BCC 12.31.2014 10-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
 
FORM 10-K
 
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014
 
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
For the transition period from                        to                       
 
Commission File Number:  001-35805 

Boise Cascade Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
20-1496201
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
1111 West Jefferson Street
Suite 300
Boise, Idaho 83702-5389
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
 
(208) 384-6161
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
 
New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
 
Indicate by check mark if registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x   No o
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o   No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes x    No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  x No o



 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

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

Non-accelerated filer o  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)      Smaller reporting company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).      Yes o     No x
 
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant on June 30, 2014, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, based on the last reported trading price of the registrant's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was approximately $950,211,543.

There were 39,477,611 shares of the registrant's $0.01 par value common stock outstanding on February 20, 2015.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for its 2015 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.



Table of Contents

Table of Contents
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ii

Table of Contents

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


iii

Table of Contents

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our future financial performance, business strategy, plans, goals, and objectives.

Statements preceded or followed by, or that otherwise include, the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "project," "estimates," "plans," "forecast," "is likely to," and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "may," "would," "should," and "could" are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements:

The commodity nature of our products and their price movements, which are driven largely by capacity utilization rates and industry cycles that affect supply and demand;

General economic conditions, including but not limited to housing starts, repair-and-remodeling activity, light commercial construction, inventory levels of new and existing homes for sale, foreclosure rates, interest rates, unemployment rates, household formation rates, and mortgage availability and pricing, as well as other consumer financing mechanisms, that ultimately affect demand for our products;

The highly competitive nature of our industry;

Availability and affordability of raw materials, including wood fiber and glues and resins;

Material disruptions and/or major equipment failure at our manufacturing facilities;

The impact of actuarial assumptions and regulatory activity on pension costs and pension funding requirements;

The financial condition and creditworthiness of our customers;

The cost and availability of third-party transportation services used to deliver the goods we manufacture and distribute, as well as our raw materials;

Our reliance on a wholly-owned subsidiary of Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) for many of our administrative services and our ability to successfully transition these services from PCA to newly hired employees (many of whom we expect to transition from PCA to Boise Cascade employment);

Concentration of our sales among a relatively small group of customers;

Substantial ongoing capital investment costs and the difficulty in offsetting fixed costs related to our recent capital investments if the housing market does not recover further;

Our indebtedness, including the possibility that we may not generate sufficient cash flows from operations or that future borrowings may not be available in amounts sufficient to fulfill our debt obligations and fund other liquidity needs;

Cost of compliance with government regulations, in particular environmental regulations;
 
Declines in demand for our products due to competing technologies or materials;

Exposure to product liability, product warranty, casualty, construction defect, and other claims;

Labor disruptions, shortages of skilled and technical labor, or increased labor costs;

Restrictive covenants contained in our debt agreements;


1

Table of Contents

Disruptions to information systems used to process and store customer, employee, and vendor information, as well as the technology that manages our operations and other business processes;

Impairment of our long-lived assets, goodwill, and/or intangible assets;

The need to successfully formulate and implement succession plans for certain members of our senior management team;
    
Our ability to successfully and efficiently complete and integrate potential acquisitions; and

Fluctuations in the market for our equity.

Certain of these and other factors are discussed in more detail in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of this Form 10-K. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this Form 10-K. While we believe that our forecasts and assumptions are reasonable, we caution that actual results may differ materially. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what we projected. Consequently, actual events and results may vary significantly from those included in or contemplated or implied by our forward-looking statements.     

PART I
 
ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

Boise Cascade is a large, vertically-integrated wood products manufacturer and building materials distributor with widespread operations throughout the United States. As used in this Form 10-K, the terms "Boise Cascade," "we," and "our" refer to Boise Cascade Company (formerly known as Boise Cascade, L.L.C.) and its consolidated subsidiaries. We believe we are the second largest manufacturer of plywood and engineered wood products (EWP). We also believe we are one of the largest stocking wholesale distributors of building products in the United States. Our broad line of products is used primarily in new residential construction, residential repair-and-remodeling projects, light commercial construction, and industrial applications. We have a broad base of more than 4,500 customers, which includes a diverse mix of retail lumberyards, home improvement centers, leading wholesalers, and industrial converters. We believe our large, vertically-integrated operations provide us with significant advantages over less integrated competitors and position us to optimally serve our customers. Our operations began on October 29, 2004, when we acquired the forest products assets of OfficeMax. We completed an initial public offering of our common stock on February 11, 2013.

Our Industry

              The building products manufacturing and distribution industry in North America is highly competitive, with a number of producers manufacturing and selling a broad range of products. Demand for our products is principally influenced by new residential construction, residential repair-and-remodeling activity, light commercial construction, and industrial consumption in the United States. Demand drivers include new household formation, the age of the housing stock, availability of credit and other macroeconomic factors, such as GDP growth, population growth and migration, interest rates, employment, and consumer sentiment. Purchasing decisions made by the customers who buy our wood products are generally based on price, quality, and particularly with respect to EWP, customer service and product support.

Segments

We operate our business using three reportable segments: Wood Products, Building Materials Distribution, and Corporate and Other. We present information pertaining to our segments, including product sales, customer concentration, and the geographic areas in which we operate, in Note 15, Segment Information, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.

2

Table of Contents


Wood Products

Products

We manufacture structural and industrial plywood panels. In addition, we manufacture EWP, consisting of laminated veneer lumber (LVL), I-joists, and laminated beams, which are structural products used in applications where extra strength and consistent quality are required, such as headers and beams. LVL is also used in the manufacture of I-joists, which are assembled by combining a vertical web of oriented strand board (OSB) with top and bottom LVL or solid wood flanges. We also produce studs, particleboard, and ponderosa pine lumber.
The following table sets forth the annual capacity and production of our principal products for the periods indicated:

 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
 
(millions)
Capacity (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plywood (sq. ft.) (3/8" basis) (b)
 
2,380

 
2,380

 
1,630

 
1,500

 
1,475

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) (cubic feet) (c)
 
27.5

 
27.5

 
27.5

 
27.5

 
27.5

Lumber (board feet) (d)
 
270

 
255

 
235

 
200

 
180

Production
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plywood (sq. ft.) (3/8" basis) (b)
 
1,973

 
1,647

 
1,482

 
1,240

 
1,183

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) (cubic feet) (c)
 
20.1

 
17.2

 
14.2

 
10.7

 
10.0

I‑joists (equivalent lineal feet) (c)
 
201

 
178

 
149

 
112

 
105

Lumber (board feet) (d)
 
218

 
197

 
196

 
152

 
149

_______________________________________ 

(a)
Estimated annual capacity at the end of each year.

(b)
In September 2013, we purchased two plywood manufacturing facilities, one in Chester, South Carolina, and one in Moncure, North Carolina.

Approximately 19%, 17%, 15%, 12%, and 11%, respectively, of the plywood we produced in 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010 was utilized internally to produce LVL.

(c)
A portion of LVL production is used to manufacture I-joists at two EWP plants. Capacity is based on LVL production only.

(d)
In February 2012, we purchased a lumber facility in Arden, Washington.
    
The following table sets forth segment sales, segment income (loss), depreciation and amortization, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for the periods indicated:

 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011 (a)
 
2010 (b)
 
 
(millions)
Segment sales (c)
 
$
1,317.0

 
$
1,134.1

 
$
943.3

 
$
712.5

 
$
687.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment income (loss)
 
$
108.4

 
$
77.7

 
$
55.8

 
$
(15.1
)
 
$
(8.1
)
Segment depreciation and amortization
 
41.5

 
28.7

 
24.4

 
28.4

 
27.1

Segment EBITDA (d)
 
$
149.8

 
$
106.3

 
$
80.2

 
$
13.3

 
$
19.0

_______________________________________ 

(a)
In 2011, segment loss included $2.6 million of expense related to the permanent closure of a laminated beam plant in Emmett, Idaho, and noncash asset write-downs.


3

Table of Contents

(b)
In 2010, segment loss and EBITDA included $0.5 million of income for cash received from a litigation settlement related to vendor product pricing.

(c)
Segment sales are calculated before elimination of sales to our Building Materials Distribution segment.

(d)
Segment EBITDA is calculated as segment income (loss) before depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is the primary measure used by our chief operating decision maker to evaluate segment operating performance and to decide how to allocate resources to segments. See "Item 6. Selected Financial Data" of this Form 10-K for a description of our reasons for using EBITDA, for a discussion of the limitations of such a measure, and for a reconciliation of our consolidated EBITDA to net income (loss).

Facilities

Our Wood Products segment operates nine plywood and veneer plants, six of which manufacture inputs used in our EWP facilities. In addition, we operate four EWP facilities, the two most significant of which have a high degree of raw material and manufacturing integration with our plywood and veneer facilities. We also operate five sawmills and one particleboard plant.

Raw Materials and Input Costs

Wood fiber. The primary raw material in our Wood Products segment is wood fiber. For the year ended December 31, 2014, wood fiber accounted for approximately 44% of materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation) in our Wood Products segment. Our plywood and veneer facilities use Douglas fir, white woods, pine, and hardwood logs as raw materials. We use ponderosa pine, spruce, and white fir logs to manufacture various grades of lumber. Our EWP facilities use parallel-laminated veneer panels and veneer sheets produced by our facilities and purchased from third parties, as well as stress-rated lumber and OSB purchased from third parties, to manufacture LVL and I-joists. Our manufacturing facilities are located in close proximity to active wood markets.
Timber comprised approximately 80% of our wood fiber costs during 2014, and we satisfy our timber requirements through a combination of purchases under supply agreements, open-market purchases, and purchases pursuant to contracts awarded under public timber auctions. A significant portion of our timber (24% in 2014) was supplied through a series of long-term fiber supply agreements. These agreements with Hancock Natural Resources Group, Inc. (Hancock) and Rayonier Louisiana Timberlands, LLC (Rayonier) terminated on December 31, 2014. A similar agreement with Molpus Woodlands Group LLC (Molpus) also terminated on December 31, 2014, but has been replaced by a five year fiber supply agreement with similar terms. We expect to replace our timber requirements previously sourced from the terminated Hancock and Rayonier agreements from various timber sellers, including private purchases with other suppliers, open-market purchases, and purchases from governmental sources.
We bid in auctions conducted by federal, state, and local authorities for the purchase of timber, generally at fixed prices, under contracts with terms of generally one to three years. In 2014, approximately 18% of our timber was supplied under government contracts. The remainder of our log supply in 2014 was supplied through private purchases directly from timber owners or through dealers.

Our timber and fiber obligations are subject to change based on, among other things, the effect of governmental laws and regulations, our manufacturing operations not operating in the normal course of business, timber and fiber availability, and the status of environmental appeals. For a discussion of contractual commitments relating to fiber supply agreements, see "Contractual Obligations" in "Item 8. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K.

The cost of timber is strongly correlated with prevailing product prices for building materials and manufacturers' expectations for future product prices, with the increase in product prices driving increases in timber costs. Because wood fiber is a commodity, prices have been historically cyclical in response to changes in domestic and foreign demand and supply. Demand for dimension lumber has a strong influence on pricing, as the dimension lumber industry is the largest consumer of timber. Generally, increases in the cost of timber lag product price increases, as improved manufacturer profitability often leads to increased demand for timber. In the future, we expect the level of foreign demand for timber exports from the western U.S. to fluctuate based on economic activity in China and other Pacific Rim countries, currency exchange rates, and the availability of timber supplies from other countries such as Canada, Russia, and New Zealand. Sustained periods of high timber costs may impair the cost competitiveness of our manufacturing facilities.

4

Table of Contents

Our aggregate cost of obtaining timber is also affected by fuel costs and the distance of the fiber source from our facilities, as we are often required to transport the timber we purchase from the source to our facilities.

Other raw materials and energy costs. We use a significant quantity of various resins and glues in our manufacturing processes. Resin and glue product costs are influenced by changes in the prices of raw material input costs, primarily fossil fuel products. We purchase resins and glues, other raw materials, and energy used to manufacture our products in both the open market and through supply contracts. The contracts are generally with regional suppliers who agree to supply all of our needs for a certain raw material or energy within the applicable region. These contracts have terms of various lengths and typically contain price adjustment mechanisms that take into account changes in market prices. Therefore, although our long-term contracts provide us with supplies of raw materials and energy that are more stable than open-market purchases, in many cases, they may not alleviate fluctuations in market prices.

Sales, Marketing, and Distribution

Sales of plywood, lumber, and particleboard are managed by product. Our EWP sales force is managed centrally through a main office that oversees regional sales teams. Our sales force spends a significant amount of time working with end customers who purchase our EWP. Our sales force provides a variety of technical support services, including integrated design, engineering, product specification software, distributor inventory management software, and job-pack preparation systems.

In 2014, plywood, EWP, and lumber accounted for 42%, 37%, and 9%, respectively, of our Wood Products sales. The majority of our wood products are sold to leading wholesalers (including our Building Materials Distribution segment), home improvement centers, retail lumberyards, and industrial converters in North America. Our Building Materials Distribution segment is our Wood Products segment's largest customer, representing approximately 40% of our Wood Products segment's overall sales in 2014. In 2014, 27%, 66%, and 11% of our Wood Products segment's plywood, EWP, and lumber sales volumes, respectively, were to our Building Materials Distribution segment.
The following table lists sales volumes for our principal wood products for the periods indicated:

 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
 
(millions)
Plywood (sq. ft.) (3/8" basis) (a)
 
1,651

 
1,473

 
1,356

 
1,106

 
1,088

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) (cubic feet) (b)
 
12.4

 
11.1

 
9.1

 
7.1

 
6.6

I-joists (equivalent lineal feet)
 
193

 
179

 
145

 
110

 
106

Lumber (board feet)
 
212

 
199

 
188

 
153

 
149

_______________________________________ 

(a)    Excludes plywood produced and used in the manufacture of LVL.

(b)    Excludes LVL produced and used as flange stock in the manufacture of I-joists.


5

Table of Contents

Segment Strategy

Grow Our Operations With a Focus on Expanding Our Capacity in EWP
We have expanded our market position in EWP by utilizing our large-scale manufacturing position, comprehensive customer service, design support capabilities, and efficient distribution network. We expect to see further increases in EWP demand as a result of the on-going recovery in housing construction and intend to take advantage of these increases by expanding our capacity through capital investments in low-cost, internal veneer manufacturing. We have also developed strategic relationships with third-party veneer suppliers to support additional EWP production as needed. Additionally, we have grown and intend to continue to grow our Wood Products business through strategic acquisitions.
Continue to Improve Our Competitiveness Through Operational Excellence
We use a disciplined cost management approach to maximize our competitiveness without sacrificing our ability to react to future growth opportunities. Additionally, we have made capital investments and process improvements in certain facilities, which have enabled us to close or divest certain manufacturing facilities during the housing downturn without any adverse impact on our production capacity. These capital investments and process improvements have decreased our production costs and allowed us to produce lower-cost, higher-quality veneers. Beginning in 2009, we adopted a data-driven process improvement program to further strengthen our manufacturing operations. Because of the significant gains we continue to see from this program, we believe there are opportunities to apply similar techniques and methods to different functional areas (including sales and marketing) to realize efficiencies in those areas.

Building Materials Distribution

Products

We sell a broad line of building materials, including EWP, OSB, plywood, lumber, and general line items such as siding, metal products, insulation, roofing, and composite decking. Except for EWP and plywood, we purchase most of these building materials from a vendor base of more than 1,100 third-party suppliers ranging from large manufacturers, such as James Hardie Building Products, Trex Company, Huber Engineered Woods, Louisiana-Pacific, and Georgia-Pacific, to small regional producers. Substantially all of our EWP is sourced from our Wood Products segment. Our products are used in the construction of new residential housing, including single-family, multi-family, and manufactured homes, the repair and remodeling of existing housing, and the construction of light industrial and commercial buildings.

The following table sets forth segment sales, segment income, depreciation and amortization, and EBITDA for the periods indicated:

 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011 (a)
 
2010 (b)
 
 
(millions)
Segment sales
 
$
2,786.7

 
$
2,599.6

 
$
2,190.2

 
$
1,779.4

 
$
1,778.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment income
 
$
56.7

 
$
39.9

 
$
24.0

 
$
2.0

 
$
11.6

Segment depreciation and amortization
 
9.8

 
9.2

 
8.8

 
8.4

 
7.5

Segment EBITDA (c)
 
$
66.5

 
$
49.2

 
$
32.9

 
$
10.4

 
$
19.1

_______________________________________ 

(a)
In 2011, segment income and EBITDA included $1.2 million of noncash asset write-downs.

(b)
In 2010, segment income and EBITDA included $4.1 million of income for cash received from a litigation settlement related to vendor product pricing.

(c)
Segment EBITDA is calculated as segment income before depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is the primary measure used by our chief operating decision maker to evaluate segment operating performance and to decide how to allocate resources to segments. See "Item 6. Selected Financial Data" of this Form 10-K for a description of our reasons for using EBITDA, for a discussion of the limitations of such a measure, and for a reconciliation of our consolidated EBITDA to net income (loss).


6

Table of Contents

Facilities

Our Building Materials Distribution segment operates a nationwide network of 32 building materials distribution facilities throughout the United States. We also operate a single truss manufacturing plant. Our broad geographic presence reduces our exposure to market factors in any single region. In 2014, we opened a new facility in Kansas City, Missouri, and expanded our Greensboro, North Carolina, facility. In 2013, we expanded our Minneapolis, Minnesota, Boise, Idaho, and Chicago, Illinois, facilities. In early 2012, we also completed facility expansions in Dallas, Texas, and Greenland, New Hampshire.
Sales, Marketing, and Distribution

We market our building materials primarily to retail lumberyards and home improvement centers that then sell the products to end customers, who are typically professional builders, independent contractors, and homeowners engaged in residential construction and repair-and-remodeling projects. We also market our products to a wide variety of industrial accounts, which use our products to assemble cabinets, doors, agricultural bins, crating, and other products used in industrial and construction applications. We believe that our national presence and long-standing relationships with many of our key suppliers allow us to obtain favorable price and term arrangements and offer excellent customer service on top brands in the building materials industry. We also believe our broad product line provides our customers with an efficient, one-stop resource for their building materials needs. We also have expertise in special-order sourcing and merchandising support, which is a key service for our home improvement center customers that choose not to stock certain items in inventory.
Each of our distribution centers implements its own distribution and logistics model using centralized information systems. We use internal and external trucking resources to deliver materials on a regularly scheduled basis. Our highly efficient logistics system allows us to deliver superior customer service and assist our customers in optimizing their working capital.
We have a large, decentralized sales force to support our suppliers and customers. Our sales force and product managers have local product knowledge and decision-making authority, which we believe enables them to optimize stocking, pricing, and product assortment decisions. Our sales force has access to centralized information technology systems, an extensive vendor base, and corporate-level working capital support, which we believe complements our localized sales model. Our sales force is compensated, in part, based on branch-level performance.
We regularly evaluate opportunities to introduce new products. Broadening our product offering helps us serve as a one-stop resource for building materials, which we believe improves our customers' purchasing and operating efficiencies. The introduction of new products is primarily driven by customer demand or product extensions originating from our vendors. We believe our long-standing customer relationships allow us to respond to customer feedback and introduce new products more rapidly. Broadening our product offering also helps us drive additional products through our distribution system, thereby increasing our scale and efficiency.
Segment Strategy

Grow Market Share

We intend to grow our Building Materials Distribution business in existing markets by adding products and services to better serve our customers. We also plan to opportunistically expand our Building Materials Distribution business. Sales in our Building Materials Distribution segment are strongly correlated with new residential construction and residential improvements in the United States. We will continue to grow our Building Materials Distribution business by opportunistically acquiring facilities, adding new products, opening new locations, relocating and expanding capacity at existing facilities, and capturing local market share through our superior supply chain capabilities and customer service.

Further Differentiate Our Products and Services

We seek to continue to differentiate ourselves from our competitors by providing a broad line of high-quality products and superior customer service. Throughout the housing downturn, we believe we have grown market share by strengthening relationships with our customers, stocking sufficient inventory, and retaining our primary sales team. Our highly efficient logistics system allows us to deliver superior customer service and assist our customers in optimizing their working capital. Our national distribution platform, coupled with the manufacturing capabilities of our Wood Products segment, differentiates us from most of our competitors and is critical to servicing retail lumberyards, home improvement centers, and industrial accounts locally, regionally, and nationally. Additionally, this system allows us to procure product more efficiently and to develop and

7

Table of Contents

maintain stronger relationships with our vendors. Because of these relationships and our national presence, we believe many of our vendors have offered us favorable pricing and provide us with enhanced product introductions and ongoing marketing support.

Corporate and Other

Our Corporate and Other segment includes corporate support staff services, related assets and liabilities, and foreign currency exchange gains and losses. These support services include, but are not limited to, finance, accounting, legal, information technology, and human resource functions. We purchase many of these corporate staff services under an Outsourcing Services Agreement from a wholly-owned subsidiary of Packaging Corporation of America (PCA). On November 17, 2014, we entered into the Fifth Amendment to Outsourcing Services Agreement (the “Amendment”) with PCA, which amends the Outsourcing Services Agreement, dated February 22, 2008 (the “Agreement”), to, among other things, provide expiration dates for the termination of substantially all administrative services provided by PCA to us pursuant to the Agreement. For those services scheduled to be terminated, the expiration dates are planned to occur between March 2015 and December 2015. Services for which the Amendment does not provide expiration dates will generally continue under the same terms and conditions of the Agreement. These administration services, including information technology, accounting, and human resource transactional services, will transition from PCA to us upon expiration. During and after transition, our information technology systems will remain in place with many of the administrative services performed by newly hired employees, many of whom we expect to transition from PCA to Boise Cascade employment. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors" and Note 12, Outsourcing Services Agreement, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K for more information.

Customers

We maintain relationships with a broad customer base across multiple market segments and various end markets. For the year ended December 31, 2014, our top ten customers represented approximately 28% of our sales, with our largest customer, Home Depot, accounting for approximately 9% of our sales. At December 31, 2014, receivables from Home Depot accounted for approximately 11% of total receivables. Sales to Home Depot were recorded in our Building Materials Distribution and Wood Products segments. For additional information related to customers of our Wood Products and Building Materials Distribution segments, see the "Sales, Marketing, and Distribution" sections above.

Competition

The competitive environment in the U.S. continues to be challenging as new residential and light commercial construction activity and repair-and-remodeling spending remain substantially below average historical levels. Industry capacity in a number of product markets, including some of those in which we compete, exceeds the current level of demand. Our products and services compete with similar products manufactured and distributed by others. Many factors influence our competitive position in the markets in which we operate. Those factors include price, service, quality, product selection, and convenience of location.
Some of our competitors are larger than we are and have greater financial resources. These resources may afford those competitors greater purchasing power, increased financial flexibility, and more capital resources for expansion and improvement.
Wood Products. The wood products manufacturing markets in which we operate are large and highly competitive. In plywood, we compete with Georgia-Pacific, the largest manufacturer in North America, other large producers such as Roseburg Forest Products, and several smaller producers. We also compete against several major North American EWP producers, such as Weyerhaeuser Company and Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, as well as several other smaller, regional firms. Our EWP products also face competition from numerous dimension lumber producers, because EWP may be substituted by dimension lumber in many building applications. We have leading market positions in the manufacture of plywood, EWP, and ponderosa pine lumber. We hold much smaller market positions in our other manufactured products. In the wood products manufacturing markets, we compete primarily on the basis of price, quality, and particularly with respect to EWP, levels of customer service. Most of our competitors are located in the United States and Canada, although we also compete with manufacturers in other countries. Our competition includes not only manufacturers and distributors of similar building products but also manufacturers and distributors of products made from alternative materials, such as steel and plastic. Some of our competitors enjoy strong reputations for product quality and customer service, and these competitors may have strong relationships with certain distributors, making it more difficult for our products to gain additional market share. Some of our competitors in this segment

8

Table of Contents

are also vertically integrated and/or have access to internal sources of wood fiber, which may allow them to subsidize their base manufacturing business in periods of rising fiber prices.
Building Materials Distribution. The building materials distribution markets in which we operate are highly fragmented, and we compete in each of our geographic and product markets with national, regional, and local distributors. Our national wholesale distribution competitors include BlueLinx Holdings Inc. and Weyerhaeuser Company. Regional wholesale distribution competitors include Cedar Creek, OrePac, and U.S. Lumber Group. We also compete with wholesale brokers and certain buying cooperatives. We compete on the basis of pricing and availability of product, service and delivery capabilities, ability to assist customers with problem solving, extension of credit terms, customer relationships, geographic coverage, and breadth of product offerings. We also distribute products for some manufacturers that engage in direct sales. In recent years, there has been consolidation among retail lumberyards. As the customer base consolidates, this dynamic could affect our ability to maintain margins. Proximity to customers is an important factor in minimizing shipping costs and facilitating quick order turnaround and on-time delivery. We believe our ability to obtain quality materials, from both internal and external sources, the scale and efficiency of our national footprint, and our focus on customer service are our primary competitive advantages in this segment. Also, financial stability is important to suppliers and customers in choosing distributors and allows for more favorable terms on which we are able to obtain our products from our suppliers and sell our products to our customers.
Environmental

Our discussion of general and industry-specific environmental laws and regulations is presented under the caption "Environmental" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Item 3. Legal Proceedings" of this Form 10-K.

Capital Investment

Information concerning our capital expenditures is presented in "Investment Activities" under "Liquidity and Capital Resources" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K.

Seasonal and Inflationary Influences

We are exposed to fluctuations in quarterly sales volumes and expenses due to seasonal factors. These seasonal factors are common in the building products industry. For further information, see "Seasonal and Inflationary Influences" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K.

Employees

As of February 15, 2015, we had approximately 5,670 employees. Approximately 26% of these employees work pursuant to collective bargaining agreements. As of February 15, 2015, we had nine collective bargaining agreements. None of our employees are working pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement that will expire within the next 12 months.

Trademarks

We maintain many trademarks for our manufactured wood products, particularly EWP. Our key registered trademarks include BOISE CASCADE® and the TREE-IN-A-CIRCLE® logo, which are perpetual in duration as long as we continue to timely file all post registration maintenance documents related thereto. We believe these key trademarks to be of significant importance to our business.

Available Information

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and therefore file periodic reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports may be obtained by visiting the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549, or by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically.

Our filings under the Exchange Act, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, Registration Statements, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to these reports, are also available free of charge on

9

Table of Contents

the investor relations portion of our website at www.bc.com. These reports are available as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. The reference to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on the website, and the information contained on the website is not part of this document.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

Below is a list of names, ages, and a brief account of the business experience of our executive officers and key members of management, each as of February 20, 2015.
    
Name
Age
Position
Executive Officers:
 
 
Thomas E. Carlile
63
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Thomas K. Corrick
59
Chief Operating Officer
Wayne M. Rancourt
52
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
Daniel G. Hutchinson
63
Executive Vice President, Wood Products Manufacturing
Nick Stokes
57
Executive Vice President, Building Materials Distribution
John T. Sahlberg
61
Senior Vice President, Human Resources and General Counsel
Kelly E. Hibbs
48
Vice President and Controller
Key Management:
 
 
Dennis R. Huston
62
Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Engineered Wood Products
Frank Elfering
48
Vice President of Purchasing, Building Materials Distribution
Rich Viola
57
Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Building Materials Distribution

Thomas E. Carlile, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Mr. Carlile became our chief executive officer and a director of BC Holdings in August 2009. He became one of our directors in February 2013 in connection with our initial public offering. Mr. Carlile previously served as our executive vice president and chief financial officer from February 2008 to August 2009, following the divestiture of our paper and packaging businesses. From October 2004 to January 2008, he served as senior vice president and chief financial officer. Mr. Carlile has served as a member of the board of directors of IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power Company since March 2014. Mr. Carlile received a bachelor's degree in accounting from Boise State University and completed the Stanford Executive Program. Mr. Carlile's position as our chief executive officer allows him to advise the board of directors on management's perspective over a full range of issues affecting the company. Mr. Carlile has elected to retire from the company, effective March 6, 2015.

Thomas K. Corrick, Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Corrick will become our chief executive officer on March 6, 2015. He has served as our chief operating officer since November 2014. Prior to his appointment as chief operating officer, Mr. Corrick served as the executive vice president of Wood Products since June 2014 and previously served as senior vice president, Wood Products, from August 2012 to June 2014. Prior to that he served as senior vice president, Engineered Wood Products, from February 2011 to August 2012, and vice president, Engineered Wood Products, from January 2005 to February 2011. From October 2004 to January 2005, he served as the general manager of Engineered Wood Products. Mr. Corrick received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from Texas Christian University.
Wayne M. Rancourt, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer

Mr. Rancourt became our executive vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer in November 2014. Mr. Rancourt served as senior vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer from August 2009 to November 2014. Prior to that, he previously served as our vice president, treasurer and investor relations from February 2008 to August 2009, following the divestiture of our paper and packaging businesses. From October 2004 to January 2008, he served as vice president and treasurer. Mr. Rancourt received a B.S. degree in accounting from Central Washington University.

10

Table of Contents

Daniel G. Hutchinson, Executive Vice President, Wood Products Manufacturing
 
Mr. Hutchinson became our executive vice president of Wood Products in November 2014. Prior to that, Mr. Hutchinson served as vice president of operations for Wood Products Manufacturing from August 2012 to November 2014. He previously served as general manager of operations for our Engineered Wood Products business from 2008 to August 2012. From 2007 to 2008, he served as our Engineered Wood Products national accounts manager. Mr. Hutchinson received bachelor's degrees in accounting and finance from the University of Idaho and an M.B.A. from Washington State University.
Nick Stokes, Executive Vice President, Building Materials Distribution

Mr. Stokes became our executive vice president, Building Materials Distribution, in March 2014. Prior to that he served as the division's senior vice president from February 2011 to March 2014. From October 2004 to February 2011, Mr. Stokes served as vice president, Building Materials Distribution. Mr. Stokes received a B.S. in management and a B.S. in marketing from the University of Utah.
John T. Sahlberg, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and General Counsel

Mr. Sahlberg became our senior vice president, Human Resources and General Counsel, effective August 2012. Prior to his election as senior vice president, Human Resources and General Counsel, Mr. Sahlberg served as vice president, Human Resources and General Counsel, since January 2011. Prior to that, he served as vice president, Human Resources, from February 2008 to January 2011. Prior to that, he served as director of Human Resources from February 2006 to February 2008. From October 2004 through January 2006, he was director of labor relations. Mr. Sahlberg received a bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard College and a J.D. from Georgetown University. He is a member of the Idaho State Bar.

Kelly E. Hibbs, Vice President and Controller

Mr. Hibbs became our vice president and controller in February 2011. Mr. Hibbs previously served as our director of strategic planning and internal audit from February 2008 to February 2011. From October 2004 to February 2008, he served as manager of financial forecasts and projects. Mr. Hibbs received a B.A. in accounting from Boise State University. He is a certified public accountant.
Dennis R. Huston, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Engineered Wood Products

Mr. Huston became our vice president of sales and marketing, Engineered Wood Products, in August 2012. Mr. Huston previously served as sales manager of Engineered Wood Products from October 2004 until August 2012. Mr. Huston received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Dubuque in Iowa.
Frank Elfering, Vice President of Purchasing, Building Materials Distribution
              Mr. Elfering became our vice president of purchasing for Building Materials Distribution in October 2013. Prior to that he served as the division’s purchasing manager since July 2013. From 2008 to 2013, he served as the division marketing manager and west region sales manager for BMD. Mr. Elfering received a B.S. in marketing from Oregon State University.

Rich Viola, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Building Materials Distribution

Mr. Viola became our vice president of sales and marketing for Building Materials Distribution in October 2013, after being named division sales and marketing manager in early 2013. From 1999 to 2013, Mr. Viola served as national accounts sales manager and east region sales manager. Prior to the acquisition by Boise Cascade in 1999, he held the position of senior vice president, sales and marketing, for Furman Lumber, Inc. Mr. Viola received a B.S. in marketing from Northeastern University in Boston.

