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EX-32.2 - SECTION 906 CFO CERTIFICATION - BOISE CASCADE Cobcc9302017ex322.htm
EX-32.1 - SECTION 906 CEO CERTIFICATION - BOISE CASCADE Cobcc9302017ex321.htm
EX-31.2 - SECTION 302 CFO CERTIFICATION - BOISE CASCADE Cobcc9302017ex312.htm
EX-31.1 - SECTION 302 CEO CERTIFICATION - BOISE CASCADE Cobcc9302017ex311.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017
 
 
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)


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 whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer x    Accelerated filer o    Non-accelerated filer o    Smaller reporting company o
Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange
Act. 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
 
There were 38,559,536 shares of the registrant's common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding on October 27, 2017.



Table of Contents
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
Boise Cascade Company
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited) 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
(thousands, except per-share data)
Sales
$
1,226,644

 
$
1,067,214

 
$
3,340,026

 
$
2,991,682

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and expenses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)
1,045,772

 
922,101

 
2,872,765

 
2,586,360

Depreciation and amortization
19,686

 
19,459

 
58,631

 
53,249

Selling and distribution expenses
87,564

 
80,026

 
243,601

 
224,922

General and administrative expenses
16,476

 
14,367

 
45,613

 
46,031

Other (income) expense, net
1,138

 
(46
)
 
(135
)
 
(1,459
)
 
1,170,636

 
1,035,907

 
3,220,475

 
2,909,103

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from operations
56,008

 
31,307

 
119,551

 
82,579

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency exchange gain (loss)
90

 
(40
)
 
131

 
186

Interest expense
(6,295
)
 
(7,135
)
 
(19,150
)
 
(19,364
)
Interest income
167

 
60

 
254

 
236

Change in fair value of interest rate swaps
(33
)
 
836

 
(462
)
 
(765
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt

 
(9,525
)
 

 
(9,525
)
 
(6,071
)
 
(15,804
)
 
(19,227
)
 
(29,232
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
49,937

 
15,503

 
100,324

 
53,347

Income tax provision
(18,276
)
 
(5,522
)
 
(36,489
)
 
(19,188
)
Net income
$
31,661

 
$
9,981

 
$
63,835

 
$
34,159

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
38,660

 
38,814

 
38,601

 
38,827

Diluted
39,139

 
39,120

 
38,962

 
38,950

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.82

 
$
0.26

 
$
1.65

 
$
0.88

Diluted
$
0.81

 
$
0.26

 
$
1.64

 
$
0.88

 
See accompanying condensed notes to unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements.




1


Boise Cascade Company
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(unaudited) 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
(thousands)
Net income
$
31,661

 
$
9,981

 
$
63,835

 
$
34,159

Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Defined benefit pension plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of actuarial loss, net of tax of $170, $225, $479 and $593, respectively
271

 
359

 
766

 
947

Effect of settlements, net of tax of $-, $-, $- and $114, respectively

 

 

 
183

Other comprehensive income, net of tax
271

 
359

 
766

 
1,130

Comprehensive income
$
31,932

 
$
10,340

 
$
64,601

 
$
35,289


See accompanying condensed notes to unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements.




2



Boise Cascade Company
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
(thousands)
ASSETS
 

 
 

Current
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
172,185

 
$
103,978

Receivables
 
 
 

Trade, less allowances of $1,227 and $1,459
315,336

 
199,191

Related parties
285

 
506

Other
9,424

 
10,952

Inventories
459,864

 
433,451

Prepaid expenses and other
10,209

 
12,381

Total current assets
967,303

 
760,459

 
 
 
 
Property and equipment, net
555,197

 
568,702

Timber deposits
14,704

 
14,901

Goodwill
55,433

 
55,433

Intangible assets, net
15,260

 
15,547

Deferred income taxes
8,502

 
8,840

Other assets
14,151

 
15,315

Total assets
$
1,630,550

 
$
1,439,197

 
See accompanying condensed notes to unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements.




