Employee Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

PCA has defined pension benefit plans for both salaried and hourly employees. The plans covering salaried employees are closed to new entrants with only certain current active participants still accruing benefits. The plans covering certain hourly employees are closed to new participants. We also have a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) and other nonqualified defined benefit pension plans that provide unfunded supplemental retirement benefits to certain of our executives and former executives. The SERP provides for incremental pension benefits in excess of those offered in our principal pension plans.

Other Postretirement Benefits

PCA provides postretirement medical benefits for certain salaried employees and postretirement medical and life insurance benefits for certain hourly employees. For salaried employees, the plan covers employees retiring from PCA on or after attaining age 58 who have had at least 10 years of full-time service with PCA after attaining age 48. For hourly employees, the postretirement medical and life insurance coverage, where applicable, is available according to the eligibility provisions contained in the applicable collective bargaining agreement in effect at the employee’s work location.

Obligations and Funded Status of Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Plans

The funded status of PCA's plans change from year to year based on the plan asset investment return, contributions, benefit payments, the discount rate used to measure the liability, and expected participant longevity. The following table, which includes only company-sponsored defined benefit and other postretirement benefit plans, reconciles the beginning and ending balances of the projected benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets. We recognize the unfunded status of these plans on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and we recognize changes in funded status in the year changes occur through the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (dollars in millions):



	Pension Plans						Postretirement Plans
	Year Ended December 31						Year Ended December 31
	2015			2014			2015			2014
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of period	$	1,129.6		$	929.8		$	31.9		$	26.3
Service cost	24.0			22.7			1.7			1.6
Interest cost	46.2			45.9			1.2			1.2
Plan amendments	3.0			2.6			—			—
Actuarial (gain) loss (a)	(75.7		)	159.2			(11.4		)	4.1
Special termination benefits	—			0.3			—			—
Participant contributions	—			—			1.2			1.2
Benefits paid	(34.6		)	(30.9		)	(3.2		)	(2.5		)
Benefit obligation at plan year end	$	1,092.5		$	1,129.6		$	21.4		$	31.9
Accumulated benefit obligation portion of above	$	1,048.5		$	1,078.6

Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of period	$	805.9		$	772.1		$	—		$	—
Actual return on plan assets	(8.1		)	63.4			—			—
Company contributions	1.2			1.3			2.0			1.3
Participant contributions	—			—			1.2			1.2
Benefits paid	(34.6		)	(30.9		)	(3.2		)	(2.5		)
Fair value of plan assets at plan year end	$	764.4		$	805.9		$	—		$	—

Underfunded status	$	(328.1	)	$	(323.7	)	$	(21.4	)	$	(31.9	)

Amounts Recognized on Consolidated Balance Sheets
Current liabilities	$	(0.9	)	$	(1.1	)	$	(1.1	)	$	(1.4	)
Noncurrent liabilities	(327.2		)	(322.6		)	(20.3		)	(30.5		)
Accrued obligation recognized at December 31	$	(328.1	)	$	(323.7	)	$	(21.4	)	$	(31.9	)
Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss (Pre-Tax)
Prior service cost	$	25.1		$	27.6		$	0.2		$	0.3
Actuarial loss	149.4			172.6			(6.0		)	5.5
Total	$	174.5		$	200.2		$	(5.8	)	$	5.8

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(a)	In 2015, the increase in the weighted average discount rate used to estimate our pension benefit obligations and changes in mortality assumptions from the Society of Actuaries resulted in an actuarial gain. The actuarial loss in 2014 was due primarily to a decrease in the weighted average discount rate and updated mortality assumptions.