11

Table of Contents

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

Risks Relating to Our Business

Many of the products we manufacture or purchase and resell are commodities whose price is determined by the market's supply and demand for such products, and the markets in which we operate are cyclical and competitive.
Many of the building products we produce or distribute, including OSB, plywood, lumber, and particleboard, are commodities that are widely available from other manufacturers or distributors with prices and volumes determined frequently in an auction market based on participants' perceptions of short-term supply and demand factors. At times, the price for any one or more of the products we produce or distribute may fall below our cash production or purchase costs, requiring us to either incur short-term losses on product sales or cease production at one or more of our manufacturing facilities. Therefore, our profitability with respect to these commodity products depends, in significant part, on managing our cost structure, particularly raw materials and labor, which represent the largest components of our operating costs. Commodity wood product prices could be volatile in response to operating rates and inventory levels in various distribution channels. Commodity price volatility affects our distribution business, with falling price environments generally causing reduced revenues and margins, resulting in substantial declines in profitability.
Demand for the products we manufacture, as well as the products we purchase and distribute, is closely correlated with new residential construction in the United States and, to a lesser extent, light commercial construction and residential repair-and-remodeling activity. New residential construction activity remained substantially below average historical levels during 2014 and so did demand for many of the products we manufacture and distribute. There is significant uncertainty regarding the timing and extent of a recovery to average historical levels in such construction activity and resulting product demand levels. Demand for new residential construction is influenced by seasonal weather factors, mortgage availability and rates, unemployment levels, household formation rates, domestic population growth, immigration rates, residential vacancy and foreclosure rates, demand for second homes, existing home prices, consumer confidence, and other general economic factors.
Wood products industry supply is influenced primarily by price-induced changes in the operating rates of existing facilities but is also influenced over time by the introduction of new product technologies, capacity additions and closures, restart of idled capacity, and log availability. The balance of wood products supply and demand in the United States is also heavily influenced by imported products, principally from Canada.
We have very limited control of the foregoing, and as a result, our profitability and cash flow may fluctuate materially in response to changes in the supply and demand balance for our primary products.
Our industry is highly competitive. If we are unable to compete effectively, our sales, operating results, and growth strategies could be negatively affected.
The markets for the products we manufacture in our Wood Products segment are highly competitive. Our competitors range from very large, fully integrated forest and building products firms to smaller firms that may manufacture only one or a few types of products. We also compete less directly with firms that manufacture substitutes for wood building products. Certain mills operated by our competitors may be lower-cost manufacturers than the mills operated by us.
The building products distribution industry that our Building Materials Distribution segment competes in is highly fragmented and competitive, and the barriers to entry for local competitors are relatively low. Competitive factors in our industry include pricing and availability of product, service and delivery capabilities, ability to assist customers with problem solving, extension of credit terms, customer relationships, geographic coverage, and breadth of product offerings. Also, financial stability is important to suppliers and customers in choosing distributors and allows for more favorable terms on which to obtain products from suppliers and sell products to customers. If our financial condition deteriorates in the future, our support from suppliers may be negatively affected.
Some of the businesses with which we compete are part of larger companies and therefore have access to greater financial and other resources than we do. These resources may afford those competitors greater purchasing power, increased financial flexibility, and more capital resources for expansion and improvement, which may enable those competitors to compete more effectively than we can. In addition, certain suppliers to our distribution business also sell and distribute their products directly to our customers. Additional manufacturers of products distributed by us may elect to sell and distribute directly to end users in the future or enter into exclusive supply arrangements with other distributors. Finally, we may not be able to maintain our costs at a level sufficiently low for us to compete effectively. If we are unable to compete effectively, our net sales and net income will be reduced.

12

Table of Contents


Our manufacturing operations may have difficulty obtaining wood fiber at favorable prices or at all.

Wood fiber is our principal raw material, which accounted for approximately 44% of the aggregate amount of materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation) for our Wood Products segment in 2014. Wood fiber is a commodity, and prices have been historically cyclical in response to changes in domestic and foreign demand and supply. In the future, we expect the level of foreign demand for timber exports from the western U.S. to fluctuate based on the economic activity in China and other Pacific Rim countries, currency exchange rates, and the availability of timber supplies from other countries such as Canada, Russia, and New Zealand. Sustained periods of high timber costs may impair the cost competitiveness of our manufacturing facilities.
In certain regions in which we operate, a substantial portion of our timber is purchased from governmental authorities, including federal, state, and local governments. As a result, existing and future governmental regulation can affect our access to, and the cost of, such timber. Future domestic or foreign legislation and litigation concerning the use of timberlands, timber harvest methodologies, forest road construction and maintenance, the protection of endangered species, forest-based carbon sequestration, the promotion of forest health, and the response to and prevention of catastrophic wildfires can affect timber and fiber supply from both government and private lands. Availability of harvested timber and fiber may be further limited by fire, insect infestation, disease, ice storms, windstorms, hurricanes, flooding, and other natural and man-made causes, thereby reducing supply and increasing prices. If we are unable to negotiate purchases for our timber requirements in a particular region to satisfy our timber needs at satisfactory prices or at all, which could include private purchases, open-market purchases, and purchases from governmental sources, it could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
We also purchase OSB, which is used as the vertical web to assemble I-joists, from third parties. OSB accounted for approximately 5% of the aggregate amount of materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation) for our Wood Products segment in 2014. OSB is a commodity, and prices have been historically volatile in response to industry capacity restarts and operating rates, inventory levels in various distribution channels, and seasonal demand patterns. Sustained periods of high OSB costs may lead to significantly higher costs of our I-joist production.

Historically, availability of residual wood fiber for our particleboard operation has been negatively affected by significant mill closures and curtailments that have occurred among solid-wood product manufacturers, and future periods of low demand for solid-wood products could negatively affect availability. In addition, future development of wood cellulose biofuel or other new sources of wood fiber demand could interfere with our ability to source wood fiber or lead to significantly higher costs.
A material disruption at one of our manufacturing facilities could prevent us from meeting customer demand, including the demand from our Building Materials Distribution business, reduce our sales, and/or negatively affect our financial results.
Any of our manufacturing facilities, or any of our machines within an otherwise operational facility, could cease operations unexpectedly due to a number of events, including but not limited to:
    equipment failure, particularly a press at one of our major EWP production facilities;
    fires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, or other catastrophes;
    unscheduled maintenance outages;
    utility, information technology, telephonic, and transportation infrastructure disruptions;
    labor difficulties;
    other operational problems; or
    ecoterrorism or threats of ecoterrorism.
Any downtime or facility damage could prevent us from meeting customer demand for our products and/or require us to make unplanned capital expenditures. If our machines or facilities were to incur significant downtime, our ability to satisfy customer requirements would be impaired, resulting in lower sales and net income.
Because approximately 40% of our Wood Products sales in 2014 were to our Building Materials Distribution business, a material disruption at our Wood Products facilities would also negatively affect our Building Materials Distribution business.

13

Table of Contents

We are therefore exposed to a larger extent to the risk of disruption to our Wood Products manufacturing facilities due to our vertical integration and the resulting impact on our Building Materials Distribution business.
In addition, a number of our suppliers are subject to the manufacturing facility disruption risks noted above. Our suppliers' inability to produce the necessary raw materials for our manufacturing processes or supply the finished goods that we distribute through our Building Materials Distribution segment may adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows, and financial position.
Significant changes in discount rates, actual investment return on pension assets, and other factors could affect our earnings, equity, and pension contributions in future periods.
Our earnings may be negatively affected by the amount of income or expense we record for our pension plans. Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) require that we calculate income or expense for the plans using actuarial valuations. These valuations reflect assumptions relating to financial market and other economic conditions. Changes in key economic indicators can change the assumptions. The most significant year-end assumptions used to estimate pension expense are the discount rate and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. In addition, we are required to make an annual measurement of plan assets and liabilities, which may result in a significant change to equity through a reduction or increase to "Accumulated other comprehensive loss." A decline in the market value of the pension assets will increase our funding requirements. Our pension plan liabilities are sensitive to changes in interest rates. As interest rates decrease, the present value of our liabilities increase, potentially increasing pension expense and funding requirements. Changes in demographics, including increased numbers of retirements or changes in life expectancy assumptions, may also increase the funding requirements of the obligations related to the pension plans. At December 31, 2014, the net underfunded status of our defined benefit pension plans was $149.8 million. If the status of our defined benefit plans continues to be underfunded, we anticipate significant future funding obligations, reducing the cash available for our business. For more discussion regarding how our financial statements can be affected by pension plan estimates, see "Pensions" included in "Critical Accounting Estimates" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K.
Adverse housing market conditions may increase the credit risk from our customers.
Our Building Materials Distribution and Wood Products segments extend credit to numerous customers who are generally susceptible to the same economic business risks as we are. Unfavorable housing market conditions could result in financial failures of one or more of our significant customers. Furthermore, we may not necessarily be aware of any deterioration in our customers' financial position. If our customers' financial positions become impaired, it could impair our ability to fully collect receivables from such customers and negatively affect our operating results, cash flow, and liquidity.
We depend on third parties for transportation services and increases in costs or limited availability of transportation could adversely affect our business and operations.
Our business depends on the transportation of a large number of products, via railroad or truck. We rely primarily on third parties for transportation of the products we manufacture or distribute and for the delivery of our raw materials. In addition, we are subject to seasonal capacity constraints and weather related delays for both rail and truck transportation.
If any of our third-party transportation providers were to fail to deliver the goods we manufacture or distribute in a timely manner, we may be unable to sell those products at full value. Similarly, if any of these providers were to fail to deliver raw materials to us in a timely manner, we may be unable to manufacture our products in response to customer demand. In addition, if any of these third parties were to cease operations or cease doing business with us, we may be unable to replace them at reasonable cost.
Any failure of a third-party transportation provider to deliver raw materials or finished products in a timely manner could harm our reputation, negatively affect our customer relationships, and have a material adverse effect on our operating results, cash flows, and financial condition.
In addition, an increase in transportation rates or fuel surcharges could adversely affect our sales, profitability, and cash flows.
We rely on PCA for many of our administrative services. Certain key services are scheduled to terminate during 2015.

Under an Outsourcing Services Agreement, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PCA provides a number of corporate staff services to us. These services include, but are not limited to, information technology, accounting, and human resource

14

Table of Contents

transactional services. On November 17, 2014, we entered into the Fifth Amendment to Outsourcing Services Agreement (the “Amendment”) with PCA, which amends the Outsourcing Services Agreement, dated February 22, 2008 (the “Agreement”), to, among other things, provide expiration dates for the termination of substantially all administrative services provided by PCA to us pursuant to the Agreement. For those services scheduled to be terminated, the expiration dates are planned to occur between March 2015 and December 2015. Services for which the Amendment does not provide expiration dates will generally continue under the same terms and conditions of the Agreement. During the transition period, we cannot be assured that the staff providing such services will remain with PCA or that there will not be a disruption in the continuity or level of service provided. In addition, if we are unable to successfully transition these services from PCA to newly hired employees (many of whom we expect to transition from PCA to Boise Cascade employment), our business and compliance activities and results of operations could be substantially and negatively affected.

A significant portion of our sales are concentrated with a small number of customers.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, our top ten customers represented approximately 28% of our sales, with one customer accounting for approximately 9% of sales. At December 31, 2014, receivables from such customer accounted for approximately 11% of total receivables. Although we believe that our relationships with our customers are strong, the loss of one or more of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, cash flow, and liquidity.
Our operations require substantial capital, and recent significant capital investments have increased fixed costs, which could negatively affect our profitability.
In recent years, we have completed a number of capital investments, including the replacement or rebuild of veneer dryers (or improvements to our manufacturing equipment), increasing our outdoor storage acreage, and leasing additional warehouse space. These capital investments have resulted in increased fixed costs, which could negatively affect our profitability if the housing market does not continue to recover and revenues do not improve to offset our incremental fixed costs. Capital expenditures for expansion or replacement of existing facilities or equipment or to comply with future changes in environmental laws and regulations may be substantial. Although we maintain our production equipment with regular periodic and scheduled maintenance, we cannot assure you that key pieces of equipment in our various manufacturing facilities will not need to be repaired or replaced or that we will not incur significant additional costs associated with environmental compliance. The costs of repairing or replacing such equipment and the associated downtime of the affected production line could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. If for any reason we are unable to provide for our operating needs, capital expenditures, and other cash requirements on economic terms, we could experience a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Our ability to service our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs is subject to various risks.
Our ability to make scheduled payments on our indebtedness and fund other liquidity needs depends on and is subject to our financial and operating performance, which in turn is affected by general and regional economic, financial, competitive, business, and other factors, including the availability of financing in the banking and capital markets as well as the other risks described herein. In particular, demand for our products correlates to a significant degree to the level of residential construction activity in North America, which historically has been characterized by significant cyclicality. Over the last several years, housing starts remained below historical levels. There can be no assurance as to when or if the housing market will rebound to historical levels.
We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to service our debt or to fund our other liquidity needs. If we are unable to service our debt obligations or to fund our other liquidity needs, we could be forced to curtail our operations, reorganize our capital structure, or liquidate some or all of our assets.
We are subject to environmental regulation and environmental compliance expenditures, as well as other potential environmental liabilities.
Our businesses are subject to a wide range of general and industry-specific environmental laws and regulations, particularly with respect to air emissions, wastewater discharges, solid and hazardous waste management, and site remediation. Enactment of new environmental laws or regulations, including those aimed at addressing greenhouse gas emissions, or changes in existing laws or regulations might require us to make significant expenditures or restrict operations.
From time to time, legislative bodies and environmental regulatory agencies may promulgate new regulatory programs imposing significant incremental operating costs or capital costs on us. In December 2012, the Environmental Protection

15

Table of Contents

Agency (EPA) finalized a revised series of four regulations commonly referred to collectively as Boiler MACT, which are intended to regulate the emission of hazardous air pollutants from industrial boilers. Facilities in our Wood Products segment will be subject to one or more of these regulations and must be in compliance with the applicable rules by early 2016. We are currently undertaking a complete review of the revised rules to assess how they will affect our operations. Even with the revised rules finalized, considerable uncertainty still exists, as the EPA has recently proposed some changes to the regulations, and there are legal challenges to the final rules from industry and/or environmental organizations. Notwithstanding that uncertainty, we are proceeding with efforts to analyze the applicability and requirements of the regulations, including the capital and operating costs required to comply. Based upon our current understanding of the regulations, we expect to spend approximately $4 million to $6 million in capital over the next year to comply with the applicable rules.
As an owner and operator of real estate, we may be liable under environmental laws for the cleanup of past and present spills and releases of hazardous or toxic substances on or from our properties and operations. We could be found liable under these laws whether or not we knew of, or were responsible for, the presence of such substances. In some cases, this liability may exceed the value of the property itself.
We may be unable to generate funds or other sources of liquidity and capital to fund unforeseen environmental liabilities or expenditures to the extent we are not indemnified by third parties. For example, in connection with prior transactions, certain third parties are generally obligated to indemnify us in the event they are unable to fully discharge environmental liabilities assumed by them, as well as to indemnify us for hazardous substance releases and other environmental violations that occurred prior to such transactions. However, these third parties may not have sufficient funds to fully satisfy their indemnification obligations when required, and in some cases, we may not be contractually entitled to indemnification by them. For additional information on how environmental regulation and compliance affects our business, see "Environmental" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K.
Some of our products are vulnerable to declines in demand due to competing technologies or materials.
Our products may compete with nonfiber-based alternatives or with alternative products in certain market segments. For example, plastic, concrete, steel, wood/plastic or composite materials may be used by builders as alternatives to the products produced by our Wood Products segment such as plywood, EWP, and lumber. Changes in prices for oil, chemicals, and wood-based fiber can change the competitive position of our products relative to available alternatives and could increase substitution of those products for our products. As the use of these alternatives grows, demand for our products may decline.
Our principal manufactured products are also subject to substitution from other wood-based products, such as EWP facing competition from numerous dimension lumber producers or plywood losing further market share to OSB in residential and non-residential applications.
In addition, building code provisions have been implemented in certain jurisdictions to address concerns for fire fighter safety related to the collapse of floors during residential fires. The I-joists that we manufacture are subject to this code change. As local jurisdictions adopt the new code, I-joists will be competitively disadvantaged in houses that are built with ground floors over unfinished basements and could be subject to substitution by dimension lumber or other products. If we are unable to successfully develop solutions that meet the code requirements and gain acceptance in the marketplace, the demand for our I-joists could be materially affected, negatively impacting our financial condition, operating results, and cash flows.

The nature of our business exposes us to product liability, product warranty, casualty, construction defect, and other claims.
We may be involved in product liability, product warranty, casualty, construction defect, and other claims relating to the products we manufacture and distribute, and services we provide that, if adversely determined, could adversely affect our financial condition, operating results, and cash flows. We rely on manufacturers and other suppliers to provide us with many of the products we sell and distribute. Because we do not have direct control over the quality of such products manufactured or supplied by such third-party suppliers, we are exposed to risks relating to the quality of such products. In addition, we are exposed to potential claims arising from the conduct of our employees, and homebuilders and their subcontractors, for which we may be contractually liable. Although we currently maintain what we believe to be suitable and adequate insurance in excess of our self-insured amounts, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain such insurance on acceptable terms or that such insurance will provide adequate protection against potential liabilities. Product liability, product warranty, casualty, construction defect, and other claims can be expensive to defend and can divert the attention of management and other personnel for significant periods, regardless of the ultimate outcome. Claims of this nature could also have a negative impact on customer confidence in our products and our company. We cannot assure you that any current or future claims will not adversely affect our financial condition, operating results, and cash flows.


16

Table of Contents

Labor disruptions or increased labor costs could adversely affect our business.
We could experience a material labor disruption, strike, or significantly increased labor costs at one or more of our facilities, either in the course of negotiations of a labor agreement or otherwise. Either of these situations could prevent us from meeting customer demands or result in increased costs, thereby reducing our sales and profitability. As of February 15, 2015, we had approximately 5,670 employees. Approximately 26% of these employees work pursuant to collective bargaining agreements. As of February 15, 2015, we had nine collective bargaining agreements. None of our employees are working pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement that will expire within the next 12 months.
The terms of our revolving credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes restrict, and covenants contained in agreements governing indebtedness in the future may restrict, our ability to operate our business and to pursue our business strategies.
Our revolving credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes contain, and any future indebtedness of ours may contain, a number of restrictive covenants that impose customary operating and financial restrictions on us. Our revolving credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes limit our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries, among other things, to:
incur additional debt;
declare or pay dividends, redeem stock, or make other distributions to stockholders;
make investments;
create liens or use assets as security in other transactions;
merge or consolidate, or sell, transfer, lease, or dispose of substantially all of our assets;
enter into transactions with affiliates;
sell or transfer certain assets; and
make prepayments on our senior notes and subordinated indebtedness.
In addition, our revolving credit facility provides that if an event of default occurs or excess availability under our revolving credit facility drops below a threshold amount equal to the greater of 10% of the aggregate commitments under our revolving credit facility or $35 million (and until such time as excess availability for two consecutive fiscal months exceeds that threshold amount and no event of default has occurred and is continuing), we will be required to maintain a monthly minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0:1.0, determined on a trailing twelve-month basis.
Our failure to comply with any of these covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our indebtedness.
Cyber security risks related to the technology that manages our operations and other business processes, as well as security breaches of company, customer, employee, and vendor information, could adversely affect our business.

We rely on various information technology systems to capture, process, store, and report data and interact with customers, vendors, and employees. Despite careful security and controls design, implementation, updating, and internal and independent third-party assessments, our information technology systems, and those of our third-party providers, could become subject to cyber attacks. Network, system, and data breaches could result in misappropriation of sensitive data or operational disruptions, including interruption to systems availability and denial of access to and misuse of applications required by our customers to conduct business with us. In addition, sophisticated hardware and operating system software and applications that we procure from third parties (including PCA) may contain defects in design or manufacture, including "bugs" and other problems that could unexpectedly interfere with the operation of the systems. Misuse of internal applications; theft of intellectual property, trade secrets, or other corporate assets; and inappropriate disclosure of confidential information could stem from such incidents. Delayed sales, slowed production, or other repercussions resulting from these disruptions could result in lost sales, business delays, and negative publicity and could have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial condition, or cash flows.


17

Table of Contents

If our long-lived assets, goodwill, and/or intangible assets become impaired, we may be required to record noncash impairment charges that could have a material impact on our results of operations.
We review the carrying value of long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. We also test goodwill in each of our reporting units and intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment annually in the fourth quarter or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may exceed fair value. Should the markets for our products deteriorate or should we decide to invest capital differently than as expected, or should other cash flow assumptions change, it is possible that we will be required to record noncash impairment charges in the future with respect to the investments we have completed and expect to complete, which could have a material impact on our results of operations.
We may be unable to attract and retain key management and other key employees.
Our key managers are important to our success and may be difficult to replace because they have a significant amount of experience in forest products manufacturing and building materials distribution. While our senior management team has considerable experience, certain members of our management team are nearing or have reached normal retirement age. The failure to successfully formulate and implement succession plans could result in inadequate depth of institutional knowledge or inadequate skill sets, which could adversely affect our business.
Our growth strategy includes pursuing strategic acquisitions. We may be unable to successfully complete potential acquisitions or efficiently integrate acquired operations.

We may be unable to successfully complete potential acquisitions due to multiple factors, such as issues related to regulatory review of the proposed transactions. Acquisitions involve significant risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties as to the future financial performance of the acquired business, difficulties integrating acquired personnel into our business, the potential loss of key employees, customers, or suppliers, difficulties in integrating different computer and accounting systems, exposure to unknown or unforeseen liabilities of acquired companies, and the diversion of management attention and resources from existing operations. In the future, we may also be required to incur additional debt in order to consummate acquisitions, which debt may be substantial and may limit our flexibility in using our cash flow from operations. We may not be able to integrate the operations of future acquired businesses in an efficient and cost-effective manner or without significant disruption to our existing operations or realize expected synergies. Our failure to integrate future acquired businesses effectively or to manage other consequences of our acquisitions could adversely affect our financial condition, operating results, and cash flows.

Risks Relating to Ownership of Our Common Stock

The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly.

Volatility in the market price of our common stock may prevent you from being able to sell your shares at or above the price you paid for them. The market price for our common stock could fluctuate significantly for various reasons, including:
our operating and financial performance and prospects;
our quarterly or annual earnings or those of other companies in our industry;
the public's reaction to our press releases, our other public announcements, and our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC);
changes in, or failure to meet, earnings estimates or recommendations by research analysts who track our common stock or the stock of other companies in our industry;
the failure of research analysts to cover our common stock;
general economic, industry, and market conditions;
strategic actions by us, our customers, or our competitors, such as acquisitions or restructurings;
new laws or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to our business;
changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations, or principles;
material litigation or government investigations;

18

Table of Contents

changes in general conditions in the U.S. and global economies or financial markets, including those resulting from war, incidents of terrorism, or responses to such events;
changes in key personnel;
sales of common stock by us or members of our management team;
the granting or exercise of employee stock options;
volume of trading in our common stock (which may be impacted by future sales or repurchases of our common stock); and
the impact of the facts described elsewhere in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of this Form 10-K.
In addition, the stock market has regularly experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant impact on the market price of securities issued by many companies, including companies in our industry. The changes frequently appear to occur without regard to the operating performance of the affected companies. Hence, the price of our common stock could fluctuate based upon factors that have little or nothing to do with us, and these fluctuations could materially reduce our share price.

The requirements of being a public company have increased certain of our costs and require significant management focus.
 
We completed our initial public offering in February 2013, and Boise Cascade common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). As a public company, our legal, accounting, and other expenses associated with compliance-related and other activities have increased. For example, we created new board committees and appointed an additional independent director to comply with the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE. Costs to obtain director and officer liability insurance contribute to our increased costs. As a result of the associated liability, it may be more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers. Advocacy efforts by stockholders and third parties may also prompt even more changes in governance and reporting requirements, which could further increase our compliance costs.

We do not currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock.

We historically have not paid dividends on our common stock. In the future, the declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our financial condition, earnings, contractual obligations, applicable laws, and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. In addition, our existing indebtedness restricts, and we anticipate our future indebtedness may restrict, our ability to pay dividends. Therefore, you may not receive a return on your investment in our common stock by receiving a payment of dividends.

Certain provisions of our organizational documents and other contractual provisions may make it difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board of directors and may discourage hostile takeover attempts that some of our stockholders may consider to be beneficial.

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

a classified board of directors with three-year staggered terms;

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

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

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

removal of directors only for cause;

allowing only our board of directors to fill vacancies on our board of directors; and

19

Table of Contents


super-majority voting requirements to amend our bylaws and certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation.

We have elected in our certificate of incorporation not to be subject to Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (DGCL), an antitakeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination, such as a merger, with a person or group owning 15% or more of the corporation's voting stock for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the business combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Accordingly, we are not subject to any antitakeover effects of Section 203. However, our certificate of incorporation contains provisions that have the same effect as Section 203.

While these provisions have the effect of encouraging persons seeking to acquire control of our company to negotiate with our board of directors, they could enable the board of directors to hinder or frustrate a transaction that some, or a majority, of the stockholders might believe to be in their best interests and, in that case, may prevent or discourage attempts to remove and replace incumbent directors.
    
These provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors, which is responsible for appointing the members of our management.

Failure to establish and maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material adverse effect on our business and stock price.

We are subject to the SEC's rules implementing Section 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which require management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of controls over financial reporting. In addition, we are required to disclose changes made in our internal controls and procedures on a quarterly basis, as well as perform an assessment of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. To comply with the requirements of being a public company, we have undertaken various actions, such as implementing new internal controls and procedures and hiring accounting or internal audit staff. Testing and maintaining internal control could divert our management's attention from other matters that are important to the operation of our business.
    
Our independent registered public accounting firm attested to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting for the first time beginning with fiscal 2014. In the future, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse, in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which our controls are documented, designed, or operating. If we are unable to conclude that we have effective internal control over financial reporting, our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to provide us with an unqualified report as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or we are required to restate our financial statements, we may fail to meet our public reporting obligations and investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our common stock.

ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

We have no unresolved comments from the Commission staff.

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

Our properties are well-maintained and are suitable for the operations for which they are used. Information concerning production capacity and the utilization of our manufacturing facilities is presented in "Item 1. Business" of this Form 10-K.

The following is a list of our facilities by segment as of February 20, 2015. We lease office space for our corporate headquarters in Boise, Idaho.


20

Table of Contents

Wood Products

We own all of our Wood Products manufacturing facilities. The following table summarizes our Wood Products facilities as of February 20, 2015:
Facility Type
 
Number of Facilities
 
Locations
Plywood and veneer plants
 
9
 
Louisiana (2), North Carolina, Oregon (4), South Carolina, and Washington
LVL/I-joist/laminated beam plants
 
4
 
Louisiana, Oregon, Idaho, and Canada
Sawmills
 
5
 
Oregon (3) and Washington (2)
Particleboard plant
 
1
 
Oregon

Building Materials Distribution

We lease and own properties in our Building Materials Distribution business. All of our leases are noncancelable and accounted for as operating leases. These leases are not subject to early termination except for standard nonperformance clauses. The following table summarizes our 33 Building Materials Distribution facilities as of February 20, 2015:

21

Table of Contents


Location
 
Owned
or
Leased
 
Approximate
Warehouse
Square Footage
Phoenix, Arizona
 
Owned
 
33,000

Lathrop, California
 
Leased
 
164,000

Riverside, California
 
Leased
 
162,000

Denver, Colorado
 
Owned/Leased
 
230,000

Grand Junction, Colorado
 
Owned/Leased
 
97,000

Milton, Florida
 
Leased
 
87,000

Orlando, Florida
 
Owned
 
144,000

Pompano Beach, Florida
 
Leased
 
68,000

Atlanta, Georgia
 
Owned/Leased
 
192,000

Boise, Idaho
 
Owned/Leased
 
159,000

Idaho Falls, Idaho
 
Owned/Leased
 
69,000

Chicago, Illinois
 
Leased
 
170,000

Biddeford/Saco, Maine (a)
 
Leased
 
48,000

Baltimore, Maryland
 
Leased
 
205,000

Westfield, Massachusetts
 
Leased
 
134,000

Detroit, Michigan
 
Leased
 
108,000

Minneapolis, Minnesota
 
Leased
 
144,000

Kansas City, Missouri
 
Leased
 
24,000

Billings, Montana
 
Owned
 
81,000

Greenland, New Hampshire
 
Owned/Leased
 
166,000

Delanco, New Jersey
 
Owned/Leased
 
345,000

Albuquerque, New Mexico
 
Leased
 
68,000

Greensboro, North Carolina
 
Owned/Leased
 
153,000

Marion, Ohio
 
Leased
 
95,000

Tulsa, Oklahoma
 
Owned
 
129,000

Memphis, Tennessee
 
Owned
 
78,000

Dallas, Texas
 
Owned/Leased
 
233,000

Houston, Texas
 
Leased
 
150,000

Salt Lake City, Utah
 
Leased
 
126,000

Spokane, Washington
 
Owned/Leased
 
58,000

Vancouver, Washington
 
Leased
 
86,000

Woodinville, Washington
 
Owned/Leased
 
110,000

Yakima, Washington
 
Owned/Leased
 
44,000

_______________________________________ 

(a)    Truss manufacturing plant.

ITEM 3.          LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
We are a party to routine legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our business. We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings or environmental claims that we believe would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
 
 
ITEM 4.          MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.


22

Table of Contents


 
PART II
 
ITEM 5.         MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Price of Our Common Stock

Our common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol BCC on February 6, 2013. Prior to that, there was no public market for our common stock. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices of our common stock for 2014 and 2013 as reported by the NYSE:

 
High
Sale Price
 
Low
Sale Price
2014
 
 
 
Fourth Quarter
$
37.99

 
$
27.66

Third Quarter
$
31.67

 
$
25.72

Second Quarter
$
29.60

 
$
23.81

First Quarter
$
31.86

 
$
27.52

 
 
 
 
2013
 
 
 
Fourth Quarter
$
30.24

 
$
23.05

Third Quarter
$
29.50

 
$
22.55

Second Quarter
$
33.99

 
$
24.90

First Quarter (beginning February 6, 2013)
$
34.54

 
$
25.25

    
On February 20, 2015, there were 39,477,611 shares of our common stock outstanding, held by 21 stockholders of record, one of which was Cede & Co., which is the nominee of shares held through The Depository Trust Company. On February 20, 2015, the closing price of our common stock was $37.04.

Dividends

We did not declare or pay any cash dividends on our common stock during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. We do not currently plan to pay a regular dividend on our common stock. In the future, the declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our financial condition, earnings, contractual obligations, restrictions imposed by our revolving credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes, or applicable laws and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. See "Debt Structure'' under "Liquidity and Capital Resources" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K for a description of the restrictions in our revolving credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes, respectively, on our ability to pay dividends.

Performance Graph

The following graph compares the return on a $100 investment in our common stock on February 6, 2013 (the day we first began trading on the NYSE as Boise Cascade Company) with a $100 investment also made on February 6, 2013, in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and our peer group. The companies included in our peer group are Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, BlueLinx Holdings Inc., Universal Forest Products, Inc., Builders FirstSource, Inc., and Norbord Inc. The information in the graph and table above is not "soliciting material," is not deemed "filed" with the SEC, and is not to be incorporated by reference in any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate such information by reference. The stock performance shown below is not necessarily indicative of future performance.


23

Table of Contents

___________________________________ 

(a)
$100 invested in stock or index on February 6, 2013, including reinvestment of dividends in additional shares of the same class of equity securities.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
On February 4, 2013, Boise Cascade, L.L.C., our predecessor and a Delaware limited liability company, converted into Boise Cascade Company in anticipation of our initial public offering. In connection with the conversion, the 1,000 common units of Boise Cascade, L.L.C., held by BC Holdings were automatically exchanged into 29,700,000 shares of our common stock. BC Holdings did not pay any consideration for such shares of common stock.
Except as set forth above in the immediately preceding paragraph, we did not sell any unregistered securities from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2014.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2014.
    
ITEM 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth our selected financial data for the periods indicated and should be read in conjunction with the disclosures in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.