3


Boise Cascade Company
Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)
(unaudited)
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
(thousands, except per-share data)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
Current
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
 
 
Trade
$
283,089

 
$
194,010

Related parties
2,235

 
1,903

Accrued liabilities
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
71,338

 
67,752

Interest payable
1,803

 
6,860

Other
68,460

 
42,339

Total current liabilities
426,925

 
312,864

 
 
 
 
Debt
 
 
 
Long-term debt
438,033

 
437,629

 
 
 
 
Other
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
83,537

 
83,164

Deferred income taxes
12,434

 
6,339

Other long-term liabilities
20,308

 
19,197

 
116,279

 
108,700

 
 
 
 
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, 43,727 and 43,520 shares issued, respectively
437

 
435

Treasury stock, 5,167 shares at cost
(133,979
)
 
(133,979
)
Additional paid-in capital
520,220

 
515,410

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(82,246
)
 
(83,012
)
Retained earnings
344,881

 
281,150

Total stockholders' equity
649,313

 
580,004

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
1,630,550

 
$
1,439,197


See accompanying condensed notes to unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements.



4


Boise Cascade Company
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
2017
 
2016
 
(thousands)
Cash provided by (used for) operations
 
 
 
Net income
$
63,835

 
$
34,159

Items in net income not using (providing) cash
 
 
 

Depreciation and amortization, including deferred financing costs and other
60,097

 
54,609

Stock-based compensation
6,931

 
5,980

Pension expense
1,074

 
1,749

Deferred income taxes
6,019

 
7,008

Change in fair value of interest rate swaps
462

 
765

Other
(125
)
 
67

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 
9,525

Decrease (increase) in working capital, net of acquisitions
 
 
 

Receivables
(110,646
)
 
(62,794
)
Inventories
(26,413
)
 
(48,362
)
Prepaid expenses and other
(2,389
)
 
(3,678
)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
108,099

 
102,313

Pension contributions
(1,666
)
 
(3,338
)
Income taxes payable
11,051

 
13,623

Restricted cash deposits with trustee for interest payments

 
(3,681
)
Other
807

 
5,309

Net cash provided by operations
117,136

 
113,254

 
 
 
 
Cash provided by (used for) investment
 

 
 

Expenditures for property and equipment
(48,060
)
 
(55,426
)
Acquisitions of businesses and facilities

 
(215,900
)
Proceeds from sales of assets and other
2,089

 
546

Net cash used for investment
(45,971
)
 
(270,780
)
 
 
 
 
Cash provided by (used for) financing
 
 
 
Borrowings of long-term debt, including revolving credit facility
410,400

 
835,000

Payments on long-term debt, including revolving credit facility
(410,400
)
 
(602,096
)
Restricted cash deposits with trustee for debt payments

 
(119,175
)
Treasury stock purchased

 
(2,632
)
Financing costs
(478
)
 
(6,319
)
Tax withholding payments on stock-based awards
(2,901
)
 
(383
)
Other
421

 
(181
)
  Net cash provided by (used for) financing
(2,958
)
 
104,214

 
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
68,207

 
(53,312
)
 
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of the period
103,978

 
184,496

 
 
 
 
Balance at end of the period
$
172,185

 
$
131,184

 
See accompanying condensed notes to unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements.


5


Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements

1.
Nature of Operations and Consolidation
 
Nature of Operations
 
Boise Cascade Company is a building products company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. As used in this Form 10-Q, the terms "Boise Cascade," "we," and "our" refer to Boise Cascade Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. We are one of the largest producers of engineered wood products (EWP) and plywood in North America and a leading United States (U.S.) wholesale distributor of building products.

We operate our business using two reportable segments: (1) Wood Products, which manufactures EWP, plywood, ponderosa pine lumber, studs, and particleboard; and (2) Building Materials Distribution, which is a wholesale distributor of building materials. For more information, see Note 11, Segment Information.
 
Consolidation
 
The accompanying quarterly consolidated financial statements have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm but, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Except as disclosed within these condensed notes to unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements, the adjustments made were of a normal, recurring nature. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in our annual consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted. The quarterly consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Boise Cascade and its subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany balances and transactions. Quarterly results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the full year. These condensed notes to unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our 2016 Form 10-K and the other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Accounting Policies

The complete summary of significant accounting policies is included in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" in our 2016 Form 10-K.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) 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, medical, and workers' compensation benefits; stock-based compensation; fair value measurements; 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.  

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 September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, we had $5.7 million and $7.0 million, respectively, of vendor rebates and allowances recorded in "Receivables, Other" on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Rebates and allowances received from our vendors are recognized as a reduction of "Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding

6


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 September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, we had $45.8 million and $31.6 million, respectively, of rebates payable to our customers recorded in "Accrued liabilities, Other" on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Leases
 
We lease a portion of our distribution centers as well as other property and equipment under operating leases. 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. Rental expense for operating leases was $4.8 million and $4.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $14.4 million and $13.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Sublease rental income was not material in any of the periods presented.