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss

The components of net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive (income) loss (pretax) were as follows (dollars in millions):



	Pension Plans									Postretirement Plans
	Year Ended December 31									Year Ended December 31
	2015			2014			2013			2015			2014			2013
Service cost	$	24.0		$	22.7		$	24.5		$	1.7		$	1.6		$	2.1
Interest cost	46.2			45.9			21.5			1.2			1.2			1.3
Expected return on plan assets	(53.1		)	(50.7		)	(21.4		)	—			—			—
Special termination benefits	—			0.3			—			—			—			—
Net amortization of unrecognized amounts
Prior service cost	5.5			6.5			6.2			0.1			(0.2		)	(0.4		)
Actuarial loss	8.7			0.6			4.7			0.1			0.1			0.5
Curtailment loss (a)	—			—			10.9			—			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	31.3		$	25.3		$	46.4		$	3.1		$	2.7		$	3.5

Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss
Actuarial net (gain) loss	$	(14.5	)	$	146.4		$	(58.7	)	$	(11.4	)	$	4.2		$	(7.8	)
Prior service cost	3.0			2.6			13.8			—			—			—
Amortization of prior service cost	(5.5		)	(6.5		)	(6.2		)	(0.1		)	0.2			0.4
Amortization of actuarial loss	(8.7		)	(0.6		)	(4.7		)	(0.1		)	(0.1		)	(0.5		)
Curtailment loss (a)	—			—			(10.9		)	—			—			—
Total recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss (b)	(25.7		)	141.9			(66.7		)	(11.6		)	4.3			(7.9		)
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive (income) loss - pretax	$	5.6		$	167.2		$	(20.3	)	$	(8.5	)	$	7.0		$	(4.4	)

___________


(a)	In 2013, we recognized curtailment losses in "Other expense, net" in the Consolidated Statements of Income for recent USW negotiations, resulting in the bifurcation of the active USW population between those grandfathered in the current formula (with continued accruals) and non-grandfathered in the current formula (frozen benefits at the contract date).

(b)

Accumulated losses in excess of 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the market-related value of assets will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of active employees, which is between seven to ten years, to the extent that losses are not offset by gains in subsequent years. The estimated net loss and prior service cost that will be amortized from "Accumulated other comprehensive loss" into pension expense in 2016 is $10.5 million.

The accumulated benefit obligations for the plans with obligations in excess of plan assets, is $1.05 billion.

Assumptions

The following table presents the assumptions used in the measurement of our benefits obligations:



	Pension Plans			Postretirement Plans
	December 31			December 31
	2015	2014	2013	2015	2014	2013
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligations at December 31
Discount rate	4.51%	4.14%	5.00%	4.35%	3.95%	4.85%
Rate of compensation increase	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	N/A	N/A	N/A
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost for the Years Ended December 31
Discount rate	4.14%	5.00%	4.57%	3.95%	4.85%	4.00%
Expected return on plan assets	6.73%	6.69%	6.53%	N/A	N/A	N/A
Rate of compensation increase	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	N/A	N/A	N/A

Discount Rate Assumption. The discount rate reflects the current rate at which the pension obligations could be settled on the measurement date: December 31. The discount rate assumption used to calculate the present value of pension and postretirement benefit obligations reflects the rates available on high-quality, fixed-income debt instruments on December 31. In all periods, the bonds included in the models reflect anticipated investments that would be made to match the expected monthly benefit payments over time. The plans' projected cash flows were duration-matched to these models to develop an appropriate discount rate.

Beginning in 2016, we refined the method used to determine the service and interest cost components of our net periodic benefit cost. Previously, the cost was determined using a single weighted-average discount rate derived from the yield curve. Under the refined method, known as the spot rate approach, we will use individual spot rates along the yield curve that correspond with the timing of each benefit payment. We believe this change provides a more precise measurement of service and interest costs by improving the correlation between projected cash outflows and corresponding spot rates on the yield curve. Compared to the previous method, the spot rate approach will decrease the service and interest components of our benefit costs about $8 million in 2016. There is no impact on the total benefit obligation. We will account for this change prospectively as a change in accounting estimate.