24

Table of Contents

 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013 (a)
 
2012
 
2011 (b)
 
2010 (c)
 
 
(millions, except per-share data)
Consolidated statement of operations data
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales
 
$
3,574

 
$
3,273

 
$
2,779

 
$
2,248

 
$
2,241

Net income (loss)
 
$
80

 
$
117

 
$
41

 
$
(46
)
 
$
(33
)
Net income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted
 
$
2.03

 
$
2.91

 
$
1.40

 
$
(1.56
)
 
$
(1.12
)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) (d)
 
$
197

 
$
136

 
$
97

 
$
9

 
$
22

Cash dividends declared per common share
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance sheet data (at end of year)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
164

 
$
118

 
$
46

 
$
176

 
$
259

Working capital, excluding cash and cash equivalents
 
$
355

 
$
330

 
$
245

 
$
241

 
$
200

Total assets
 
$
1,220

 
$
1,104

 
$
828

 
$
897

 
$
947

Total long-term debt
 
$
301

 
$
302

 
$
275

 
$
220

 
$
220

_______________________________________ 

(a)
In 2013, net income includes a $68.7 million income tax benefit associated with the recording of net deferred tax assets upon our conversion to a corporation. For more information, see Note 3, Income Taxes, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.

At December 31, 2013, total assets include the acquisition of Wood Resources LLC Southeast Operations for an aggregate purchase price of $103.0 million.
 
(b)    The following were included in 2011 net loss:

$1.7 million of expense related to the permanent closure of a laminated beam plant in Emmett, Idaho; and

$2.0 million of noncash asset write-downs.

(c)
In 2010, net loss includes $4.6 million of income associated with receiving proceeds from a litigation settlement related to vendor product pricing.

(d)
The following table reconciles net income (loss) to EBITDA for the periods indicated:
 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
 
(millions)
Net income (loss)
 
$
80

 
$
117

 
$
41

 
$
(46
)
 
$
(33
)
Interest expense
 
22

 
20

 
22

 
19

 
21

Interest income
 

 

 

 

 
(1
)
Income tax provision (benefit)
 
43

 
(39
)
 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization
 
51

 
38

 
33

 
37

 
35

EBITDA
 
$
197

 
$
136

 
$
97

 
$
9

 
$
22


EBITDA is defined as income (loss) before interest (interest expense and interest income), income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is the primary measure used by our chief operating decision maker to evaluate segment operating performance and to decide how to allocate resources to segments. We believe EBITDA is useful to investors because it provides a means to evaluate the operating performance of our segments and our company on an ongoing basis using criteria that are used by our internal decision makers and because it is frequently used by investors and other interested parties when comparing companies in our industry that have different financing and capital structures and/or tax rates. We believe EBITDA is a meaningful measure because it presents a transparent view of our recurring operating performance and allows management to readily view operating trends, perform analytical comparisons, and identify strategies to improve operating performance. EBITDA, however, is not a measure of our liquidity or financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), income (loss) from operations, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity. The use of EBITDA instead of net income (loss) or segment income (loss) has limitations as an analytical tool, including the inability to determine profitability; the exclusion of interest expense, interest income, change in fair value of interest rate swaps, and associated

25

Table of Contents

significant cash requirements; and the exclusion of depreciation and amortization, which represent unavoidable operating costs. Management compensates for the limitations of EBITDA by relying on our GAAP results. Our measure of EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to potential inconsistencies in the methods of calculation.

ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

Understanding Our Financial Information
 
This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The following discussion includes statements that are forward-looking statements that are based on the beliefs of our management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in or implied by forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly in the section entitled "Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" and in Item 1A. "Risk Factors." References to "fiscal year" or "fiscal" refer to our fiscal year ending on December 31 in each calendar year.

Overview

Company Background

Boise Cascade is a large, vertically-integrated wood products manufacturer and building materials distributor with 51 facilities (consisting of 19 manufacturing facilities and 32 distribution facilities) located throughout the United States and one manufacturing facility in Canada. We completed an initial public offering of our common stock on February 11, 2013. We have three reportable segments: (i) Wood Products, which manufactures plywood, engineered wood products (EWP), studs, particleboard, and ponderosa pine lumber; (ii) Building Materials Distribution, which is a wholesale distributor of building materials; and (iii) Corporate and Other, which includes corporate support staff services, related assets and liabilities, and foreign currency exchange gains and losses. For more information, see Note 15, Segment Information, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" and "Item 1. Business" of this Form 10-K. Our broad line of products is used primarily in new residential construction, residential repair-and-remodeling projects, light commercial construction, and industrial applications. We have a broad base of more than 4,500 customers, which includes a diverse mix of retail lumberyards, home improvement centers, leading wholesalers, and industrial converters. Our Wood Products and Building Materials Distribution segments are vertically-integrated from wood procurement through distribution. During 2014, approximately 40% of our Wood Products segment sales were to our Building Materials Distribution segment. In 2014, 27%, 66%, and 11% of our Wood Product segment's plywood, EWP, and lumber sales volumes, respectively, were to our Building Materials Distribution segment.

Executive Summary

We recorded income from operations of $145.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with income from operations of $98.8 million during the same period in the prior year. In our Wood Products segment, income increased by $30.7 million to $108.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from $77.7 million in 2013. In our Building Materials Distribution segment, income improved $16.8 million to $56.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from $39.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The key components that drove our improved financial performance are discussed in "Our Operating Results" below.
    
At December 31, 2014, we had $163.5 million of cash and cash equivalents and $266.8 million of unused committed bank line availability. Cash increased $45.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2014, as cash provided by operations was offset partially by capital spending, as discussed further in "Liquidity and Capital Resources" below.

Factors That Affect Our Operating Results

Our results of operations and financial performance are influenced by a variety of factors, including: (i) the commodity nature of the products we manufacture and distribute; (ii) general economic and industry conditions affecting demand; and (iii) availability and affordability of raw materials, including wood fiber and glues and resins. These factors have historically produced cyclicality in our results of operations, and we expect this cyclicality to continue in future periods.

26

Table of Contents


Commodity Nature of Our Products

Many of the building products we manufacture or distribute, including oriented strand board (OSB), plywood, lumber, and particleboard, are commodities that are widely available from other manufacturers or distributors with prices and volumes determined frequently based on buyers' and sellers' perceptions of short-term supply and demand factors. At times, the price for any one or more of the products we produce or distribute may fall below our cash production or purchase costs, requiring us to either incur short-term losses on product sales or cease production at one or more of our manufacturing facilities. As a result, our profitability with respect to these commodity products depends, in significant part, on managing our cost structure, particularly raw materials and labor, which represent the largest components of our operating costs, as well as the purchase cost for commodities we distribute. Future commodity product prices could be volatile in response to industry capacity restarts and operating rates, inventory levels in various distribution channels, and seasonal demand patterns.

The following table provides changes in the average composite panel (a composite calculation based on index prices for OSB and plywood) and average composite lumber prices as reflected by Random Lengths, an industry publication, for the periods noted below:
 
Year Ended December 31
 
2014 versus 2013
 
2013 versus 2012
 
2012 versus 2011
Increase (decrease) in panel prices
(10)%
 
11%
 
32%
Increase in lumber prices
0%
 
19%
 
19%

Periods of increasing prices provide the opportunity for higher sales and increased margins, while declining price environments may result in declines in sales and profitability. For further discussion of the impact of commodity prices on historical periods, see "Our Operating Results" in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
    
In our Wood Products segment, our plan is to continue to respond to market conditions by actively managing our production facilities to balance supply with demand, which will likely result in operating some of our facilities below their capacity until demand improves further. In addition, we have expanded our market position in EWP in recent years and expect to see further increases in EWP demand as a result of the on-going recovery in housing construction and as EWP continues to gain market share from dimension lumber products. We expect margins for EWP over time will be higher and more stable than those for most dimension lumber products and are focused on leveraging our manufacturing position, comprehensive customer service offering, design support capabilities, and efficient distribution network.

General Economic and Industry Conditions Affecting Demand
             
The level of housing starts is especially important to our results of operations. From 2005 to 2011, total housing starts in the United States declined by more than 70% and remained substantially below average historical levels from 2012 to 2014. The significant drop in new residential construction created challenging conditions for building products manufacturers and distributors, with substantial reductions in manufacturing and distribution capacity and operating rates occurring since late 2008, as companies adjusted to lower industry demand. We expect manufacturing and distribution operating rates to increase as housing demand improves further.
    
As of February 2015, the Blue Chip Economic Indicators consensus forecast for 2015 single- and multi-family housing starts in the U.S. was approximately 1.16 million units, compared with actual housing starts of 1.00 million in 2014 and 0.92 million in 2013, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. While still below long-term historical average levels of 1.4 million units per year over the 20 years prior to 2014, annual housing starts increased 8% and 18%, respectively, during 2014 and 2013. Many economists expect housing starts to continue to increase. We believe that, over the long term, demographics in the U.S. support a return to long-term historical average levels of residential construction.
    
Unemployment rates in the U.S. improved to 5.6% as of December 31, 2014, from 6.7% as of December 31, 2013. We believe continued employment growth, prospective home buyers' increased access to financing, improved consumer confidence, as well as other factors, will be necessary to increase household formation rates. Improved household formation rates in turn will help stimulate new construction.


27

Table of Contents

Demand for new residential construction is also influenced by several other economic conditions, including domestic population growth, immigration rates, residential vacancy and foreclosure rates, demand for second homes, and existing home prices.
              
We believe that our product line diversification provides us some protection from declines in new residential construction. Our products are used not only in new residential construction, but also in residential repair-and-remodeling projects. We believe the overall age of the U.S. housing stock, resales of existing homes, increased focus on making homes more energy efficient, rising home prices, and availability of consumer loans at low interest rates will continue to support long-term growth in repair-and-remodeling expenditures and increased demand through home improvement centers and our other customers that service professional contractors.

Availability and Affordability of Raw Materials

Our principal raw material is wood fiber, which accounted for approximately 44% of the aggregate amount of materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation), for our Wood Products segment in 2014. Timber comprises approximately 80% of our wood fiber costs, and we satisfy our timber requirements through a combination of purchases under supply agreements, open-market purchases, and purchases pursuant to contracts awarded under public timber auctions. See "Raw Materials and Input Costs" under "Wood Products" in "Item 1. Business" of this Form 10-K for further description of these agreements.

The following table provides changes in our average per-unit log costs for the periods noted below:
 
Year Ended December 31
 
2014 versus 2013
 
2013 versus 2012
 
2012 versus 2011
Increase in per-unit log costs
2%
 
10%
 
5%

The cost of timber is strongly correlated with prevailing product prices for building materials and manufacturers' expectations for future product prices, with an increase in product prices driving increases in timber costs. Because wood fiber is a commodity, prices have been historically cyclical in response to changes in domestic and foreign demand and supply. Demand for dimension lumber has a strong influence on pricing, as the dimension lumber industry is the largest consumer of timber. We anticipate that wood fiber costs will fluctuate in the future as building material product prices fluctuate. Generally, increases in the cost of timber lag product price increases, as improved manufacturer profitability often leads to increased demand for timber.
              
    In the future, we expect the level of foreign demand for timber exports from the western U.S. to fluctuate based on economic activity in China and other Pacific Rim countries, currency exchange rates, and the availability of timber supplies from other countries such as Canada, Russia, and New Zealand. Sustained periods of high timber costs may impair the cost competitiveness of our manufacturing facilities.
              
Our aggregate cost of obtaining timber is also affected by fuel costs and the distance between our fiber source and our facilities, as we are often required to transport the timber we purchase from the source to our facilities.
              
We also use various resins and glues in our manufacturing processes, which accounted for approximately 7% of the aggregate amount of materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation) for our Wood Products segment in 2014. The costs of resins and glues are influenced by changes in the prices of raw material input costs, primarily fossil fuel products. We purchase many of our raw materials through long-term contracts that contain price adjustment mechanisms that take into account changes in market prices. Therefore, although our long-term contracts provide us with supplies of raw materials and energy that are more stable than open-market purchases, in many cases, they may not alleviate fluctuations in market prices.
              
We also purchase OSB, which is used as the vertical web to assemble I-joists, from third parties. OSB accounted for approximately 5% of the aggregate amount of materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation) for our Wood Products segment in 2014.
              

28

Table of Contents

The following table provides the annual average of weekly OSB composite prices as reflected by Random Lengths for the years noted below:
 
Year Ended December 31
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
OSB composite prices
$245
 
$357
 
$302

Our Operating Results
 
The following tables set forth our operating results in dollars and as a percentage of sales for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012:
 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
(millions)
Sales
$
3,573.7

 
$
3,273.5

 
$
2,779.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and expenses
 

 
 

 
 

Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)
3,065.7

 
2,846.6

 
2,403.4

Depreciation and amortization
51.4

 
38.0

 
33.4

Selling and distribution expenses
264.2

 
245.3

 
235.1

General and administrative expenses
48.5

 
45.5

 
43.1

Other (income) expense, net
(1.6
)
 
(0.7
)
 
0.9

 
3,428.2

 
3,174.7

 
2,715.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from operations
$
145.5

 
$
98.8

 
$
63.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(percentage of sales)
Sales
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and expenses
 
 
 
 
 
Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)
85.8
 %
 
87.0
 %
 
86.5
%
Depreciation and amortization
1.4

 
1.2

 
1.2

Selling and distribution expenses
7.4

 
7.5

 
8.5

General and administrative expenses
1.4

 
1.4

 
1.6

Other (income) expense, net

 

 

 
95.9
 %
 
97.0
 %
 
97.7
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from operations
4.1
 %
 
3.0
 %
 
2.3
%



29

Table of Contents

Sales Volumes and Prices
 
Set forth below are historical U.S. housing starts data, segment sales volumes and average net selling prices for the principal products sold by our Wood Products segment, and sales mix and gross margin information for our Building Materials Distribution segment for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012.
 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
(millions)
U.S. Housing Starts (a)
 
 
 
 
 
Single-family
0.65

 
0.62

 
0.54

Multi-family
0.35

 
0.30

 
0.24

 
1.00

 
0.92

 
0.78

 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment Sales
 

 
 

 
 
Wood Products
$
1,317.0

 
$
1,134.1

 
$
943.3

Building Materials Distribution
2,786.7

 
2,599.6

 
2,190.2

Intersegment eliminations
(529.9
)
 
(460.2
)
 
(354.4
)
 
$
3,573.7

 
$
3,273.5

 
$
2,779.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
Wood Products
 
 
 
 
 
Sales Volumes
 
 
 
 
 
Plywood (sq. ft.) (3/8" basis)
1,651

 
1,473

 
1,356

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) (cubic feet)
12.4

 
11.1

 
9.1

I-joists (equivalent lineal feet)
193

 
179

 
145

Lumber (board feet)
212

 
199

 
188

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(dollars per unit)
Wood Products
 
 
 
 
 
Average Net Selling Prices
 
 
 
 
 
Plywood (1,000 sq. ft.) (3/8" basis)
$
314

 
$
316

 
$
295

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) (cubic foot)
16.32

 
15.68

 
14.80

I-joists (1,000 equivalent lineal feet)
1,070

 
1,000

 
921

Lumber (1,000 board feet)
558

 
509

 
430

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(percentage of Building Materials Distribution sales)
Building Materials Distribution
 
 
 
 
 
Product Line Sales
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity
49.4
%
 
51.3
%
 
49.9
%
General line
33.6
%
 
33.0
%
 
36.3
%
Engineered wood products
17.0
%
 
15.7
%
 
13.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross margin percentage (b)
11.4
%
 
10.9
%
 
11.7
%
 _______________________________________ 

(a)
Actual U.S. housing starts as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau.

(b)
We define gross margin as "Sales" less "Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)." Substantially all costs included in "Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)" for our Building Materials Distribution segment are for inventory purchased for resale. Gross margin percentage is gross margin as a percentage of segment sales.


30

Table of Contents

2014 Compared With 2013
 
Sales
 
For the year ended December 31, 2014, total sales increased $300.2 million, or 9%, to $3,573.7 million from $3,273.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2013, driven primarily by increases in sales volumes for many of the products we manufacture and distribute due to higher levels of residential construction activity. During 2014, U.S. housing starts increased 8%, with single-family starts up 5%, compared with 2013. Single-family housing starts are the primary driver of our sales and typically result in higher building product utilization per start than multi-family units. For the year ended December 31, 2014, average composite lumber prices were flat, with average composite panel prices down 10%, compared with the same period in the prior year, as reflected by Random Lengths composite lumber and panel pricing. Lower prices of OSB was the primary driver of the decrease within the composite panel price index.

Wood Products.  During the year ended December 31, 2014, sales, including sales to our Building Materials Distribution segment, increased $182.9 million, or 16%, to $1,317.0 million from $1,134.1 million in 2013. Higher plywood sales volumes of 12% increased sales by $56.4 million, with the net volume increase driven by our acquisition of two plywood manufacturing facilities on September 30, 2013, offset partially by a decline in sales volumes to home improvement centers. Volume increases of 11% in laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and 7% in I-joists resulted in sales increases of $19.8 million and $13.2 million, respectively. In addition, sales price increases of 7% in I-joists and 4% in LVL contributed $13.5 million and $7.9 million, respectively, to the increase in sales. Increases in lumber sales prices and lumber sales volumes of 10% and 6%, respectively, resulted in sales increases of $10.4 million and $6.6 million, respectively. The remaining increases were due primarily to higher sales volumes of particleboard and byproducts.
 
Building Materials Distribution.  During the year ended December 31, 2014, sales increased $187.1 million, or 7%, to $2,786.7 million from $2,599.6 million for the prior year. The increase in sales was driven primarily by improvements in sales volumes of 8%, offset partially by a decrease in sales prices of 1%. By product line, sales of EWP (substantially all of which is sourced through our Wood Products segment) increased 16%, or $64.8 million; general line product sales increased 9%, or $79.4 million; and commodity sales increased 3%, or $42.9 million.
 
Costs and Expenses
 
Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation) increased $219.1 million, or 8%, to $3,065.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with $2,846.6 million during the prior year. In our Wood Products segment, the increase in materials, labor, and other operating expenses primarily reflects higher manufacturing costs, including wood costs, labor, glues and resins, and energy. These increases were driven by higher sales volumes of EWP, plywood, and lumber in our Wood Products segment discussed above, as well as slightly higher per-unit log costs, compared with 2013. However, costs of OSB decreased 27% on a per-unit basis. Materials, labor, and other operating expenses as a percentage of sales (MLO rate) in our Wood Products segment decreased by 170 basis points, primarily as a result of higher sales prices of EWP and lumber, which resulted in improved leveraging of wood fiber and other manufacturing costs. In addition, the increase in materials, labor, and other operating expenses was driven by higher purchased materials costs as a result of higher sales volumes in our Building Materials Distribution segment. However, the Building Materials Distribution segment MLO rate decreased 50 basis points, compared with the prior year, driven primarily by relatively stable commodity product pricing during 2014 compared with significant volatility in commodity prices in 2013, including sharp declines in second quarter 2013. In our Building Materials Distribution Segment, periods of increasing prices provide the opportunity for higher sales and increased margins, while declining price environments may result in declines in sales and profitability and lower of cost or market inventory write-downs, as we experienced during second quarter 2013. In addition, the decrease in MLO rate was driven by EWP representing a larger portion of the Building Materials Distribution segment sales mix.
 
Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $13.4 million, or 35%, to $51.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with $38.0 million during the prior year. The increase was due primarily to the acquisition of two plywood manufacturing facilities on September 30, 2013, and purchases of property and equipment.
    
Selling and distribution expenses increased $18.9 million, or 8%, to $264.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with $245.3 million for the prior year. The increase was due primarily to higher payroll and incentive compensation expenses of $5.5 million and $4.3 million, respectively, as well as increased transportation and lease costs in our Building Materials Distribution segment of $5.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively. The increased selling and distribution expenses were principally a result of increased sales volumes and improved operating results.


31

Table of Contents

General and administrative expenses increased $3.0 million, or 7%, to $48.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with $45.5 million for the prior year. The increase was due primarily to higher employee-related expenses of $2.5 million.

Outsourcing Services Agreement. Included in the 2014 and 2013 costs and expenses set forth above are $15.1 million and $15.5 million, respectively, of expenses related to the Outsourcing Services Agreement we have with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Packaging Corporation of America (PCA), under which PCA provides a number of corporate staff services to us. Substantially all of these administration services, including information technology, accounting, and human resource transactional services, will transition from PCA to us between March 2015 and December 2015. During and after transition, our information technology systems will remain in place with many of the administrative services performed by newly hired employees, many of whom we expect to transition from PCA to Boise Cascade employment. We do not currently expect a significant increase in costs to result from this transition. For more information related to the Outsourcing Services Agreement, see Note 12, Outsourcing Services Agreement, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, other (income) expense, net, was $1.6 million of income, which included $1.6 million of gain from the sale of two surplus properties in our Building Materials Distribution segment. Other (income) expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2013, was $0.7 million of income.
 
Income (Loss) From Operations
 
Income from operations increased $46.7 million to $145.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with $98.8 million of income for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 Wood Products.  For the year ended December 31, 2014, segment income improved $30.7 million to $108.4 million of income from $77.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in segment income was due primarily to improved operating results in our EWP business from higher pricing and lower OSB costs, higher plywood sales volumes, and higher lumber sales prices. These improvements in segment income were offset partially by higher log costs and an increase in depreciation and amortization expenses from the acquisition of two plywood manufacturing facilities on September 30, 2013.

Building Materials Distribution.  For the year ended December 31, 2014, segment income increased $16.8 million to $56.7 million from $39.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in segment income was driven primarily by a higher gross margin of $34.2 million, including an improvement in gross margin percentage of 50 basis points, as well as a $1.6 million gain in other income from the sale of two surplus properties. These improvements were offset partially by increased selling and distribution expenses of $17.5 million.
 
Other

Foreign Currency Exchange Gain (Loss). For each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, foreign currency exchange loss was $0.4 million, driven primarily by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, compared with the Canadian dollar.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $1.6 million, or 8%, to $22.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with $20.4 million for the prior year. The increase was due primarily to 2014 reflecting a full year of interest expense on the additional $50 million of 6.375% senior notes issued on August 15, 2013. For more information related to our senior notes, see Note 5, Debt, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.

2013 Compared With 2012
 
Sales
 
For the year ended December 31, 2013, total sales increased $494.4 million, or 18%, to $3,273.5 million from $2,779.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2012, driven primarily by increases in sales volumes and prices for many of the products we manufacture and distribute. During 2013, U.S. housing starts increased 18%, with single-family starts up 15%, compared with 2012. Average composite lumber and average composite panel prices for the year ended December 31, 2013, were 19% and 11% higher, respectively, than in the same period in the prior year, as reflected by Random Lengths.

Wood Products.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, sales, including sales to our Building Materials Distribution segment, increased $190.8 million, or 20%, to $1,134.1 million from $943.3 million in 2012. The increase in sales

32

Table of Contents

was due primarily to increased EWP volumes and prices, resulting in increases of $63.0 million and $29.5 million, respectively, as well as higher plywood volumes and prices of $34.3 million and $30.8 million, respectively. Lumber sales prices and volumes also contributed $15.7 million and $4.6 million, respectively, to the increase in sales. I-joist and LVL sales volumes increased 24% and 22%, respectively, due to higher levels of residential construction activity. In addition, lumber and plywood sales prices increased 18% and 7%, respectively, while I-joist and LVL sales prices improved 9% and 6%, respectively. Plywood sales volumes increased 9%, primarily as a result of the acquisition of two plywood manufacturing facilities on September 30, 2013. In addition, lumber sales volumes increased 6%.
 
Building Materials Distribution.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, sales increased $409.4 million, or 19%, to $2,599.6 million from $2,190.2 million for the prior year. The increase in sales was driven primarily by improvements in sales volumes and prices of 10% and 8%, respectively. By product line, commodity sales increased 22%, or $240.7 million; sales of EWP increased 35%, or $105.9 million; and general line products sales increased 8%, or $62.8 million.
 
Costs and Expenses
 
Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation) increased $443.2 million, or 18%, to $2,846.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared with $2,403.4 million during the prior year. The increase primarily reflects higher purchased materials costs as a result of higher sales volumes and product price inflation in our Building Materials Distribution segment, as well as an 80-basis-point increase in MLO rate, compared with the prior year, in our Building Materials Distribution segment due to commodity products being a larger portion of the Building Materials Distribution segment sales mix and the negative impact of a sharp downward trajectory in commodity prices during second quarter 2013. In addition, higher manufacturing costs, including wood costs, labor, glues and resins, and energy, were driven by higher sales volumes of EWP, plywood, and lumber in our Wood Products segment, as well as higher per-unit log costs, which increased approximately 10%, compared with the same period in 2012. The MLO rate in our Wood Products segment decreased by 20 basis points. The decrease in the MLO rate was primarily the result of improved leveraging of labor costs of 180 basis points due to higher sales, offset partially by increases in wood fiber costs and other manufacturing costs of 100 and 60 basis points, respectively, compared with the prior year.

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $4.6 million, or 14%, to $38.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared with $33.4 million during the prior year. The increase was due primarily to the acquisition of two plywood manufacturing facilities on September 30, 2013, and purchases of property and equipment.
    
Selling and distribution expenses increased $10.2 million, or 4%, to $245.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared with $235.1 million for the prior year. The increase was due primarily to higher payroll and transportation costs in our Building Materials Distribution segment of $5.9 million and $3.7 million, respectively, due to increased sales volumes and an increase in other variable expenses, offset partially by lower incentive compensation expenses of $1.8 million. The change in transportation costs excludes payroll costs related to shipping and handling, which are included in the change in payroll costs discussed above. While total selling and distribution expenses increased 4%, these costs decreased as a percentage of total sales by 100 basis points, as selling and distribution expenses did not increase at the same rate as sales.

General and administrative expenses increased $2.4 million, or 5%, to $45.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared with $43.1 million for the prior year. The increase was due primarily to higher professional service, payroll, and travel expenses of $3.0 million, $0.9 million, and $0.6 million, respectively, offset partially by lower incentive compensation expense of $2.5 million. The increase in professional service expenses was due primarily to secondary offering expenses and acquisition-related costs.

Outsourcing Services Agreement. Included in the 2013 and 2012 costs and expenses set forth above are $15.5 million and $15.0 million, respectively, of expenses related to the Outsourcing Services Agreement we have with PCA, under which PCA provides a number of corporate staff services to us. For more information related to the Outsourcing Services Agreement, see Note 12, Outsourcing Services Agreement, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.

For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, other (income) expense, net, was insignificant.
 
Income (Loss) From Operations
 
Income from operations increased $35.7 million to $98.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared with $63.1 million of income for the year ended December 31, 2012. Our improved financial results were driven primarily by

33

Table of Contents

higher sales volumes and prices for many of the products we manufacture and distribute, as well as leveraging of manufacturing and distribution expenses, as discussed above.

 Wood Products.  For the year ended December 31, 2013, segment income improved $21.9 million to $77.7 million of income from $55.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase in segment income was driven primarily by higher plywood, EWP, and lumber sales prices, as well as higher sales volumes of plywood and EWP. These improvements were offset partially by higher wood fiber costs and an increase in depreciation and amortization expenses, as well as lower margins on inventory purchased for resale in support of customer programs.

Building Materials Distribution.  For the year ended December 31, 2013, segment income increased $15.9 million to $39.9 million from $24.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The improvement in segment income was driven primarily by higher gross margin dollars generated of $25.9 million due to an increase in sales. However, the gross margin percentage declined 80 basis points, compared with the same period in the prior year, due to commodity products being a larger portion of the Building Materials Distribution segment sales mix and the negative impact of a sharp downward trajectory in commodity prices during second quarter 2013. While total selling and distribution expenses increased $10.5 million, these costs decreased as a percentage of segment sales by 110 basis points, as selling and distribution expenses did not increase at the same rate as sales.
 
Other

Foreign Currency Exchange Gain (Loss). For the year ended December 31, 2013, foreign currency exchange loss was $0.4 million, compared with approximately break-even for the prior year. The 2013 loss was driven primarily by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, compared with the Canadian dollar.

Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased $1.4 million, or 6%, to $20.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared with $21.8 million for the prior year. The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to less amortization of deferred financing costs than in the prior year because of the write-off of deferred financing costs associated with our senior subordinated notes that were redeemed in fourth quarter 2012. Although average borrowings increased in 2013, average interest rates on 2013 debt were lower, resulting in an insignificant change in cash interest expense from 2012.

Income Tax Benefit (Provision)

For the year ended December 31, 2014, we recorded $43.3 million of income tax expense and had an effective rate of 35.1%. For the year ended December 31, 2013, excluding the discrete establishment of net deferred tax assets discussed below, we recorded $29.9 million of income tax expense and had an effective tax rate of 38.2%. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the federal statutory income tax rate and the effective tax rate were each 35%, as the effect of state taxes was offset by the domestic production activities deduction and other tax credits. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the primary reason for the difference between the federal statutory income tax rate of 35% and the effective tax rate, excluding the deferred discrete item, was the effect of state taxes.

On February 4, 2013, we converted from a limited liability company to a corporation. In addition, we elected to be treated as a corporation for federal and state income tax purposes effective as of January 1, 2013. Therefore, we became subject to federal and state income tax expense beginning January 1, 2013. As a result of our conversion to a corporation, we recorded deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities, of $68.7 million on our Consolidated Balance Sheet, the effect of which was recorded as an income tax benefit in our Consolidated Statement of Operations during the year ended December 31, 2013.
    
Prior to January 1, 2013, as a limited liability company, we were not subject to entity-level federal or state income taxation. Our income tax provision generally consisted of income taxes payable to state jurisdictions that do not allow for the income tax liability to be passed through to our former sole member as well as income taxes payable by our separate subsidiaries that are taxed as corporations. As a limited liability company, we had an effective tax rate of less than 1%.

Acquisitions

On September 30, 2013, we completed the acquisition of Wood Resources LLC Southeast Operations for an aggregate purchase price of $103.0 million, including a post-closing adjustment of $1.0 million based upon a working capital target (the Acquisition). These operations consist of two plywood manufacturing facilities located in North Carolina and South Carolina. These facilities enable us to better serve our customers in the eastern and southeastern United States.


34

Table of Contents

Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
We ended 2014 with $163.5 million of cash and cash equivalents and $301.4 million of long-term debt. At December 31, 2014, we had $430.3 million of available liquidity (unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and unused borrowing capacity under our senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility). We generated $45.3 million of cash during the year ended December 31, 2014, as cash provided by operations was offset partially by capital spending, as further discussed below.

At December 31, 2014, our cash was invested in high-quality, short-term investments, which we record in "Cash and cash equivalents." The credit quality of our portfolio of short-term investments remains strong, with the majority of our cash and cash equivalents invested in money market funds that are broadly diversified and invested in high-quality, short-duration securities, including commercial paper, certificates of deposit, U.S. government agency securities, and similar instruments. We have significant amounts of cash and cash equivalents that are in excess of federally insured limits. Though we have not experienced any losses on our cash and cash equivalents to date and we do not anticipate incurring any losses, we cannot be assured that we will not experience losses on our short-term investments.
    
We believe that our cash flows from operations, combined with our current cash levels and available borrowing capacity, will be adequate to fund debt service requirements and provide cash, as required, to support our ongoing operations, capital expenditures, lease obligations, working capital, and pension contributions in 2015.

In recent years, our reported pension benefit obligations have fluctuated significantly, primarily due to the interest rate environment in the U.S. and its impact on the discount rate assumptions used to measure the present value of our pension benefit obligations. At December 31, 2014, we used a discount rate assumption of 3.75% to measure the present value of our pension benefit obligations, which resulted in a reported pension benefit obligation of approximately $513.8 million. The fair value of our pension plan assets at December 31, 2014, was approximately $364.0 million, and thus we reported an underfunded status of our defined benefit pension plans of approximately $149.8 million. Given the underfunded status, we expect to have significant pension funding obligations. While we have no required contributions for 2015, we expect to make cash contributions of approximately $15 million to our pension plans.

We intend to fund our future pension obligations with cash on hand, cash generated from operations, and external financing. See "Contractual Obligations" in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for an estimate of future minimum pension funding obligations. Also see "Critical Accounting Estimates" in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 7, Retirement and Benefit Plans, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K for a further discussion of the assumptions used to measure the present value of our pension benefit obligations.
 
