
52  
(15)


  33%
  8
  16
  3
  
-
  32
  11
 (3)


$    208  
33  
77  
27  
(8)
27  
13  
(81)


  70%
  11
  26
  9
 (2)
  9
  4
(27)

Total operating profits

Interest expense

492  

204  

100%
===

296  

199  

100%
===

Income before income taxes
Provision for income taxes

288  
99  

97  
31  

Net income

$     189  

 

$      66  

 

2

Amount in 2003 includes an operating loss of $7 million from our 40% minority interest in Unisource.

3

Includes some miscellaneous businesses, unallocated corporate operating expenses and the elimination of profit on intersegment sales.

 
 

41


 

CONSOLIDATED SELECTED OPERATING SEGMENT DATA (Unaudited)
Georgia-Pacific Corporation and Subsidiaries

     

(Dollar amounts in millions)

First Nine Months 2003

First Nine Months 2002

NET SALES TO UNAFFILIATED CUSTOMERS

       

North America consumer products
International consumer products
Packaging
Bleached pulp and paper
Paper distribution
Building products manufacturing
Building products distribution
Other

$   4,029 
1,444 
1,987 
1,567 
- 
2,746 
3,117 

 27%
 10
 13
 11
  
-
 18
 21
  
-

$   4,007 
1,231 
1,961 
1,369 
4,169 
2,524 
2,908 

 22%
  7
 11
  7
 23
 14
 16
  
-

Total net sales to unaffiliated customers

$  14,893 

100%

$  18,170 

100%

INTERSEGMENT SALES
North America consumer products
International consumer products
Packaging
Bleached pulp and paper
Paper distribution
Building products manufacturing
Building products distribution
Other1


$        2 
- 
89 
265 
- 
1,475 

(1,837)


$       98 
- 
108 
516 
16 
1,403 

(2,149)

Total intersegment sales

$       

 

$       

 

TOTAL NET SALES
North America consumer products
International consumer products
Packaging
Bleached pulp and paper
Paper distribution
Building products manufacturing
Building products distribution
Other1


$   4,031 
1,444 
2,076 
1,832 
- 
4,221 
3,123 
(1,834)


 27%
 10
 14
 12
  
-
 28
 21
(12)


$   4,105 
1,231 
2,069 
1,885 
4,185 
3,927 
2,916 
(2,148)


 23%
  7
 11
 10
 23
 22
 16
(12)

Total net sales

$  14,893 

100%

$  18,170 

100%

1

Includes elimination of intersegment sales.

 
 

42


 

 

CONSOLIDATED SELECTED OPERATING SEGMENT DATA (Unaudited)
Georgia-Pacific Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

(Dollar amounts in millions)

First Nine Months 2003

First Nine Months 2002

OPERATING PROFITS (LOSSES)
North America consumer products
International consumer products
Packaging
Bleached pulp and paper2
Paper distribution
Building products manufacturing
Building products distribution
Other3


$     434 
123 
236 
(22)
- 
178 
76 
(143)


 49%
 14
 27
 (3)
  
-
 20
  9
(16)


$    664 
115 
257 
37 
(221)
147 
52 
(282)


 86%
 15
 33
  5
(29)
 19
  7
(36)

Total operating profits

Interest expense

882 

617 

100%
===

769 

653 

100%
===

Income before income taxes and accounting changes
Provision for income taxes

265 
70 

116 
72 

Income before accounting changes
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of taxes

195 
28 

 

44 
(545)

 

Net income (loss)

$      223 

 

$     (501)

 

2

Amount in 2003 includes an operating loss of $20 million from our 40% minority interest in Unisource.

3

Includes some miscellaneous businesses, unallocated corporate operating expenses and the elimination of profit on intersegment sales.

 
 

43


 

Item 2.

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

 

THIRD QUARTER 2003 COMPARED WITH THIRD QUARTER 2002

 

During the third quarter of 2003 we reported consolidated net sales of $5.3 billion, compared with net sales of $6.2 billion for the third quarter of 2002. Included in 2002 are net sales of $1.4 billion related to Unisource. During the fourth quarter of 2002, we sold a 60% controlling interest in Unisource to Bain Capital Partners, LLC. Operating results from our 40% investment are accounted for using the equity method and are now reported in the bleached pulp and paper segment.

 

Interest expense increased $5 million to $204 million in the third quarter of 2003 compared with $199 million in the third quarter of 2002, principally as a result of higher average interest rates, offset by lower debt levels, including the PEPS Units that were redeemed during the third quarter of 2002.

 

During the third quarter of 2003, we reported income before income taxes and accounting changes of $288 million and an income tax provision of $99 million, compared with income before income taxes and accounting changes of $97 million and an income tax provision of $31 million for the third quarter of 2002. The effective tax rate in the third quarters of 2003 and 2002 were different from the statutory rates primarily because of lower international statutory income tax rates, and the utilization of state tax credits.

 

Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to December 31. Typically, we report our quarterly periods on a 13-week basis ending on Saturday. However, because our fiscal year 2003 will end on January 3, 2004, our fiscal fourth quarter 2003 will have 14 weeks.

 

The remaining discussion refers to the "Consolidated Selected Operating Segment Data" table (included in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

NORTH AMERICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Net sales and operating profits for the North America consumer products segment were $1,369 million and $164 million, respectively, for the third quarter of 2003. Third quarter 2002 net sales and operating profits were $1,372 million and $208 million, respectively. Operating profits for the 2002 third quarter included a charge of $9 million related primarily to facility closure costs. The decrease in 2003 operating earnings was primarily due to raw material and energy inflation and lower selling prices for retail tissue. Additionally, weak demand for commercial tissue products and the impact of paper machine curtailments on fixed costs absorption negatively impacted operating results. During the fourth quarter of 2003, we expect profit margins to remain at third quarter levels as we experience slight raw material and energy inflation, as well as product re-launch costs, for our improved Brawny towels and Quilted Northern Bath tissue.

