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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, 2002

/ /

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

For the transition period from                                      to                                     

Commission File Number: 1-5057

BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware   82-0100960
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1111 West Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 50, Boise, Idaho

 

83728
(Address of principal executive officers)   (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, $2.50 par value

 

New York Stock Exchange
American & Foreign Power Company Inc.
    Debentures, 5% Series due 2030
  New York Stock Exchange
Common Stock Purchase Rights   New York Stock Exchange
7.5% Adjustable Conversion-Rate Equity
    Security Units (Issued by Boise Cascade Trust I)
  New York Stock Exchange

        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 / /

        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of 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 /X/ .

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes /X/ No / /

        The aggregate market value of the voting common stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the price at which the common stock was sold as of the close of business on June 30, 2002, was $2,010,905,240. Registrant does not have any nonvoting common equities.

        Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.

Class
Common Stock, $2.50 par value
  Shares Outstanding
as of January 31, 2003
58,291,089

Document incorporated by reference

        Portions of the registrant's proxy statement relating to its 2003 annual meeting of shareholders to be held on April 17, 2003 ("Boise Cascade Corporation's proxy statement") are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.






Table of Contents


PART I

Item 1.

 

Business

 

1
    Boise Office Solutions   1
    Boise Building Solutions   2
    Timber Resources   3
    Boise Paper Solutions   5
    Competition   7
    Environmental Issues   8
    Employees   8
    Identification of Executive Officers   8
    Capital Investment   8
    Energy   8

Item 2.

 

Properties

 

8
    Boise Office Solutions   9
    Boise Building Solutions   9
    Boise Paper Solutions   9
    Timber Resources   9

Item 3.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

10

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

10

PART II

Item 5.

 

Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

 

11
    Shareholder Rights Plan   11

Item 6.

 

Selected Financial Data

 

12

Item 7.

 

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

 

13
    Summary   13
    Results of Operations   14
    Boise Office Solutions   17
    Boise Building Solutions   20
    Boise Paper Solutions   23
    Financial Condition and Liquidity   24
    Timber Supply and Environmental Issues   31
    Critical Accounting Estimates   33
    New Accounting Standards   35
    Outlook   36
    Forward-Looking Statements   36

Item 7A.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

37

i



Item 8.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

38
    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   43
    1.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies   43
    2.   Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share   49
    3.   Other (Income) Expense, Net   50
    4.   Income Taxes   50
    5.   Leases   52
    6.   Receivables   52
    7.   Investments in Equity Affiliates   52
    8.   Goodwill and Intangible Assets   53
    9.   Debt   55
    10.   Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Securities of Subsidiary Trust   57
    11.   Financial Instruments   57
    12.   Retirement and Benefit Plans   58
    13.   Shareholders' Equity   61
    14.   Restructuring Activities   64
    15.   Boise Office Solutions Acquisitions and Divestitures   65
    16.   Segment Information   66
    17.   Commitments and Guarantees   70
    18.   Legal Proceedings and Contingencies   71
    19.   Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited)   72
    Independent Auditors' Report   73
    Report of Management   75

Item 9.

 

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

76

PART III

Item 10.

 

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

 

77

Item 11.

 

Executive Compensation

 

79

Item 12.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

79

Item 13.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

80

PART IV

Item 14.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

81

Item 15.

 

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K

 

81

 

 

Index to Exhibits

 

87

ii




PART I


ITEM 1. BUSINESS

        As used in this 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms "Boise" and "we" include Boise Cascade Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries and predecessors. Our Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, which include this Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all related amendments, are available online at www.bc.com, Investor Relations, SEC filings. These reports are available soon after they are electronically filed with the SEC.

        Boise is a major distributor of office products and building materials and an integrated manufacturer and distributor of paper, packaging, and wood products. We are headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with domestic and international operations. We own or control over 2 million acres of timberland in the United States. We were incorporated under the laws of Delaware in 1931 under the name Boise Payette Lumber Company of Delaware, as a successor to an Idaho corporation formed in 1913. In 1957, our name was changed to Boise Cascade Corporation.

        Financial information pertaining to each of our industry segments and to each of our geographic areas for the years 2002, 2001, and 2000 is presented in Note 16, "Segment Information," of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.