Inventories
 
Inventories included the following (work in process is not material):
 
 
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
 
(thousands)
Finished goods and work in process
 
$
374,046

 
$
330,026

Logs
 
43,144

 
63,208

Other raw materials and supplies
 
42,674

 
40,217

 
 
$
459,864

 
$
433,451


Property and Equipment
 
Property and equipment consisted of the following asset classes:
 
 
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
 
(thousands)
Land
 
$
38,606

 
$
38,700

Buildings
 
139,959

 
136,087

Improvements
 
52,539

 
50,655

Mobile equipment, information technology, and office furniture
 
133,636

 
125,486

Machinery and equipment
 
635,185

 
613,060

Construction in progress
 
32,441

 
34,877

 
 
1,032,366

 
998,865

Less accumulated depreciation
 
(477,169
)
 
(430,163
)
 
 
$
555,197

 
$
568,702



7


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 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).

Financial Instruments
 
Our financial instruments are cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, long-term debt, and interest rate swaps. Our cash is recorded at cost, which approximates fair value, and our cash equivalents are money market funds. As of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, we held $131.5 million and $78.1 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 September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, the book value of our fixed-rate debt for each period was $350.0 million, and the fair value was estimated to be $367.5 million and $347.4 million, respectively. 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 of our fixed-rate debt using quoted market prices of our debt in inactive markets (Level 2 inputs). The interest rate on our term loans is based on market conditions such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or a base rate. Because the interest rate on the term loans is based on current market conditions, we believe that the estimated fair value of the outstanding balance on our term loans approximates book value. As discussed below, we also have interest rate swaps to mitigate our variable interest rate exposure, the fair value of which is measured based on Level 2 inputs.

Interest Rate Risk and Interest Rate Swaps

We are exposed to interest rate risk arising from fluctuations in variable-rate LIBOR on our term loans and when we have loan amounts outstanding on our revolving credit facility. Our objective is to limit the variability of interest payments on our debt. To meet this objective, in 2016 we entered into receive-variable, pay-fixed interest rate swaps to change the variable-rate cash flow exposure to fixed-rate cash flows. In accordance with our risk management strategy, we actively monitor our interest rate exposure and use derivative instruments from time to time to manage the related risk.

On February 16, 2016, and March 31, 2016, we entered into interest rate swap agreements with notional principal amounts of $50.0 million and $75.0 million, respectively, to offset risks associated with the variability in cash flows relating to interest payments that are based on one-month LIBOR. We do not speculate using derivative instruments. At September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, the notional principal amount of our interest rate swap agreements exceeded the $95.0 million of variable-rate debt outstanding after paying down $30.0 million of variable rate debt on our term loan in December 2016. The excess notional principal amount of our interest rate swaps over our variable-rate debt is within our management strategy as we have partially funded seasonal and intra-month working capital requirements from borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Under the interest rate swaps, we receive LIBOR-based variable interest rate payments and make fixed interest rate payments, thereby fixing the interest rate on $125.0 million of variable rate debt exposure. Payments on the interest rate swaps with notional principal amounts of $50.0 million and $75.0 million are due on a monthly basis at an annual fixed rate of 1.007% and 1.256%, respectively, and expire in February 2022 and March 2022, respectively. The interest rate swap agreements were not designated as cash flow hedges, and as a result, all changes in the fair value are recognized in "Change in fair value of interest rate swaps" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations rather than through other comprehensive income. At September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, we recorded long-term assets of $3.7 million and $4.2 million, respectively, in "Other assets" on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, representing the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements. The swaps were valued based on observable inputs for similar assets and liabilities and other observable inputs for interest rates and yield curves (Level 2 inputs).

Concentration of Credit Risk
 
We are exposed to credit risk related to customer accounts receivable. In order to manage credit risk, we consider customer concentrations and current economic trends and monitor the creditworthiness of significant customers based on

8


ongoing credit evaluations. At September 30, 2017, receivables from two customers each accounted for approximately 13% of total receivables. At December 31, 2016, receivables from two customers accounted for approximately 11% and 12%, respectively, of total receivables. No other customer accounted for 10% or more of total receivables.