 

INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER PRODUCTS

During the third quarter of 2003, the international consumer products segment reported net sales and operating profits of $474 million and $41 million, respectively, compared with $424 million and $33 million of net sales and operating profits, respectively, in the prior year. Compared with third quarter 2002, volumes and pricing declined during the third quarter of 2003. These declines were offset by a positive impact from the weakened US Dollar of approximately $48 million and $5 million on net sales and operating profits, respectively. For the remainder of 2003, we expect operating margins to decline slightly compared with those in the third quarter.

 

PACKAGING

The packaging segment reported net sales of $687 million and operating profits of $77 million in the second quarter of 2003, compared with net sales of $703 million and operating profits of $77 million in the second quarter of 2002. The 2003 increase in operating margins compared to 2002 is primarily due to reductions in maintenance costs and favorable wastepaper costs offset by declines in selling prices and shipping volumes. For the remainder of 2003, we expect to contend with high fiber and natural gas costs, sluggish demand and somewhat weaker sales pricing.

 

BLEACHED PULP AND PAPER

The bleached pulp and paper segment reported net sales and operating profits of $632 million and $17 million,

 
 

44


 

respectively, in the 2003 quarter. Beginning in November 2002, we reported the results of our 40% investment in Unisource in the bleached pulp and paper segment. Included in the third quarter 2003 operating profits was a $7 million loss from our equity investment in Unisource. For the same period in 2002, the segment reported net sales of $660 million and operating profits of $27 million. The decrease in operating profits was driven by significantly increased wood and natural gas purchase prices, reduced paper business selling prices and the addition of the Unisource equity investment losses to the segment's reporting. The bleached pulp and paper segment experienced a 16% decline in sales volumes for softwood pulp coupled with a 3% decrease in average selling prices for paper. These decreases were offset by a 3% increase in average selling prices for softwood pulp and a 6% increase in paper shipments. During the fourth quarter of 2003, the bleached pulp and paper segmen t projects conditions similar to those in the third quarter.

 

BUILDING PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING

During the third quarter of 2003, the building products manufacturing segment reported net sales of $1,570 million and operating profits of $156 million. Operating results for the third quarter of 2003 included charges of approximately $21 million primarily for asset impairments and severance costs. In the third quarter of 2002, the segment reported net sales and operating profits of $1,308 million and $27 million, respectively. The increase in quarter-over-quarter operating profits resulted from average selling price increases for plywood and softwood lumber of 23% and 10%, respectively while oriented strand board prices more than doubled. Sales volumes for plywood, softwood lumber and treated lumber increased 9%, 5% and 18%, respectively compared with the third quarter of 2002. These increases were offset by a 16% decline in oriented strand board shipments and higher natural gas costs quarter-over-quarter. During the fourth quarter of 2003, the building products manufa cturing segment is expected to continue to experience good demand for panel products. A normal seasonal slow down is anticipated near year-end and we expect prices and volumes to taper off accordingly. We expect the gypsum business to continue to be negatively impacted by high natural gas costs.

 

BUILDING PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTION

Net sales and operating profits for the building products distribution segment were $1,196 million and $52 million, respectively, for the third quarter of 2003. During the same period in 2002, the segment reported net sales and operating profits of $997 million and $13 million, respectively. The increase in operating profits was primarily due to significant increases in average selling prices for plywood and oriented strand board, coupled with a 7% increase in lumber sales volumes. These increases were offset by a 10% volume decline in oriented strand board. Building activity and building material demand is expected to remain robust until the seasonal slowdown late in the fourth quarter.

 

OTHER

The loss in the "Other" segment, which includes some miscellaneous businesses, unallocated corporate operating expenses and the elimination of profit on intersegment sales, decreased by $66 million to a loss of $15 million in 2003 from a loss of $81 million in the 2002 third quarter. Included in the 2003 results was a credit of $118 million to increase the estimated amount that we will receive from asbestos liability insurance, a charge of $21 million for costs to settle a class action lawsuit regarding containerboard and a charge of $12 million for pension settlement costs. Included in 2002 results were charges of $23 million primarily related to business separation costs. During the third quarter of 2003, we also incurred higher foreign currency transaction losses and increased incentive accruals, offset by reduced corporate administrative expenses.

 

YEAR-TO-DATE 2003 COMPARED WITH YEAR-TO-DATE 2002

 

During the first nine months of 2003 we reported consolidated net sales of $14.9 billion, compared with net sales of $18.2 billion for the first nine months of 2002. Included in 2002 are net sales of $4.2 billion related to Unisource.

 

Interest expense decreased $36 million to $617 million in the first nine months of 2003 compared with $653 million in the first nine months of 2002, principally as a result of lower debt levels including the PEPS Units that were redeemed during the third quarter of 2002, offset somewhat by higher average interest rates.

 

During the first nine months of 2003, we reported income before income taxes and accounting changes of $265 million and an income tax provision of $70 million, compared with income before income taxes and accounting changes of $116 million and an income tax provision of $72 million for the first nine months of 2002. The effective tax rate in 2003 was different from the statutory rate primarily because of lower international income tax rates, utilization of state tax credits

 
 

45


 

and the first quarter reversal of approximately $10 million of income tax contingency reserves no longer required in Europe. The effective tax rate in 2002 was different from the statutory rate primarily because of the second quarter write-off of nondeductible goodwill, offset somewhat by lower international income tax rates and state tax credits.

 

On December 29, 2002, we adopted SFAS No. 143. SFAS No. 143 requires that entities record the fair value of an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it was incurred. The cumulative effect of adopting SFAS No. 143 was an after-tax credit of $28 million effective at the beginning of 2003.