        Our sales and income are affected by the industry supply of products relative to the level of demand and by changing economic conditions in the markets we serve. Demand for paper and paper products and for office products correlates closely with real growth in the gross domestic product and with white-collar employment levels. Paper and paper products and building products operations are also affected by supply and demand in international markets and by customer inventory levels. Our building products businesses are dependent on repair-and-remodel activity, housing starts, and commercial and industrial building, which in turn are influenced by the availability and cost of mortgage funds. Declines in building activity that may occur during winter affect our building products businesses. In addition, some operating costs may increase at facilities affected by cold weather. Seasonal influences, however, are generally not significant to the company overall.

        We have no unusual working capital practices. We believe the management practices followed by Boise with respect to working capital conform to common business practices in the United States.

        We engage in acquisition and divestiture discussions with other companies and make acquisitions and divestitures from time to time. It is our policy to review our operations periodically and to dispose of assets which fail to meet our criteria for return on investment or which cease to warrant retention for other reasons. (See Notes 3, 14, and 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.)


Boise Office Solutions

        Boise distributes a broad line of items for the office, including office supplies and paper, technology products, and office furniture, through our Boise Office Solutions segment. Substantially all products sold by this segment are purchased from outside manufacturers or from industry wholesalers, except office papers, which are sourced primarily from our paper operations. Boise Office Solutions sells these office products directly to large corporate, government, and small- and medium-sized offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.

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        Customers with more than one location are often served under the terms of one national contract that provides consistent products, prices, and service to multiple locations. If the customer desires, we also provide summary billings, usage reporting, and other special services. At January 31, 2003, Boise Office Solutions operated 63 distribution centers, 2 outbound sales centers, 4 customer service centers, and 2 wholesale/manufacturing facilities. Boise Office Solutions also operated over 100 retail stores in Canada, Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand.

        Boise Office Solutions sales for 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, and 1998 were $3,546 million, $3,536 million, $3,697 million, $3,397 million, and $3,081 million, respectively.


Boise Building Solutions

        Boise is a major producer of structural panels (plywood and oriented strand board), lumber, and particleboard through our Boise Building Solutions segment. We also manufacture engineered wood products consisting of laminated veneer lumber (LVL), which is a high-strength engineered structural lumber product; wood I-joists; and laminated beams. Most of our production is sold to independent wholesalers and dealers and through our own wholesale building materials distribution outlets. Our wood products are used primarily in housing, industrial construction, and a variety of manufactured products. Wood products manufacturing sales for 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, and 1998 were $774 million, $792 million, $882 million, $958 million, and $913 million, respectively, while building materials distribution sales for the same years were $1,696 million, $1,596 million, $1,601 million, $1,289 million, and $873 million.

        The following table lists annual practical capacities of our wood products manufacturing facilities as of December 31, 2002, and production for 2002:

 
  Number of
Mills

  Capacity at
December 31, 2002(a)

  Production
 
   
  (millions)

             
Plywood and veneer (sq ft) (3/8" basis)(b)   11   1,805   1,783
Oriented strand board (OSB) (sq ft) (3/8" basis)(c)   1   420   416
Particleboard (sq ft) (3/4" basis)   1   200   192
Lumber (board feet)   7   400   392
Engineered wood products(d)   3        
  Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) (cubic feet)       19   12.2
  I-joists (equivalent lineal feet)(d)         167
Brazilian veneer (sq ft) 3/8" basis(e)   1   150   58
(a)
Capacity is production assuming normal operating shift configurations.

(b)
Production and capacity applicable to plywood only.

(c)
In 1995, we formed a joint venture to build an oriented strand board (OSB) plant in Barwick, Ontario, Canada. We own 47% of the joint venture and account for it on the equity method. A subsidiary of Abitibi-Consolidated, Inc., the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Allstate Insurance Company hold the other 53%. The 420 million square feet of annual capacity represents 100% of the production volume.

(d)
A portion of laminated veneer lumber production is used to manufacture I-joists at two engineered wood products plants. Capacity is based on laminated veneer lumber production only.

(e)
About 70% of the veneer is intended for production of LVL at our plant in Alexandria, Louisiana. We expect the remainder to be processed into plywood in Brazil.