Sources and Uses of Cash
 
We generate cash primarily from sales of our products, short-term and long-term borrowings, and equity offerings. Our primary uses of cash are for expenses related to the manufacture and distribution of building products, including inventory purchased for resale, wood fiber, labor, energy, and glues and resins. In addition to paying for ongoing operating costs, we use cash to invest in our business, service our debt obligations, repurchase our common stock, and meet our contractual obligations and commercial commitments. Below is a discussion of our sources and uses of cash for operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities.

 
Year Ended December 31
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
(thousands)
Net cash provided by operations
$
101,843

 
$
33,427

 
$
77,608

Net cash used for investment
(56,404
)
 
(146,680
)
 
(29,434
)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing
(139
)
 
185,609

 
(178,650
)

Operating Activities
 
2014 Compared With 2013

In 2014, our operating activities generated $101.8 million of cash, compared with $33.4 million in 2013. Compared with 2013, the $68.4 million increase in cash provided by operations in 2014 relates primarily to the following:

35

Table of Contents


A $30.7 million increase in income in our Wood Products segment and a $16.8 million increase in income in our Building Materials Distribution segment. See "Operating Results" above for a discussion on our results for 2014.

A $15.8 million increase in working capital during 2014, compared with a $61.3 million increase in working capital during 2013. Working capital is subject to cyclical operating needs, seasonal buying patterns for inventory purchased for resale and logs, the timing of the collection of receivables, and the timing of payment of payables and expenses. The increases in working capital in both periods were attributable primarily to higher receivables and inventories, offset partially by an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The increases in receivables in both periods primarily reflect increased sales of approximately 17% and 18%, comparing sales for the months of December 2014 and 2013 with sales for the months of December 2013 and 2012, respectively. Inventories increased in 2014 primarily due to an increase in finished goods inventory in our segments offset partially by lower levels of log inventory in our Wood Products segment. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased in 2014. Accounts payable increased as a result of higher inventory levels at year-end 2014, compared with 2013. Accrued liabilities increased primarily as a result of higher incentive compensation.

A $17.6 million increase in cash paid for income taxes, a $5.7 million increase in timber deposits, and a $1.3 million increase in cash contributions to our pension plans.

2013 Compared With 2012

In 2013, our operating activities generated $33.4 million of cash, compared with $77.6 million in 2012. Compared with 2012, the $44.2 million decrease in cash provided by operations in 2013 relates primarily to the following:

A $61.3 million increase in working capital during 2013, compared with a $9.2 million increase in working capital during 2012. Working capital is subject to cyclical operating needs, seasonal buying patterns for inventory purchased for resale and logs, the timing of the collection of receivables, and the timing of payment of payables and expenses. The increases in working capital in both periods were attributable primarily to higher receivables and inventories, offset partially by an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The increases in receivables in both periods primarily reflect increased sales of approximately 18% and 16%, comparing sales for the months of December 2013 and 2012 with sales for the months of December 2012 and 2011, respectively. Inventories increased in 2013 primarily due to an increase in finished goods inventory in our segments and log inventory in our Wood Products segment due to an improvement in demand for our products from higher residential construction activity, as well as cost inflation on key raw materials we consume in the manufacture of wood products. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased slightly in 2013, after adjusting for liabilities assumed in the Acquisition. Accounts payable did not increase at the same rate as inventory with a lower proportion of our inventory financed through accounts payable at year-end 2013, compared with 2012. Also, the majority of the employee incentive compensation that was accrued in 2012 was paid out in first quarter 2013.

A $22.5 million increase in cash paid for income taxes. As discussed under "Income Tax Benefit (Provision)" above, we converted from a limited liability company to a corporation and elected to be treated as a corporation for federal and state income tax purposes effective as of January 1, 2013, and became subject to federal and state income tax expense.

An increase in cash contributions to our pension plans. During 2013, we used $10.7 million of cash to make pension contributions, compared with $8.5 million during 2012.

A $21.9 million increase in income in our Wood Products segment and a $15.9 million increase in income in our Building Materials Distribution segment. As discussed under "Operating Results" above, the improvement in results for 2013 was the result of higher sales volumes and prices for many of the products we manufacture and distribute, as well as leveraging of manufacturing and distribution expenses.

Investment Activities
 
Net cash used for investing activities was $56.4 million, $146.7 million, and $29.4 million during 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.


36

Table of Contents

2014

During the year ended December 31, 2014, we used approximately $61.2 million of cash for purchases of property and equipment, which included business improvement and quality/efficiency projects, replacement and expansion projects, and ongoing environmental compliance. Quality and efficiency projects include quality improvements, modernization, energy, and cost-saving projects. In addition, purchases of property and equipment included approximately $6 million on environmental compliance in 2014 and we expect to spend approximately $8 million in 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2014, we received proceeds of $4.8 million, primarily from the sale of two surplus properties in our Building Materials Distribution segment.

Excluding potential acquisitions, we expect capital expenditures in 2015 to total approximately $85 million to $95 million. This level of capital expenditures could increase or decrease as a result of a number of factors, including our financial results, future economic conditions, and timing of equipment purchases. Our capital spending in 2015 will be for business improvement and quality/efficiency projects, replacement projects, and ongoing environmental compliance.

2013

During the year ended December 31, 2013, we used $103.0 million for the acquisition of Wood Resources LLC Southeast Operations. In addition, we used approximately $45.8 million of cash for purchases of property and equipment, which included business improvement and quality/efficiency projects, replacement and expansion projects, and ongoing environmental compliance. In 2013, purchases of property and equipment included approximately $4.8 million on environmental compliance. For the year ended December 31, 2013, we received proceeds of $2.2 million from the sale of assets.

2012

During the year ended December 31, 2012, we used approximately $27.4 million of cash for purchases of property and equipment, which included expenditures for the rebuild of veneer dryers, as well as costs related to other replacement projects and ongoing environmental compliance. In 2012, purchases of property and equipment included approximately $1.3 million on environmental compliance. In addition, we spent $2.4 million for the acquisition of a sawmill in Arden, Washington, which improved fiber integration and enhanced the product mix capabilities in our Inland Region lumber operations.

Financing Activities

During 2014, we borrowed $57.6 million under our revolving credit facility to fund working capital needs, which was subsequently repaid during the same period with cash on hand, resulting in no borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2014.

On February 11, 2013, we issued 13,529,412 shares of common stock in our initial public offering. In connection with this initial public offering, we received proceeds of approximately $262.5 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $19.2 million and offering expenses of approximately $2.5 million. On July 30, 2013, we repurchased 3,864,062 shares of our common stock from BC Holdings for $100.0 million.

During 2013, we repaid $105.0 million of borrowings under our revolving credit facility, $25.0 million of which was outstanding at December 31, 2012, $55.0 million of which was borrowed for working capital needs and repaid during the first quarter of 2013, and $25.0 million of which was borrowed for the acquisition of two plywood plants and repaid during the fourth quarter. During third quarter 2013, we issued an additional $50 million in aggregate principal amount of our 6.375% senior notes due November 1, 2020 (Senior Notes). We also used $2.1 million of cash for financing costs related to the additional $50 million of Senior Notes, the registration of our Senior Notes, and amendments to the asset-based revolving credit facility.


37

Table of Contents

During 2012, we repaid our senior subordinated notes with cash on hand, borrowings under our revolving credit facility, and the issuance of senior notes. On October 12, 2012, we borrowed $50.0 million under our revolving credit facility to partially fund the redemption of $75.0 million of our senior subordinated notes. In addition, on October 22, 2012, we issued $250.0 million aggregate amount of our Senior Notes to fund the redemption of our remaining senior subordinated notes and for general corporate purposes. We repaid $25.0 million of borrowings under our revolving credit facility on December 20, 2012. We also used $5.8 million of cash for financing costs related primarily to our Senior Notes. In addition, during 2012, we made $228.3 million of distributions to BC Holdings, our equityholder.

Debt Structure

Long-term debt consisted of the following:
 
 
 
December 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
 
(thousands)
Asset-based revolving credit facility
 
$

 
$

6.375% senior notes
 
299,990

 
299,990

Unamortized premium on 6.375% senior notes
 
1,425

 
1,623

Long-term debt
 
$
301,415

 
$
301,613

 
Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility
     
Boise Cascade and its principal operating subsidiaries, Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., and Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution, L.L.C., are borrowers, and Boise Cascade Wood Products Holdings Corp. is guarantor under a $350 million senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (Revolving Credit Facility), with a maturity date of July 31, 2018. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility are constrained by a borrowing base formula dependent upon levels of eligible receivables and inventory reduced by outstanding borrowings and letters of credit (Availability). On February 6, 2014, we entered into a sixth amendment to our Revolving Credit Facility that primarily provides more administrative flexibility and reduces the notice period we must provide to receive London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) based advances under the facility.

The Revolving Credit Facility is secured by a first-priority security interest in substantially all of our assets, except for property and equipment. The proceeds of borrowings under the agreement are available for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Interest rates under the Revolving Credit Facility are based, at the company's election, on either the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or a base rate, as defined in the credit agreement, plus a spread over the index elected that ranges from 1.50% to 2.00% for loans based on LIBOR and from 0.50% to 1.00% for loans based on the base rate. The spread is determined on the basis of a pricing grid that results in a higher spread as average quarterly Availability declines. Letters of credit are subject to a fronting fee payable to the issuing bank and a fee payable to the lenders equal to the LIBOR margin rate. In addition, we are required to pay an unused commitment fee at a rate ranging from 0.25% to 0.375% per annum (based on facility utilization) of the average unused portion of the lending commitments.

The Revolving Credit Facility contains customary nonfinancial covenants, including a negative pledge covenant and restrictions on new indebtedness, investments, distributions to equityholders, asset sales, and affiliate transactions, the scope of which are dependent on the Availability existing from time to time. The Revolving Credit Facility also contains a requirement that we meet a 1:1 fixed-charge coverage ratio (FCCR), applicable only if Availability falls below 10% of the aggregate lending commitments (or $35 million). Availability exceeded the minimum threshold amounts required for testing of the FCCR at all times since entering into the Revolving Credit Facility, and Availability at December 31, 2014, was $266.8 million.

The Revolving Credit Facility generally permits dividends only if certain conditions are met, including complying with either (i) pro forma Excess Availability (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility) equal to or exceeding 25% of the aggregate Revolver Commitments (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility) or (ii) (x) pro forma Excess Availability equal to or exceeding 15% of the aggregate Revolver Commitment and (y) a fixed-charge coverage ratio of 1:1 on a pro forma basis.

At both December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility and $8.0 million and $8.4 million, respectively, of letters of credit outstanding. These letters of credit and borrowings, if any, reduced our

38

Table of Contents

borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility by an equivalent amount. The maximum borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility were $15.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2014. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the average interest rate on borrowings was approximately 1.65%.

Senior Notes

On October 22, 2012, Boise Cascade and its wholly owned subsidiary, Boise Cascade Finance Corporation (Boise Finance and together with Boise Cascade, the Co-issuers), issued $250 million of Senior Notes through a private placement that was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act). Interest on our Senior Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on May 1 and November 1. On March 28, 2013, Boise Finance was merged with and into Boise Cascade, with Boise Cascade as the surviving entity and sole issuer of the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes are guaranteed by each of our existing and future direct or indirect domestic subsidiaries that is a guarantor or co-borrower under our Revolving Credit Facility.

On August 15, 2013, we issued an additional $50 million in aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes in a private offering that was exempt from registration under the Securities Act. The additional $50 million of Senior Notes were priced at 103.5% of their principal amount plus accrued interest from May 1, 2013, and were issued as additional Senior Notes under the indenture dated as of October 22, 2012.

On May 8, 2013 and November 26, 2013, we completed an offer to exchange any and all of our $250 million and $50 million, respectively, outstanding Senior Notes for a like principal amount of new 6.375% Senior Notes due 2020 having substantially identical terms to those of the Senior Notes. $250 million and $49,990,000 in aggregate principal amount (or 100% and 99.98%, respectively) of the outstanding Senior Notes were tendered and accepted for exchange upon closing of the related exchange offers and have been registered under the Securities Act.

The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of the existing and future senior indebtedness of Boise Cascade Company and of the guarantors, senior to all of their existing and future subordinated indebtedness, effectively subordinated to all of their present and future senior secured indebtedness (including all borrowings with respect to our Revolving Credit Facility to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness), and structurally subordinated to the indebtedness of any subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Senior Notes.

The terms of the indenture governing the Senior Notes, among other things, limit the ability of Boise Cascade Company and certain Boise Cascade Company subsidiaries to: incur additional debt; declare or pay dividends; redeem stock or make other distributions to stockholders; make investments; create liens on assets; consolidate, merge, or transfer substantially all of their assets; enter into transactions with affiliates; and sell or transfer certain assets.

The indenture governing the Senior Notes provides for customary events of default, which include (subject in certain cases to customary grace and cure periods and notification requirements) among others: nonpayment of principal or interest; breach of other agreements in the indenture governing the Senior Notes; defaults in failure to pay certain other indebtedness; the rendering of judgments to pay certain amounts of money against the Co-issuers, the guarantors, or certain Boise Cascade subsidiaries; the failure of certain guarantees to be enforceable; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency.

Cash Paid for Interest
 
For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, cash payments for interest were $20.2 million, $18.4 million, and $18.1 million, respectively.

Contractual Obligations
 
In the table below, we set forth our enforceable and legally binding obligations as of December 31, 2014. Some of the amounts included in the table are based on management's estimates and assumptions about these obligations, including their duration, the possibility of renewal, anticipated actions by third parties, and other factors. Because these estimates and assumptions are necessarily subjective, our actual payments may vary from those reflected in the table. Purchase orders made in the ordinary course of business are excluded from the table below. Any amounts for which we are liable under purchase orders are reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as accounts payable and accrued liabilities.


39

Table of Contents

 
Payments Due by Period
 
2015
 
2016-2017
 
2018-2019
 
Thereafter
 
Total
 
(millions)
Long-term debt (a)
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
300.0

 
$
300.0

Interest (b)
19.1

 
38.2

 
38.2

 
19.2

 
114.7

Operating leases (c)
13.0

 
19.5

 
17.9

 
32.9

 
83.3

Purchase obligations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Raw materials and finished goods inventory (d)
17.4

 
42.2

 
17.3

 
3.1

 
80.0

   Utilities (e)
13.8

 

 

 

 
13.8

   Other
1.3

 
0.3

 

 

 
1.6

Other long-term liabilities reflected on our Balance Sheet
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Compensation and benefits, including pension funding obligations (f)
8.0

 
7.7

 
7.7

 
139.3

 
162.7

   Other (g)(h)
2.5

 
3.5

 
1.9

 
5.8

 
13.7

 
$
75.1

 
$
111.4

 
$
83.0

 
$
500.3

 
$
769.8

_______________________________________ 

(a)
These borrowings are further explained in Note 5, Debt, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K. The table assumes our long-term debt is held to maturity. We have excluded $1.4 million of unamortized premium on the $50.0 million of Senior Notes issued on August 15, 2013, from long-term debt in the above table because unamortized premium does not represent a contractual obligation that will be settled in cash.

(b)
Amounts represent estimated interest payments on the Senior Notes as of December 31, 2014, assuming these notes are held to maturity. Unused commitment fees and letter of credit fees payable under the Revolving Credit Facility are excluded from the table above.

(c)
We enter into operating leases in the normal course of business. We lease a portion of our distribution centers as well as other property and equipment under operating leases. Some lease agreements provide us with the option to renew the lease or purchase the leased property. Our operating lease obligations would change if we exercised these renewal options and/or if we entered into additional operating lease agreements. For more information, see Note 6, Leases, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.

(d)
Amounts represent contracts to purchase approximately $80 million of wood fiber, approximately $57 million of which is purchased pursuant to fixed-price contracts and approximately $23 million of which is purchased pursuant to variable-price contracts. The $23 million is estimated using first quarter 2015 pricing, but the actual prices will depend on future market prices. Under certain log and fiber supply agreements, we have the right to cancel or reduce our commitments in the event of a mill curtailment or shutdown. Future purchase prices under most of the variable-price agreements will be set quarterly or semiannually based on regional market prices. Our log and fiber obligations are subject to change based on, among other things, the effect of governmental laws and regulations, our manufacturing operations not operating in the normal course of business, log and fiber availability, and the status of environmental appeals. Except for deposits required pursuant to wood supply contracts, these obligations are not recorded in our consolidated financial statements until contract payment terms take effect.

(e)
We enter into contracts for the purchase of electricity and natural gas. We also purchase these services under utility tariffs. These payment obligations were valued either at market prices as of December 31, 2014, or at a fixed price, in each case in accordance with the terms of the related contract or tariff. Because we consume the energy in the manufacture of our products, these obligations represent the face value of the contracts, not resale value.

(f)
Amounts consist primarily of our pension obligation and, to a lesser extent, the current portion of employee-related compensation liabilities of $3.5 million. Actuarially determined liabilities related to pension benefits are recorded based on estimates and assumptions. Key factors used in developing estimates of these liabilities include assumptions related to discount rates, expected rate of compensation increases, retirement and mortality rates, and other factors. Changes in estimates and assumptions related to the measurement of funded status could have a material impact on the amount reported. In the table above, we allocated our pension obligations by year based on the future required minimum pension contributions, as determined by our actuaries.

(g)
Includes current portion of long-term liabilities of $2.5 million.

(h)
We have excluded $3.3 million and $0.7 million of deferred lease costs and deferred gains, respectively, from the other long-term liabilities in the above table. These amounts have been excluded because deferred lease costs relate to operating leases which are already reflected in the operating lease category above and deferred gains do not represent a contractual obligation that will be settled in cash.


40

Table of Contents

Off-Balance-Sheet Activities
 
At December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had no material off-balance-sheet arrangements with unconsolidated entities.
    
Guarantees
 
Note 5, Debt, and Note 16, Commitments, Legal Proceedings and Contingencies, and Guarantees, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K describe the nature of our guarantees, including the approximate terms of the guarantees, how the guarantees arose, the events or circumstances that would require us to perform under the guarantees, and the maximum potential undiscounted amounts of future payments we could be required to make.
 
Seasonal and Inflationary Influences
 
We are exposed to fluctuations in quarterly sales volumes and expenses due to seasonal factors. These seasonal factors are common in the building products industry. Seasonal changes in levels of building activity affect our building products businesses, which are dependent on housing starts, repair-and-remodeling activities, and light commercial construction activities. We typically report lower sales in the first and fourth quarters due to the impact of poor weather on the construction market, and we generally have higher sales in the second and third quarters, reflecting an increase in construction due to more favorable weather conditions. We typically have higher working capital in the second and third quarters due to the summer building season. Seasonally cold weather increases costs, especially energy consumption, at most of our manufacturing facilities.
 
Our major costs of production are wood fiber, labor, and glue and resins. Wood fiber costs, glue and resin costs, and diesel fuel prices have been volatile in recent years.
 
Employees
 
As of February 15, 2015, we had approximately 5,670 employees. Approximately 26% of these employees work pursuant to collective bargaining agreements. As of February 15, 2015, we had nine collective bargaining agreements. None of our employees are working pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement that will expire within the next 12 months.
 
Disclosures of Financial Market Risks

In the normal course of business, we are exposed to financial risks such as changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and commodity price risk. In 2014, 2013, and 2012, we did not use derivative instruments.

Interest Rate Risk 

When we have loan amounts outstanding on our Revolving Credit Facility, we are exposed to interest rate risk arising from fluctuations in interest rates.

Foreign Currency Risk
    
We have sales in countries outside the United States. As a result, we are exposed to movements in foreign currency exchange rates, primarily in Canada, but we do not believe our exposure to currency fluctuations is significant.

Commodity Price Risk

Many of the products we manufacture or purchase and resell and some of our key production inputs are commodities whose price is determined by the market's supply and demand for such products. Price fluctuations in our selling prices and key costs have a significant effect on our financial performance. The markets for most of these commodities are cyclical and are primarily affected by various economic and industry factors, including the strength of the U.S. housing market, changes in or disruptions to industry production capacity, changes in inventory levels, and other factors beyond our control.


41

Table of Contents

Financial Instruments

The table below provides information as of December 31, 2014, about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The table presents principal cash flows and related weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates. For obligations with variable interest rate sensitivity, the table sets forth payout amounts based on December 31, 2014 rates, and does not attempt to project future rates. Other instruments subject to market risk, such as obligations for pension plans and other postretirement benefits, are not reflected in the table.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 2015-
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
There-
 after 
 
  Total  
 
Fair
  Value (b) 
 
(millions)
Long-term debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Fixed-rate debt payments (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Senior Notes
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
300.0

 
$
300.0

 
$
315.0

      Average interest rates

 

 

 
6.4
%
 
6.4
%
 

   Variable-rate debt payments (a)
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

      Average interest rates

 

 

 

 

 

_______________________________________ 

(a)
These obligations are further explained in Note 5, Debt, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K. The table assumes our long-term debt is held to maturity.

(b)
We estimated the fair value based on quoted market prices as of December 31, 2014, for similar traded debt.

Environmental
 
We are subject to a wide range of general and industry-specific environmental laws and regulations. In particular, we are affected by laws and regulations covering air emissions, wastewater discharges, solid and hazardous waste management, and site remediation. Compliance with these laws and regulations is a significant factor in the operation of our businesses. We believe that we have created a corporate culture of strong compliance by taking a conservative approach to environmental issues in order to assure that we are operating well within the bounds of regulatory requirements. However, we cannot assure that we will be in full compliance with environmental requirements at all times, and we cannot assure that we will not incur fines and penalties in the future. In 2014, we paid an insignificant amount of environmental fines and penalties across all of our segments.
We incur capital and operating expenditures to comply with federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in civil or criminal fines or penalties or in enforcement actions. Our failure to comply could also result in governmental or judicial orders that stop or interrupt our operations or require us to take corrective measures, install additional pollution control equipment, or take other remedial actions. During 2014, we spent approximately $6 million on capital expenditures to comply with environmental requirements. We expect to spend approximately $8 million in 2015 for this purpose.
As an owner and operator of real estate, we may be liable under environmental laws for the cleanup of past and present spills and releases of hazardous or toxic substances on or from our properties and operations. We can be found liable under these laws whether or not we knew of, or were responsible for, the presence of such substances. In some cases, this liability may exceed the value of the property itself.
In connection with prior transactions, certain third parties are generally obligated to indemnify us in the event they are unable to fully discharge environmental liabilities assumed by them, as well as to indemnify us for hazardous substance releases and other environmental violations that occurred prior to such transactions. However, these third parties may not have sufficient funds to fully satisfy their indemnification obligations when required, and in some cases, we may not be contractually entitled to indemnification by them. For additional information on how environmental regulation and compliance affects our business, see "Environmental" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K.

42

Table of Contents

Climate Change
Various legislative and regulatory proposals to restrict emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHG), such as CO2, are under consideration in state legislative bodies and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In particular, the EPA recently proposed regulations to reduce GHG emissions from new and existing electric utilities. The regulations for the existing electric utilities, commonly referred to as the Clean Power Plan, require states to develop strategies to reduce GHG emissions within the states that may include reductions at other sources in addition to the electric utilities. We believe this regulation will be subject to legal challenge and it is premature to evaluate the impact of this regulation on our businesses. The key states in which our facilities are located (Louisiana, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, and Washington) are currently working through the process of incorporating GHG regulations into their state implementation plans. Most of our manufacturing facilities operate boilers or other process equipment that emit GHG. Such regulatory initiatives may require us to modify operating procedures or production levels, incur capital expenditures, change fuel sources, or take other actions that may adversely affect our financial results. However, given the high degree of uncertainty about the ultimate parameters of any such regulatory initiative, it is premature to make any prediction concerning such impacts.
A significant portion of our GHG emissions are from biomass-fired boilers. Biogenic CO2 is generally considered carbon neutral. In November 2014, the EPA released its Framework for Assessing Biogenic CO2 Emissions From Stationary Sources along with an accompanying memo that generally supported carbon neutrality for biomass combustion, but left open the possibility that it may not always be carbon neutral. This action leaves considerable uncertainty as to the future regulatory treatment of biogenic CO2 and the treatment of such GHG in the states in which we operate. The proposed Clean Power Plan also allows states to determine how biogenic CO2 will be characterized, so we could see state-to-state differences.
In addition, various government entities have adopted or are considering energy sourcing regulations which subsidize, or mandate consumption of specified percentages of, electrical power generated from nontraditional generating sources, including biomass fuels. These programs may increase our purchased electrical energy costs, create significant new competition for our fiber sources, and provide opportunities for alternative uses of our residual fiber, such as sawdust, chips, and shavings.
From time to time, legislative bodies and environmental regulatory agencies may promulgate new regulatory programs imposing significant incremental operating costs or capital costs on us. In December 2012, the EPA finalized a revised series of four regulations commonly referred to collectively as Boiler MACT, which are intended to regulate the emission of hazardous air pollutants from industrial boilers. Facilities in our Wood Products segment will be subject to one or more of these regulations and must be in compliance with the applicable rules by early 2016. We are currently undertaking a complete review of the revised rules to assess how they will affect our operations. Even with the revised rules finalized, considerable uncertainty still exists, as the EPA has recently proposed some changes to the regulations, and there are legal challenges to the final rules from industry and/or environmental organizations. Notwithstanding that uncertainty, we are proceeding with efforts to analyze the applicability and requirements of the regulations, including the capital and operating costs required to comply. Based upon our current understanding of the regulations, we expect to spend approximately $4 million to $6 million in capital over the next year to comply with the applicable rules.
Critical Accounting Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from these estimates. We believe that the accounting estimates discussed below represent the accounting estimates requiring the exercise of judgment where a different set of judgments could result in the greatest changes to reported results. We reviewed the development, selection, and disclosure of our critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our board of directors. Our current critical accounting estimates are as follows:

Pensions

We calculate pension expense and liabilities using actuarial assumptions, including discount rates, expected return on plan assets, expected rate of compensation increases, retirement and mortality rates, expected contributions, and other factors. We based the assumptions used to calculate pension expense on the following factors:

Discount Rate Assumption. The discount rate reflects the current rate at which the pension obligations could be settled based on the measurement dates of the plans — December 31. In all years presented, the discount rates were determined by

43

Table of Contents

matching the expected plan benefit payments against a spot rate yield curve constructed to replicate the yields of Aa-rated corporate bonds.

Asset Return Assumption. We base our expected long-term rate of return on plan assets on a weighted average of our expected returns for the major asset classes (equities, fixed-income securities, a hedge fund, and real estate) in which we invest. The weights we assign each asset class are based on our investment strategy. Expected returns for the asset classes are based on long-term historical returns, inflation expectations, forecasted gross domestic product, earnings growth, and other economic factors. We developed our return assumption based on a review of the fund manager's estimates of future market expectations by broad asset class, actuarial projections, and expected long-term rates of return from external investment managers. In 2014, the investment return on our pension asset portfolio was approximately 8%, as the U.S. equity and fixed income portions of the portfolio experienced strong performance as a result of favorable monetary policies and improved economic growth in the U.S. Returns in the international equity portion of the pension asset portfolio were negative in 2014, hindered by low economic growth expectations and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar. In 2013, the investment return on our pension asset portfolio was approximately 17%, as the equity portions of the portfolio experienced strong performance as a result of favorable monetary policies and improved global economic growth. The investment returns were above our expected return on plan assets of 6.50% for each 2014 and 2013. The weighted average expected return on plan assets we will use in our calculation of 2015 net periodic benefit cost is 6.15%.

Rate of Compensation Increases. Pension benefits for all salaried employees are frozen, resulting in an assumption for the rate of compensation increase of zero. In addition to the salaried benefits being frozen, there are currently no scheduled increases in pension benefit rates applicable to past service covering hourly employees who continue to accrue benefits.

Retirement and Mortality Rates. These rates are developed to reflect actual and projected plan experience. In 2014, we used the new RP-2014 mortality tables along with the new two-dimensional mortality improvement scale MP-2014. In 2013, we used the RP-2000 mortality tables. The new tables reflect updated projected mortality rates based on actuarial studies by the Society of Actuaries. The change in mortality tables increased the underfunded status of our defined benefit pension plans by $28.5 million.

Expected Contributions. Plan obligations and expenses are based on existing retirement plan provisions. No assumption is made for future changes to benefit provisions beyond those to which we are presently committed. For example, we may commit to changes in future labor contracts. In 2014, we made $12.1 million in cash contributions to our pension plans. We expect to contribute approximately $15 million to our pension plans in 2015. For information related to pension contributions, see "Cash Flows" in Note 7, Retirement and Benefit Plans, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" in this Form 10-K.

We recognize the funded status of our pension plans on our Consolidated Balance Sheets and recognize the actuarial and experience gains and losses and the prior service costs and credits, net of tax, in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). Actual results that differ from assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and, therefore, generally affect recognized expense in future periods. While we believe that the assumptions used to measure our pension obligations are reasonable, differences in actual experience or changes in assumptions may materially affect our pension obligations and future expense.

We believe that the accounting estimate related to pensions is a critical accounting estimate because it is highly susceptible to change from period to period. The future effects of pension plans on our financial position and results of operations will depend on economic conditions, employee demographics, mortality rates, retirement rates, investment performance, the pension regulatory environment, benefit plan design, and funding decisions, among other factors. The following table presents selected assumptions used and expected to be used in the measurement of pension expense in the following periods:

 
Year Ending December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(millions, except for percentages)
Pension expense
$
6.3

 
$
0.8

 
$
11.0

Discount rate
3.75
%
 
4.65
%
 
3.75
%
Expected rate of return on plan assets       
6.15
%
 
6.50
%
 
6.50
%
Rate of compensation increases (a)

 

 


44

Table of Contents

_______________________________________ 

(a)
The compensation increase is zero due to the fact that pension benefits for salaried employees are frozen. In addition to the salaried benefits being frozen, there are currently no scheduled increases in pension benefit rates applicable to past service covering hourly employees who continue to accrue benefits.

A change of 0.25% in either direction to the discount rate or the expected rate of return on plan assets would result in the following effect on 2015 and 2014 pension expense. These sensitivities are specific to 2015 and 2014. The sensitivities may not be additive, so the impact of changing multiple factors simultaneously cannot be calculated by combining the individual sensitivities shown.

 
 
 
Increase (Decrease)
in Pension Expense
 
Base
 Expense 
 
 0.25 %
 Increase 
 
 0.25%
 Decrease 
 
(millions)
2015 Expense
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
$
6.3

 
$
(1.3
)
 
$
1.3

Expected rate of return on plan assets
6.3

 
(0.8
)
 
0.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
2014 Expense
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
$
0.8

 
$
0.4

 
$
0.9

Expected rate of return on plan assets
0.8

 
(0.8
)
 
0.8


Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and respective tax bases, as measured by enacted tax rates that are expected to be in effect in the periods where deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled.

Deferred tax assets resulting from the operations of foreign subsidiaries were $15.8 million at December 31, 2014, which is fully offset by a valuation allowance as we believe it is more likely than not that we will not be able to realize the benefit of this deferred tax asset before it expires.

Assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets requires significant judgment. We consider all available evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become realizable. In the event that we determine that a deferred tax asset will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recorded against the deferred tax asset with a corresponding charge to tax expense in the period we make such determination. Based upon our projections of future reversals of existing temporary differences, the historical level of taxable income, and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, we believe it is more likely than not that we will realize the benefits of substantially all of these deductible differences, except as discussed above. Though we believe that no additional valuation allowance of deferred tax assets is necessary as of December 31, 2014, if we were to not generate sufficient future taxable income, it is possible that we could record a valuation allowance in a future period.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment

We review long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. An impairment of a long-lived asset exists when the carrying value is not recoverable through future undiscounted cash flows from operations and when the carrying value of an asset or asset group exceeds its fair value.