New and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
 
In May 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Scope of Modification Accounting. This ASU amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements and provides guidance on the types of changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity would be required to apply modification accounting under ASC 718. Specifically, an entity would not apply modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions, and classification of the awards are the same immediately before and after the modification. The guidance is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material effect on our financial statements.
    
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. This ASU requires entities to present the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost in the same income statement line item(s) as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. The other components of net periodic benefit cost must be presented elsewhere in the income statement and outside of income from operations if that subtotal is presented. Entities will have to disclose the line(s) used to present the other components of net periodic benefit cost if the components are not presented separately in the income statement. The guidance on the income statement presentation of the components of net periodic benefit cost must be applied retrospectively. This new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within that reporting period. We are currently evaluating the effect of this ASU on our financial statements; however, we expect the adoption of ASU 2017-07 to result in a change in our income from operations in an amount equal to the other components of net periodic pension cost, which will be offset by a corresponding change outside of income from operations. The components of the net periodic cost are shown in Note 7, Retirement and Benefit Plans.
    
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This ASU is intended to simplify the accounting for goodwill impairment by removing the requirement to perform a hypothetical purchase price allocation. A goodwill impairment will now be the amount by which the reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. All other goodwill impairment guidance will remain largely unchanged. This new standard will be applied prospectively and is effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted after January 1, 2017. We adopted this standard in first quarter of 2017 and it did not have a material effect on our financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force). This ASU is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. This new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted, provided that all of the amendments are adopted in the same period. The guidance requires application using a retrospective transition method. We will adopt this standard in first quarter of 2018 and do not expect this guidance to have a material effect on our consolidated statements of cash flows.    

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This ASU simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2017, under the modified retrospective method, with the cumulative effect of adoption recorded as an adjustment to 2017 beginning retained earnings. The new standard results in excess tax benefits and deficiencies on share-based transactions being recorded as income tax expense or benefit rather than in additional-paid-in-capital. In addition, excess tax benefits on share-based payments are now classified in the operating section of our consolidated statement of cash flows. Furthermore, we recorded an adjustment to beginning retained earnings of approximately $0.1 million as we have made an election to account for share-based award forfeitures as they occur, rather than making estimates of future forfeitures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This amendment requires a lessee to recognize substantially all leases (whether operating or finance leases) on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and an

9


associated lease liability. Short-term leases of 12 months or less are excluded from this amendment. For leases defined as finance leases under the new standard, the lessee subsequently recognizes interest expense and amortization of the right-of-use asset, similar to accounting for capital leases under current GAAP. For leases defined as operating leases under the new standard, the lessee subsequently recognizes straight-line lease expense over the life of the lease. This new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance is to be applied using a modified retrospective transition method with the option to elect a package of practical expedients. The adoption of this ASU will result in a significant increase to our balance sheet for lease liabilities and right-of-use assets, which has not yet been quantified. We are currently evaluating this and the other effects of this ASU on our financial statements.
    
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. This ASU requires entities to measure most inventory "at the lower of cost or net realizable value," thereby simplifying the current guidance under which an entity must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. The new standard is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of this standard in first quarter of 2017 did not have a material effect on our financial statements.
    
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and 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 guidance also requires additional disclosure to help users of financial statements better understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. Furthermore, numerous updates were issued in 2016 that provide clarification on a number of specific issues. The new standard is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and we currently anticipate adopting it effective January 1, 2018. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or modified retrospective (cumulative-effect) transition method. We currently anticipate adopting the standard using the modified retrospective method. As a result of our preliminary assessment, we do not anticipate a material impact on our revenue recognition practices. We are still in the process of evaluating the impact on our revenue disclosures, but anticipate additional required disclosure. We continue to evaluate the standard as well as additional changes, modifications or interpretations which may impact our preliminary conclusions.
 
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

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded $18.3 million and $36.5 million, respectively, of income tax expense and had an effective rate of 36.6% and 36.4%, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, we recorded $5.5 million and $19.2 million, respectively, of income tax expense and had an effective rate of 35.6% and 36.0%, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the primary reason for the difference between the federal statutory income tax rate of 35% and the effective tax rate was the effect of state taxes. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the primary reason for the difference between the federal statutory income tax rate of 35% and the effective tax rate was the effect of state taxes, offset partially by other tax credits.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, cash paid for taxes, net of refunds received, was $15.3 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, refunds received, net of cash paid for taxes, were $1.4 million.