 

Effective in the first quarter of 2002, we adopted SFAS No. 142. In accordance with the transition provisions of SFAS No. 142, we completed our initial assessment of the fair value of the net assets underlying all acquisition-related goodwill during the second quarter of 2002. The cumulative effect of the adoption of this principle was an after-tax charge to earnings of $545 million effective at the beginning of 2002. The $545 million goodwill impairment related only to our paper distribution segment. The principal facts and circumstances leading to this impairment included a diminution of synergies originally expected to be received from the white paper mills sold to Domtar, Inc. in 2001, and changes in the marketplace for coated and uncoated free sheet paper subsequent to the acquisition of Unisource.

 

The remaining discussion refers to the "Consolidated Selected Operating Segment Data" table (included in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

NORTH AMERICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Net sales and operating profits for the North America consumer products segment were $4.0 billion and $434 million, respectively, for the first nine months of 2003. Included in the 2003 operating results were a pre tax impairment charge of $25 million and a pre-tax charge of $11 million for severance and business exit costs related to the closure of tissue-manufacturing and converting operations at our Old Town, Maine mill. Net sales and operating profits were $4.1 billion and $664 million, respectively for the first nine months of 2002. Operating profits for the first nine months of 2002 included a charge of $14 million related to a fire at our Crossett, Arkansas tissue mill and $18 million of severance and business exit costs. The decrease in 2003 operating earnings was primarily due to a decline in sales volumes, lower selling prices for retail tissue, higher fiber, natural gas and petroleum-based resin costs and the impact of paper machine curtailments on fixed costs a bsorption.

 

INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER PRODUCTS

During the first nine months of 2003, the international consumer products segment reported net sales and operating profits of $1.4 billion and $123 million, respectively, compared with $1.2 billion and $115 million of net sales and operating profits, respectively, in the prior year. The 2003 decline in operating margins compared with 2002 is due to general inflation partly offset by continued good momentum in manufacturing and distribution cost reduction. The weakened US Dollar positively affected net sales and operating profits by approximately $210 million and $20 million, respectively.

 

PACKAGING

The packaging segment reported net sales of $2.1 billion and operating profits of $236 million in the first nine months of 2003, compared with net sales of $2.1 billion and operating profits of $257 million in the first nine months of 2002. Included in the 2003 operating results was an $18 million gain on the sale of some packaging assets. Although we experienced favorable variances in volume, sales price and maintenance costs, operating profits declined in 2003 due to higher labor, wood, and natural gas costs.

 

BLEACHED PULP AND PAPER

The bleached pulp and paper segment reported net sales of $1.8 billion and an operating loss of $22 million in the first nine months of 2003. For the same period in 2002, the segment reported net sales of $1.9 billion and operating profits of $37 million. Included in the 2003 operating results is an impairment charge of $49 million related to the closure of tissue-manufacturing and converting operations at our Old Town, Maine mill and a $20 million loss from the company's equity investment in Unisource. During the first nine months of 2003, sales volumes for softwood pulp and paper decreased 4% and 3%, respectively, when compared to the same period in 2002. These decreases were offset by a 10% increase in average selling prices for softwood pulp and a 6% increase in sales volumes for fluff pulp.

 

BUILDING PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING

During the first nine months of 2003, the building products manufacturing segment reported net sales of $4.2 billion and

 
 

46


 

operating profits of $178 million. In the first nine months of 2002, the segment reported net sales and operating profits of $3.9 billion and $147 million, respectively. The increase in operating profits is primarily due to an increase in average selling prices for plywood and oriented strand board of 7% and 50%, respectively when compared with the prior year. Additionally, sales volumes for plywood and gypsum increased 4% and 3%, respectively. These increases were offset by an 18% decline in sales volumes for oriented strand board, a portion of which is a result of the Woodland, ME plant divestiture that occurred during the third quarter of 2002.

 

BUILDING PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTION

Net sales and operating profits for the building products distribution segment were $3.1 billion and $76 million, respectively, for the first nine months of 2003. During the same period in 2002, the segment reported net sales and operating profits of $2.9 billion and $52 million, respectively. The increase in operating profits was primarily a result of increased selling prices and profit margins for plywood and oriented strand board, combined with a 12% increase in lumber shipments.

 

OTHER

The loss in the "Other" segment, which includes some miscellaneous businesses, unallocated corporate operating expenses and the elimination of profit on intersegment sales, decreased by $139 million to a loss of $143 million in 2003 from a loss of $282 million in the first nine months of 2002. Included in the 2003 results was a credit of $118 million to increase the estimated amount that we will receive from asbestos liability insurance, a charge of $21 million for costs to settle a class action lawsuit regarding containerboard and a charge of $12 million for pension settlement costs. Included in the 2002 results were charges of $33 million related primarily to business separation costs. During the first nine months of 2003, we also incurred higher foreign currency transaction gains, lower legal and environmental expenses, reduced incentive accruals, insurance refunds and reduced corporate administrative expenses.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

During the first nine months of 2003, debt decreased by approximately $413 million resulting primarily from higher cash provided from building products operations and receipt of income tax refunds. During the remainder of 2003, we expect our cash flow from operations and financing activities to be sufficient to fund planned capital investments, pay dividends and make scheduled debt repayments. The following discussion provides further details of our liquidity and capital resources.

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES. For the nine months ended September 2003 we generated cash from operations of $1,191 million compared to $760 million a year ago. The increase in cash provided by operating activities is primarily due to improved operating results in our building products businesses and a $354 million income tax refund received in April 2003.