Long-lived asset impairment is a critical accounting estimate, as it is susceptible to change from period to period. We estimate the fair value of an asset or asset group based on quoted market prices for similar assets (the amount for which the asset(s) could be bought or sold in a current transaction with a third party) when available (Level 2 measurement). When quoted market prices are not available, we use a discounted cash flow model to estimate fair value (Level 3 measurement). To

45

Table of Contents

measure future cash flows, we are required to make assumptions about future production volumes, future product pricing, and future expenses to be incurred. Estimates of future cash flows may change based on overall economic conditions, the availability of wood fiber, environmental requirements, capital spending, and other strategic management decisions.
    
Should the markets for our products deteriorate or should we decide to invest capital differently or should other cash flow assumptions change, it is possible that we will be required to record noncash impairment charges in the future that could have a material impact on our results of operations. Due to the numerous variables associated with our judgments and assumptions relating to the valuation of assets and the effects of changes on these valuations, both the precision and reliability of our estimates are subject to uncertainty. As additional information becomes known, we may change our estimates.

Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment
    
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired business over the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. At December 31, 2014, we had $21.8 million of goodwill recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheet, of which $5.6 million was recorded in our Building Materials Distribution segment and $16.2 million was recorded in our Wood Products segment. At December 31, 2014, the net carrying amount of intangible assets with indefinite lives, which represent our trade names and trademarks, was $8.9 million.

We maintain two reporting units for purposes of our goodwill impairment testing, Building Materials Distribution and Wood Products, which are the same as our operating segments discussed in Note 15, Segment Information, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K. We test goodwill in each of our reporting units and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually in the fourth quarter or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may exceed fair value. We completed our annual assessment of goodwill in fourth quarter 2014 using a qualitative approach. The qualitative goodwill impairment assessment requires evaluating factors, based on the weight of evidence, to determine whether a reporting unit’s carrying value would more likely than not exceed its fair value. As part of our goodwill qualitative testing process for each reporting unit, we evaluate various factors that are specific to the reporting unit as well as industry and macroeconomic factors in order to determine whether it is reasonably likely to have a material impact on the fair value of our reporting units. Examples of the factors that were considered include the results of the most recent quantitative impairment tests, current and long-term forecasted financial results, changes in the discount rate between current and prior years, and operating strategy for each reporting unit. See below for further discussion of our forecasts and discount rates. Based on the qualitative analysis performed in 2014, we concluded that there were no changes that were reasonably likely to cause the fair value of the reporting units to be less than the reporting units' carrying value and determined that there was no impairment of our goodwill. Although we believe the qualitative factors considered in the impairment analysis are reasonable, significant changes in any one of our assumptions could produce a significantly different result and result in impairment charges that could be material to our consolidated financial statements.

In the event we were to determine that a reporting unit's carrying value would more likely than not exceed its fair value, quantitative testing would be performed comparing carrying values to estimated fair values. Quantitative testing involves a two-step process. The first step, used to identify potential impairment, is a comparison of each reporting unit's estimated fair value to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not considered impaired. If the carrying value exceeds fair value, we perform a second step to compare the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill to its book value. The implied fair value of the goodwill is determined based on the estimated fair value of the reporting unit less the fair value of the reporting unit's identifiable assets and liabilities. If the goodwill assigned to a reporting unit exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess. In conducting a quantitative goodwill impairment analysis, we utilize the discounted cash flow approach that estimates the projected future cash flows to be generated by our reporting units, discounted to present value using a discount rate reflecting weighted average cost of capital for a potential market participant (Level 3 measurement).
 
For our intangible asset impairment testing, we use a discounted cash flow approach, based on a relief from royalty method (Level 3 measurement). This method assumes that through ownership of trademarks and trade names, we avoid royalty expense associated with licensing, resulting in cost savings. An estimated royalty rate, determined as a percentage of net sales, is used to estimate the value of the intangible assets. Based on the impairment tests of our intangible assets with indefinite lives, we determined that the fair value of our intangible assets exceeds their carrying value. Differences in assumptions used in projecting future cash flows and cost of funds could have a significant impact on the determination of fair value.


46

Table of Contents

The following assumptions are key to our estimates of fair value:

Business projections. Projections are based on five-year forecasts that are developed internally by management for use in managing the business and reviewed by the board of directors. These projections include significant assumptions such as estimates of future revenues, profits, working capital requirements, operating plans, and capital expenditures. Our forecasts are driven by consensus estimates of key economic indicators that affect our operating results, most notably new residential and light commercial construction and repair-and-remodeling activity. These economic indicators are then used to estimate future production volumes, selling prices, and key input costs for our manufactured products. Our forecasts also take into consideration recent sales data for existing products, planned timing of capital projects, and anticipated conversion and distribution expenses. Our pricing assumptions are estimated based upon an assessment of industry supply and demand dynamics for our major products.

Growth rates. A growth rate is used to calculate the terminal value in the discounted cash flow model. The growth rate is the expected rate at which earnings or revenue is projected to grow beyond the five-year forecast period.

Discount rates. Future cash flows are discounted at a rate that is consistent with a weighted average cost of capital for a potential market participant. The weighted average cost of capital is an estimate of the overall after-tax rate of return required by equity and debt holders of a business enterprise. The discount rates selected are based on existing conditions within our industry and reflect adjustments for potential risk premiums in those markets as well as weighting of the market cost of equity versus debt.
 
New and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
 
For information related to new and recently adopted accounting standards, see "New and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards" in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" in this Form 10-K.
 
ITEM 7A.          QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Information concerning quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk is included under the captions "Disclosures of Financial Market Risks" and "Financial Instruments" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K.

47

Table of Contents


 
ITEM 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Boise Cascade Company
Consolidated Statements of Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
(thousands, except per-share data)
Sales
 
$
3,573,732

 
$
3,273,496

 
$
2,779,062

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and expenses
 
 

 
 

 
 

Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)
 
3,065,671

 
2,846,614

 
2,403,445

Depreciation and amortization
 
51,439

 
38,038

 
33,407

Selling and distribution expenses
 
264,173

 
245,283

 
235,055

General and administrative expenses
 
48,489

 
45,489

 
43,122

Other (income) expense, net
 
(1,589
)
 
(685
)
 
902

 
 
3,428,183

 
3,174,739

 
2,715,931

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from operations
 
145,549

 
98,757

 
63,131

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency exchange gain (loss)
 
(432
)
 
(424
)
 
37

Interest expense
 
(22,049
)
 
(20,426
)
 
(21,757
)
Interest income
 
237

 
241

 
392

 
 
(22,244
)
 
(20,609
)
 
(21,328
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
 
123,305

 
78,148

 
41,803

Income tax (provision) benefit
 
(43,296
)
 
38,788

 
(307
)
Net income
 
$
80,009

 
$
116,936

 
$
41,496

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Basic
 
39,412

 
40,203

 
29,700

  Diluted
 
39,492

 
40,226

 
29,700

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Basic
 
$
2.03

 
$
2.91

 
$
1.40

  Diluted
 
$
2.03

 
$
2.91

 
$
1.40


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

48

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
(thousands)
Net income
$
80,009

 
$
116,936

 
$
41,496

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
  Defined benefit pension plans
 
 
 
 
 
Actuarial gain (loss), net of tax of ($28,782), $37,071, and $0, respectively
(46,234
)
 
60,100

 
(8,432
)
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss, net of tax of ($8), $3,510, and $0, respectively
(15
)
 
5,692

 
7,632

Amortization of prior service costs and other, net of tax of $0, $116, and $0, respectively

 
188

 
416

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
(46,249
)
 
65,980

 
(384
)
Comprehensive income
$
33,760

 
$
182,916

 
$
41,112


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

49

Table of Contents


Boise Cascade Company
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
(thousands)
ASSETS
 
 

 
 

Current
 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
163,549

 
$
118,249

Receivables
 
 
 
 

Trade, less allowances of $2,062 and $2,509
 
172,314

 
152,240

Related parties
 
821

 
583

Other
 
7,311

 
7,268

Inventories
 
394,461

 
383,359

Deferred income taxes
 
20,311

 
18,151

Prepaid expenses and other
 
14,857

 
7,855

Total current assets
 
773,624

 
687,705

 
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment, net
 
368,128

 
360,985

Timber deposits
 
13,819

 
6,266

Deferred financing costs
 
7,149

 
8,334

Goodwill
 
21,823

 
21,823

Intangible assets, net
 
10,183

 
10,277

Deferred income taxes
 
16,684

 
760

Other assets
 
9,075

 
8,036

Total assets
 
$
1,220,485

 
$
1,104,186

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


50

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company
Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)
 
 
December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
(thousands, except per-share data)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Current
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
 
 
 
Trade
 
$
150,693

 
$
139,636

Related parties
 
1,743

 
2,484

Accrued liabilities
 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
 
66,170

 
60,527

Interest payable
 
3,298

 
3,294

Other
 
33,286

 
33,076

Total current liabilities
 
255,190

 
239,017

 
 
 
 
 
Debt
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
301,415

 
301,613

 
 
 
 
 
Other
 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
 
156,218

 
96,536

Other long-term liabilities
 
15,274

 
14,539

 
 
171,492

 
111,075

 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingent liabilities
 


 


 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; 50,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding
 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value per share; 300,000 shares authorized, 43,282 and 43,229 shares issued, respectively
 
433

 
432

Treasury stock, 3,864 shares at cost
 
(100,000
)
 
(100,000
)
Additional paid-in capital
 
502,739

 
496,593

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(101,498
)
 
(55,249
)
Retained earnings
 
190,714

 
110,705

Total stockholders' equity
 
492,388

 
452,481

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
1,220,485

 
$
1,104,186


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


51

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
(thousands)
Cash provided by (used for) operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
80,009

 
$
116,936

 
$
41,496

Items in net income not using (providing) cash
 
 
 
 

 
 
Depreciation and amortization, including deferred financing costs and other
 
53,052

 
39,810

 
37,211

Stock-based compensation
 
5,916

 
2,869

 

Pension expense
 
838

 
10,989

 
12,653

Deferred income taxes
 
10,705

 
(59,600
)
 

Other
 
(1,589
)
 
(789
)
 
(471
)
Decrease (increase) in working capital, net of acquisitions
 
 
 
 

 
 
Receivables
 
(20,277
)
 
(11,014
)
 
(17,238
)
Inventories
 
(11,102
)
 
(50,958
)
 
(41,828
)
Prepaid expenses and other
 
143

 
(515
)
 
(652
)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
 
15,418

 
1,151

 
50,513

Pension contributions
 
(12,071
)
 
(10,739
)
 
(8,486
)
Income taxes payable
 
(7,766
)
 
(2,016
)
 
133

Other
 
(11,433
)
 
(2,697
)
 
4,277

Net cash provided by operations
 
101,843

 
33,427

 
77,608

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash provided by (used for) investment
 
 

 
 

 
 
Expenditures for property and equipment
 
(61,217
)
 
(45,751
)
 
(27,386
)
Acquisitions of businesses and facilities
 

 
(103,029
)
 
(2,355
)
Proceeds from sales of assets
 
4,814

 
2,167

 
246

Other
 
(1
)
 
(67
)
 
61

Net cash used for investment
 
(56,404
)
 
(146,680
)
 
(29,434
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash provided by (used for) financing
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issuances of long-term debt, including revolving credit facility
 
57,600

 
130,000

 
300,000

Payments of long-term debt, including revolving credit facility
 
(57,600
)
 
(105,010
)
 
(244,560
)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
 

 
262,488

 

Treasury stock purchased
 

 
(100,000
)
 

Distributions to Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.
 

 

 
(228,268
)
Financing costs
 
(11
)
 
(2,061
)
 
(5,822
)
Other
 
(128
)
 
192

 

Net cash provided by (used for) financing
 
(139
)
 
185,609

 
(178,650
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
45,300

 
72,356

 
(130,476
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of the period
 
118,249

 
45,893

 
176,369

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at end of the period
 
$
163,549

 
$
118,249

 
$
45,893

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

52

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Treasury Stock
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)
 
Total
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
(thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2011
29,700

 
$
297

 

 
$

 
$
482,894

 
$
(120,845
)
 
$
(79,727
)
 
$
282,619

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
41,496

 
41,496

Other comprehensive loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(384
)
 
 
 
(384
)
Distributions to Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(228,268
)
 
 
 
 
 
(228,268
)
Reclassification of redeemable equity to stockholder's equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,306

 
 
 
 
 
2,306

Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(5
)
 
 
 
 
 
(5
)
Balance at December 31, 2012
29,700

 
$
297

 

 
$

 
$
256,927

 
$
(121,229
)
 
$
(38,231
)
 
$
97,764

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
116,936

 
116,936

Other comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
65,980

 
 
 
65,980

Common stock issued
13,529

 
135

 
 
 
 
 
262,353

 
 
 
 
 
262,488

Treasury stock purchased
 
 
 
 
3,864

 
(100,000
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(100,000
)
Stock-based compensation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,869

 
 
 
 
 
2,869

Reclassification of redeemable equity to stockholders' equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6,443

 
 
 
 
 
6,443

Conversion to a corporation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(32,000
)
 
 
 
32,000

 

Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1

 
 
 
 
 
1

Balance at December 31, 2013
43,229

 
$
432

 
3,864

 
$
(100,000
)
 
$
496,593

 
$
(55,249
)
 
$
110,705

 
$
452,481

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
80,009

 
80,009

Other comprehensive loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(46,249
)
 
 
 
(46,249
)
Common stock issued
53

 
1

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
1

Stock-based compensation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5,916

 
 
 
 
 
5,916

Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
230

 
 
 
 
 
230

Balance at December 31, 2014
43,282

 
$
433

 
3,864

 
$
(100,000
)
 
$
502,739

 
$
(101,498
)
 
$
190,714

 
$
492,388


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

53

Table of Contents


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1.                                      Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation
 
We are a building products company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. Our operations began on October 29, 2004 (inception), when we acquired the forest products assets of OfficeMax (the Forest Products Acquisition). As used in these consolidated financial statements, the terms "Boise Cascade," "we," and "our" refer to Boise Cascade, L.L.C., and its consolidated subsidiaries prior to our conversion to a Delaware corporation and to Boise Cascade Company and its consolidated subsidiaries on or after such conversion. On February 4, 2013, we converted to a Delaware corporation from a Delaware limited liability company by filing a certificate of conversion in Delaware. The common stock authorized and outstanding, par values, net income per share amounts, and other per-share disclosures for all periods presented have been adjusted to reflect the impact of this conversion. We completed an initial public offering of our common stock on February 11, 2013. We are one of the largest producers of plywood and engineered wood products (EWP) in North America and a leading U.S. wholesale distributor of building products.

We operate our business using three reportable segments: (1) Wood Products, which manufactures plywood, EWP, studs, particleboard, and ponderosa pine lumber, (2) Building Materials Distribution, which is a wholesale distributor of building materials, and (3) Corporate and Other, which includes corporate support staff services, related assets and liabilities, and foreign currency exchange gains and losses. For more information, see Note 15, Segment Information.

2.                                      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Boise Cascade and its subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Such estimates include the valuation of accounts receivable, inventories, goodwill, intangible assets, and other long-lived assets; legal contingencies; guarantee obligations; indemnifications; assumptions used in retirement benefits; stock-based compensation; income taxes; and vendor and customer rebates, among others. These estimates and assumptions are based on management's best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. We adjust such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in these estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements in future periods.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when the following criteria are met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, our price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and collectibility is reasonably assured. Delivery is not considered to have occurred until the customer takes title and assumes the risks and rewards of ownership. The timing of revenue recognition is dependent on shipping terms. Revenue is recorded at the time of shipment for terms designated free on board (fob) shipping point. For sales transactions designated fob destination, revenue is recorded when the product is delivered to the customer's delivery site.
    
Fees for shipping and handling charged to customers for sales transactions are included in "Sales." For our Wood Products segment, costs related to shipping and handling are included in "Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)." In our Wood Products segment, we view our shipping and handling costs as a cost of the manufacturing process and the movement of product to our end customers. For our Building Materials Distribution segment, costs related to shipping and handling of $104.8 million, $94.8 million, and $89.3 million are included primarily in "Selling and distribution expenses" for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. In our Building Materials

54

Table of Contents

Distribution segment, our activities relate to the purchase and resale of finished product, and excluding shipping and handling costs from “Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)” provides us a clearer view of our operating performance and the effectiveness of our sales and purchasing functions. We present sales taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities on a net basis in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of short-term investments that have a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the majority of our cash and cash equivalents were invested in money market funds that are broadly diversified and invested in high-quality, short-duration securities, including commercial paper, certificates of deposit, U.S. government agency securities, and similar instruments. We have significant amounts of cash and cash equivalents that are in excess of federally insured limits. Though we have not experienced any losses on our cash and cash equivalents to date and we do not anticipate incurring any losses, we cannot be assured that we will not experience losses on our cash and cash equivalents.

Trade Accounts Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade accounts receivable are stated at the amount we expect to collect. Trade accounts receivable do not bear interest. We make ongoing estimates relating to the collectibility of our accounts receivable and maintain a reserve for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to meet their financial obligations to us. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had $2.1 million and $2.5 million, respectively, recorded as allowances for doubtful accounts. In determining the amount of the reserve and in order to manage credit risk, we consider our historical level of credit losses, customer concentrations, and current economic trends and monitor the creditworthiness of significant customers based on ongoing credit evaluations. Our sales are principally to customers in the building products industry located in the United States and Canada. A significant portion of our sales are concentrated with a relatively small number of customers. In 2014, our top ten customers represented approximately 28% of sales. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, receivables from a single customer accounted for approximately 11% and 13%, respectively, of total receivables. No other customer accounted for 10% or more of total receivables. Adjustments to the valuation allowance are charged to income. Trade accounts receivable balances that remain outstanding after we have used reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the valuation allowance and a credit to accounts receivable. Although we have not experienced material credit losses in recent years, our actual future losses from uncollectible accounts may differ materially from our current estimates. As additional information becomes known, we may change our estimates. In the event we determine that a change in the reserve is appropriate, we will record a charge to "Selling and distribution expenses" in our Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period we make such a determination.

Fair Value

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) gives the highest priority to quoted market prices (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). In general, and where applicable, we use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities to determine fair value (Level 1). If quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities are not available to determine fair value, we use quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2). If quoted prices for identical or similar assets are not available or are unobservable, we may use internally developed valuation models, whose inputs include bid prices, and third-party valuations utilizing underlying asset assumptions (Level 3). See Note 7, Retirement and Benefit Plans, for the fair value measurements of our defined benefit plans' assets.

Financial Instruments
 
Our financial instruments are cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and long-term debt. Our cash is recorded at cost, which approximates fair value, and our cash equivalents are money market funds measured at fair value. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, we held $137.6 million and $85.8 million, respectively, in money market funds that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 1 inputs. The recorded values of accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair values based on their short-term nature. At December 31, 2014, the book value of our fixed-rate debt was $300.0 million, and the fair value was estimated to be $315.0 million. The difference between the book value and the fair value is derived from the difference between the period-end market interest rate and the stated rate of our fixed-rate, long-term debt. We estimated the fair value based on quoted market prices for similar traded debt (Level 2 measurement).

We are exposed to financial risks such as changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and commodity price risk. We employ a variety of practices to manage these risks, including operating and financing activities and, where

55

Table of Contents

deemed appropriate, the use of derivative instruments. During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had no derivative instruments.

Vendor and Customer Rebates and Allowances
 
We receive rebates and allowances from our vendors under a number of different programs, including vendor marketing programs. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had $6.1 million and $4.7 million, respectively, of vendor rebates and allowances recorded in "Receivables, Other" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Rebates and allowances received from our vendors are recognized as a reduction of "Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)" when the product is sold, unless the rebates and allowances are linked to a specific incremental cost to sell a vendor's product. Amounts received from vendors that are linked to specific selling and distribution expenses are recognized as a reduction of "Selling and distribution expenses" in the period the expense is incurred.

We also provide rebates to our customers and our customers' customers based on the volume of their purchases. We provide the rebates to increase the sell-through of our products. The rebates are recorded as a decrease in "Sales." At December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had $24.7 million and $24.2 million, respectively, of rebates payable to our customers recorded in "Accrued liabilities, Other" on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Foreign Currency
The functional currency for our operations outside the United States is the U.S. dollar. Nonmonetary assets and liabilities and related depreciation and amortization for these foreign operations are remeasured into U.S. dollars using historical exchange rates. Monetary assets and liabilities are remeasured into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates as of the Consolidated Balance Sheet date. Revenue and expense items are remeasured into U.S. dollars using an average exchange rate prevailing during the year.
Leases
We assess lease classification as either capital or operating at lease inception or upon modification. We lease a portion of our distribution centers as well as other property and equipment under operating leases. Substantially all lease agreements have fixed payment terms based on the passage of time. Some lease agreements provide us with the option to purchase the leased property. Additionally, some agreements contain renewal options generally ranging from one to ten years, with fixed payment terms similar to those in the original lease agreements. For purposes of determining straight-line rent expense, the lease term is calculated from the date we first take possession of the facility, including any periods of free rent and any renewal option periods we are reasonably assured of exercising.
Inventory Valuation
 
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is based on the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method of inventory valuation or average cost. Manufactured inventories include costs for materials, labor, and factory overhead. Log inventories include costs to harvest and deliver the timber.

Inventories include the following (work in process is not material):
 
 
 
December 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
 
(thousands)
Finished goods and work in process
 
$
308,359

 
$
292,218

Logs
 
57,065

 
65,423

Other raw materials and supplies
 
29,037

 
25,718

 
 
$
394,461

 
$
383,359



56

Table of Contents

Property and Equipment
 
Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Cost includes expenditures for major improvements and replacements and the amount of interest cost associated with significant capital additions. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, we did not capitalize any interest. We expense all repair and maintenance costs as incurred. When property and equipment are retired, sold, or otherwise disposed of, the asset's carrying amount and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in income (loss). We use the straight-line method of depreciation.

Property and equipment consisted of the following asset classes with the following general range of estimated useful lives:
 
 
 
December 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
General Range of Estimated Useful Lives in Years
 
 
(thousands)
 
 
 
 
Land
 
$
36,819

 
$
37,345

 
 
 
 
Buildings
 
96,804

 
91,594

 
20

-
40
Improvements
 
42,699

 
41,372

 
10

-
15
Office equipment and vehicles
 
93,620

 
80,340

 
3

-
7
Machinery and equipment
 
410,633

 
380,456

 
7

-
12
Construction in progress
 
11,118

 
10,063

 
 
 
 
 
 
691,693

 
641,170

 
 
 
 
Less accumulated depreciation
 
(323,565
)
 
(280,185
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
368,128

 
$
360,985

 
 
 
 

During 2013, we acquired $85.0 million of property and equipment through the acquisition of two plywood manufacturing facilities.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment

We review long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. An impairment of long-lived assets exists when the carrying value is not recoverable through future undiscounted cash flows from operations and when the carrying value of an asset or asset group exceeds its fair value.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

We maintain two reporting units for purposes of our goodwill impairment testing, Wood Products and Building Materials Distribution, which are the same as our operating segments discussed in Note 15, Segment Information. We test goodwill in each of our reporting units and intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment annually in the fourth quarter or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may exceed fair value. We also evaluate the remaining useful lives of our finite-lived purchased intangible assets to determine whether any adjustments to the useful lives are necessary.

We completed our annual assessment of goodwill in fourth quarter 2014 using a qualitative approach. The qualitative goodwill impairment assessment requires evaluating factors, based on the weight of evidence, to determine whether a reporting unit's carrying value would more likely than not exceed its fair value. As part of our goodwill qualitative testing process for each reporting unit, we evaluate various factors that are specific to the reporting unit as well as industry and macroeconomic factors in order to determine whether it is reasonably likely to have a material impact on the fair value of our reporting units. Examples of the factors that were considered include the results of the most recent quantitative impairment test, current and long-term forecasted financial results, changes in the discount rate between current and prior years, and operating strategy for each reporting unit. Based on the qualitative analysis performed in 2014, we concluded that there were no changes that were reasonably likely to cause the fair value of the reporting units to be less than the reporting units' carrying value and determined that there was no impairment of our goodwill. In the event we were to determine that a reporting unit's carrying value would

57

Table of Contents

more likely than not exceed its fair value, quantitative testing would be performed comparing carrying values to estimated fair values.
    
For our intangible asset impairment testing, we use a discounted cash flow approach, based on a relief from royalty method (Level 3 measurement). This method assumes that, through ownership of trademarks and trade names, we avoid royalty expenses associated with licensing, resulting in cost savings. An estimated royalty rate, determined as a percentage of the related net sales, is used to estimate the value of the intangible assets. Based on the impairment tests of our intangible assets with indefinite lives performed in fourth quarter 2014, we determined that the fair value of our intangible assets exceeds their carrying value.

See Note 11, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for additional information.

Asset Retirement Obligations

We recognize our asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred if sufficient information is available to reasonably estimate the fair value of the obligation. Fair value estimates are determined using Level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of our asset retirement obligations are measured using expected future cash outflows discounted using the company's credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. When we record the liability, we capitalize the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its settlement 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.

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had $0.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of asset retirement obligations recorded in "Other long-term liabilities" on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2014, these liabilities related primarily to landfill closure costs. The liabilities are based on the best estimate of current costs and are updated periodically to reflect current technology, laws and regulations, inflation, and other economic factors. We do not have any assets legally restricted for purposes of settling asset retirement obligations.

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 the settlement dates of the obligations. These asset retirement obligations include, for example, (i) removal and disposal of potentially hazardous materials on equipment and/or an operating facility if the equipment and/or facility were to undergo major maintenance, renovation, or demolition; (ii) retention ponds that may be required to be drained and/or cleaned if the related operating facility is closed; and (iii) storage sites or owned facilities for which removal and/or disposal of chemicals and other related materials are required if the operating facility is closed. We will recognize a liability in the period in which sufficient information becomes available to reasonably estimate the fair value of these obligations.

Pension Benefits

Several estimates and assumptions are required to record pension costs and liabilities, including discount rates, expected return on plan assets, expected rate of compensation increases, retirement and mortality rates, expected contributions, and other factors. We review and update these assumptions annually unless a plan curtailment or other event occurs requiring that we update the estimates on an interim basis. See Note 7, Retirement and Benefit Plans, for additional information related to our pension plan. While we believe that the assumptions used to measure our pension obligations are reasonable, differences in actual experience or changes in assumptions may materially affect our pension obligations and future expense.

Long-Term Incentive Cash Plan

In 2012, key managers participated in a long-term incentive plan (LTIP) that pays awards in cash. The LTIP provided an annual award notice to participants granting them the opportunity to earn a cash award that was based on a target percentage of the participant's base salary and the company's achievement against corporate goals, both of which were set annually. Under the LTIP, the award, if any, is paid in three equal installments due no later than March 15 of the three years following the year the award was granted with continued employment as a precondition for receipt of each award installment. We recognize compensation expense based on the probability of the performance goals being met over the vesting period. We recognized $6.7 million of LTIP expense in 2012.


58

Table of Contents

Deferred Software Costs

We defer internal-use software costs that benefit future years. These costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the expected life of the software, typically three to five years. "Other assets" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets includes $4.4 million and $3.7 million, respectively, of deferred software costs at December 31, 2014 and 2013. We amortized $1.3 million of deferred software costs for each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, and $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Labor Concentration and Unions

As of December 31, 2014, we had approximately 5,650 employees. Approximately 26% of these employees work pursuant to collective bargaining agreements. As of December 31, 2014, we had nine collective bargaining agreements. None of our employees are working pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement that will expire within the next 12 months.

Self-Insurance

We are self-insured for certain losses related to workers' compensation and medical claims as well as general and auto liability. The expected ultimate costs for claims incurred are recognized as liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are estimated based principally on an analysis of historical claims data and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. Losses are accrued and charged to operations when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. We maintain third-party stop-loss insurance policies to cover these liability costs in excess of predetermined retained amounts. Costs related to the administration of the plans and related claims are expensed as incurred. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, self-insurance related liabilities of $7.8 million and $7.9 million were classified within "Accrued liabilities," and $10.7 million and $10.1 million were classified within "Other long-term liabilities" on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, respectively.

New and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
 
In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-12, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. This ASU requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. We adopted the provisions of this guidance on January 1, 2015, and it had no effect on our financial statements.    

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This ASU requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are evaluating the effect that this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. We have not yet selected a transition method nor have we determined the effect of the standard on our financial statements.

There were no other accounting standards recently issued that had or are expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and associated disclosures.

3.    Income Taxes

Income Tax Provision

As a corporation, we are subject to typical corporate U.S. federal, state, and foreign income tax rates. The effective tax rate differed from the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate principally due to the following (dollars in thousands):


59

Table of Contents

 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
 
$
123,305

 
$
78,148

Statutory U.S. income tax rate
 
35.0
%
 
35.0
 %
 
 
 
 
 
Statutory tax provision
 
$
43,157

 
$
27,352

State taxes
 
4,097

 
2,545

Domestic production activities deduction
 
(2,031
)
 
(1,326
)
Other
 
(1,927
)
 
1,307

Total
 
$
43,296

 
$
29,878

 
 
 
 
 
Effective income tax rate excluding discrete item
 
35.1
%
 
38.2
 %
 
 
 
 
 
Recognition of beginning deferred tax balances
 
$

 
$
(68,666
)
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax provision (benefit) with discrete item
 
$
43,296

 
$
(38,788
)
 
 
 
 
 
Effective income tax rate with discrete item
 
35.1
%
 
(49.6
)%

The income tax provision (benefit) shown in the Consolidated Statements of Operations includes the following (dollars in thousands):

 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
Current income tax provision (benefit)
 
 
 
 
Federal
 
$
27,568

 
$
17,618

State
 
5,023

 
3,172

Foreign
 

 
22

Total current
 
32,591

 
20,812

 
 
 
 
 
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)
 
 
 
 
Federal
 
9,740

 
(54,611
)
State
 
965

 
(4,989
)
Foreign
 

 

Total deferred
 
10,705

 
(59,600
)
Income tax provision (benefit)
 
$
43,296

 
$
(38,788
)

During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, cash paid for taxes, net of refunds received, was $40.3 million, $22.7 million, and $0.2 million, respectively.

On February 4, 2013, we converted from a limited liability company to a corporation. In addition, we elected to be treated as a corporation for federal and state income tax purposes effective as of January 1, 2013. Therefore, we are subject to federal and state income tax expense beginning January 1, 2013. For tax purposes, our conversion from a limited liability company to a corporation was deemed a nontaxable transfer of Boise Cascade, L.L.C., assets and liabilities to Boise Cascade Company. As a result of our conversion to a corporation in February 2013, we recorded net deferred tax assets of $68.7 million, the effect of which was recorded as an income tax benefit in our Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2013.

60

Table of Contents


As a limited liability company, we were treated as a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes and, as such, were included in the income tax return for Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. (BC Holdings), former parent of Boise Cascade. Our income tax provision generally consisted of income taxes payable to state jurisdictions that do not allow for the income tax liability to be passed through to our former sole member as well as income taxes payable by our separate subsidiaries that are taxed as corporations. As a limited liability company, we had an effective tax rate of less than 1%. For the year ended December 31, 2012, income tax expense was $0.3 million.

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts for income tax purposes. The components of our net deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2014 and 2013, are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Deferred tax assets
 
 
 
 
Employee benefits (a)
 
$
81,414

 
$
55,331

Deferred financing costs
 
455

 
540

Intangible assets and other
 
227

 
386

Inventories
 
6,733

 
4,657

Canadian net operating loss carryforward (b)
 
15,839

 
17,180

Other
 
3,587

 
3,803

Gross deferred tax assets
 
108,255

 
81,897

Valuation allowance (b)
 
(15,839
)
 
(17,180
)
Net deferred tax assets
 
$
92,416

 
$
64,717

 
 
 
 
 
Deferred tax liabilities
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment
 
$
50,199

 
$
40,976

Intangible assets and other
 
4,531

 
3,968

Other
 
691

 
862

Deferred tax liabilities
 
$
55,421

 
$
45,806

 
 
 
 
 
As reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
 
 
Current deferred tax assets, net
 
$
20,311

 
$
18,151

Noncurrent deferred tax assets, net
 
16,684

 
760

Total deferred tax assets, net
 
$
36,995

 
$
18,911

___________________________________ 

(a)
As of December 31, 2014, the increase relates to the tax effect of changes in recorded pension liabilities. See Note 7, Retirement and Benefit Plans, for more information.