2


        The following table lists sales volumes for our building materials manufacturing business for the years indicated:

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
  1999
  1998
 
  (millions)

                     
Plywood (sq ft) (3/8" basis)   1,788   1,816   1,881   1,529   1,815
Oriented strand board (sq ft) (3/8" basis)(a)   417   389   397   374   347
Particleboard (sq ft) (3/4" basis)   189   199   193   187   190
Lumber (board feet)   395   398   461   517   572
Laminated veneer lumber (cubic feet)   7.8   6.7   6.3   5.5   3.8
I-joists (equivalent lineal feet)   166   156   142   135   106
(a)
Represents 100% of the sales volume from our joint venture, of which we own 47%.

        In 2001, we began construction of a new facility near Elma, Washington, to manufacture integrated wood-polymer building materials. The plant should start up early in 2003. The initial product will be exterior siding marketed under the name HomePlate™ siding. This siding will be manufactured from recycled plastic and urban wood. We will market the product in the western United States and Canada and will distribute it primarily through our building materials distribution business.

        In fourth quarter 2001, our wholly owned subsidiary, Boise Cascade do Brasil Ltda., began operating a veneer and plywood mill in the city of Guaiba, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The mill, which uses plantation eucalyptus, is able to produce 150 million square feet of 3/8" veneer a year. About 70% of the veneer is intended for production of LVL at our plant in Alexandria, Louisiana. We expect the remainder to be processed into plywood in Brazil.

        Boise operates 28 wholesale building materials distribution facilities. These operations market a wide range of building materials, including lumber, plywood, oriented strand board, particleboard, decking, engineered wood products, paneling, drywall, builders' hardware, and metal products. These products are distributed to retail lumber dealers, home centers specializing in the do-it-yourself market, and industrial customers. A portion (approximately 23%) of the lumber, panels, and engineered wood products sold by our distribution operations is provided by our manufacturing facilities, and the balance is purchased from outside sources.


Timber Resources

        Boise owns or controls approximately 2.4 million acres of timberland in the United States. Our timberlands are managed as part of our Boise Building Solutions and Boise Paper Solutions segments. The impact of our timberlands on our results of operations is included in these segments. The amount of timber we harvest each year from our timber resources, compared with the amount we purchase from outside sources, varies according to the price and supply of timber for sale on the open market and according to what we deem to be in the interest of sound management of our timberlands. During 2002, 49% of our fiber needs were met by internal sources, 39% were provided by private sources, and 12% were met by government sources. During 2001, these percentages were 44%, 47%, and 9%, and in 2000, they were 41%, 47%, and 12%. Over the past several years, the amount of timber available for commercial harvest from public lands in the United States has declined significantly due to environmental litigation and changes in government policy. In 2001, we closed our plywood and lumber operations in Emmett, Idaho, and our sawmill in Cascade, Idaho, due to the significant decline in federal timber offered for sale. Further constraints on timber supply, both on public and private lands, that would affect our remaining facilities may be

3



imposed in the future. As a result, we cannot accurately predict future log supply and costs. Additional curtailments or closures of our wood products manufacturing facilities are possible.

        In March 2002, we announced that we will discontinue harvesting from old-growth forests by 2004. Less than 1% of our wood supply comes from old-growth forests, most of it from federal lands. We are making no new commitments to enter into federal timber contracts that require harvest of timber from old-growth forests. This announcement formally recognized a trend that Boise had already been following and will not materially affect our available timber supply.

        In 2002, we purchased approximately 28,000 acres of timberland to support the operations of our plywood and lumber mills in northeastern Oregon. We also sold approximately 4,600 acres in Alabama. In 2001, we purchased approximately 19,000 acres of timberland to support the operations of our pulp and paper mill in Jackson, Alabama. Fiber for our veneer and plywood plant in Brazil is initially coming from private sources. Boise manages the land and trees and schedules the harvest for one of these private sources in Brazil under multiyear agreements. This private source provides a significant portion of our plant's fiber needs. In 2001, we also purchased approximately 35,000 acres of eucalyptus plantation land in Brazil to meet the future fiber requirements of the plant.