 

During the first nine months of 2003, we experienced a seasonal working capital increase of $178 million compared to a similar working capital increase of $172 million for the same period of 2002. Accounts receivable increased during the first nine months of 2003 by $282 million compared to an increase of $211 million in 2002. The year-over-year increase in accounts receivable related primarily to increased sales late in the first nine months of 2003 in the building products businesses. Inventory decreased during the first nine months of 2003 by $27 million compared with an increase in inventory of $20 million in 2002. The year-over-year decrease in inventory related principally to lower inventories in the building products businesses. Accounts payable increased during the first nine months of 2003 by $74 million compared to an increase in accounts payable of $125 million in 2002. Included in the 2002 increase in accounts payable were approximately $90 million related to Unisource. The 2003 increase in accounts payable resulted principally from higher purchases of building products materials late in the third quarter of 2003. Other working capital increased by $3 million during the first nine months of 2003 compared with a decrease in other working capital of $66 million in 2002. The year-over-year change in other working capital resulted primarily from higher accrued interest in 2003 related to timing of interest payments.

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES. Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment for the nine months ended September 2003 were $480 million, which included $263 million in the North America consumer products segment, $34 million in the international consumer products segment, $61 million in the packaging segment, $55 million in the bleached pulp and paper segment, $35 million in the building products manufacturing segment, $3 million in the building products

 
 

47


 

distribution segment and $29 million in the other segment. Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment in the first nine months of 2002 were $439 million. We expect to make total capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment of approximately $725 million in 2003.

 

Effective November 2, 2002, we sold a 60% controlling interest in the Unisource paper distribution business to an affiliate of Bain Capital Partners, LLC, and retained the remaining 40% equity interest in Unisource. In connection with this disposal, we recorded a pretax loss of $298 million ($30 million after taxes) in the fourth quarter of 2002 in the paper distribution segment. In addition, we entered into a financing lease arrangement with a third party regarding certain warehouse facilities used by Unisource. As part of these transactions, we:

 
 

a)

received $471 million in cash during fiscal 2002 in connection with the disposition and repaid debt;

 

b)

received $169 million in cash as a result of the financing lease arrangement accounted for by us as a capital lease;

 

c)

received two payment-in-kind notes from Unisource for $70 million and $100 million, which accrue interest at an annual interest rate of 7% and 8%, respectively, and mature in November 2012; and

 

d)

entered into a sublease with Unisource for certain warehouses retained by us.

 

In addition, in the second quarter of 2003, we received more than $193 million of cash refund from the related income tax benefit of the Unisource sale, which is included in the $354 million income tax refund discussed above.

 

As part of this transaction, we entered into a loan agreement with Unisource pursuant to which we agreed to provide, subject to certain conditions, a $100 million subordinated secured loan to Unisource. This subordinated loan, if drawn, will mature in May 2008 and bears interest at a fluctuating rate based on LIBOR. In addition, we have also agreed to provide certain employee benefits and other administrative services to Unisource pursuant to an agreement with a two-year term. We also agreed to provide certain insurance coverage (including related letters of credit) to Unisource, generally for a period of five years, including workers' compensation, general liability, automobile liability and property insurance.

 

During the first nine months of 2002, we disposed of and sold various assets for a total of $24 million in cash and recognized a pretax loss of $22 million that was reflected in "Other (income) losses, net" in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

In September 2003, we announced that we are exploring strategic alternatives for our building products distribution business, including its possible sale.

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES. Our total debt decreased by $413 million to $11,103 million at September 27, 2003 from $11,516 million at December 28, 2002. At September 27, 2003, the weighted average interest rate on our total debt, including outstanding interest rate exchange agreements was 6.78%.

 

As of September 27, 2003, we had $900 million outstanding under our accounts receivable secured borrowing program, which expires in December 2003. G-P Receivables, Inc. ("G-P Receivables") is a wholly owned subsidiary and is the special purpose entity into which the receivables of participating domestic subsidiaries are sold. G-P Receivables, in turn, sells an interest in the receivables to the various banks and entities. This program is accounted for as a secured borrowing. The receivables outstanding under these programs and the corresponding debt are included as both "Receivables" and "Secured borrowings and other short-term notes," respectively, in the accompanying balance sheets. As collections reduce previously pledged interests, new receivables may be pledged. G-P Receivables is a separate corporate entity and its assets will be available first and foremost to satisfy the claims of its creditors.

 

On June 3, 2003, we completed a $500 million senior notes offering, consisting of $350 million of 7.375% notes due in 2008 and $150 million of 8% notes due in 2014, all of which were guaranteed by Fort James Corporation and Fort James Operating Company, a subsidiary of Fort James Corporation. The 8% senior notes due 2014 will be callable at our option beginning in 2009. Net proceeds from the offering were used to pay down a portion of our Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility. On October 3, 2003, we completed an offer to exchange these notes. We have paid approximately $8 million in fees and expenses associated with these transactions. The fees are being amortized over the term of the senior notes.

 
 

48


 

On January 30, 2003, we completed a $1.5 billion senior notes offering, consisting of $800 million of 9.375% notes due in 2013 and $700 million of 8.875% notes due in 2010, all of which were guaranteed by Fort James Corporation. In the fourth quarter of 2003, we intend to cause Fort James Operating Company to guarantee these notes as well. The 9.375% notes due in 2013 are callable at our option beginning in 2008. Net proceeds from the offering were used to completely repay the Senior Capital Markets Bridge Facility, and to pay down approximately $1 billion outstanding under our Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility. On September 9, 2003, we completed an offer to exchange these notes. We have paid approximately $34 million in fees and expenses associated with these transactions. The fees are being amortized over the term of these senior notes.

 

On September 1, 2003 and August 1, 2003, a $10 million variable rate industrial revenue bond and a $1 million, 6.88% industrial revenue bond matured, respectively. Also, on August 22, 2003, a $300 million variable rate note matured.