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 certain vested restricted stock units (RSUs) and performance stock units (PSUs) as there are no conditions under which those shares will not be issued. 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 PSUs for each period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the exercise price of a share and the amount of compensation expense, if any, for future service that has not yet been recognized are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current period.


10


The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per common share:

 
Three Months Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
(thousands, except per-share data)
Net income
$
31,661

 
$
9,981

 
$
63,835

 
$
34,159

Weighted average common shares outstanding during the period (for basic calculation)
38,660

 
38,814

 
38,601

 
38,827

Dilutive effect of other potential common shares
479

 
306

 
361

 
123

Weighted average common shares and potential common shares (for diluted calculation)
39,139

 
39,120

 
38,962

 
38,950

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per common share - Basic
$
0.82

 
$
0.26

 
$
1.65

 
$
0.88

Net income per common share - Diluted
$
0.81

 
$
0.26

 
$
1.64

 
$
0.88


The computation of the dilutive effect of other potential common shares excludes stock awards representing no shares and 0.2 million shares of common stock, respectively, in the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and 0.2 million shares of common stock in both the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. Under the treasury stock method, the inclusion of these stock awards would have been antidilutive.

5.
Acquisitions
 
On March 31, 2016, our wholly owned subsidiary, Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., completed the acquisition of Georgia-Pacific LLC's and certain of its affiliates' (collectively, "GP") EWP facilities located in Thorsby, Alabama, and Roxboro, North Carolina, for an aggregate purchase price of $215.9 million, including a post-closing adjustment of $0.3 million based upon a working capital target (the Acquisition). Acquisition-related costs of $3.6 million are recorded in "General and administrative expenses" in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

The following pro forma financial information gives effect to the Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2015. The pro forma financial information also gives effect to the issuance of a $75.0 million term loan due March 30, 2026 and a $55.0 million draw under our revolving credit facility incurred to partially finance the Acquisition, as if such transactions had occurred on January 1, 2015. The pro forma results are intended for informational purposes only and do not purport to represent what our results of operations would actually have been had the Acquisition and related financing transactions occurred on January 1, 2015. They also do not reflect any revenue enhancements or cost savings, operating synergies, customer attrition, or incremental depreciation upon the restart of idle laminated veneer lumber assets at Roxboro.

 
 
Pro Forma
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30, 2016
 
 
(unaudited, thousands, except per-share data)
Sales
 
$
3,018,876

Net income (a)
 
$
37,305

Net income per common share - Basic and Diluted
 
$
0.96

___________________________________

(a)
The pro forma financial information for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, was adjusted to exclude $3.6 million of pre-tax acquisition-related costs for legal, accounting, and other advisory-related services.


11


6.
Debt
 
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
 
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
(thousands)
Asset-based revolving credit facility
$

 
$

Asset-based credit facility term loan
50,000

 
50,000

Term loan
45,000

 
45,000

5.625% senior notes due 2024
350,000

 
350,000

Deferred financing costs
(6,967
)
 
(7,371
)
Long-term debt
$
438,033

 
$
437,629

 
Asset-Based Credit Facility

On May 15, 2015, Boise Cascade and its principal operating subsidiaries, Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., and Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution, L.L.C., as borrowers, and Boise Cascade Wood Products Holdings Corp., Chester Wood Products LLC, and Moncure Plywood LLC, as guarantors, entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as amended, (Amended Agreement) with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as administrative agent, and the banks named therein as lenders. The Amended Agreement includes a $370 million senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (Revolving Credit Facility) and a $50.0 million term loan (ABL Term Loan) maturing on May 1, 2022. Interest on borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility and ABL Term Loan are payable monthly. Borrowings under the Amended Agreement 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 August 10, 2017, we entered into the fifth amendment to the Amended Agreement to extend the maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility from April 30, 2020, to May 1, 2022, and to reduce the unused line fee to a singular rate of 0.25% per annum.

The Amended Agreement 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.
    
The Amended Agreement contains customary nonfinancial covenants, including a negative pledge covenant and restrictions on new indebtedness, investments, distributions to equity holders, asset sales, and affiliate transactions, the scope of which are dependent on the Availability existing from time to time. The Amended Agreement 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 revolving lending commitments (or $37 million). Availability exceeded the minimum threshold amounts required for testing of the FCCR at all times since entering into the Amended Agreement, and Availability at September 30, 2017, was $363.6 million.