        Long-term leases of private timberlands generally provide Boise with timber harvesting rights and carry with them the responsibility for managing the timberlands. The remaining life of all leases ranges from 14 to 63 years. In addition, we have an option to purchase approximately 205,000 acres of timberland under lease and/or contract in the southern United States. We seek to maximize the utilization of our timberlands through efficient management so that the timberlands will provide a sustained supply of wood for future needs. To do this, we work to improve tree selection, site preparation, planting, fertilization, thinning, and logging techniques. Using standard plant breeding techniques, we are able to plant and grow trees that are inherently larger and stronger and provide faster growth, increased disease resistance, and a higher proportion of usable fiber. Computerization enables us to compile and analyze complex data to identify the most beneficial level of management for specific timberland tracts.

        During 2002, our mills processed approximately 184 million cubic feet of sawtimber (timber used to make lumber and veneer) and 181 million cubic feet of pulpwood (timber used in papermaking); 51% of the sawtimber and 38% of the pulpwood were harvested from our owned or controlled timber resources. The balance was acquired from various private and government sources. Approximately 59% of the 1.1 million bone-dry units (a bone-dry unit is 2,400 dry pounds) of hardwood and softwood chips consumed by our Northwest pulp and paper mills in 2002 were provided from our whole-log chipping facility, our cottonwood fiber farm, and our Northwest wood products manufacturing facilities as residuals from processing solid wood products. Of the 376,000 bone-dry units of residual chips used in the South, 50% were provided by our southern wood products manufacturing facilities.

        At December 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000, the acreages of owned or controlled timber resources by geographic area in the United States and the approximate percentages of total fiber

4



requirements available from our respective timber resources in these areas and from the residuals from processed purchased logs are shown in the following table:

 
  Northwest(a)
  Midwest(b)
  South(c)
  Total(d)
 
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
  2002
  2001
  2000
  2002
  2001
  2000
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
 
  (thousands of acres)

 
                                                   
Fee   1,310   1,281   1,279   308   308   308   434   438   419   2,052   2,027   2,006  
Leases and contracts   28   30   30         289   288   286   317   318   316  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    1,338   1,311   1,309   308   308   308   723   726   705   2,369   2,345   2,322  
Approximate % of total fiber requirements available from:(e)                                                  
  Owned or controlled timber resources   33 % 35 % 30 % 19 % 19 % 21 % 50 % 44 % 39 % 37 % 36 % 32 %
  Residuals from processed purchased logs   5   8   12         4   4   5   4   6   8  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total   38 % 43 % 42 % 19 % 19 % 21 % 54 % 48 % 44 % 41 % 42 % 40 %
(a)
Principally sawtimber.

(b)
Principally pulpwood.

(c)
Sawtimber and pulpwood.

(d)
At December 31, 2002, our inventory of sawtimber that is mature enough to be harvested and processed was approximately 1,492 million cubic feet, and our inventory of pulpwood was approximately 953 million cubic feet. At December 31, 2001, these inventories were approximately 1,440 million cubic feet of sawtimber and 872 million cubic feet of pulpwood, and at December 31, 2000, these inventories were approximately 1,431 million cubic feet of sawtimber and 863 million cubic feet of pulpwood.

(e)
Assumes harvesting company-owned or controlled timber resources to provide a dependable economic supply of wood fiber to our paper and wood products manufacturing facilities operating at practical capacity. Percentages shown represent weighted average consumption on a cubic foot basis.

        We assume substantially all risks of loss from fire and other casualties on all the standing timber we own, as do most owners of timber tracts.

        Additional information pertaining to our timber resources is presented under the caption "Timber Supply and Environmental Issues" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K.


Boise Paper Solutions

        Boise manufactures and sells uncoated free sheet papers (office papers, printing grades, forms bond, envelope papers, and value-added papers), containerboard, corrugated containers, newsprint, and market pulp through our Boise Paper Solutions segment. Boise Paper Solutions sales on a segment basis for 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, and 1998 were $1,878 million, $1,942 million, $2,048 million, $1,887 million, and $1,888 million, respectively.

        This business segment is focused primarily on uncoated free sheet papers and containerboard and corrugated containers. Uncoated free sheet represented 57% of segment revenues in 2002, containerboard and corrugated containers accounted for 21%, and newsprint accounted for 8%. Market pulp and wood fiber accounted for the remaining 14% of revenues.