 

On September 30, 2003, Moody's Investors Service announced that it had assigned our revolving credit facility debt a rating of SGL-3, which indicates adequate liquidity. On January 21, 2003, Moody's Investors Service announced that it had downgraded our senior implied and issuer debt ratings from Ba1 to Ba2 and our senior unsecured notes from Ba1 to Ba3. On January 29, 2003, Fitch Ratings announced that it had lowered our senior unsecured long-term debt ratings from BB+ to BB and withdrew our commercial paper rating. On September 27, 2002, Standard & Poor's changed our long-term corporate credit rating to "BB-plus" from "BBB-minus" and our short-term rating to "B" from "A-3."

 

The indentures associated with the $500 million and $1.5 billion senior notes offerings completed on June 3, 2003 and January 30, 2003, respectively, allow Georgia-Pacific and the guarantors of the senior notes to incur any debt so long as we meet a fixed charges coverage ratio of 2.00 to 1.00 (as defined in the indentures). In addition, we can incur other items of permitted debt (as defined in the indentures) without being in compliance with the fixed charge coverage ratio. The senior notes indentures allow us to make restricted payments if certain conditions are met. We can, however, make permitted payments without complying with such conditions. These offerings also contain various non-financial covenants. We were in compliance with these debt covenants as of September 27, 2003.

 

We elected to reduce the commitments under the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility effective June 6, 2003. Amounts available thereunder are now comprised of (i) $2,500 million in revolving loans and (ii) $500 million in term loans due November 2005.

 

Borrowings under the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at market rates. These interest rates may be adjusted according to a rate grid based on our debt ratings. Fees include a facility fee of 0.4% per annum on the aggregate commitments of the lenders as well as up-front fees. As of September 27, 2003, we paid $8 million in commitment fees and $4 million in amendment fees. Fees and margins may also be adjusted according to a pricing grid based on our debt ratings. At September 27, 2003, $791 million was borrowed under the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility, at a weighted-average interest rate of 3.3%. Amounts outstanding under the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility are included in "Long-term debt, excluding current portion" on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 
 

49


 

 
 

The amounts outstanding under our Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility include the following:


In millions

September 27, 2003

 

Commitments:
  Revolving Loans
  Term Loans


$   2,500 
500 

 

Credit facilities available

3,000 

 

Amounts Outstanding:
  Letter of Credit Agreements*
  Revolving Loans due November 2005, average rate of 3.29%
  Term Loans due November 2005, average rate of 3.37%


(597)
(291)
(500)

 

Total credit balance

(1,388)

 

Total credit available

$   1,612 

 

   

                       

*

The Letter of Credit Agreements only include Standby Letters of Credit from Bank of America.

The Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility requires a maximum leverage ratio (as defined in the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility agreement) of 67.50% on September 27, 2003 and January 3, 2004; and 65.00% on April 3, 2004 and thereafter. The restrictive covenants also require a minimum interest coverage ratio (as defined in the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility agreement), of 2.25 to 1.00 on September 27, 2003 and January 3, 2004; 2.50 to 1.00 on April 3, 2004; 2.75 to 1.00 on July 3, 2004; and 3.00 to 1.00 on October 2, 2004 and thereafter. In addition, the restrictive covenants require a minimum net worth (as defined in the Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility agreement) that changes quarterly and a maximum debt level of $12,594 for so long as our leverage ratio exceeds 65.00%. We were in compliance with these debt covenants as of September 27, 2003, with a leverage ratio of 64.12%, an interest coverage ratio of 2.46 to 1.00, a debt balance (as defined in the Multi-Yea r Revolving Credit Facility agreement) of $10,933 million and an adjusted net worth as defined below:

 
 

50


 


In millions

September 27,
2003

Adjusted Net Worth:
  Net Worth
  Goodwill impairments
  Minimum Pension Liability


$   4,841 
651 
625 

Adjusted Net Worth

6,117 

Required Net Worth:
  80% of Net Worth as of the Credit Agreement closing date
  50% of Net Income from fourth quarter 2000 to second quarter 2003*
  Proceeds of new capital stock or other equity interests from fourth quarter 2000
    to second quarter 2003
  The Timber Company Net Worth


4,650 
191 

1,081 
(329)

Required Net Worth

5,593 

Adjusted Net Worth surplus

$     524 

 

                      

 

*    Does not include quarters with net losses.

 
 

Our borrowing arrangements contain a number of financial and non-financial covenants, which restrict our activities. The more significant financial covenants are mentioned above. In addition, certain agreements contain cross-default provisions.

 

Our continued compliance with these restrictive covenants is dependent on substantially achieving the 2003 forecast, which is dependent on a number of factors, many of which are outside of our control. We believe the forecast is reasonable and we will remain in compliance with these restrictive covenants. Should events occur that result in noncompliance, we believe there are remedies available that are acceptable to our lenders and us.

 
 

51


 

The table below presents principal (or notional) amounts and related weighted average interest rates by year of expected maturity for our debt obligations as of September 27, 2003. For obligations with variable interest rates, the table sets forth payout amounts based on current rates and do not attempt to project future interest rates.

 

(In millions)
- ---------------

2003
- -------

2004
- -------

2005
- -------

2006
- -------

Debt

Secured borrowings

$       900

-

-

-

   Average interest rates

2.2%

-

-

-

Credit facilities

-

-

$       791

-

   Average interest rate

-

-

3.3%

-

Notes and debentures

$       277

$       336

-

$       600

   Average interest rates

4.0%

6.7%

-

7.5%

Euro-denominated bonds

-

$       342

-

-

   Average interest rates

-

4.8%

-

-

Revenue bonds

-

$         31

$          21

-

   Average interest rates

-

1.6%

5.6%

-

Capital leases

$          6

$         12

$          13

$         14

   Average interest rates

6.5%

7.3%

7.4%

7.4%

European debt

$           2

$         11

$          11

$          10

   Average interest rates

4.5%

4.6%

4.6%

4.7%

Other loans

-

$           14

-

-

   Average interest rates

-

3.0%

-

-

Notional amount of interest rate exchange
  agreements (variable to fixed)