(b)
We have an investment in foreign subsidiaries, which at December 31, 2014 and 2013, had $15.8 million and $17.2 million, respectively, of deferred tax assets. The deferred tax assets resulted primarily from net operating losses and were fully offset by a valuation allowance. The net operating losses will expire beginning in 2015 and the proceeding 20 years.

Pretax income (loss) from domestic and foreign sources is as follows (dollars in thousands):
    
 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
Domestic
 
$
122,727

 
$
82,529

Foreign
 
578

 
(4,381
)
Income before income taxes
 
$
123,305

 
$
78,148



61

Table of Contents

In September 2013, the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department released final 263(a) regulations regarding the deduction and capitalization of expenditures related to tangible property. The application of the new regulations to the 2014 taxable year did not materially affect our income tax provision.

Income Tax Uncertainties

We file federal income tax returns in the U.S. and Canada as well as various state and local income tax returns. Tax years 2011 to present remain open to examination in the U.S. and tax years 2010 to present remain open to examination in Canada and various states. As discussed above, prior to January 1, 2013, we were a limited liability company. Therefore, with limited exceptions, tax years prior to 2013 are the responsibility of the members of BC Holdings and not Boise Cascade.

We recognize tax liabilities and adjust these liabilities when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available or as new uncertainties occur. As of December 31, 2014, we had $0.3 million of unrecognized tax benefits attributable to research and development tax credits recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, and we do not expect a significant change over the next twelve months. If all uncertain tax benefits were recognized, $0.3 million would benefit the effective tax rate. We had no unrecognized tax benefits recorded as of December 31, 2013.

We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, we recognized an insignificant amount of interest and penalties related to taxes.

4.
Net Income Per Common Share
 
Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Weighted average common shares outstanding for the basic net income per common share calculation includes vested restricted stock units (RSUs) granted to nonemployee directors as there are no conditions under which those shares will not be issued. For more information about common share activity during the period, see Note 9, Stockholders' Equity. Diluted net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the combination of other potentially dilutive weighted average common shares and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Other potentially dilutive weighted average common shares include the dilutive effect of stock options, RSUs, and performance stock units (PSUs) for each period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the exercise price of a share, the amount of compensation expense, if any, for future service that has not yet been recognized, and the amount of tax benefits that would be recorded in additional paid-in-capital, if any, when the share is exercised are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current period.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per common share:
 
Year Ended December 31
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
(thousands, except per-share data)
Net income
$
80,009

 
$
116,936

 
$
41,496

Weighted average common shares outstanding during the period (for basic calculation)
39,412

 
40,203

 
29,700

Dilutive effect of other potential common shares
80

 
23

 

Weighted average common shares and potential common shares (for diluted calculation)
39,492

 
40,226

 
29,700

 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per common share - Basic
$
2.03

 
$
2.91

 
$
1.40

Net income per common share - Diluted
$
2.03

 
$
2.91

 
$
1.40


The computation of the dilutive effect of other potential common shares excludes stock awards representing 0.2 million and 0.1 million shares of common stock in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and no shares of common stock in the year ended December 31, 2012. Under the treasury stock method, the inclusion of these stock awards would have been antidilutive.


62

Table of Contents

5.
Debt
 
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
 
 
 
December 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
 
(thousands)
Asset-based revolving credit facility
 
$

 
$

6.375% senior notes
 
299,990

 
299,990

Unamortized premium on 6.375% senior notes
 
1,425

 
1,623

Long-term debt
 
$
301,415

 
$
301,613

 
Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility
     
Boise Cascade and its principal operating subsidiaries, Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., and Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution, L.L.C., are borrowers, and Boise Cascade Wood Products Holdings Corp. is guarantor under a $350 million senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (Revolving Credit Facility), with a maturity date of July 31, 2018. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility are constrained by a borrowing base formula dependent upon levels of eligible receivables and inventory reduced by outstanding borrowings and letters of credit (Availability). On February 6, 2014, we entered into a sixth amendment to our Revolving Credit Facility that primarily provides more administrative flexibility and reduces the notice period we must provide to receive London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) based advances under the facility.

The Revolving Credit Facility is secured by a first-priority security interest in substantially all of our assets, except for property and equipment. The proceeds of borrowings under the agreement are available for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Interest rates under the Revolving Credit Facility are based, at the company's election, on either the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or a base rate, as defined in the credit agreement, plus a spread over the index elected that ranges from 1.50% to 2.00% for loans based on LIBOR and from 0.50% to 1.00% for loans based on the base rate. The spread is determined on the basis of a pricing grid that results in a higher spread as average quarterly Availability declines. Letters of credit are subject to a fronting fee payable to the issuing bank and a fee payable to the lenders equal to the LIBOR margin rate. In addition, we are required to pay an unused commitment fee at a rate ranging from 0.25% to 0.375% per annum (based on facility utilization) of the average unused portion of the lending commitments.

The Revolving Credit Facility contains customary nonfinancial covenants, including a negative pledge covenant and restrictions on new indebtedness, investments, distributions to equityholders, asset sales, and affiliate transactions, the scope of which are dependent on the Availability existing from time to time. The Revolving Credit Facility also contains a requirement that we meet a 1:1 fixed-charge coverage ratio (FCCR), applicable only if Availability falls below 10% of the aggregate lending commitments (or $35 million). Availability exceeded the minimum threshold amounts required for testing of the FCCR at all times since entering into the Revolving Credit Facility, and Availability at December 31, 2014, was $266.8 million.

The Revolving Credit Facility generally permits dividends only if certain conditions are met, including complying with either (i) pro forma Excess Availability (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility) equal to or exceeding 25% of the aggregate Revolver Commitments (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility) or (ii) (x) pro forma Excess Availability equal to or exceeding 15% of the aggregate Revolver Commitment and (y) a fixed-charge coverage ratio of 1:1 on a pro forma basis.

At both December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility and $8.0 million and $8.4 million, respectively, of letters of credit outstanding. These letters of credit and borrowings, if any, reduced our borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility by an equivalent amount. The maximum borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility were $15.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2014. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the average interest rate on borrowings was approximately 1.65%.


63

Table of Contents

Senior Notes

On October 22, 2012, Boise Cascade and its wholly owned subsidiary, Boise Cascade Finance Corporation (Boise Finance and together with Boise Cascade, the Co-issuers), issued $250 million of 6.375% senior notes due November 1, 2020 (Senior Notes) through a private placement that was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act). Interest on our Senior Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on May 1 and November 1. On March 28, 2013, Boise Finance was merged with and into Boise Cascade, with Boise Cascade as the surviving entity and sole issuer of the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes are guaranteed by each of our existing and future direct or indirect domestic subsidiaries that is a guarantor or co-borrower under our Revolving Credit Facility.

On August 15, 2013, we issued an additional $50 million in aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes in a private offering that was exempt from registration under the Securities Act. The additional $50 million of Senior Notes were priced at 103.5% of their principal amount plus accrued interest from May 1, 2013, and were issued as additional Senior Notes under the indenture dated as of October 22, 2012.

On May 8, 2013 and November 26, 2013, we completed an offer to exchange any and all of our $250 million and $50 million, respectively, outstanding Senior Notes for a like principal amount of new 6.375% Senior Notes due 2020 having substantially identical terms to those of the Senior Notes. $250 million and $49,990,000 in aggregate principal amount (or 100% and 99.98%, respectively) of the outstanding Senior Notes were tendered and accepted for exchange upon closing of the related exchange offers and have been registered under the Securities Act.

The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of the existing and future senior indebtedness of Boise Cascade Company and of the guarantors, senior to all of their existing and future subordinated indebtedness, effectively subordinated to all of their present and future senior secured indebtedness (including all borrowings with respect to our Revolving Credit Facility to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness), and structurally subordinated to the indebtedness of any subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Senior Notes.

The terms of the indenture governing the Senior Notes, among other things, limit the ability of Boise Cascade Company and certain Boise Cascade Company subsidiaries to: incur additional debt; declare or pay dividends; redeem stock or make other distributions to stockholders; make investments; create liens on assets; consolidate, merge, or transfer substantially all of their assets; enter into transactions with affiliates; and sell or transfer certain assets.

The indenture governing the Senior Notes provides for customary events of default, which include (subject in certain cases to customary grace and cure periods and notification requirements) among others: nonpayment of principal or interest; breach of other agreements in the indenture governing the Senior Notes; defaults in failure to pay certain other indebtedness; the rendering of judgments to pay certain amounts of money against the Co-issuers, the guarantors, or certain Boise Cascade subsidiaries; the failure of certain guarantees to be enforceable; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency.

Cash Paid for Interest
 
For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, cash payments for interest were $20.2 million, $18.4 million, and $18.1 million, respectively.


64

Table of Contents

6.    Leases

Rental expense for operating leases was $17.5 million, $15.1 million, and $14.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. Sublease rental income was not material in any of the periods presented.

As of December 31, 2014, our minimum lease payment requirements for noncancelable operating leases with remaining terms of more than one year are as follows (in thousands):
2015
 
$
13,042

2016
 
9,909

2017
 
9,583

2018
 
9,142

2019
 
8,819

Thereafter
 
32,854

Total
 
$
83,349


These future minimum lease payment requirements have not been reduced by sublease income due in the future under noncancelable subleases. Minimum sublease income expected to be received in the future is not material.

7.                               Retirement and Benefit Plans
 
Our retirement plans consist of noncontributory defined benefit pension plans, contributory defined contribution savings plans, a deferred compensation plan, and a multiemployer health and welfare plan.
    
Defined Benefit Plans

Some of our employees are covered by noncontributory defined benefit pension plans. As of December 31, 2014, we have one qualified defined benefit pension plan, which includes the merging of a salaried plan and two plans for hourly employees to simplify administration of the plans. The following summarizes recent activity of each individual plan:

Benefits for salaried employees were frozen so that no future benefits have accrued since December 31, 2009.

From 2011 through 2014, plan amendments affected certain union and non-union hourly employees by closing participation and freezing future benefits. The benefit for hourly employees is generally based on a fixed amount per year of service (years of service determined as of the freeze dates). In connection with these amendments, we recognized $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, of noncash curtailment losses during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. As a result, only certain hourly employees continue to accrue benefits after the effective dates of these amendments.

We also have nonqualified salaried pension plans, which were frozen so that no future benefits have accrued since December 31, 2009.

Defined Contribution Plans

We sponsor contributory defined contribution savings plans for most of our salaried and hourly employees, and we generally provide company contributions to the savings plans. Since March 1, 2010, we have contributed 4% of each salaried participant's eligible compensation to the plan as a nondiscretionary company contribution. In addition, beginning in 2012, for the years that a performance target is met, we will contribute an additional amount of the employee's eligible compensation, depending on company performance and the employee's years of service. During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, company performance resulted in additional contributions in the range of 1% to 2%, 1% to 2%, and 3% to 5%, respectively. The company contributions for union and nonunion hourly employees vary by location. Company contributions paid, or to be paid, to our defined contribution savings plans for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, were $13.6 million, $13.2 million, and $14.3 million, respectively.


65

Table of Contents

Defined Contributory Trust

We have participated in a multiemployer defined contributory trust plan for certain union hourly employees since 2013. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, approximately 1,378 and 647, respectively, of our employees participated in this plan. For certain of these employees, per the terms of the representative collective bargaining agreements, we were required to contribute $0.50 and $0.45, respectively, per hour per active employee during 2014 and 2013. For certain other of these employees, we were required to contribute 4% of the employee's earnings during 2014. Company contributions to the multiemployer defined contributory trust plan for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, were $2.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively. After required contributions, we have no further obligation to the plan. The plan and its assets are managed by a joint board of trustees.

Deferred Compensation Plan

We sponsor a deferred compensation plan. No compensation deferrals were allowed to be made under the plan from 2009 until our conversion from a limited liability company to a corporation in 2013, as deferrals to the plan were prohibited because Boise Cascade, L.L.C., was a disqualified entity under Internal Revenue Code Section 457A. Deferrals, company match, and interest on contributions made to the plan on or before December 31, 2008, were not affected by 457A. In July 2013, the deferred compensation plan was amended to effect certain administrative updates, and employee deferrals to the deferred compensation plan began again on January 1, 2014.

Under the plan, participating employees irrevocably elect each year to defer receipt of a portion of their base salary and incentive compensation. A participant's account is credited with imputed interest at a rate equal to 130% of Moody's Composite Average of Yields on Corporate Bonds. Participants may receive payment of their deferred compensation plan balance in a lump sum or in monthly installments over a specified period of years following the termination of their employment with the company. The deferred compensation plan is unfunded; therefore, benefits are paid from our general assets.

We recognized $0.6 million of interest expense related to the plan for each of the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had $10.7 million and $10.9 million, respectively, of liabilities related to the plan, of which $1.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively, were recorded in "Accrued liabilities, Compensation and benefits" and $9.3 million and $9.1 million, respectively, were recorded in "Other, Compensation and benefits" on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Multiemployer Health and Welfare Plan

We participate in a multiemployer health and welfare plan that covers medical, dental, and life insurance benefits for certain active employees as well as benefits for retired employees. As of December 31, 2014, approximately 652 of our employees participated in this plan. Per the terms of the representative collective bargaining agreements, we were required to contribute $5.50 per hour per active employee through May 31, 2012. From June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2014, we were required to contribute $5.00 per hour per active employee. Since June 1, 2014, we are required to contribute $5.25 per hour per active employee. Company contributions to the multiemployer health and welfare plan for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, were $7.3 million, $6.9 million, and $6.7 million, respectively. After required contributions, we have no further obligation to the plan. The trustees of the plan determine the allocation of benefits between active and retired employees.


66

Table of Contents

Defined Benefit Obligations and Funded Status

The following table, which includes only company-sponsored defined benefit plans, reconciles the beginning and ending balances of our projected benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets. We recognize the underfunded status of our defined benefit pension plans on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We recognize changes in funded status in the year changes occur through other comprehensive income (loss).

 
 
December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
(thousands)
Change in benefit obligation
 
 
 
 
   Benefit obligation at beginning of year
 
$
443,313

 
$
504,684

   Service cost
 
1,682

 
2,686

   Interest cost
 
20,179

 
18,626

   Actuarial (gain) loss
 
82,090

 
(62,643
)
   Benefits paid (a)
 
(33,466
)
 
(20,040
)
Benefit obligation at end of year
 
513,798

 
443,313

 
 
 
 
 
Change in plan assets
 
 
 
 
   Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
 
357,280

 
312,224

   Actual return on plan assets
 
28,074

 
54,357

   Employer contributions
 
12,071

 
10,739

   Benefits paid (a)
 
(33,466
)
 
(20,040
)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
 
363,959

 
357,280

 
 
 
 
 
Underfunded status
 
$
(149,839
)
 
$
(86,033
)
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts recognized on our Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
 
 
   Current liabilities
 
$
(2,978
)
 
$
(679
)
   Noncurrent liabilities
 
(146,861
)
 
(85,354
)
Net liability
 
$
(149,839
)
 
$
(86,033
)
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss   
 
 
 
 
   Net actuarial loss
 
$
89,592

 
$
14,552

   Prior service cost
 

 

Net loss recognized
 
$
89,592

 
$
14,552

______________________________________ 

(a)
Benefits paid during the year ended December 31, 2014 includes approximately $15 million of lump-sum cash payments to certain terminated and vested participants in settlement of pension obligations.

The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $513.8 million and $443.3 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. All of our defined benefit pension plans have accumulated benefit obligations that exceed the fair value of plan assets.


67

Table of Contents

Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss

The components of net periodic benefit cost and other amounts recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss are as follows:

 
Year Ended December 31
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
(thousands)
Service cost
$
1,682

 
$
2,686

 
$
4,762

Interest cost
20,179

 
18,626

 
19,234

Expected return on plan assets
(21,000
)
 
(19,829
)
 
(19,390
)
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss
(23
)
 
9,202

 
7,632

Amortization of prior service costs and other    

 
90

 
165

Plan settlement/curtailment expense

 
214

 
250

Net periodic benefit cost
838

 
10,989

 
12,653

Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss
 
 
 
 
 
Net actuarial (gain) loss
75,016

 
(97,171
)
 
8,432

Amortization of actuarial gain (loss)
23

 
(9,202
)
 
(7,632
)
Amortization of prior service costs and other

 
(304
)
 
(416
)
Total recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss
75,039

 
(106,677
)
 
384

Total recognized in net periodic cost and other comprehensive (income) loss
$
75,877

 
$
(95,688
)
 
$
13,037


In 2015, we estimate net periodic pension expense will be approximately $6.3 million, including $6.4 million of net actuarial loss that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Assumptions

The assumptions used in accounting for our plans are estimates of factors that will determine, among other things, the amount and timing of future contributions. The following table presents the assumptions used in the measurement of our benefit obligations:

 
December 31
 
2014
 
2013
Weighted average assumptions            
 
 
 
Discount rate
3.75
%
 
4.65
%
Rate of compensation increases (a)
%
 
%

The following table presents the assumptions used in the measurement of net periodic benefit cost:
 
 
December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Weighted average assumptions      
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
 
4.65
%
 
3.75
%
 
4.20
%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets
 
6.50
%
 
6.50
%
 
6.75
%
Rate of compensation increases (a)   
 
%
 
%
 
%
_______________________________________ 

(a)
Pension benefits for all salaried employees are frozen, resulting in an assumption for the rate of compensation increase of zero. In addition to the salaried benefits being frozen, there are currently no scheduled increases in pension benefit rates applicable to past service covering hourly employees who continue to accrue benefits.

68

Table of Contents


Discount Rate Assumption. The discount rate reflects the current rate at which the pension obligations could be settled based on the measurement date of the plans — December 31. In all years presented, the discount rates were determined by matching the expected plan benefit payments against a spot rate yield curve constructed to replicate the yields of Aa-graded corporate bonds.

Asset Return Assumption. We base our expected long-term rate of return on plan assets on a weighted average of our expected returns for the major asset classes (equities, fixed-income securities, a hedge fund, and real estate) in which we invest. The weights we assign each asset class are based on our investment strategy. Expected returns for the asset classes are based on long-term historical returns, inflation expectations, forecasted gross domestic product, earnings growth, and other economic factors. We developed our return assumption based on a review of the fund manager's estimates of future market expectations by broad asset class, actuarial projections, and expected long-term rates of return from external investment managers. The weighted average expected return on plan assets we will use in our calculation of 2015 net periodic benefit cost is 6.15%.

Retirement and Mortality Rates. These rates are developed to reflect actual and projected plan experience. In 2014, we used the new RP-2014 mortality tables along with the new two-dimensional mortality improvement scale MP-2014. In 2013, we used the RP-2000 mortality tables. The new tables reflect updated projected mortality rates based on actuarial studies by the Society of Actuaries.

Investment Policies and Strategies

At December 31, 2014, 56% of our pension plan assets were invested in equity securities, 35% in fixed-income securities, 4% in a hedge fund, and 5% in real estate. The general investment objective for all of our plan assets is to optimize growth of the pension plan trust assets, while minimizing the risk of significant losses in order to enable the plans to satisfy their benefit payment obligations over time. The objectives take into account the long-term nature of the benefit obligations, the liquidity needs of the plans, and the expected risk/return trade-offs of the asset classes in which the plans may choose to invest. The Retirement Funds Investment Committee is responsible for establishing and overseeing the implementation of our investment policy. Russell Investments (Russell) oversees the active management of our pension investments through its manager of managers program in order to achieve broad diversification in a cost-effective manner. At December 31, 2014, our investment policy governing our relationship with Russell allocated 30% to large-capitalization U.S. equity securities, 5% to small- and mid-capitalization U.S. equity securities, 21% to international equity securities, 35% to fixed-income securities, 4% to a hedge fund, and 5% to real estate. Our arrangement with Russell allows monthly rebalancing to the policy targets noted above.

Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility risk, all of which are subject to change. In addition, our overall investment strategy and related allocations between equity and fixed-income securities may change from time to time based on market conditions, external economic factors, and the funded status of our plans. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term, and such changes could materially affect the reported amounts.


69

Table of Contents

Fair Value Measurements of Plan Assets

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the pension plan assets, by major asset category, at fair value at December 31, 2014 and 2013:

 
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2) (a)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
 
 
(thousands)
Equity securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Large-cap U.S. equity securities (b)
 
$

 
$
111,599

 
$

 
$
111,599

   Small- and mid-cap U.S. equity securities (c)
 

 
18,331

 

 
18,331

   International equity securities (d)
 

 
73,130

 

 
73,130

Fixed-income securities (e)
 

 
125,706

 

 
125,706

Hedge fund (f)
 

 
16,242

 

 
16,242

Real estate (g)
 

 

 
17,802

 
17,802

Total investments at fair value
 
$

 
$
345,008

 
$
17,802

 
362,810

Receivables and accrued expenses, net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,149

Fair value of plan assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
363,959


 
 
December 31, 2013
 
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2) (a)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
 
 
(thousands)
Equity securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Large-cap U.S. equity securities (b)
 
$

 
$
124,130

 
$

 
$
124,130

   Small- and mid-cap U.S. equity securities (c)
 

 
20,344

 

 
20,344

   International equity securities (d)
 

 
84,199

 

 
84,199

Fixed-income securities (e)
 

 
96,324

 

 
96,324

Hedge fund (f)
 

 
15,205

 

 
15,205

Real estate (g)
 

 

 
16,055

 
16,055

Total investments at fair value
 
$

 
$
340,202

 
$
16,055

 
356,257

Receivables and accrued expenses, net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,023

Fair value of plan assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
357,280

_______________________________________ 

(a)
Equity and fixed-income securities represent common collective trusts managed by Russell Trust Company. The funds are valued at the net asset value (NAV) provided by Russell Trust Company, the administrator of the funds. The NAV is a practical expedient for fair value and is based on the value of the assets owned by the fund, less liabilities at year-end. While the underlying assets are actively traded on an exchange, the funds are not. We have the ability to redeem these equity and fixed-income securities with a one-day notice.

(b)
Invested in the Russell Equity I Fund at December 31, 2014 and 2013. The fund seeks returns that exceed the Russell 1000 Index by investing in large-capitalization stocks of the U.S. stock market. In addition, at December 31, 2014 and 2013, our investments in this category included the Russell 1000 Index Fund, which seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization stocks of the U.S. stock market.


70

Table of Contents

(c)
Invested in the Russell Equity II Fund. The fund seeks returns that exceed the Russell 2500 Index by investing in the small- and mid-capitalization stocks of the U.S. stock market.

(d)
Invested in the Russell International Fund with Active Currency at December 31, 2014 and 2013, which benchmarks against the Russell Developed ex-U.S. Large Cap Index Net and seeks favorable total returns and additional diversification through investment in non-U.S. equity securities and active currency management. The fund participates primarily in the stock markets of Europe and the Pacific Rim and seeks to opportunistically add value through active investment in foreign currencies. In addition, at December 31, 2014 and 2013, our investments in this category included the Russell Emerging Market Fund, which benchmarks against the Russell Emerging Markets Index and is designed to maintain a broadly diversified exposure to emerging market countries. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, investments in emerging markets represent approximately 23% and 20%, respectively, of our international portfolio.

(e)
Invested in the Russell Multi-Manager Bond Fund at December 31, 2014 and 2013. The fund seeks to outperform the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index over a full market cycle. The fund is designed to provide current income and, as a secondary objective, capital appreciation through a variety of diversified strategies, including sector rotation, modest interest rate timing, security selection, and tactical use of high-yield and emerging market bonds. In addition, at December 31, 2014, our investments in this category included the Russell Long Duration Fixed Income Fund, which is designed to provide maximum total return through diversified strategies including sector rotation, modest interest rate timing, security selection, and tactical use of high-yield, emerging market bonds and other non-index securities.

(f)
The fund seeks to produce high risk-adjusted returns while targeting a low long-term average correlation to traditional markets. The fund invests internationally in a broad range of instruments, including, but not limited to, equities, currencies, convertible securities, futures, forwards, options, swaps, and other derivative products. The fair value of the hedge fund is estimated using the NAV of the investments as a practical expedient for fair value. We have the ability to redeem these investments at NAV within the near term, and they are thus classified within Level 2.

(g)
Invested in the Russell Real Estate Equity Fund. Real estate investments include those in limited partnerships that invest in various domestic commercial and residential real estate projects. The fair values of real estate assets are typically determined by using income and/or cost approaches or a comparable sales approach, taking into consideration discount and capitalization rates, financial conditions, local market conditions, and the status of the capital markets, and they are thus classified within Level 3. Notwithstanding the above, the variety of valuation bases adopted and quality of management data of the underlying assets means that there are inherent difficulties in determining the value of the investments. Amounts realized on the sale of these investments may differ from the calculated values. We have the ability to redeem the real estate investments with a 110-calendar-day written notice prior to a quarterly trade date.

The following table sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the pension plans' Level 3 assets for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:

 
 
December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
(thousands)
Balance, beginning of year
 
$
16,055

 
$
14,310

Unrealized gain
 
1,747

 
1,745

Balance, end of year
 
$
17,802

 
$
16,055

Cash Flows
On August 26, 2013 and July 13, 2012, we contributed company-owned real property to the pension plans from certain locations in our Building Materials Distribution segment. The pension plans obtained independent appraisals of the properties, and based on these appraisals, the plans recorded the contributions at fair value of $4 million and $10 million, respectively, during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.

We are leasing back the contributed properties for an initial term of ten years with two five-year extension options and continue to use the properties in our distribution operations. Rent payments are made quarterly, with first-year annual rents of $1.1 million and 2% annual escalation rates thereafter. Each lease provides us a right of first refusal on any subsequent sale by the pension plans, as well as repurchase options at the end of the initial term and extension periods. The plans engaged an independent fiduciary who negotiated the lease terms and also manages the properties on behalf of the plans.

We determined that the contribution of the properties does not meet the accounting definition of a plan asset within the scope of Accounting Standards Codification 715, Compensation — Retirement Benefits. Accordingly, the contributed properties

71

Table of Contents

are not considered a contribution for accounting purposes and, as a result, are not included in plan assets and have no impact on the net pension liability recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We continue to depreciate the carrying value of the properties in our financial statements, and no gain or loss was recognized at the contribution date for accounting purposes. Lease payments are recorded as pension contributions.

Our practice is to fund the pension plans in amounts sufficient to meet the minimum requirements of U.S. federal laws and regulations. Additional discretionary funding may be provided as deemed appropriate. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, we made cash contributions to our pension plans totaling $12.1 million, $10.7 million, and $8.5 million, respectively. Cash contributions in 2014, 2013, and 2012 include $1.1 million, $1.0 million, and $0.4 million, respectively, of lease payments. The total cash contributions satisfied U.S. Department of Labor minimum pension contribution requirements for 2014. While we have no required contributions for 2015, we expect to make cash contributions of approximately $15 million to our pension plans.

The following benefit payments are expected to be paid to plan participants. Qualified pension benefit payments are paid from plan assets, while nonqualified pension benefit payments are paid by the company.

 
 
Pension Benefits
 
 
(thousands)
2015
 
$
21,882

2016
 
22,836

2017
 
22,478

2018
 
23,829

2019
 
24,880

Years 2020-2024
 
136,083


8.    Stock-Based Compensation

In connection with our initial public offering, we adopted the 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan (2013 Incentive Plan). The 2013 Incentive Plan provides for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, other stock-based awards, other cash-based compensation, and performance awards. Directors, officers, and other employees, as well as others performing consulting or advisory services for us, are eligible for grants under the 2013 Incentive Plan. These awards are at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of our board of directors, and they vest and expire in accordance with terms established at the time of grant. All awards under the 2013 Incentive Plan are eligible to participate in dividend or dividend equivalent payments, if any, which we would accrue to be paid when the awards vest.
    
Shares issued pursuant to awards under the 2013 Incentive Plan are from our authorized but unissued shares. The maximum number of shares approved for grant under the 2013 Incentive Plan is 3.1 million shares. We issue new shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock-based awards. As of December 31, 2014, 2.6 million shares remained available for future issuance under the 2013 Incentive Plan.

In February 2014, we granted two types of stock-based awards under the 2013 Incentive Plan: performance stock units (PSUs) and restricted stock units (RSUs). In February 2013, we granted three types of stock-based awards under the 2013 Incentive Plan: PSUs, RSUs, and stock options.

PSU and RSU Awards
    
In 2014, we granted 100,692 PSUs to our officers and other employees, subject to performance and service conditions. The number of shares actually awarded will range from 0% to 200% of the target amount, depending upon Boise Cascade's 2014 EBITDA, defined as income before interest (interest expense and interest income), income taxes, and depreciation and amortization, determined in accordance with the related grant agreement and subject to final determination of 2014 EBITDA by the Compensation Committee of our board of directors. Because the EBITDA component contains a performance condition, we record compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period based on the most probable number of shares expected to vest.
    

72

Table of Contents

In 2013, we granted 90,124 PSUs to our officers and other employees, subject to performance and service conditions. During the 2013 performance period, participants earned 112% of the target based on Boise Cascade’s 2013 EBITDA, determined by our Compensation Committee in accordance with the related grant agreement.

In 2014, we granted an aggregate of 128,497 RSUs to our officers, other employees, and nonemployee directors with only service conditions. In 2013, we granted an aggregate of 14,161 RSUs to our nonemployee directors with only service conditions.

The PSUs, if earned, vest in three equal tranches on December 31 of each year after the grant date, subject to final determination of meeting the performance condition by the Compensation Committee of our board of directors. The RSUs granted to officers and other employees vest in three equal tranches on December 31 of each year after the grant date. However, 100% of PSUs and RSUs granted to retirement-eligible employees (age 62 or older with 15 years of service, or age 65 or older) vest on the later of December 31 after grant date or the date upon which they become retirement eligible. The RSUs granted to nonemployee directors vest over a one-year period, provided that such vested shares will not be delivered to the directors until six months following termination from the board of directors.

We based the fair value of PSU and RSU awards on the closing market price of our common stock on the grant date, and we record compensation expense over the awards' vesting period. Any shares not vested are forfeited. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the total fair value of PSUs and RSUs vested was $4.6 million.

The following summarizes the activity of our PSUs and RSUs awarded under the 2013 Incentive Plan for the year ended December 31, 2014:
 
 
PSUs
 
RSUs
 
 
Number of shares
 
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
 
Number of shares
 
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding, December 31, 2013
 
90,124

 
$
26.65

 
14,161

 
$
26.65

Granted
 
100,692

 
30.32

 
128,497

 
30.41

Performance true-up
 
10,767

 
26.65

 

 

Vested
 
(77,056
)
 
26.65

 
(64,807
)
 
29.57

Forfeited
 
(7,968
)
 
28.93

 
(12,987
)
 
30.32

Outstanding, December 31, 2014
 
116,559

 
$
29.66

 
$
64,864

 
$
30.45


Stock Options

In February 2013, we granted 161,257 nonqualified stock options to our officers and other employees, subject to service conditions. The stock options generally vest and become exercisable on a pro rata basis over a three-year period from the date of grant. Our stock options generally have a contractual term of ten years, meaning the option must be exercised by the holder before the tenth anniversary of the grant date, subject to earlier expiration for vested options not exercised following termination of employment. The following is a summary of our stock option activity:
 
 
Number of Options
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
(years)
 
(thousands)
Outstanding, December 31, 2013
 
161,257

 
$
27.19

 
 
 
 
Exercised
 
(7,850
)
 
27.19

 
 
 
 
Cancelled/Forfeited
 
(12,175
)
 
27.19

 
 
 
 
Outstanding, December 31, 2014
 
141,232

 
$
27.19

 
8.2
 
$
1,407

Vested and expected to vest, December 31, 2014
 
131,140

 
$
27.19

 
8.2
 
$
1,306

Exercisable, December 31, 2014
 
45,276

 
$
27.19

 
8.2
 
$
451



73

Table of Contents

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the total intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $0.1 million. Cash received from stock options exercised was $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, with an immaterial amount of actual tax benefit realized from stock options exercised.