        About 38% of our uncoated free sheet, including about 74% of our office papers, is sold through our office products business, and the equivalent of 54% of our containerboard production is consumed by our corrugated container plants.

        Our paper and containerboard are manufactured at five mills in the United States. These mills had an annual capacity of 2.9 million short tons at December 31, 2002. With the exception of

5



newsprint, our products are sold to distributors, including Boise Office Solutions, and industrial customers primarily by our own sales personnel. Newsprint is marketed by Abitibi-Consolidated, Inc. Our corrugated containers are manufactured at five U.S. plants, which have an annual capacity of approximately 6.0 billion square feet. The containers produced at our plants are used to package fresh fruit and vegetables, processed food, beverages, and many other industrial and consumer products. We sell our corrugated containers primarily through our own sales personnel.

        Our paper mills are supplied with pulp primarily from our own integrated pulp mills. Pulp mills in the Northwest manufacture chemical pulp from wood residuals produced as a byproduct of solid wood products manufacturing plants. They also obtain fiber from our cottonwood fiber farm near Wallula, Washington. Pulp mills in the Midwest and South manufacture chemical, thermomechanical, and groundwood pulp primarily from pulpwood logs and, to a lesser extent, from wood residuals from solid wood products facilities. We also process most of the recycled fiber used in our paper and containerboard products.

        Wood residuals are provided by our own sawmills and panel plants in the Northwest and, to a lesser extent, in the South, and the remainder is purchased from outside sources.

        The following table sets forth annual practical capacities of our paper manufacturing locations as of December 31, 2002, and production for 2002:

 
  Number of
Machines

  Capacity at
December 31, 2002(a)

  Production
 
   
  (short tons)

PULP AND PAPER MILLS            

Jackson, Alabama

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Uncoated free sheet   2   520,000   470,889
DeRidder, Louisiana            
  Containerboard   1   560,000   532,071
  Newsprint   2   440,000   399,843
International Falls, Minnesota            
  Uncoated free sheet   4   560,000   493,233
St. Helens, Oregon            
  Uncoated free sheet   3   250,000   245,559
  Market pulp     115,000   100,728
Wallula, Washington            
  Uncoated free sheet   1   240,000   235,283
  Market pulp   1   125,000   104,559
  Containerboard   1   130,000   122,143
   
 
 
    15   2,940,000   2,704,308
   
 
 

ANNUAL CAPACITY BY PRODUCT

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uncoated free sheet

 

 

 

1,570,000

 

 
Containerboard       690,000    
Newsprint       440,000    
Market pulp       240,000    
       
   
        2,940,000    
       
   
(a)
Capacity assumes 24-hour days, 365 days per year, except for days allotted for planned maintenance.

6


        The following table sets forth sales volumes of paper and paper products for the years indicated:

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
  1999
  1998
 
  (thousands of short tons)

                     
Uncoated free sheet   1,425   1,386   1,393   1,426   1,403
Containerboard   654   644   680   655   624
Newsprint   406   395   423   422   431
Market pulp and other   179   157   150   149   129
   
 
 
 
 
    2,664   2,582   2,646   2,652   2,587
   
 
 
 
 

 


 

(millions of square feet)


Corrugated containers

 

4,463

 

4,736

 

4,968

 

4,681

 

4,182


Competition

        All of the markets we serve are highly competitive, with a number of large companies operating in each. We compete in our markets principally through price, service, quality, and value-added products and services.

        The business-to-business office products market is highly competitive. Purchasers of office products have many options when purchasing office supplies and paper, technology products, and office furniture. We are among the four largest business-to-business contract stationers in the United States. We also compete with worldwide contract stationers, large retail office products suppliers, direct-mail distributors, discount retailers, drugstores, supermarkets, and thousands of local and regional contract stationers, many of whom have long-standing customer relationships. Competition is based principally on price and service. We believe our excellent customer service gives us a competitive advantage among business-to-business office products distributors. Our ability to network our distribution centers into an integrated system enables us to serve, at a competitive cost, large national accounts that rely on us to deliver consistent products, prices, and service to multiple locations.