-

-

-

-

   Average interest rate paid (fixed)

-

-

-

-

   Average interest rate received (variable)

-

-

-

-

Notional amount of interest rate exchange
  agreements (rate collar)

-

-

$          47

-

   Average interest rate cap

-

-

7.5%

-

   Average interest rate floor

-

-

5.5%

-

 
 

52


 

(In millions)
- ---------------

2007
- -------

Thereafter
- -------------

Total
- -------

Fair value
September 27, 2003
- ---------------

Debt

Secured borrowings

-

-

$       900 

$       900

   Average interest rates

-

-

2.2%

2.2%

Credit facilities

-

-

$       791 

$       791

   Average interest rates

-

-

3.3%

3.3%

Notes and debentures

$       300

$     6,401

$    7,914 

$    8,036

   Average interest rates

6.9%

8.6%

8.0%

7.6%

Euro-denominated bonds

-

-

$       342 

$       342

   Average interest rates

-

-

4.8%

4.7%

Revenue bonds

$         28

$        772

$       852 

$       782

   Average interest rates

4.9%

5.2%

5.0%

5.8%

Capital leases

$         17

$        216

$       278 

$       309

   Average interest rates

7.6%

7.2%

7.2%

7.0%

European debt

$           7

$          32

$         73 

$         73

   Average interest rates

4.1%

3.2%

3.9%

3.9%

Other loans

-

-

$          14 

$          10

   Average interest rates

-

-

3.0%

4.0%

Debt subtotal

   

$   11,164 

 

Less: unamortized debt discount

   

(61)

 
     

-------------

 

Total debt balance

   

$   11,103 

 

Notional amount of interest rate exchange
  agreements (variable to fixed)

-

-

-

-

   Average interest rate paid (fixed)

-

-

-

-

   Average interest rate received (variable)

-

-

-

-

Notional amount of interest rate exchange
  agreements (rate collar)

-

-

$         47

$          4

   Average interest rate cap

-

-

7.5%

7.5%

   Average interest rate floor

-

-

5.5%

5.5%

Approximately $148 million of our revenue bonds are supported by letters of credit that expire within one year. We have the intent and ability to renew the letters of credit supporting these revenue bonds. Therefore, maturities of these obligations are reflected in accordance with their stated terms.

 

The following table presents commitment amounts by year of expected expiration for our standby letters of credit agreements.

(In millions)
- ---------------

2003 - 2007
- --------------

Thereafter
- -------

Total
- -------

Standby Letters of Credit**

-

$        19  

$        19  

**

The Standby Letters of Credit for Bank of America totaling $597 million are excluded from the balance and included as amounts outstanding to reduce the available credit under the credit facilities.

We have the intent to renew the Standby Letters of Credit where appropriate as they mature; therefore, the obligations do not have a definite maturity date.

 

Interest rate exchange agreements with a notional amount of $300 million matured on August 22, 2003. For the first nine months of 2003, interest rate exchange agreements increased interest expense by $9 million.

 
 

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At September 27, 2003, we also had interest rate exchange agreements (a collar) that effectively capped $47 million of floating rate obligations to a maximum interest rate of 7.5% and established a minimum interest rate on these obligations of 5.5%. Our interest expense is unaffected by this agreement when the market interest rate falls within this range. During the first nine months of 2003, these agreements decreased interest expense by approximately $2 million. The agreements had a weighted-average maturity of approximately two years at September 27, 2003.

 

We use interest rate swap agreements in the normal course of business to manage and reduce the risk inherent in interest rate fluctuations. The interest rate swap arrangements manage exposure to interest rate changes and are considered hedges of specific borrowings, and differences paid and received under the swap arrangements are recognized as adjustments to interest expense. Under these agreements, we make payments to counter parties at fixed interest rates and in turn receive a payment at variable rates. We entered into interest rate exchange agreements in prior years to protect against the increased cost associated with a rise in interest rates. We may be exposed to losses in the event of nonperformance of counter parties but do not anticipate their nonperformance.

 

Our senior management has established the parameters of our financial policies, which have been approved by our board of directors. These include balancing our debt and equity to keep our weighted average cost of capital low while retaining the flexibility needed to ensure we can meet our financial obligations when or before they come due and to finance attractive business opportunities. Historically, we set debt targets based on our cash generating capability under various business scenarios. We experience variances in cash flow from period to period and various statistical methods are utilized to reasonably estimate possible deviations in estimated future cash flows.

 

We maintain a high portion of our debt as long-term at fixed interest rates. We intend to manage the maturities of our long-term debt (excluding bank debt) so that no more than $500 million matures in any one year and if it does then the sum of the maturities of any two consecutive years does not exceed $1 billion. Generally, we seek to have 75% of our aggregate debt at fixed rates so as to minimize exposure to fluctuating interest rates. Short-term debt is used in modest proportions and generally for seasonal working capital variations and/or financing some of our accounts receivable. We utilize bank credits for temporary short- and/or intermediate-term financing usually bridging known or expected events. Additionally, we maintain committed, available borrowing capacity to allow for seasonal, timing, or unexpected needs. At September 27, 2003, unused capacity under our Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility was $1,612 million.

 

We continuously review our financing objectives to determine the appropriate level of debt to employ in our capital structure to provide the necessary flexibility to finance future growth and investment opportunities.

 

As of September 27, 2003, we had $1.5 billion of debt and equity securities available for issuance under a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2000.

 

During the first nine months of 2003 and 2002, we paid dividends totaling $94 million and $87 million, respectively.

 

In October of 2003, we paid $96 million to settle an income tax matter related to Fort James. We established reserves to cover this matter in connection with accounting for the purchase of Fort James.