Asset Return Assumption. The expected return on plan assets reflects the expected long-term rates of return for the categories of investments currently held in the plans as well as anticipated returns for additional contributions made in the future. The expected long-term rate of return is adjusted when there are fundamental changes in expected returns on the plan investments. The weighted-average expected return on plan assets we will use in our calculation of 2016 net periodic pension benefit cost is 6.57%.

Rate of Compensation Increase. The rate of compensation increase is determined by PCA based upon annual reviews. The compensation increase assumption is not applicable for all plans as many of our pension plans are frozen and not accruing benefits.

Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumptions. PCA assumed health care cost trend rates for its postretirement benefits plans were as follows:



	2015	2014	2013
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year	7.60%	7.75%	7.75%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)	4.50%	5.00%	5.00%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate	2024	2023	2020

Postretirement Health Care Plan Assumptions. For postretirement health care plan accounting, PCA reviews external data and its own historical trends for health care costs to determine the health care cost trend rate assumption.

A one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects on the 2015 postretirement benefit obligation and the 2015 net post retirement benefit cost (dollars in millions):



	1-Percentage Point Increase		1-Percentage Point Decrease
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation	$	0.8	$	(0.7	)
Effect on net postretirement benefit cost	—		(0.1		)

Investment Policies and Strategies

PCA has retained the services of professional advisors to oversee pension investments and provide recommendations regarding investment strategy. PCA’s overall strategy and related apportionments between equity and debt securities may change from time to time based on market conditions, external economic factors, and the funded status of the plans. 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 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. Assets of our pension plans were invested in the following classes of securities at December 31, 2015 and 2014:



	Percentage of Fair Value
	2015		2014
Fixed income securities	55	%	54	%
International equity securities	22		23
Domestic equity securities	20		20
Real estate securities	1		1
Other	2		2

At December 31, 2015, the targeted investment allocations differed between the acquired Boise plans and PCA's historical plans based on funded status. At December 31, 2015, PCA's historical plans, which comprised $275.2 million of the fair value of plan assets, targeted 39% invested in equities, 58% invested in bonds, and 3% in other, whereas the Boise plans, which comprised $489.2 million of the total fair value of plan assets, targeted 45% in equities and 55% in bonds. Our retirement committee reviews the investment allocations for reasonableness at a minimum, semi-annually.

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. Due to the level of risk associated with some 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.

Fair Value Measurements of Plan Assets

The following tables set forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, discussed in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, the pension plan assets, by major asset category, at fair value at December 31, 2015 and 2014 (dollars in millions):



	Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2015
Asset Category	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
Short-term investments (a)	$	—	$	4.1	$	—	$	4.1
Mutual funds (b):
Domestic equities	47.1		—		—		47.1
International equities	50.7		—		—		50.7
Real estate	8.5		—		—		8.5
Fixed income	156.5		—		—		156.5
Common/collective trust funds (a):
Domestic equities	—		104.4		—		104.4
International equities	—		121.6		—		121.6
Fixed income	—		263.0		—		263.0
Private equity securities (c)	—		—		6.4		6.4
Total securities at fair value	$	262.8	$	493.1	$	6.4	$	762.3
Receivables and accrued expenses							2.1
Total fair value of plan assets							$	764.4



	Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014
Asset Category	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
Short-term investments (a)	$	—	$	1.8	$	—	$	1.8
Mutual funds (b):
Domestic equities	38.2		—		—		38.2
International equities	49.9		—		—		49.9
Real estate	8.9		—		—		8.9
Fixed income	178.2		—		—		178.2
Common/collective trust funds (a):
Domestic equities	—		122.3		—		122.3
International equities	—		137.8		—		137.8
Fixed income	—		259.3		—		259.3
Private equity securities (c)	—		—		8.1		8.1
Total securities at fair value	$	275.2	$	521.2	$	8.1	$	804.5
Receivables and accrued expenses							1.4
Total fair value of plan assets							$	805.9

____________

(a)

Investments in common/collective trust funds valued using net asset values (NAV) provided by the administrator of the funds. We use NAV as a practical expedient to fair value. The NAV is based on the value of the underlying assets owned by the fund, minus its liabilities, and then divided by the number of units outstanding. While the underlying assets are actively traded on an exchange, the funds are not. There are currently no redemption restrictions on these investments. There are certain funds with one-day redeemable notice.