The Amended Agreement generally permits dividends only if certain conditions are met, including complying with either (i) pro forma Excess Availability (as defined in the Amended Agreement) equal to or exceeding 25% of the aggregate Revolver Commitments (as defined in the Amended Agreement) 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.

Revolving Credit Facility

Interest rates under the Revolving Credit Facility are based, at our election, on either LIBOR or a base rate, as defined in the Amended Agreement, plus a spread over the index elected that ranges from 1.25% to 1.75% for loans based on LIBOR and from 0.25% to 0.75% 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 of 0.25% per annum of the average unused portion of the lending commitments.

At both September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, we had no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility and $6.4 million and $5.9 million, respectively, of letters of credit outstanding. These letters of credit and borrowings, if any, reduce Availability under the Revolving Credit Facility by an equivalent amount. During the nine months ended

12


September 30, 2017, the minimum and maximum borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility were zero and $89.2 million, respectively, and the average interest rate on borrowings was approximately 2.25%.

ABL Term Loan

The ABL Term Loan was provided by institutions within the Farm Credit system. Borrowings under the ABL Term Loan may be repaid from time to time at the discretion of the borrowers without premium or penalty. However, any principal amount of ABL Term Loan repaid may not be subsequently re-borrowed.

Interest rates under the ABL Term Loan are based, at our election, on either LIBOR or a base rate, as defined in the Amended Agreement, plus a spread over the index elected that ranges from 1.75% to 2.25% for LIBOR rate loans and from 0.75% to 1.25% for base rate loans, both dependent on the amount of Average Excess Availability (as defined in the Amended Agreement). During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the average interest rate on the ABL Term Loan was approximately 2.76%.

We have received and expect to continue receiving patronage credits under the ABL Term Loan. Patronage credits are distributions of profits from banks in the Farm Credit system, which are cooperatives that are required to distribute profits to their members. Patronage distributions, which are generally made in cash, are received in the year after they are earned. Patronage credits are recorded as a reduction to interest expense in the year earned. After giving effect to expected patronage distributions, the effective average net interest rate on the ABL Term Loan was approximately 2.0% during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Term Loan

On March 30, 2016 (Closing Date), Boise Cascade and its principal operating subsidiaries, Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., and Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution, L.L.C., as borrowers, and the guarantors party thereto, entered into a term loan agreement, as amended, (Term Loan Agreement) with American AgCredit, PCA, as administrative agent and sole lead arranger, and the banks in the Farm Credit system named therein as lenders. The Term Loan Agreement was for a $75.0 million secured term loan (Term Loan). The outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan amortizes and is payable in equal installments of $10 million per year on each of the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth anniversaries of the Closing Date, with the remaining principal balance due and payable on March 30, 2026. In December 2016, we prepaid $30 million of the Term Loan, which became available to reborrow as discussed below. This prepayment satisfied our principal obligations due on the sixth, seventh, and eighth anniversaries of the Closing Date. Interest on our Term Loan is payable monthly.

The Term Loan Agreement allows us to prepay the Term Loan and subsequently reborrow amounts prepaid on or before December 31, 2018. The option to reborrow applicable prepaid principal amounts expires on December 31, 2019. Reborrowings may be made in up to three instances in minimum amounts of $10 million each. In addition, amounts prepaid and eligible for reborrowing are subject to an unused line fee of 0.325% per annum times the average daily amount of the unused commitments.

Pursuant to the Term Loan Agreement, the borrowers are required to maintain, as of the end of any fiscal quarter, a Capitalization Ratio lower than 60%, a Consolidated Net Worth greater than $350 million, and Available Liquidity greater than $100 million (each as defined in the Term Loan Agreement). In addition, under the Term Loan Agreement, and subject to certain exceptions, the borrowers may not, among other things, (i) incur indebtedness, (ii) incur liens, (iii) make junior payments, (iv) make certain investments, and (v) under certain circumstances, make capital expenditures in excess of $50 million during four consecutive quarters. The Term Loan Agreement also includes customary representations of the borrowers and provides for certain events of default customary for similar facilities.

Interest rates under the Term Loan Agreement are based, at our election, on either the LIBOR or a base rate, as defined in the Term Loan Agreement, plus a spread over the index. The applicable spread for the Term Loan ranges from 1.875% to 2.125% for LIBOR rate loans, and 0.875% to 1.125% for base rate loans, both dependent on our Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement). During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the average interest rate on the Term Loan was approximately 2.88%. We have received and expect to continue receiving patronage credits under the Term Loan. After giving effect to expected patronage distributions, the effective average net interest rate on the Term Loan was approximately 2.1%.