 

OTHER. We employ approximately 61,000 people, including approximately 26,000 who are members of unions. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good. Forty union contracts are subject to negotiation and renewal in 2003, including eleven at major facilities. Twenty of these contracts were renewed during the first nine months of 2003.

 

We recently completed agreements with two insurers of our asbestos liabilities, which generally provide that the Corporation will be able to recover $118 million ($74 million after-tax or 29 cents per diluted share) more in insurance from those carriers that it had assumed when it was projecting its insurance receivables in 2002. The corresponding credit related to the increase in these receivables was recorded in the third quarter of 2003 and was reflected in "Other income (losses), net" in the accompanying statements of operations. We expect to monetize a portion of our insurance receivable in the fourth quarter of 2003.

 

During the first nine months of 2003 we recorded pension expense of approximately $181 million and made pension contributions of approximately $109 million. Total pension expense and contributions for fiscal year 2003 are expected to be $245 million and $116 million, respectively.

 
 

54


 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The following are accounting policies that management believes are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results and require management's most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments.

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Judgments and assessments of uncertainties are required in applying our accounting policies in many areas. For example, key assumptions are particularly important when determining amounts allocated to identifiable intangible assets in a business combination and in developing our projected liabilities for pension and other postretirement benefits. Other areas in which significant uncertainties exist include, but are not limited to, projected costs to be incurred in connection with environ mental and legal matters, including its asbestos liabilities. We recognize a liability for environmental remediation and legal indemnification and defense costs when we believe it is probable a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The liabilities are developed based on currently available information and reflect the participation of other potentially responsible parties, depending on the parties' financial condition and probable contribution. The accruals are recorded at undiscounted amounts and are reflected as liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We also have insurance that covers losses on certain environmental claims and records receivables to the extent that the realization of the insurance is deemed probable. This receivable is recorded at an undiscounted amount and is reflected as an asset in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 

In addition, management uses judgment in assessing goodwill, and other long-lived assets for impairment. In accordance with the transition provisions of SFAS No. 142, we have assessed the recoverability of our goodwill. We will now review the recorded value of our goodwill annually, or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may exceed fair value. Recoverability is determined by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to which the goodwill applies to the carrying value, including goodwill, of that reporting unit. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is not impaired. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill is compared to the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recogniz ed in an amount equal to that excess. Goodwill totaled $7.6 billion at September 27, 2003 and represented 31% of total assets. We assess our long-lived assets other than goodwill for impairment whenever facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable. To analyze recoverability, we project undiscounted net future cash flows over the remaining life of the assets. If these projected cash flows are less than the carrying amount, an impairment would be recognized, resulting in a write-down of assets with a corresponding charge to earnings. The impairment loss is measured based upon the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the assets.

 

Accounting Changes

 

In January 2003, the FASB released Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (FIN 46). Fin 46 requires that all primary beneficiaries of Variable Interest Entities (VIE) consolidate that entity. FIN 46 is effective immediately for VIEs created after January 31, 2003 and to VIEs to which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date. It applies in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003, to VIEs in which an enterprise holds a variable interest it acquired before February 1, 2003. In October 2003, the FASB delayed the implementation of FIN 46 until after December 15, 2003, for all entities acquired before February 1, 2003.

 

The only non-consolidated entity that we have identified as a potential VIE is the GA-MET joint venture partnership. We have a 50% interest in this partnership that owns and operations our main office building in Atlanta, GA. We currently account for our investment in this partnership under the equity method. We are in the process of performing tests to determine if the GA-MET joint venture is a VIE and will finalize our analysis in the fourth quarter of 2003. At September 27, 2003, the GA-MET partnership had assets of $92 million and debt of $129 million.

 
 

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On December 29, 2002, we adopted SFAS No. 143. SFAS No. 143 requires that entities record the fair value of an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it was incurred. The cumulative effect of adopting SFAS No. 143 was an after-tax credit of $28 million effective at the beginning of 2003.

 

Effective in the first quarter of 2002, we adopted SFAS No. 142. In accordance with the transition provisions of SFAS No. 142, we completed our initial assessment of the fair value of the net assets underlying all acquisition-related goodwill during the second quarter of 2002. The cumulative effect of the adoption of this principle was an after-tax charge to earnings of $545 million effective at the beginning of 2002. The $545 million goodwill impairment related only to our paper distribution segment. The principal facts and circumstances leading to this impairment included a diminution of synergies originally expected to be received from the white paper mills sold to Domtar, Inc. in 2001, and changes in the marketplace for coated and uncoated free sheet paper subsequent to the acquisition of Unisource.

 

In the first quarter of 2002, we changed our method of computing LIFO inventory increments from year-to-date average cost to latest acquisition cost. We believe that the latest acquisition cost more closely aligns the value of increases in inventory with physical quantities giving rise to the increases and that this method more appropriately reflects the underlying substance of changes in inventory. In addition, we changed our method of pooling LIFO inventories from a statutory legal entity approach to an approach that allows the alignment by business segment. We believe that this approach results in better matching of costs to revenues in a manner that is more consistent with the way the businesses are managed. The cumulative effect of these changes on prior years was not determinable. These changes did not have a material effect on 2002 results of operations or financial position.