The fair value for stock option awards was estimated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following weighted average assumptions:
 
Year Ended December 31, 2013
Expected volatility
60.9
%
Expected life (in years)
6.0

Risk-free interest rate
1.0
%
Expected dividends

Weighted average fair value per option granted
$
14.87


The expected volatility of our stock price is based on the volatility of related industry stocks. As these 2013 grants were our first issuances of stock options and our equity shares have been traded for a short period of time, we did not have sufficient historical data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the expected life. Therefore, we used the simplified method allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yields of U.S. Treasury issues with terms similar to the expected life of the options.

Compensation Expense

Stock-based compensation expense is recognized only for those awards that are expected to vest, with forfeitures estimated at the date of grant based on our historical experience and future expectations. We recognize the effect of adjusting the estimated forfeiture rates in the period in which we change such estimated rates. We recognize stock awards with only service conditions on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Most of our share-based compensation expense was recorded in "General and administrative expenses" in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Total stock-based compensation recognized from PSUs, RSUs, and stock options net of estimated forfeitures, was as follows:
 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
(thousands)
PSUs
 
$
3,169

 
$
1,932

RSUs
 
2,018

 
274

Stock options
 
729

 
663

Total
 
$
5,916

 
$
2,869


The related tax benefit for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, was $2.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements was $3.6 million, net of estimated forfeitures. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years.

9.    Stockholders' Equity

Upon our conversion from a limited liability company to a corporation, our certificate of incorporation authorized 300,000,000 shares of common stock and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. No preferred stock was issued or outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. We had 43,282,201 and 43,229,412 shares of common stock issued and 39,418,139 and 39,365,350 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Each share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on matters to be voted on by the stockholders of Boise Cascade.
    
On February 11, 2013, we issued 13,529,412 shares of common stock in our initial public offering. Following this initial public offering, we received proceeds of $262.5 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of $19.2 million and offering expenses of $2.5 million. On July 30, 2013, we repurchased 3,864,062 shares of common stock from BC Holdings for $100.0 million funded with cash on hand, which shares are recorded as "Treasury stock" on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

74

Table of Contents


See Note 3, Income Taxes, for a discussion of our conversion from a limited liability company to a corporation. The common stock authorized and outstanding, par values, net income per share amounts, and other per-share disclosures for all periods presented have been adjusted to reflect the impact of this conversion. Upon this conversion, we reclassified $32.0 million of accumulated deficits through February 4, 2013, to additional paid-in capital.

Redeemable Equity

Redeemable equity represented equity units of Forest Products Holdings, L.L.C. (FPH), former majority owner of BC Holdings, held by certain members of our senior management team, which units were redeemable at the option of the holder in the event of death or disability or the sale of a division resulting in the termination of his or her employment. We had historically classified these units outside of our permanent equity because these units were subject to mandatory redemption (and could have been subject to repayment by us) upon an event outside our control (i.e., death or disability). In 2012, we reclassified certain redeemable equity units into "Stockholders' Equity" on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, which resulted from employee retirements or terminations causing the equity units to no longer be subject to mandatory redemption in an event that is outside of BC Holdings' control. In 2013, following our initial public offering, we reclassified the remaining equity units as permanent equity because we no longer have an obligation to satisfy this redemption obligation on FPH's behalf.

Distributions

In 2012, we made $228.3 million of cash distributions to BC Holdings. Both our senior credit facility and the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes permitted these distributions. In 2014 and 2013, we did not make any cash distributions.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows:

 
 
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
(thousands)
Beginning Balance, net of taxes
 
$
(55,249
)
 
$
(121,229
)
 
$
(120,845
)
Net actuarial gain (loss), current-period changes, before taxes
 
(75,016
)
 
97,171

 
(8,432
)
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss, amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before taxes (a)
 
(23
)
 
9,202

 
7,632

Amortization of prior service costs and other, amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before taxes (a)
 

 
304

 
416

Income taxes
 
28,790

 
(40,697
)
 

Ending Balance, net of taxes
 
$
(101,498
)
 
$
(55,249
)
 
$
(121,229
)
___________________________________ 
 
(a)
Represents amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss. These amounts are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. For additional information, see Note 7, Retirement and Benefit Plans.

10.
Acquisitions
 
On September 30, 2013, our wholly owned subsidiary, Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., completed the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding limited liability company interests of both Chester Wood Products LLC and Moncure Plywood LLC (Wood Resources LLC Southeast Operations) for an aggregate purchase price of $103.0 million, including a post-closing adjustment of $1.0 million based upon a working capital target (the Acquisition).

The following pro forma financial information presents the combined results of operations as if the Wood Resources LLC Southeast Operations had been combined with us on January 1, 2012. The pro forma financial information also gives effect to the issuance of $50 million in aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes on August 15, 2013, and the $25.0

75

Table of Contents

million borrowed under our revolving credit facility to partially finance the Acquisition, as if such transactions had occurred on January 1, 2012. The pro forma results are intended for information purposes only and do not purport to represent what the combined companies' results of operations would actually have been had the related transactions in fact occurred on January 1, 2012. They also do not reflect any cost savings, operating synergies, or revenue enhancements that we may achieve or the costs necessary to achieve those cost savings, operating synergies, revenue enhancements, or integration efforts.

 
 
Pro Forma
 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
(unaudited, thousands, except per-share data)
Sales
 
$
3,380,195

 
$
2,905,380

Net income (a)(b)
 
$
124,709

 
$
44,656

Net income per common share - Basic and Diluted (c)
 
$
3.28

 
$
1.73

___________________________________ 

(a)
The pro forma financial information for the year ended December 31, 2013, was adjusted to exclude $1.1 million of acquisition-related costs for legal, accounting, and other advisory-related services and $1.2 million of secondary offering expenses.

(b)
The year ended December 31, 2013, includes a $68.7 million income tax benefit associated with the recording of net deferred tax assets upon our conversion to a corporation in connection with our initial public offering.

(c)
Pro forma weighted average common shares outstanding for both periods has been computed to give effect to the repurchase of 3,864,062 shares of Boise Cascade common stock from BC Holdings on July 30, 2013, as if such transaction had occurred on January 1, 2012.

11.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price and related costs over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets of businesses acquired.

The carrying amount of our goodwill by segment is as follows:

 
 
Building
Materials
Distribution
 

Wood
Products
 
Corporate
and
Other
 
Total
 
 
(thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2014 and 2013
 
$
5,593

 
$
16,230

 
$

 
$
21,823


At December 31, 2014 and 2013, intangible assets represent the values assigned to trade names and trademarks and customer relationships. The trade names and trademarks have indefinite lives and are not amortized. The customer relationships, which were acquired through the acquisition of Wood Resources LLC Southeast Operations on September 30, 2013, are amortized over 15 years. Amortization expense is expected to be approximately $0.1 million per year through 2028.

Intangible assets consisted of the following:
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
Gross Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net Carrying
Amount
 
 
(thousands)
Trade names and trademarks
 
$
8,900

 
$

 
$
8,900

Customer relationships
 
1,400

 
(117
)
 
1,283

 
 
$
10,300

 
$
(117
)
 
$
10,183



76

Table of Contents

 
 
December 31, 2013
 
 
Gross Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net Carrying
Amount
 
 
(thousands)
Trade names and trademarks
 
$
8,900

 
$

 
$
8,900

Customer relationships
 
1,400

 
(23
)
 
1,377

 
 
$
10,300

 
$
(23
)
 
$
10,277

 
12.                                      Outsourcing Services Agreement

Under an Outsourcing Services Agreement, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) provides a number of corporate staff services to us. These services include, but are not limited to, information technology, accounting, and human resource transactional services. On November 17, 2014, we entered into the Fifth Amendment to Outsourcing Services Agreement (the “Amendment”) with PCA, which amends the Outsourcing Services Agreement, dated February 22, 2008 (the “Agreement”), to, among other things, provide expiration dates for the termination of substantially all administrative services provided by PCA to us pursuant to the Agreement. For those services scheduled to be terminated, the expiration dates are planned to occur between March 2015 and December 2015. Services for which the Amendment does not provide expiration dates will generally continue under the same terms and conditions of the Agreement. These administration services will transition from PCA to us upon expiration. During and after transition, our information technology systems will remain in place with many of the administrative services performed by newly hired employees, many of whom we expect to transition from PCA to Boise Cascade employment. Total expenses incurred under the Outsourcing Services Agreement were $15.1 million, $15.5 million, and $15.0 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012. The majority of these expenses are recorded in "General and administrative expenses" in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

13.                                      Transactions With Related Parties
 
Louisiana Timber Procurement Company, L.L.C. (LTP) is an unconsolidated variable-interest entity that is 50% owned by us and 50% owned by PCA. LTP procures sawtimber, pulpwood, residual chips, and other residual wood fiber to meet the wood and fiber requirements of us and PCA in Louisiana. We are not the primary beneficiary of LTP, as we do not have power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of LTP. Accordingly, we do not consolidate LTP's results in our financial statements.
 
Sales
 
Related-party sales to LTP from our Wood Products segment in our Consolidated Statements of Operations were $28.7 million, $22.1 million, and $19.8 million, respectively, during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012. These pulpwood and chip sales were made at prices designed to approximate market. These sales are recorded in "Sales" in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
 
Costs and Expenses
 
Related-party wood fiber purchases from LTP were $75.8 million, $67.5 million, and $60.3 million, respectively, during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012. We purchased wood fiber at prices designed to approximate market. These costs are recorded in "Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)" in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Equity

On July 30, 2013, we repurchased 3,864,062 shares of our common stock from BC Holdings for $100.0 million funded with cash on hand.


77

Table of Contents

14.    Financial Instrument Risk

In the normal course of business, we are exposed to financial risks such as changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and commodity price risk. In 2014, 2013, and 2012, we did not use derivative instruments.

Interest Rate Risk 

When we have loan amounts outstanding on our Revolving Credit Facility, we are exposed to interest rate risk arising from fluctuations in interest rates.

Foreign Currency Risk
    
We have sales in countries outside the United States. As a result, we are exposed to movements in foreign currency exchange rates, primarily in Canada, but we do not believe our exposure to currency fluctuations is significant.

Commodity Price Risk

Many of the products we manufacture or purchase and resell and some of our key production inputs are commodities whose price is determined by the market's supply and demand for such products. Price fluctuations in our selling prices and key costs have a significant effect on our financial performance. The markets for most of these commodities are cyclical and are primarily affected by various economic and industry factors, including the strength of the U.S. housing market, changes in or disruptions to industry production capacity, changes in inventory levels, and other factors beyond our control.

15.                               Segment Information
 
We operate our business using three reportable segments: Wood Products, Building Materials Distribution, and Corporate and Other. These segments represent distinct businesses that are managed separately because of differing products and services. Each of these businesses requires distinct operating and marketing strategies. Management reviews the performance of the company based on these segments.

Our Wood Products segment manufactures structural, appearance, and industrial plywood panels. In addition, we manufacture engineered wood products (EWP), consisting of laminated veneer lumber (LVL), I-joists, and laminated beams, which are structural products used in applications where extra strength and consistent quality are required, such as headers and beams. LVL is also used in the manufacture of I-joists, which are assembled by combining a vertical web of oriented strand board (OSB) with top and bottom LVL or solid wood flanges. We also produce studs, particleboard, and ponderosa pine lumber. Our wood products are used primarily in new residential construction, residential repair-and-remodeling markets, and light commercial construction. The majority of our wood products are sold to leading wholesalers (including our Building Materials Distribution segment), home improvement centers, retail lumberyards, and industrial converters. During 2014, approximately 40% of Wood Products' overall sales were to our Building Materials Distribution segment.

Our Building Materials Distribution segment is a leading national stocking wholesale distributor of building materials. We distribute a broad line of building materials, including EWP, OSB, plywood, lumber, and general line items such as siding, metal products, insulation, roofing, and composite decking. Except for EWP, we purchase most of these building materials from third-party suppliers and market them primarily to retail lumberyards and home improvement centers that then sell the products to the final end customers, who are typically professional builders, independent contractors, and homeowners engaged in residential construction projects.

Our Corporate and Other segment includes corporate support staff services, related assets and liabilities, and foreign currency exchange gains and losses. These support services include, but are not limited to, finance, accounting, legal, information technology, and human resource functions. We purchase many of these services from PCA, under an Outsourcing Services Agreement, under which PCA provides a number of corporate staff services to us. See Note 12, Outsourcing Services Agreement, for more information.

The segments' profits and losses are measured on operating profits and losses before interest expense and interest income. Specified expenses are allocated to the segments. For many of these allocated expenses, the related assets and liabilities remain in the Corporate and Other segment.

The segments follow the accounting principles described in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.


78

Table of Contents

For the year ended December 31, 2014, no customers accounted for 10% or more of total sales. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, sales to one customer accounted for $350.9 million and $304.9 million, respectively, or approximately 11% of total sales for both periods. Sales to this customer were recorded in our Building Materials Distribution and our Wood Products segments.

Sales to foreign unaffiliated customers were $76.2 million, $87.2 million, and $82.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

At December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, and for the years then ended, long-lived assets located in foreign countries and net sales originating in foreign countries were not material.
    
Segment sales to external customers, including related parties, by product line are as follows:

 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
(millions)
Wood Products
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plywood and veneer
 
$
413.6

 
$
367.8

 
$
324.6

Engineered wood products
 
125.9

 
104.4

 
87.9

Lumber
 
113.7

 
97.3

 
77.4

Byproducts
 
56.1

 
42.5

 
44.6

Particleboard
 
52.3

 
40.2

 
33.1

Other
 
25.7

 
21.7

 
21.8

 
 
787.2

 
674.0

 
589.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Building Materials Distribution  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity
 
1,376.1

 
1,333.2

 
1,092.7

General line
 
937.3

 
857.9

 
794.9

Engineered wood products
 
473.1

 
408.4

 
302.2

 
 
2,786.5

 
2,599.5

 
2,189.8

 
 
$
3,573.7

 
$
3,273.5

 
$
2,779.1

 
An analysis of our operations by segment is as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales
 
Before
 
Depreciation
 
 
 
Capital
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inter-
 
 
 
Income
 
and
 
EBITDA
 
Expendi-
 
 
 
 
Trade
 
segment
 
Total
 
Taxes
 
Amortization
 
(b)
 
tures
 
Assets
 
 
(millions)
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Wood Products
 
$
787.2

 
$
529.8

 
$
1,317.0

 
$
108.4

 
$
41.5

 
$
149.8

 
$
40.3

 
$
533.1

Building Materials Distribution
 
2,786.5

 
0.1

 
2,786.7

 
56.7

 
9.8

 
66.5

 
20.3

 
483.6

Corporate and Other
 

 

 

 
(19.9
)
 
0.2

 
(19.8
)
 
0.6

 
203.9

Intersegment eliminations
 

 
(529.9
)
 
(529.9
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
$
3,573.7

 
$

 
$
3,573.7

 
145.1

 
$
51.4

 
$
196.6

 
$
61.2

 
$
1,220.5

Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(22.0
)
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
Interest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0.2

 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 

 


 


 
$
123.3

 


 
 
 
 
 
 


79

Table of Contents

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
Capital
 
 
 
 
Sales
 
Before
 
Depreciation
 
 
 
Expendi-
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inter-
 
 
 
Income
 
and
 
EBITDA
 
tures
 
 
 
 
Trade
 
segment
 
Total
 
Taxes
 
Amortization
 
(b)
 
(a)
 
Assets
 
 
(millions)
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Wood Products
 
$
674.0

 
$
460.1

 
$
1,134.1

 
$
77.7

 
$
28.7

 
$
106.3

 
$
133.6

 
$
514.5

Building Materials Distribution
 
2,599.5

 
0.1

 
2,599.6

 
39.9

 
9.2

 
49.2

 
14.7

 
456.1

Corporate and Other
 

 

 

 
(19.3
)
 
0.1

 
(19.1
)
 
0.5

 
133.6

Intersegment eliminations
 

 
(460.2
)
 
(460.2
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
$
3,273.5

 
$

 
$
3,273.5

 
98.3

 
$
38.0

 
$
136.4

 
$
148.8

 
$
1,104.2

Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(20.4
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
78.1

 


 


 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
Capital
 
 
 
 
Sales
 
Before
 
Depreciation
 
 
 
Expendi-
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inter-
 
 
 
Income
 
and
 
EBITDA
 
tures
 
 
 
 
Trade
 
segment
 
Total
 
Taxes
 
Amortization
 
(b)
 
(a)
 
Assets
 
 
(millions)
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Wood Products
 
$
589.3

 
$
353.9

 
$
943.3

 
$
55.8

 
$
24.4

 
$
80.2

 
$
22.7

 
$
366.1

Building Materials Distribution
 
2,189.8

 
0.5

 
2,190.2

 
24.0

 
8.8

 
32.9

 
7.1

 
415.7

Corporate and Other
 

 

 

 
(16.7
)
 
0.1

 
(16.5
)
 

 
46.0

Intersegment eliminations
 

 
(354.4
)
 
(354.4
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
$
2,779.1

 
$

 
$
2,779.1

 
63.2

 
$
33.4

 
$
96.6

 
$
29.7

 
$
827.8

Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(21.8
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 


 


 
$
41.8

 


 


 
 
 
 
___________________________________ 

(a)
Capital spending in 2013 for Wood Products includes $103.0 million for the acquisition of two plywood manufacturing facilities in the Carolinas. Capital spending in 2012 for Wood Products includes $2.4 million for the acquisition of a sawmill in Arden, Washington.


80

Table of Contents

(b)
EBITDA is defined as income (loss) before interest (interest expense and interest income), income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is the primary measure used by our chief operating decision maker to evaluate segment operating performance and to decide how to allocate resources to segments. We believe EBITDA is useful to investors because it provides a means to evaluate the operating performance of our segments and our company on an ongoing basis using criteria that are used by our internal decision makers and because it is frequently used by investors and other interested parties when comparing companies in our industry that have different financing and capital structures and/or tax rates. We believe EBITDA is a meaningful measure because it presents a transparent view of our recurring operating performance and allows management to readily view operating trends, perform analytical comparisons, and identify strategies to improve operating performance. EBITDA, however, is not a measure of our liquidity or financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), income (loss) from operations, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity. The use of EBITDA instead of net income (loss) or segment income (loss) has limitations as an analytical tool, including the inability to determine profitability; the exclusion of interest expense, interest income, and associated significant cash requirements; and the exclusion of depreciation and amortization, which represent unavoidable operating costs. Management compensates for the limitations of EBITDA by relying on our GAAP results. Our measure of EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to potential inconsistencies in the methods of calculation.

The following is a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA for the consolidated company:
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
(millions)
Net income (1)
 
$
80.0

 
$
116.9

 
$
41.5

Interest expense
 
22.0

 
20.4

 
21.8

Interest income
 
(0.2
)
 
(0.2
)
 
(0.4
)
Income tax provision (benefit) (1)
 
43.3

 
(38.8
)
 
0.3

Depreciation and amortization
 
51.4

 
38.0

 
33.4

EBITDA
 
$
196.6

 
$
136.4

 
$
96.6

  _______________________________________ 

(1)
The year ended December 31, 2013, includes a $68.7 million income tax benefit associated with the recording of net deferred tax assets upon our conversion to a corporation.

16.                               Commitments, Legal Proceedings and Contingencies, and Guarantees
 
Commitments
 
We have commitments for leases and long-term debt that are discussed further in Note 5, Debt, and Note 6, Leases. In addition, we have purchase obligations for goods and services, capital expenditures, and raw materials entered into in the normal course of business.
 
We are a party to a number of long-term log and fiber supply agreements. At December 31, 2014, our total obligation for log and fiber purchases under contracts with third parties was approximately $80 million based on fixed contract pricing or first quarter 2015 pricing for variable contracts. Under certain log and fiber supply agreements, we have the right to cancel or reduce our commitments in the event of a mill curtailment or shutdown. Future purchase prices under most of the variable-price agreements will be set quarterly or semiannually based on regional market prices. Our log and fiber obligations are subject to change based on, among other things, the effect of governmental laws and regulations, our manufacturing operations not operating in the normal course of business, log and fiber availability, and the status of environmental appeals. Except for deposits required pursuant to wood supply contracts, these obligations are not recorded in our consolidated financial statements until the contract payment terms take effect.

We enter into contracts for the purchase of electricity and natural gas. We also purchase these services under utility tariffs. At December 31, 2014, we had approximately $13.8 million of energy purchase commitments. These payment obligations were valued either at market prices as of December 31, 2014, or at a fixed price, in each case in accordance with the terms of the related contract or tariff. Because we consume the energy in the manufacture of our products, these obligations represent the face value of the contracts, not resale value.


81

Table of Contents

Legal Proceedings and Contingencies
 
We are a party to routine legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our business. We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings or environmental claims that we believe would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Guarantees
 
We provide guarantees, indemnifications, and assurances to others.

Boise Cascade Company and its subsidiaries (Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution, L.L.C., and Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C.) act as co-borrowers under our Revolving Credit Facility, described in Note 5, Debt. Their obligations are guaranteed by each of our remaining domestic subsidiaries.

Boise Cascade has issued $300.0 million of 6.375% senior notes due in 2020 (Senior Notes). At December 31, 2014, $300.0 million of the Senior Notes were outstanding. The Senior Notes are guaranteed by each of Boise Cascade Company's existing and future direct or indirect domestic subsidiaries that is a guarantor or co-borrower under our Revolving Credit Facility. See Note 5, Debt, for more information.

Boise Cascade issued guarantees to a limited number of trade creditors of one or more of its principal operating subsidiaries, Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution, L.L.C., and Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., for trade credit obligations arising in the ordinary course of the business of such operating subsidiaries. These included guarantees of the obligations of Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., with respect to present and future timber sale agreements and several facility and rolling stock leases entered into by such subsidiaries and by Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution, L.L.C. Boise Cascade's exposure under these agreements is limited to future timber purchases and the minimum lease payment requirements under the agreements. Boise Cascade also enters into guarantees of various raw material or energy supply agreements arising in the ordinary course of business.

All surety bonds and most letters of credit supporting obligations of subsidiaries sold or liabilities assumed by Boise Inc., which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of PCA, in connection with the sale of our Paper and Packaging & Newsprint assets in 2008 have been replaced by new surety bonds or letters of credit issued without our credit support. The principal exception is letters of credit supporting workers' compensation obligations assumed by Boise Inc., which as a matter of state law must remain in our name even though the underlying liabilities and exposures have been assumed by Boise Inc. We are entitled to an indemnification from the purchaser for liabilities with respect to such letters of credit arising from workers' compensation claims assumed by Boise Inc. and for our costs of maintaining Boise Inc.'s share of any such letter of credit.

We enter into a wide range of indemnification arrangements in the ordinary course of business. These include tort indemnifications, tax indemnifications, financing transactions, indemnifications against third-party claims arising out of arrangements to provide services to us, and indemnifications in merger and acquisition agreements. At December 31, 2014, we are unable to estimate the maximum potential liability under these indemnifications, and we are not aware of any material liabilities arising from these indemnifications.

17.    Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited)
 
 
2014 (a)
 
 
First Quarter
 
Second Quarter
 
Third Quarter
 
Fourth Quarter
 
 
(millions, except per-share amounts)
Net sales
 
$
767.2

 
$
961.2

 
$
983.3

 
$
862.0

Income from operations
 
$
14.6

 
$
45.9

 
$
56.2

 
$
28.9

Net income
 
$
5.6

 
$
26.4

 
$
32.3

 
$
15.7

Net income per common share – Basic and Diluted
 
$
0.14

 
$
0.67

 
$
0.82

 
$
0.40



82

Table of Contents

 
 
2013
 
 
First Quarter (b)
 
Second Quarter
 
Third Quarter
 
Fourth Quarter (a)
 
 
(millions, except per-share amounts)
Net sales
 
$
744.9

 
$
852.3

 
$
878.0

 
$
798.3

Income from operations
 
$
24.6

 
$
22.2

 
$
30.5

 
$
21.4

Net income
 
$
80.8

 
$
10.4

 
$
15.9

 
$
9.8

Net income per common share – Basic and Diluted
 
$
2.15

 
$
0.24

 
$
0.39

 
$
0.25

_______________________________________ 

(a)
Each quarter of 2014, as well as the three months ended December 31, 2013, includes the results of the acquired plywood plants, Chester Wood Products LLC and Moncure Plywood LLC.

(b)
Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2013, includes a $68.7 million income tax benefit associated with recording net deferred tax assets upon our conversion to a corporation.

18.    Consolidating Guarantor and Nonguarantor Financial Information

The following consolidating financial information presents the Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), Balance Sheets, and Statements of Cash Flows related to Boise Cascade. The Senior Notes are guaranteed fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally by each of our existing and future subsidiaries (other than our foreign subsidiaries). Each of our existing subsidiaries that is a guarantor of the Senior Notes is 100% owned by Boise Cascade. Other than the consolidated financial statements and footnotes for Boise Cascade and the consolidating financial information, financial statements and other disclosures concerning the guarantors have not been presented because management believes that such information is not material to investors. The reclassifications to net income from accumulated other comprehensive loss are recorded primarily in our guarantor subsidiaries.

Furthermore, the cancellation provisions in the related indenture regarding guarantor subsidiaries are customary, and they do not include an arrangement that permits a guarantor subsidiary to opt out of the obligation prior to or during the term of the debt. Each guarantor subsidiary is automatically released from its obligations as a guarantor upon the sale of the subsidiary or substantially all of its assets to a third party, the designation of the subsidiary as an unrestricted subsidiary for purposes of the covenants included in the indenture, the release of the indebtedness under the indenture, or if the issuer exercises its legal defeasance option or the discharge of its obligations in accordance with the indenture governing the Senior Notes.

On October 1, 2013, we entered into a supplemental indenture (Supplemental Indenture) with certain of our subsidiaries and U.S. Bank National Association, the trustee for our Senior Notes, to add Chester Wood Products LLC and Moncure Plywood LLC as guarantors of the Senior Notes. Entry into the Supplemental Indenture was consummated in connection with the Acquisition on September 30, 2013. As such, Chester Wood Products LLC and Moncure Plywood LLC are included as guarantor subsidiaries in the consolidating guarantor and nonguarantor financial statements effective October 1, 2013.


83

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014

 
 
Boise
Cascade Company (Parent)
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
(thousands)
Sales
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Trade
 
$

 
$
3,560,416

 
$
13,316

 
$

 
$
3,573,732

Intercompany
 

 

 
18,224

 
(18,224
)
 

 
 

 
3,560,416

 
31,540

 
(18,224
)
 
3,573,732

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and expenses
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)
 

 
3,057,603

 
27,956

 
(19,888
)
 
3,065,671

Depreciation and amortization
 
179

 
50,070

 
1,190

 

 
51,439

Selling and distribution expenses
 

 
261,749

 
2,424

 

 
264,173

General and administrative expenses
 
19,252

 
27,573

 

 
1,664

 
48,489

Other (income) expense, net
 
(26
)
 
(889
)
 
(674
)
 

 
(1,589
)
 
 
19,405

 
3,396,106

 
30,896

 
(18,224
)
 
3,428,183

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) from operations
 
(19,405
)
 
164,310

 
644

 

 
145,549

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency exchange gain (loss)
 
(379
)
 
18

 
(71
)
 

 
(432
)
Interest expense
 
(22,049
)
 

 

 

 
(22,049
)
Interest income
 
32

 
205

 

 

 
237

 
 
(22,396
)
 
223

 
(71
)
 

 
(22,244
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates
 
(41,801
)
 
164,533

 
573

 

 
123,305

Income tax (provision) benefit
 
(43,402
)
 
106

 

 

 
(43,296
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before equity in net income of affiliates
 
(85,203
)
 
164,639

 
573

 

 
80,009

Equity in net income of affiliates
 
165,212

 

 

 
(165,212
)
 

Net income
 
80,009

 
164,639

 
573

 
(165,212
)
 
80,009

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Defined benefit pension plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       Net actuarial loss
 
(46,234
)
 

 

 

 
(46,234
)
       Amortization of actuarial gain
 
(15
)
 

 

 

 
(15
)
  Amortization of prior service costs
 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
 
(46,249
)
 

 

 

 
(46,249
)
Comprehensive income
 
$
33,760

 
$
164,639

 
$
573

 
$
(165,212
)
 
$
33,760


84

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
 
Boise
Cascade Company (Parent)
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
(thousands)
Sales
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Trade
 
$

 
$
3,258,873

 
$
14,623

 
$

 
$
3,273,496

Intercompany
 

 

 
12,259

 
(12,259
)
 

 
 

 
3,258,873

 
26,882

 
(12,259
)
 
3,273,496

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and expenses
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)
 

 
2,831,103

 
28,338

 
(12,827
)
 
2,846,614

Depreciation and amortization
 
140

 
36,682

 
1,216

 

 
38,038

Selling and distribution expenses
 

 
242,743

 
2,540

 

 
245,283

General and administrative expenses
 
18,786

 
26,135

 

 
568

 
45,489

Other (income) expense, net
 
(150
)
 
324

 
(859
)
 

 
(685
)
 
 
18,776

 
3,136,987

 
31,235

 
(12,259
)
 
3,174,739

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) from operations
 
(18,776
)
 
121,886

 
(4,353
)
 

 
98,757

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency exchange loss
 
(292
)
 
(115
)
 
(17
)
 

 
(424
)
Interest expense
 
(20,426
)
 

 

 

 
(20,426
)
Interest income
 
83

 
158

 

 

 
241

 
 
(20,635
)
 
43

 
(17
)
 

 
(20,609
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates
 
(39,411
)
 
121,929

 
(4,370
)
 

 
78,148

Income tax (provision) benefit
 
38,656

 
154

 
(22
)
 

 
38,788

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before equity in net income of affiliates
 
(755
)
 
122,083

 
(4,392
)
 

 
116,936

Equity in net income of affiliates
 
117,691

 

 

 
(117,691
)
 

Net income (loss)
 
116,936

 
122,083

 
(4,392
)
 
(117,691
)
 
116,936

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Defined benefit pension plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       Net actuarial gain
 
60,100

 

 

 

 
60,100

       Amortization of actuarial loss
 
5,692

 

 

 

 
5,692

  Amortization of prior service costs
 
188

 

 

 

 
188

Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
65,980

 

 

 

 
65,980

Comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
182,916

 
$
122,083

 
$
(4,392
)
 
$
(117,691
)
 
$
182,916


85

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
 
Boise
Cascade Company (Parent)
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
(thousands)
Sales
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Trade
 
$

 
$
2,765,980

 
$
13,082

 
$

 
$
2,779,062

Intercompany
 

 

 
13,396

 
(13,396
)
 

 
 

 
2,765,980

 
26,478

 
(13,396
)
 
2,779,062

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and expenses
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)
 

 
2,390,124

 
27,885

 
(14,564
)
 
2,403,445

Depreciation and amortization
 
120

 
31,691

 
1,596

 

 
33,407

Selling and distribution expenses
 

 
231,593

 
3,462

 

 
235,055

General and administrative expenses
 
16,425

 
25,529

 

 
1,168

 
43,122

Other (income) expense, net
 
126

 
2,818

 
(2,042
)
 

 
902

 
 
16,671

 
2,681,755

 
30,901

 
(13,396
)
 
2,715,931

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) from operations
 
(16,671
)
 
84,225

 
(4,423
)
 

 
63,131

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency exchange gain (loss)
 
149

 
(124
)
 
12

 

 
37

Interest expense
 
(21,757
)
 

 

 

 
(21,757
)
Interest income
 
196

 
196

 

 

 
392

 
 
(21,412
)
 
72

 
12

 

 
(21,328
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates
 
(38,083
)
 
84,297

 
(4,411
)
 

 
41,803

Income tax provision
 
(300
)
 
(7
)
 

 

 
(307
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before equity in net income of affiliates
 
(38,383
)
 
84,290

 
(4,411
)
 

 
41,496

Equity in net income of affiliates
 
79,879

 

 

 
(79,879
)
 

Net income (loss)
 
41,496

 
84,290

 
(4,411
)
 
(79,879
)
 
41,496

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Defined benefit pension plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       Net actuarial loss
 
(8,432
)
 

 

 

 
(8,432
)
       Amortization of actuarial loss
 
7,632

 

 

 