        The building products markets in which we compete are very large and highly fragmented, with fewer than ten national producers but hundreds of local and regional manufacturers and distributors. In plywood, laminated veneer lumber, and I-joists, we are among the top five domestic producers. We hold much smaller competitive positions in other building products. Most of our competitors are located in the United States and Canada, although we have seen increasing competition from outside North America. We compete not only with manufacturers and distributors of similar building products but also with products made from alternative resources, such as steel and plastic. Many factors influence competition in the building products markets, chiefly price, quality, and service. Our attention to quality and customer service are our primary competitive advantages in this segment.

        Our major paper products are uncoated free sheet, containerboard, and newsprint, all of which are globally traded commodities with numerous worldwide manufacturers. About a dozen major manufacturers compete in the North American paper market. We are among the top five North American producers of uncoated free sheet papers. We hold much smaller positions in the newsprint and containerboard markets. Price, quality, and service are important competitive determinants across paper markets. All of our paper manufacturing facilities are located in the United States, and we compete largely in the domestic arena. We do, however, face competition

7



from foreign producers. The level of this competition varies depending on the level of demand abroad and the relative rates of currency exchange. In general, paper production does not rely on proprietary processes or formulas, except in highly specialized or custom grades.

        Our paper products also compete with electronic transmission and document storage options. As trends toward these options continue, we may see variances in the demand overall for paper products or shifts from one type of paper to another. For example, demand for newsprint grades may decline, and demand for office papers may increase, as newspapers are replaced with electronic media that can be downloaded and printed by the reader.


Environmental Issues

        Our discussion of environmental issues is presented under the caption "Timber Supply and Environmental Issues" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K. In addition, environmental issues are discussed under "Item 3. Legal Proceedings" of this Form 10-K.


Employees

        At December 31, 2002, we had 24,111 employees, 6,953 of whom were covered under collective bargaining agreements. No major collective bargaining agreements are set to expire in 2003.


Identification of Executive Officers

        Information with respect to our executive officers is set forth in "Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant" of this Form 10-K.


Capital Investment

        Information concerning our capital expenditures is presented under the caption "Investment Activities" and in the table titled "2002 Capital Investment by Segment" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K.


Energy

        The Boise Paper Solutions segment is our primary energy user. Sources of self-generated energy in this segment, such as wood wastes, pulping liquors, and hydroelectric power, provided 57% of total energy requirements in 2002, compared with 55% in 2001 and 57% in 2000. The remaining energy requirements were fulfilled by purchased sources in 2002 as follows: natural gas, 70%; electricity, 28%; and residual fuel oil, 2%.


ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

        We own substantially all of our facilities other than those in our Boise Office Solutions segment. The majority of the Boise Office Solutions facilities are rented under operating leases. Regular maintenance, renewal, and new construction programs have preserved the operating suitability and adequacy of our properties. Our properties are in good operating condition and are suitable and adequate for the operations for which they are used. We own substantially all equipment used in our facilities. Information concerning production capacity and the utilization of our manufacturing facilities is presented in "Item 1. Business" of this Form 10-K.

8



        Following is a list of our facilities by segment as of January 31, 2003. In addition, our corporate headquarters is located in Boise, Idaho, and our Boise Office Solutions business headquarters is located in Itasca, Illinois.


Boise Office Solutions

        63 distribution centers in Arizona, California (2), Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida (2), Georgia, Hawaii (4), Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri (2), Nevada, New Mexico, New York (2), North Carolina, Ohio (2), Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania (2), Tennessee (2), Texas (2), Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Canada (7), Mexico, Australia (8), and New Zealand (5).

        2 outbound sales centers in Illinois and Oklahoma.

        4 customer service centers in Illinois (2), Virginia, and Wyoming.

        2 wholesale/manufacturing facilities in New Zealand.

        104 retail stores in Canada (71), Hawaii (4), Australia (5), and New Zealand (24).


Boise Building Solutions

        7 sawmills in Alabama, Oregon (3), and Washington (3).

        12 plywood and veneer plants in Louisiana (2), Oregon (7), Washington (2), and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

        1 particleboard plant in Oregon.

        3 laminated veneer lumber/wood I-joist plants in Louisiana, Oregon, and New Brunswick, Canada.

        1 wood beam plant in Idaho.

        1 oriented strand board joint venture, of which we own 47% in Ontario, Canada.

        28 wholesale building materials distribution facilities in Arizona, California, Colorado (2), Florida, Georgia, Idaho (2), Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas (3), Utah, and Washington (4).