(b)	Investments in mutual funds valued at quoted market values on the last business day of the fiscal year.

(c)

Investments in this category are invested in the Pantheon Global Secondary Fund IV, LP. The fund specializes in investments in the private equity secondary market and occasionally directly in private companies to maximize capital growth. Fund investments are carried at fair value as determined quarterly using the market approach to estimate the fair value of private investments. The market approach utilizes prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions, type of security, size of the position, degree of liquidity, restrictions on the disposition, latest round of financing data, current financial position, and operating results, among other factors. In circumstances where fair values are not provided with respect to any of the company's fund investments, the investment advisor will seek to determine the fair value of such investments based on information provided by the general partners or managers of such funds or from other sources. Audited financial statements are provided by fund management annually. Notwithstanding the above, the variety of valuation bases adopted and quality of management data of the ultimate underlying investee companies 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. Boise had originally committed to a $15.0 million investment, with $5.0 million of the commitment unfunded at December 31, 2015.

The following table sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the pension plans' Level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2015 (dollars in millions):



	2015
Balance, beginning of year	$	8.1
Sales	(1.8		)
Unrealized gain	0.1
Balance, end of year	$	6.4

Funding and Cash Flows

PCA makes pension plan contributions that are sufficient to fund its actuarially determined costs, generally equal to the minimum amounts required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). From time to time, PCA may make discretionary contributions based on the funded status of the plans, tax deductibility, income from operations, and other factors. In 2015, we did not make any contributions to our qualified pension plans. We made contributions of $0.4 million and $30.0 million to our qualified pension plans in 2014 and 2013, respectively. We expect to contribute at least the estimated required minimum contributions to our qualified pension plans of approximately $27 million in 2016.

The following are estimated benefit payments to be paid to current plan participants by year (dollars in millions). Qualified pension benefit payments are paid from plan assets, while nonqualified pension benefit payments are paid by the Company.



	Pension Plans		Postretirement Plans
2016	$	37.8	$	1.1
2017	40.9		1.1
2018	44.8		1.3
2019	48.6		1.3
2020	52.4		1.5
2021 - 2025	312.7		7.9

Defined Contribution Plans

Some of our employees participate in contributory defined contribution savings plans, available to most of our salaried and hourly employees. The defined contribution plans permit participants to make contributions by salary reduction pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Code. PCA made employer-matching contributions of $37.9 million, $28.3 million, and $15.0 million in 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. Company matching contributions to certain full-time salaried employees were made in company stock, through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). All other matching contributions were in cash. Beginning in 2016, all company matching contributions to all employees will be made in cash. We expense employer matching contributions and charge dividends on shares held by the ESOP to retained earnings. Shares of company stock held by the ESOP are included in basic shares for earnings-per-share computations. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the ESOP held 3.1 million and 2.2 million shares of company stock, respectively.

Certain salaried and hourly employees that are not participating in a PCA sponsored defined benefit pension plan receive a service-related company retirement contribution to their defined contribution plan account in addition to any employer matching contribution. This contribution increases with years of service and ranges from 3% to 5% of base pay. We contributed $12.4 million, $7.4 million, and $5.3 million for this retirement contribution during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.

Deferred Compensation Plans

Key managers can elect to participate in a deferred compensation plan. The deferred compensation plan is unfunded; therefore, benefits are paid from our general assets. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, we had $12.8 million and $12.4 million, respectively, of liabilities attributable to participation in our deferred compensation plan on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.