The Term Loan is secured by a first priority mortgage on our Thorsby, Alabama, and Roxboro, North Carolina, EWP facilities and a first priority security interest on the equipment and certain tangible personal property located therein.

13



2024 Notes

On August 29, 2016, Boise Cascade issued $350 million of 5.625% senior notes due September 1, 2024 (2024 Notes) through a private placement that was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Interest on our 2024 Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on March 1 and September 1. The 2024 Notes are guaranteed by each of our existing and future direct or indirect domestic subsidiaries that is a guarantor under our Amended Agreement.

The 2024 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 Amended Agreement 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 2024 Notes.

The terms of the indenture governing the 2024 Notes, among other things, limit the ability of Boise Cascade and our restricted 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 2024 Notes provides for customary events of default and remedies.

Interest Rate Swaps

For information on interest rate swaps, see Interest Rate Risk and Interest Rate Swaps of Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
    
Cash Paid for Interest

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, cash payments for interest were $22.5 million and $16.2 million, respectively.

7.    Retirement and Benefit Plans
 
The following table presents the pension benefit costs:
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
(thousands)
Service cost
$
301

 
$
279

 
$
903

 
$
846

Interest cost
4,392

 
4,805

 
13,150

 
14,376

Expected return on plan assets
(4,743
)
 
(5,131
)
 
(14,224
)
 
(15,310
)
Amortization of actuarial loss
441

 
584

 
1,245

 
1,540

Plan settlement loss

 

 

 
297

Net periodic benefit expense
$
391

 
$
537

 
$
1,074

 
$
1,749

 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we contributed $1.7 million in cash to the pension plans. For the remainder of 2017, we expect to make approximately $0.5 million in additional cash contributions to the pension plans.


14


8.
Stock-Based Compensation

In February 2017 and 2016, we granted two types of stock-based awards under our incentive plans: performance stock units (PSUs) and restricted stock units (RSUs).

PSU and RSU Awards
    
During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we granted 178,021 PSUs to our officers and other employees, subject to performance and service conditions. For the officers, the number of shares actually awarded will range from 0% and 200% of the target amount, depending upon Boise Cascade's 2017 return on invested capital (ROIC), determined in accordance with the related grant agreement. For the other employees, the number of shares actually awarded will range from 0% to 200% of the target amount, depending upon Boise Cascade’s 2017 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. Because the ROIC and EBITDA components contain a performance condition, we record compensation expense over the requisite service period based on the most probable number of shares expected to vest.
    
During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we granted 418,344 PSUs to our officers and other employees, subject to performance and service conditions. During the 2016 performance period, officers and other employees earned 97% and 104%, respectively, of the target based on Boise Cascade’s 2016 ROIC and EBITDA, determined by our Compensation Committee in accordance with the related grant agreement.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, we granted an aggregate of 214,035 and 334,587 RSUs, respectively, to our officers, other employees, and nonemployee directors with only service conditions.

The PSUs granted to officers in 2017, if earned, generally vest over a three year period from the date of grant, while the PSUs granted to other employees vest in three equal tranches each year after the grant date. All PSU grants are 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 each year after the grant date. The RSUs granted to nonemployee directors vest over a one-year period.

We based the fair value of PSU and RSU awards on the closing market price of our common stock on the grant date. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the total fair value of PSUs and RSUs vested was $8.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively.

The following summarizes the activity of our PSUs and RSUs awarded under our incentive plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2017:
 
PSUs
 
RSUs
 
Number of shares
 
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
 
Number of shares
 
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding, December 31, 2016
448,500

 
$
18.16

 
387,287

 
$
19.73

Granted
178,021

 
27.05

 
214,035

 
27.10

Performance condition adjustment (a)
5,175

 
16.56

 

 

Vested
(117,253
)
 
20.41

 
(180,949
)
 
20.74

Forfeited (b)
(24,624
)
 
19.50

 
(13,843
)
 
22.51

Outstanding, September 30, 2017
489,819

 
$
20.77

 
406,530

 
$
23.07

_______________________________ 
(a)
Amount represents additional PSU's earned during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 based on the performance condition adjustment, as other employees earned 104% of the target based Boise Cascade's 2016 EBITDA.
(b)
Total PSUs forfeited during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 includes 8,457 shares related to the performance condition adjustment, as officers earned 97% of the target based on Boise Cascade’s 2016 ROIC.