Boise Paper Solutions

        5 pulp and paper mills in Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington.

        6 distribution centers in California, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, and Texas.

        2 converting facilities in Oregon and Washington.

        5 corrugated container plants in Idaho (2), Oregon, Utah, and Washington.


Timber Resources

        For a list of our timber properties, see the table under "Timber Resources" in "Item 1. Business" of this Form 10-K.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        We have been notified that we are a "potentially responsible party" under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) or similar federal and state laws, or have received a claim from a private party, with respect to 19 active sites where hazardous substances or other contaminants are or may be located. In most cases, we are one of many potentially responsible parties, and our alleged contribution to these sites is relatively minor. For sites where a range of potential liability can be determined, we have established appropriate reserves. We believe we have minimal or no responsibility with regard to several other sites. We cannot predict with certainty the total response and remedial costs, our share of the total costs, the extent to which contributions will be available from other parties, or the amount of time necessary to complete the cleanups. Based on our investigations; our experience with respect to cleanup of hazardous substances; the fact that expenditures will, in many cases, be incurred over extended periods of time; and the number of solvent potentially responsible parties, we do not believe that the known actual and potential response costs will, in the aggregate, materially affect our financial position or results of operations.

        Over the past several years and continuing into 2003, we have been named a defendant in a number of cases where the plaintiffs allege asbestos-related injuries from exposure to asbestos products or exposure to asbestos while working at job sites. The claims vary widely and often are not specific about the plaintiff's contacts with us or with our facilities. None of the claims seeks damages from us individually, and we are generally one of numerous defendants. Many of the cases filed against us have been voluntarily dismissed, although we have settled some cases. The settlements we have paid have been covered mostly by insurance, and we believe any future settlements or judgments in these cases would be similarly covered. To date, no asbestos case against us has gone to trial, and the nature of these cases makes any prediction as to the outcome of pending litigation inherently subjective. At this time, however, we believe our involvement in asbestos litigation is not material to either our financial position or our results of operations.

        We are also involved in other litigation and administrative proceedings arising in the normal course of our business. In the opinion of management, our recovery, if any, or our liability, if any, under pending litigation or administrative proceedings, including those described in the preceding paragraphs, would not materially affect our financial position or results of operations.


ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITIES HOLDERS

        Inapplicable.

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PART II


ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

        Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The high and low sales prices for our common stock, as well as the frequency and amount of dividends paid on such stock, are included in Note 19, "Quarterly Results of Operations," of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K. Information concerning restrictions on the payments of dividends is included in Note 9, "Debt," of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K. The approximate number of common shareholders, based upon actual record holders at January 31, 2003, was 14,312.


Shareholder Rights Plan

        The company has had a shareholder rights plan since January 1986. The current plan took effect in December 1998. At that time, the rights under the previous plan expired, and we distributed to our common stockholders one new right for each common share held. The rights become exercisable ten days after a person or group acquires 15% of our outstanding voting securities or ten business days after a person or group commences or announces an intention to commence a tender or exchange offer that could result in the acquisition of 15% of these securities. Each full right, if it becomes exercisable, entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at a purchase price of $175 per share, subject to adjustment. Upon payment of the purchase price, the rights may "flip in" and entitle holders to buy common stock or "flip over" and entitle holders to buy common stock in an acquiring entity in such amount that the market value is equal to twice the purchase price. The rights are nonvoting and may be redeemed by the company for one cent per right at any time prior to the tenth day after an individual or group acquires 15% of our voting stock, unless extended. The rights expire in 2008. Additional details are set forth in the Renewed Rights Agreement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 4.2 in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1997.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The following table sets forth our selected financial data for the years indicated and should be read in conjunction with the disclosures in Items 7 and 8 of this Form 10-K:

 
  2002(a)
  2001(b)
  2000(c)
  1999(d)
  1998(e)
 
 
  (millions, except per-share amounts)

 
Assets                                
Current assets   $ 1,296   $ 1,245   $ 1,577   $ 1,531   $ 1,368  
Property and equipment, net     2,542     2,608     2,582     2,557     2,571  
Timber, timberlands, and timber deposits     329     322     291     295     271  
Other     780     759     817     755     761