 

In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145, Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections ("SFAS No. 145"). SFAS No. 145 rescinds FASB Statement No. 4, Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt (An Amendment of APB Opinion No. 30), which required all gains and losses from extinguishment of debt to be classified as extraordinary items. As a result, the criteria in Opinion 30 will be used to classify those gains and losses. SFAS No. 145 also amends Statement No. 13, Accounting for Leases to require that certain lease modifications that have economic effects similar to sale-leaseback transactions be accounted for in the same manner as sale-leaseback transactions. The provisions of SFAS No. 145 are effective for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002 and early application is encouraged. Any gains or losses previously classified as extraordinary items in prior periods present ed that does not meet the criteria in Opinion 30 for classification as an extraordinary item must be reclassified. We have determined that previously reported extraordinary losses do not meet the criteria in Opinion 30 for classifications as an extraordinary item and will need to be reclassified in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THE "SAFE HARBOR" PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. This report contains forward-looking statements as such term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates" or similar expressions. These statements include, among others, statements regarding our expected business outlook, anticipated financial and operating results, strategies, contingencies, financing plans, working capital needs, sources of liquidity, capital expenditures, and amounts and timing of expenditures with respect to liabilities relating to asbestos-containing products or the environment (and amounts and timing of insurance recoveries covering those expenses).

 

Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of performance. These statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions, which in turn are based on currently available information. Important assumptions relating to the forward-looking statements include, among others, assumptions regarding demand for our products, expected pricing levels, supply and cost of timber and wood fiber, the timing and cost of planned capital expenditures, the estimated cost of environmental compliance and remediation, expected outcomes of pending litigation, the expected costs of pending and future asbestos and environmental claims, the solvency of our insurers and the resolution of allocation and coverage issues with those insurers (including, without limitation, issues relating to insurance coverage of asbestos and environmental claims) on a basis consistent with the our current expectations, competitive conditions and general economic conditions. These assumpti ons could prove inaccurate.

 
 

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Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. In addition to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed elsewhere herein, factors that could cause or contribute to actual results differing materially from such forward-looking statements include the following: our substantial indebtedness; the industry's production capacity exceeding demand for its products, necessitating market-related downtime; changes in the productive capacity and production levels of other building products and pulp and paper producers; decreases in the level of housing starts or lessened home remodeling in the U.S.; fluctuations in interest rates and currency exchange rates; the effect of general economic conditions in the United States and other countries where Georgia-Pacific operates; legislative or r egulatory changes affecting the environment, the harvesting of private timberlands or other matters; actions taken or to be taken by the United States or other governments as a result of acts or threats of terrorism and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The accuracy of statements relating to the company's asbestos liabilities is also subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the rate at which new asbestos claims will be filed, the cost of defending and resolving each such claim, the occurrence of various types of diseases among the general population, the continued solvency of insurance companies which wrote product liability policies for Georgia-Pacific, the applicability to Georgia-Pacific of court decisions involving other companies which establish precedents for the allocation and payment of insurance coverages, and other factors.

 

The reader should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. Further, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events.

 

For a discussion of commitments and contingencies refer to Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management necessarily applied its judgment in assessing the costs and benefits of such controls and procedures which, by their nature, can provide only reasonable assurance regarding management's control objectives.

 

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer along with our Chief Financial Officer, on the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14 as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based upon that evaluation, each of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to Georgia-Pacific Corporation (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in our Exchange Act reports. There have been no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date we carried out our evaluation.

 
 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION
September 27, 2003

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

   
 

The information contained in Note 13 "Commitments and Contingencies" of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is incorporated herein by reference.

   
   

Item 6.

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

   
 

(a)

Exhibits

       
   

Exhibit 12 -

Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (1)

       
   

Exhibit 18 -

Preferability Letter from Ernst & Young LLP. (1)

       
   

Exhibit 31.1 -

Certification by Alston D. Correll, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Georgia-Pacific Corporation, pursuant to § 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. § 7241). (1)

       
   

Exhibit 31.2 -

Certification by Danny W. Huff, as Executive Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Georgia-Pacific Corporation, pursuant to § 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. § 7241). (1)

       
   

Exhibit 32.1 -

Certification by Alston D. Correll, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Georgia-Pacific Corporation, pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. § 1350). (1)

       
   

Exhibit 32.2 -

Certification by Danny W. Huff, as Executive Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Georgia-Pacific Corporation, pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. § 1350). (1)

     
 

(b)

Reports on Form 8-K

     
 

*

        On July 17, 2003, we filed a report on Form 8-K , which furnished (not filed) under Items 7 and 9 the press release entitled "Georgia-Pacific Reports Second Quarter 2003 Results" relating to the results of our second fiscal quarter ended June 28, 2003.

       
 

*

        On August 1, 2003, we filed a report on Form 8-K, which reported under Items 5 and 7 the issuance of a press release regarding the announcement of its exchange offer for unregistered senior notes.

       
 

*

        On September 22, 2003, we filed a report on Form 8-K, which reported under Items 5 and 7 the announcement of its exploration of strategic alternatives for its building products distribution business.

       
 

*

        On September 24, 2003, the Corporation filed a report on Form 8-K, which reported under Items 7 and 9 the issuance of a press release on September 22, 2003.

   
     

(1)

Filed via EDGAR.

 
 
 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: November 10, 2003

GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION

 

(Registrant)

 
 
 
 

by /s/ Danny W. Huff                                                
      Danny W. Huff
      Executive Vice President - Finance
          and Chief Financial Officer

   
   
 

by /s/ James E. Terrell                                               
      James E. Terrell,
      Vice President and Controller
       (Chief Accounting Officer)

 
 

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GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION

-------------------------------------------------

INDEX TO EXHIBITS
FILED WITH THE QUARTERLY REPORT
ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 27, 2003

   
   

Exhibit No.

Sequentially Numbered Description

   

12

Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

   

18

Preferability Letter from Ernst & Young LLP

   

31.1

Certification by Alston D. Correll, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Georgia-Pacific Corporation, pursuant to § 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. § 7241).

   

31.2

Certification by Danny W. Huff, as Executive Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Georgia-Pacific Corporation, pursuant to § 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. § 7241).

   

32.1

Certification by Alston D. Correll, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Georgia-Pacific Corporation, pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. § 1350).

   

32.2

Certification by Danny W. Huff, as Executive Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Georgia-Pacific Corporation, pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. § 1350).

 
 

60