 
7,632

  Amortization of prior service costs and other
 
416

 

 

 

 
416

Other comprehensive loss
 
(384
)
 

 

 

 
(384
)
Comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
41,112

 
$
84,290

 
$
(4,411
)
 
$
(79,879
)
 
$
41,112



86

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidating Balance Sheets at December 31, 2014
 
 
Boise
Cascade Company (Parent)
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
(thousands)
ASSETS
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Current
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
163,512

 
$
23

 
$
14

 
$

 
$
163,549

Receivables
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Trade, less allowances
 
237

 
171,613

 
464

 

 
172,314

Related parties
 

 
821

 

 

 
821

Other
 
171

 
6,908

 
232

 

 
7,311

Inventories
 

 
389,259

 
5,202

 

 
394,461

Deferred income taxes
 
20,305

 

 
6

 

 
20,311

Prepaid expenses and other
 
10,756

 
4,064

 
37

 

 
14,857

Total current assets
 
194,981

 
572,688

 
5,955

 

 
773,624

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment, net
 
1,601

 
359,474

 
7,053

 

 
368,128

Timber deposits
 

 
13,819

 

 

 
13,819

Deferred financing costs
 
7,149

 

 

 

 
7,149

Goodwill
 

 
21,823

 

 

 
21,823

Intangible assets, net
 

 
10,183

 

 

 
10,183

Deferred income taxes
 
16,684

 

 

 

 
16,684

Other assets
 
20

 
9,055

 

 

 
9,075

Investments in affiliates
 
771,026

 

 

 
(771,026
)
 

Total assets
 
$
991,461

 
$
987,042

 
$
13,008

 
$
(771,026
)
 
$
1,220,485


87

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidating Balance Sheets at December 31, 2014 (continued)
 
 
Boise
Cascade Company (Parent)
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
(thousands)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Current
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Accounts payable
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Trade
 
$
7,238

 
$
143,141

 
$
314

 
$

 
$
150,693

Related parties
 

 
1,743

 

 

 
1,743

Accrued liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Compensation and benefits
 
18,793

 
46,867

 
510

 

 
66,170

Interest payable
 
3,298

 

 

 

 
3,298

Other
 
1,559

 
30,163

 
1,564

 

 
33,286

 
 
30,888

 
221,914

 
2,388

 

 
255,190

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Long-term debt
 
301,415

 

 

 

 
301,415

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Compensation and benefits
 
156,218

 

 

 

 
156,218

Other long-term liabilities
 
10,552

 
4,722

 

 

 
15,274

 
 
166,770

 
4,722

 

 

 
171,492

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingent liabilities
 


 


 


 


 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Preferred stock
 

 

 

 

 

Common stock
 
433

 

 

 

 
433

Treasury stock
 
(100,000
)
 

 

 

 
(100,000
)
Additional paid-in capital
 
502,739

 

 

 

 
502,739

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(101,498
)
 

 

 

 
(101,498
)
Retained earnings
 
190,714

 

 

 

 
190,714

Subsidiary equity
 

 
760,406

 
10,620

 
(771,026
)
 

Total stockholders' equity
 
492,388

 
760,406

 
10,620

 
(771,026
)
 
492,388

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
991,461

 
$
987,042

 
$
13,008

 
$
(771,026
)
 
$
1,220,485


88

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidating Balance Sheets at December 31, 2013
 
 
Boise
Cascade Company (Parent)
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
(thousands)
ASSETS
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Current
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
118,198

 
$
25

 
$
26

 
$

 
$
118,249

Receivables
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Trade, less allowances
 
13

 
151,225

 
1,002

 

 
152,240

Related parties
 
17

 
566

 

 

 
583

Other
 
(30
)
 
7,115

 
183

 

 
7,268

Inventories
 
(101
)
 
379,012

 
4,448

 

 
383,359

Deferred income taxes
 
18,143

 

 
8

 

 
18,151

Prepaid expenses and other
 
2,819

 
4,983

 
53

 

 
7,855

Total current assets
 
139,059

 
542,926

 
5,720

 

 
687,705

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment, net
 
1,113

 
351,838

 
8,034

 

 
360,985

Timber deposits
 

 
6,266

 

 

 
6,266

Deferred financing costs
 
8,334

 

 

 

 
8,334

Goodwill
 

 
21,823

 

 

 
21,823

Intangible assets, net
 

 
10,277

 

 

 
10,277

Deferred income taxes
 
760

 

 

 

 
760

Other assets
 
36

 
8,000

 

 

 
8,036

Investments in affiliates
 
739,420

 

 

 
(739,420
)
 

Total assets
 
$
888,722

 
$
941,130

 
$
13,754

 
$
(739,420
)
 
$
1,104,186


89

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidating Balance Sheets at December 31, 2013 (continued)
 
 
Boise
Cascade Company (Parent)
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
(thousands)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Current
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Accounts payable
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Trade
 
$
5,396

 
$
133,724

 
$
516

 
$

 
$
139,636

Related parties
 
402

 
2,082

 

 

 
2,484

Accrued liabilities
 

 

 

 

 
 

Compensation and benefits
 
17,262

 
42,784

 
481

 

 
60,527

Interest payable
 
3,294

 

 

 

 
3,294

Other
 
1,421

 
30,341

 
1,314

 

 
33,076

 
 
27,775

 
208,931

 
2,311

 

 
239,017

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Long-term debt
 
301,613

 

 

 

 
301,613

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Compensation and benefits
 
96,536

 

 

 

 
96,536

Other long-term liabilities
 
10,317

 
4,222

 

 

 
14,539

 
 
106,853

 
4,222

 

 

 
111,075

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingent liabilities
 


 


 


 


 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Preferred stock
 

 

 

 

 

Common stock
 
432

 

 

 

 
432

Treasury stock
 
(100,000
)
 

 

 

 
(100,000
)
Additional paid-in capital
 
496,593

 

 

 

 
496,593

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(55,249
)
 

 

 

 
(55,249
)
Retained earnings
 
110,705

 

 

 

 
110,705

Subsidiary equity
 

 
727,977

 
11,443

 
(739,420
)
 

Total stockholders' equity
 
452,481

 
727,977

 
11,443

 
(739,420
)
 
452,481

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
888,722

 
$
941,130

 
$
13,754

 
$
(739,420
)
 
$
1,104,186



90

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
 
Boise
Cascade Company (Parent)
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
(thousands)
Cash provided by (used for) operations
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net income
 
$
80,009

 
$
164,639

 
$
573

 
$
(165,212
)
 
$
80,009

Items in net income not using (providing) cash
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Equity in net income of affiliates
 
(165,212
)
 

 

 
165,212

 

Depreciation and amortization, including deferred financing costs and other
 
1,792

 
50,070

 
1,190

 

 
53,052

Stock-based compensation
 
5,916

 

 

 

 
5,916

Pension expense
 
838

 

 

 

 
838

Deferred income taxes
 
10,705

 

 

 

 
10,705

Other
 
(33
)
 
(1,556
)
 

 

 
(1,589
)
Decrease (increase) in working capital
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

Receivables
 
(336
)
 
(20,436
)
 
495

 

 
(20,277
)
Inventories
 
(101
)
 
(10,247
)
 
(754
)
 

 
(11,102
)
Prepaid expenses and other
 
(184
)
 
311

 
16

 

 
143

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
 
2,949

 
12,396

 
73

 

 
15,418

Pension contributions
 
(12,071
)
 

 

 

 
(12,071
)
Income taxes payable
 
(7,766
)
 

 

 

 
(7,766
)
Other
 
(4,065
)
 
(7,368
)
 

 

 
(11,433
)
Net cash provided by (used for) operations
 
(87,559
)
 
187,809

 
1,593

 

 
101,843

Cash provided by (used for) investment
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Expenditures for property and equipment
 
(577
)
 
(60,453
)
 
(187
)
 

 
(61,217
)
Proceeds from sales of assets
 

 
4,814

 

 

 
4,814

Other
 
(17
)
 
38

 
(22
)
 

 
(1
)
Net cash used for investment
 
(594
)
 
(55,601
)
 
(209
)
 

 
(56,404
)
Cash provided by (used for) financing
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Issuances of long-term debt, including revolving credit facility
 
57,600

 

 

 

 
57,600

Payments of long-term debt, including revolving credit facility
 
(57,600
)
 

 

 

 
(57,600
)
Financing costs
 
(11
)
 

 

 

 
(11
)
Other
 
(128
)
 

 

 

 
(128
)
Due to (from) affiliates
 
133,606

 
(132,210
)
 
(1,396
)
 

 

Net cash provided by (used for) financing
 
133,467

 
(132,210
)
 
(1,396
)
 

 
(139
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
45,314

 
(2
)
 
(12
)
 

 
45,300

Balance at beginning of the period
 
118,198

 
25

 
26

 

 
118,249

Balance at end of the period
 
$
163,512

 
$
23

 
$
14

 
$

 
$
163,549


91

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
 
Boise
Cascade Company (Parent)
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
(thousands)
Cash provided by (used for) operations
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net income (loss)
 
$
116,936

 
$
122,083

 
$
(4,392
)
 
$
(117,691
)
 
$
116,936

Items in net income (loss) not using (providing) cash
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Equity in net income of affiliates
 
(117,691
)
 

 

 
117,691

 

Depreciation and amortization, including deferred financing costs and other
 
1,912

 
36,682

 
1,216

 

 
39,810

Stock-based compensation
 
2,869

 

 

 

 
2,869

Pension expense
 
10,989

 

 

 

 
10,989

Deferred income taxes
 
(59,600
)
 

 

 

 
(59,600
)
Other
 
(161
)
 
(651
)
 
23

 

 
(789
)
Decrease (increase) in working capital, net of acquisitions
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Receivables
 
183

 
(11,269
)
 
72

 

 
(11,014
)
Inventories
 
101

 
(52,138
)
 
1,079

 

 
(50,958
)
Prepaid expenses and other
 
(108
)
 
(385
)
 
(22
)
 

 
(515
)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
 
2,280

 
(990
)
 
(139
)
 

 
1,151

Pension contributions
 
(10,739
)
 

 

 

 
(10,739
)
Income taxes payable
 
(2,008
)
 
(12
)
 
4

 

 
(2,016
)
Other
 
(1,821
)
 
(876
)
 

 

 
(2,697
)
Net cash provided by (used for) operations
 
(56,858
)
 
92,444

 
(2,159
)
 

 
33,427

Cash provided by (used for) investment
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Expenditures for property and equipment
 
(498
)
 
(44,750
)
 
(503
)
 

 
(45,751
)
Acquisition of businesses and facilities
 

 
(103,029
)
 

 

 
(103,029
)
Proceeds from sales of assets
 
831

 
919

 
417

 

 
2,167

Other
 

 
(67
)
 

 

 
(67
)
Net cash provided by (used for) investment
 
333

 
(146,927
)
 
(86
)
 

 
(146,680
)
Cash provided by (used for) financing
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
 
262,488

 

 

 

 
262,488

Treasury stock purchased
 
(100,000
)
 

 

 

 
(100,000
)
Issuances of long-term debt, including revolving credit facility
 
130,000

 

 

 

 
130,000

Payments of long-term debt, including revolving credit facility
 
(105,010
)
 

 

 

 
(105,010
)
Financing costs
 
(2,061
)
 

 

 

 
(2,061
)
Other
 

 

 
192

 

 
192

Due to (from) affiliates
 
(56,374
)
 
54,473

 
1,901

 

 

Net cash provided by financing
 
129,043

 
54,473

 
2,093

 

 
185,609

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
72,518

 
(10
)
 
(152
)
 

 
72,356

Balance at beginning of the period
 
45,680

 
35

 
178

 

 
45,893

Balance at end of the period
 
$
118,198

 
$
25

 
$
26

 
$

 
$
118,249


92

Table of Contents

Boise Cascade Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
 
Boise
Cascade Company (Parent)
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
(thousands)
Cash provided by (used for) operations
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net income (loss)
 
$
41,496

 
$
84,290

 
$
(4,411
)
 
$
(79,879
)
 
$
41,496

Items in net income (loss) not using (providing) cash
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Equity in net income of affiliates
 
(79,879
)
 

 

 
79,879

 

Depreciation and amortization, including deferred financing costs and other
 
3,924

 
31,691

 
1,596

 

 
37,211

Pension expense
 
12,653

 

 

 

 
12,653

Other
 
(61
)
 
(115
)
 
(295
)
 

 
(471
)
Decrease (increase) in working capital, net of acquisitions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Receivables
 
772

 
(17,558
)
 
(396
)
 
(56
)
 
(17,238
)
Inventories
 

 
(41,699
)
 
(129
)
 

 
(41,828
)
Prepaid expenses and other
 
(71
)
 
(596
)
 
15

 

 
(652
)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
 
1,259

 
49,115

 
83

 
56

 
50,513

Pension contributions
 
(8,486
)
 

 

 

 
(8,486
)
Income taxes payable
 
133

 

 

 

 
133

Other
 
3,933

 
342

 
2

 

 
4,277

Net cash provided by (used for) operations
 
(24,327
)
 
105,470

 
(3,535
)
 

 
77,608

Cash provided by (used for) investment
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Expenditures for property and equipment
 
(28
)
 
(26,886
)
 
(472
)
 

 
(27,386
)
Acquisitions of businesses and facilities
 

 
(2,355
)
 

 

 
(2,355
)
Proceeds from sales of assets
 

 
246

 

 

 
246

Other
 
(4
)
 
1

 
64

 

 
61

Net cash used for investment
 
(32
)
 
(28,994
)
 
(408
)
 

 
(29,434
)
Cash provided by (used for) financing
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Issuances of long-term debt
 
300,000

 

 

 

 
300,000

Payments of long-term debt
 
(244,560
)
 

 

 

 
(244,560
)
Distributions to Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.
 
(228,268
)
 

 

 

 
(228,268
)
Financing costs
 
(5,822
)
 

 

 

 
(5,822
)
Due to (from) affiliates
 
72,449

 
(76,461
)
 
4,012

 

 

Net cash provided by (used for) financing
 
(106,201
)
 
(76,461
)
 
4,012

 

 
(178,650
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
(130,560
)
 
15

 
69

 

 
(130,476
)
Balance at beginning of the period
 
176,240

 
20

 
109

 

 
176,369

Balance at end of the period
 
$
45,680

 
$
35

 
$
178

 
$

 
$
45,893


93

Table of Contents



Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Boise Cascade Company:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Boise Cascade Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2014. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Boise Cascade Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Boise Cascade Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 25, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


/s/ KPMG LLP


Boise, Idaho
February 25, 2015

94

Table of Contents



Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Boise Cascade Company:

We have audited Boise Cascade Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Boise Cascade Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying management’s report on internal control over financial reporting included in Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Boise Cascade Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Boise Cascade Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2014, and our report dated February 25, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.


/s/ KPMG LLP


Boise, Idaho
February 25, 2015

95

Table of Contents



ITEM 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A.          CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Attached as exhibits to this Form 10-K are certifications of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), requires that we include these certifications with this report. This Controls and Procedures section includes information concerning the disclosure controls and procedures referred to in the certifications. You should read this section in conjunction with the certifications.
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
We maintain "disclosure controls and procedures," as Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act defines such term. We have designed these controls and procedures to reasonably assure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this Form 10-K, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. We have also designed our disclosure controls to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to our senior management, including the chief executive officer (CEO) and chief financial officer (CFO), as appropriate, to allow them to make timely decisions regarding our required disclosures.
 
Under an Outsourcing Services Agreement, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) provides a number of corporate staff services to us. These services include, but are not limited to, information technology, accounting, and human resource transactional services. Our management, with the participation of our CEO and CFO, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, including the effectiveness of the services provided to us under the Outsourcing Services Agreement, as of the end of the year covered by this Form 10-K. Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in meeting the objectives for which they were designed and were operating at a reasonable assurance level.

On November 17, 2014, we amended the Outsourcing Services Agreement with PCA to provide for the termination of substantially all administrative services provided by PCA to us. For those services scheduled to be terminated, the expiration dates are planned to occur between March 2015 and December 2015. Services for which the amendment does not provide expiration dates will generally continue under the same terms and conditions as set forth in the base agreement. As these services transition to us and our employees, we will analyze and evaluate the impact these changes may have on our internal controls over financial reporting and where necessary, will implement changes in controls and procedures relating to our business.
 
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures
 
In designing and evaluating our disclosure and/or internal controls and procedures, we recognized that no matter how well conceived and well operated, a control system can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of its inherent limitations, a control system, no matter how well designed, may not prevent or detect misstatements due to error or fraud. Additionally, in designing a control system, our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. We have also designed our disclosure and internal controls and procedures based in part upon assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.

Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The management of Boise Cascade Company (Boise Cascade) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:


96

Table of Contents

pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and dispositions of assets;

provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

provide reasonable assurance that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and

provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Internal control over financial reporting includes the controls themselves, monitoring and internal auditing practices, and actions taken to correct deficiencies as identified. As of December 31, 2014, management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of Boise Cascade's internal control over financial reporting, including the effectiveness of the services provided to us under the Outsourcing Services Agreement with PCA, based on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in "Internal Control—Integrated Framework" (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management has concluded as of December 31, 2014, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report, which is included herein.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

On November 17, 2014, we amended the Outsourcing Services Agreement with PCA to provide for the termination of substantially all administrative services provided by PCA to us, which expiration dates are planned to occur between March 2015 and December 2015. Services for which the amendment does not provide expiration dates will generally continue under the same terms and conditions as set forth in the base agreement. These administration services, including information technology, accounting, and human resource transactional services, will transition from PCA to us upon expiration. During and after transition, our information technology systems will remain in place with many of the administrative services performed by newly hired employees, many of whom we expect to transition from PCA to Boise Cascade employment. As a result, management, with the participation of the CEO and CFO, has determined that the anticipated change of performing these services internally and without the services of PCA is reasonably likely to materially affect the structure of our internal controls over financial reporting. There was no other change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our latest fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.    OTHER INFORMATION

None.

97

Table of Contents



PART III

ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

For information with respect to the executive officers of the Registrant, see Item 1, Executive Officers of the Registrant, of this Form 10-K.
We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of our employees, including our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and principal accounting officer. Our Code of Ethics is available on our website at www.bc.com by clicking on About Boise Cascade and then Code of Ethics. Our website is not part of, and is not incorporated by reference to, this Form 10-K. If we amend or grant a waiver of one or more of the provisions of our Code of Ethics, we intend to satisfy the requirements under Item 5.05 of Item 8-K regarding the disclosure of amendments to or waivers from provisions of our Code of Ethics that apply to our principal executive officer and financial and accounting officers by posting the required information on our website at the above address.
The other information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 29, 2015, to be filed with the Commission no later than 120 days after December 31, 2014, in accordance with General Instruction G(3) to the Form 10-K.
    
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 29, 2015, to be filed with the Commission no later than 120 days after December 31, 2014, in accordance with General Instruction G(3) to the Form 10-K.

ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 29, 2015, to be filed with the Commission no later than 120 days after December 31, 2014, in accordance with General Instruction G(3) to the Form 10-K.

ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 29, 2015, to be filed with the Commission no later than 120 days after December 31, 2014, in accordance with General Instruction G(3) to the Form 10-K.

ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 29, 2015, to be filed with the Commission no later than 120 days after December 31, 2014, in accordance with General Instruction G(3) to the Form 10-K.

98

Table of Contents


PART IV

ITEM 15.          EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
(a)    The following documents are filed as a part of this Form 10-K:

(1)    Consolidated Financial Statements

The Consolidated Financial Statements, the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and the Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Boise Cascade Company are presented in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.

-    Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012.

-
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012.

-     Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.

-    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012.

-
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012.

-    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

-    Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

(2)    Financial Statement Schedules

All financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are inapplicable, not required, or shown in the consolidated financial statements and notes in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.

(3)    Exhibits

A list of the exhibits required to be filed as part of this report is set forth in the Index to Exhibits and is incorporated by reference.

(b)    See Index to Exhibits

99

Table of Contents


SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
BOISE CASCADE COMPANY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Thomas E. Carlile
 
 
Thomas E. Carlile
 
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
Date:  February 25, 2015

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below on February 25, 2015, by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated.

 
 
Signature
 
Capacity
 
 
 
 
 
 
(i)
 
Principal Executive Officer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Thomas E. Carlile
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Thomas E. Carlile
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(ii)
 
Principal Financial Officer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Wayne M. Rancourt
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
 
 
Wayne M. Rancourt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(iii)
 
Principal Accounting Officer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Kelly E. Hibbs
 
Vice President and Controller
 
 
Kelly E. Hibbs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(iv)
 
Directors:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Duane C. McDougall
 
/s/ Mack L. Hogans
 
 
Duane C. McDougall, Chairman
 
Mack L. Hogans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Thomas E. Carlile
 
/s/ Kristopher J. Matula
 
 
Thomas E. Carlile
 
Kristopher J. Matula
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Richard H. Fleming
 
/s/ Christopher J. McGowan
 
 
Richard H. Fleming
 
Christopher J. McGowan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Karen E. Gowland
 
/s/ Matthew W. Norton
 
 
Karen E. Gowland
 
Matthew W. Norton
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ David H. Hannah
 
 
 
 
David H. Hannah
 
 


100

Table of Contents

BOISE CASCADE COMPANY
 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
Filed or Furnished With This Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2014

Exhibit Number
Exhibit Description
Incorporated by Reference
Filed or Furnished Herewith
Form
File Number
Exhibit Number
Filing
Date
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.1
Asset Purchase Agreement dated July 26, 2004, between Boise Cascade Corporation (now OfficeMax Incorporated), Boise Southern Company, Minidoka Paper Company, Forest Products Holdings, L.L.C., and Boise Land & Timber Corp., as amended by First Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreement dated October 23, 2004, and as further amended by Second Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreement dated October 28, 2004
S-1
Amend. No. 3*
333-122770*
2.1*
5/2/2005*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.2
Purchase and Sale Agreement dated September 7, 2007, between Boise Cascade, L.L.C., Boise Paper Holdings, L.L.C., Boise White Paper, L.L.C., Boise Packaging & Newsprint, L.L.C., Boise Cascade Transportation Holdings Corp., Aldabra 2 Acquisition Corp., and Aldabra Sub LLC
8-K*
333-122770*
2.1*
9/13/2007*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.3
Amendment No. 1 (dated October 18, 2007) to Purchase and Sale Agreement dated September 7, 2007, between Boise Cascade, L.L.C., Boise Paper Holdings, L.L.C., Boise White Paper, L.L.C., Boise Packaging & Newsprint, L.L.C., Boise Cascade Transportation Holdings Corp., Aldabra 2 Acquisition Corp., and Aldabra Sub LLC
8-K*
333-122770*
2.1*
10/24/2007*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.4
Amendment No. 2 to Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated February 22, 2008, by and among Boise Cascade, L.L.C., Boise Paper Holdings, L.L.C., Boise Packaging & Newsprint, L.L.C., Boise White Paper, L.L.C., Boise Cascade Transportation Holdings Corp., Aldabra 2 Acquisition Corp., and Aldabra Sub LLC
8-K*
333-122770*
10.5*
2/28/2008*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.5
Limited Liability Company Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 19, 2013, by and among Chester Wood Products LLC, Moncure Plywood LLC, WR Operating LLC, Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., Wood Resources LLC, and Boise Cascade Company
8-K/A
001-35805
2.1
7/22/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.1
Form of Certificate of Conversion of Boise Cascade, L.L.C.
S-1 Amend. No. 3
333-184964
3.1
1/23/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

101

Table of Contents

3.2
Certificate of Incorporation of Boise Cascade Company
S-8
333-186871
4.1
2/26/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.3
Bylaws of Boise Cascade Company
S-8
333-186871
4.2
2/26/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.4
Form of stock certificate of Boise Cascade Company
S-1 Amend. No. 3
333-184964
4.3
1/23/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.1
Indenture dated October 22, 2012, by and among Boise Cascade, L.L.C., Boise Cascade Finance Corporation, Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C., as Guarantor, the other Guarantors named therein, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee
8-K*
333-122770*
4.1*
10/23/2012*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.2
Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2013, by and among Boise Cascade Company, the existing guarantors party thereto, Chester Wood Products LLC, Moncure Plywood LLC, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, to Indenture, dated as of October 22, 2012, by and among Boise Cascade Company, the guarantors party thereto, and U.S. Bank National Association
8-K
001-35805
4.1
10/2/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.1
Registration Rights Agreement dated February 8, 2013, by and between Boise Cascade Company and Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.
8-K
001-35805
10.1
2/13/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.2
Director Nomination Agreement dated February 11, 2013, by and among Boise Cascade Company and Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C., and Madison Dearborn Capital Partners IV, L.P.
8-K
001-35805
10.2
2/13/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.3
Credit Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2011, by and among Boise Cascade, L.L.C., Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution, L.L.C., and Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., as borrowers, and Boise Cascade Wood Products Holdings Corp., as guarantor, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, L.L.C., as Agent
10-Q*
333-122770*
10.1*
11/3/2011*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.4
First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 7, 2012, by and among Boise Cascade, L.L.C., Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution, L.L.C., and Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., as borrowers, Boise Cascade Wood Products Holdings Corp., as guarantors, the Lenders identified therein, and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as Agent
8-K*
333-122770*
10.1*
9/12/2012*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

102

Table of Contents

10.5
Limited Consent and Amendment to Loan Documents, dated as of December 20, 2012, by and among Boise Cascade, L.L.C., Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution, L.L.C., and Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., as borrowers, Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C., and Boise Cascade Wood Products Holdings Corp., as guarantors, the Lenders identified therein, and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as Agent
8-K*
333-122770*
10.1*
12/21/2012*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.6
Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2013, by and among the Lenders identified on the signature pages thereof, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as administrative agent, Boise Cascade Company, and the other Borrowers identified on the signature pages thereof
8-K
001-35805
10.1
5/21/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.7
Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of July 19, 2013, by and among Boise Cascade Company and the subsidiaries identified therein, as borrowers, the Lenders identified therein, and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as Agent
8-K
001-35805
10.1
7/22/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.8
Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 15, 2013, by and among the lenders party thereto, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as administrative agent, Boise Cascade Company, and the other borrowers and guarantors party thereto
8-K
001-35805
10.1
8/16/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.9
Sixth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of February 6, 2014, by and among the Lenders identified on the signature pages thereof, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as administrative agent, Boise Cascade Company, and the other Borrowers identified on the signatures pages thereof
10-Q
001-35805
10.1
5/8/2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.10
General Continuing Guaranty, dated as of December 20, 2012, by Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C., in favor of Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as Agent
8-K*
333-122770*
10.2*
12/21/2012*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.11
Intellectual Property License Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2008, between Boise Cascade, L.L.C., and Boise Paper Holdings, L.L.C.
8-K*
333-122770*
10.3*
2/28/2008*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.12
Outsourcing Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2008, between Boise Cascade, L.L.C., and Boise Paper Holdings, L.L.C.
8-K*
333-122770*
10.4*
2/28/2008*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

103

Table of Contents

10.13
Fifth Amendment to Outsourcing Services Agreement, dated as of November 17, 2014, between Boise Cascade Company and Boise Paper Holdings, L.L.C., a subsidiary of Packaging Corporation of America
8-K
001-35805
10.1
11/18/2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.14+
Employment Agreement dated November 20, 2008, between Duane C. McDougall and Boise Cascade, L.L.C.
8-K*
333-122770*
10.2*
11/25/2008*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.15+
Amendment to Employment Agreement dated February 20, 2009, between Boise Cascade, L.L.C., and Duane McDougall
8-K*
333-122770*
10.3*
2/26/2009*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.16+
Second Amendment to Employment Agreement effective August 16, 2009, between Boise Cascade, L.L.C., and Duane McDougall
10-Q*
333-122770*
10.1*
11/13/2009*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.17+
Letter Agreement effective August 16, 2009, Amending Severance Agreement between Wayne Rancourt and Boise Cascade, L.L.C.
10-Q*
333-122770*
10.3*
11/13/2009*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.18+
Executive Officer Severance Pay Policy, as amended through November 1, 2007  
8-K*
333-122770*
99.1*
11/2/2007*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.19+
Boise Cascade Company Supplemental Pension Plan, as amended through July 31, 2013
S-4
333-191191
10.17
9/16/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.20+
Boise Cascade Company Supplemental Early Retirement Plan for Executive Officers, as amended through July 31, 2013
S-4
333-191191
10.18
9/16/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.21+
Boise Cascade Company Supplemental Life Plan, as amended through July 31, 2013
S-4
333-191191
10.19
9/16/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.22+
Boise Cascade Company Financial Counseling Program, as amended through December 12, 2007
8-K*
333-122770*
99.4*
12/18/2007*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.23+
Boise Cascade Company Incentive and Performance Plan, as amended through July 31, 2013
S-4
333-191191
10.21
9/16/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.24+
2008 Annual Incentive Award Notifications with respect to Boise Cascade, L.L.C., Incentive and Performance Plan
10-Q*
333-122770*
10*
5/8/2008*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.25+
Boise Cascade Company 2010 Cash Long-Term Incentive Plan adopted October 28, 2009, effective January 1, 2010, and as amended through July 31, 2013
S-4
333-191191
10.23
9/16/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.26+
Retention Award Agreement entered into September 30, 2011, by and between Tom Carlile and Boise Cascade, L.L.C.
8-K*
333-122770*
10.1*
10/5/2011*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

104

Table of Contents

10.27+
Boise Cascade Company 2004 Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended through October 30, 2013
10-Q
001-35805
10.2
11/14/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.28+
Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C., Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended through November 1, 2009
10-K*
333-122770*
10.35*
3/1/2010*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.29+
Boise Cascade Company Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended through October 30, 2013
10-Q
001-35805
10.1
11/14/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.30+
Management Equity Agreement dated November 29, 2004, by and among Forest Products Holdings, L.L.C., and each of the persons listed on the signature pages thereto
S-1
Amend. No. 3*
333-122770*
10.25*
5/2/2005*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.31+
Management Equity Agreement dated April 3, 2006, by and among Forest Products Holdings, L.L.C., and each of the persons listed on the signature pages thereto
8-K*
333-122770*
99.1*
4/6/2006*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.32+
Amendment dated February 20, 2009, to Management Equity Agreement
8-K*
333-122770*
10.2*
2/26/2009*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.33+
Form of Repurchase Agreement and Amendment No. 1 to Management Equity Agreement dated May 23, 2008, by and among Forest Products Holdings, L.L.C., and each of the persons named on the signature pages thereto
8-K*
333-122770*
10.2*
5/28/2008*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.34+
Management Equity Agreement dated November 20, 2008, between Duane C. McDougall and Forest Products Holdings, L.L.C.
8-K*
333-122770*
10.3*
11/25/2008*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.35+
Amendment No. 1, effective August 16, 2009, to Management Equity Agreement dated November 20, 2008, between Duane C. McDougall and Forest Products Holdings, L.L.C.
10-Q*
333-122770*
10.2*
11/13/2009*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.36+
Director Equity Agreement dated April 3, 2006, by and among Forest Products Holdings, L.L.C., and each of the persons listed on the signature pages thereto
8-K*
333-122770*
99.2*
4/6/2006*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.37+
Amendment to Director Equity Agreement entered into February 20, 2009
8-K*
333-122770*
10.3*
2/26/2009*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.38+
Form of Officer Severance Agreement (between Boise Cascade, L.L.C., and all elected officers)
S-1 Amend. No. 2
333-184964
10.32
1/4/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.39+
Form of Indemnification Agreement (for directors and officers affiliated with Madison Dearborn Partners, L.L.C)
8-K
001-35805
10.3
2/13/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

105

Table of Contents

10.40+
Form of Indemnification Agreement (for directors and officers not affiliated with Madison Dearborn Partners, L.L.C)
8-K
001-35805
10.4
2/13/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.41+
Boise Cascade Company 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan
8-K
001-35805
10.5
2/13/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.42
Share Repurchase Agreement, dated July 22, 2013, between Boise Cascade Company and Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.
8-K
001-35805
10.2
7/22/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12.1
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21.1
List of subsidiaries of Boise Cascade Company
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23.1
Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.1
CEO Certification pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.2
CFO Certification pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
32.1
CEO Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
32.2
CFO Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

+
Indicates exhibits that constitute management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.

*
Refers to prior filings of Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.

 

106