15



Compensation Expense

We record compensation expense over the awards' vesting period and account for share-based award forfeitures as they occur, rather than making estimates of future forfeitures. Any shares not vested are forfeited. 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 forfeitures, was as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
(thousands)
PSUs
$
1,297

 
$
1,081

 
$
3,312

 
$
2,955

RSUs
1,191

 
1,033

 
3,619

 
2,944

Stock options

 

 

 
81

Total
$
2,488

 
$
2,114

 
$
6,931

 
$
5,980


The related tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, was $2.7 million and $2.3 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements was $12.6 million. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years.

9.    Stockholders' Equity    

Stock Repurchase

On February 25, 2015, our Board of Directors (Board) authorized a two million share repurchase program (Program) pursuant to which we may, from time to time, purchase shares of our common stock through various means including, without limitation, open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions, or accelerated share repurchase transactions. We are not obligated to purchase any shares and there is no set date that the Program will expire. The Board may increase or decrease the number of shares under the Program or terminate the Program in its discretion at any time. We did not repurchase any shares under the Program during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. We repurchased 180,100 shares under the Program at a cost of $2.6 million, or an average of $14.62 per share, during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The shares were purchased with cash on hand and are recorded as "Treasury stock" on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of September 30, 2017, there were 696,989 shares of common stock that may yet be purchased under the Program.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
The following table details the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

 
Three Months Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
(thousands)
Beginning Balance, net of taxes
$
(82,517
)
 
$
(92,244
)
 
$
(83,012
)
 
$
(93,015
)
Amortization of actuarial loss, before taxes (a)
441

 
584

 
1,245

 
1,540

Effect of settlements, before taxes (a)

 

 

 
297

Income taxes
(170
)
 
(225
)
 
(479
)
 
(707
)
Ending Balance, net of taxes
$
(82,246
)
 
$
(91,885
)
 
$
(82,246
)
 
$
(91,885
)
___________________________________ 
 
(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.


16


10.
Transactions With Related Party
 
Louisiana Timber Procurement Company, L.L.C. (LTP) is an unconsolidated variable-interest entity that is 50% owned by us and 50% owned by Packaging Corporation of America (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 $3.8 million and $4.0 million, respectively, during the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and $13.3 million during both the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. These sales are recorded in "Sales" in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Costs and Expenses

Related-party wood fiber purchases from LTP were $23.9 million and $21.2 million, respectively, during the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and $66.3 million and $64.7 million, respectively, during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. These costs are recorded in "Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)" in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

11.
Segment Information
 
As of January 1, 2017, we operate our business using two reportable segments: Wood Products and Building Materials Distribution. Prior to January 1, 2017, we operated our business using three reportable segments: Wood Products, Building Materials Distribution, and Corporate and Other. This change is based on Corporate and Other no longer earning revenue as of January 1, 2017 and thus no longer meeting the definition of a reportable segment. Corporate and Other results are now presented as reconciling items to arrive at total net sales and operating income. Corresponding information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 has been revised to conform with current presentation. There are no other differences in our basis of measurement of segment profit or loss from those disclosed in Note 14, Segment Information, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" in our 2016 Form 10-K.
 
An analysis of our operations by segment is as follows: 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
(thousands)
Net sales by segment
 
 
 
 


 
 
Wood Products
$
366,920

 
$
340,928

 
$
1,042,854

 
$
990,743

Building Materials Distribution
1,045,646

 
889,026

 
2,842,035

 
2,456,322

Intersegment eliminations and other (a)
(185,922
)
 
(162,740
)
 
(544,863
)
 
(455,383
)
Total net sales
$
1,226,644

 
$
1,067,214

 
$
3,340,026

 
$
2,991,682

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment operating income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wood Products
$
24,027

 
$
11,564

 
$
46,810

 
$
33,758

Building Materials Distribution
39,379

 
26,415

 
93,853

 
68,905

Total segment operating income
63,406

 
37,979

 
140,663

 
102,663

Unallocated corporate and other
(7,398
)
 
(6,672
)
 
(21,112
)
 
(20,084
)
Income from operations
$
56,008

 
$
31,307

 
$
119,551

 
$
82,579

___________________________________ 
 
(a)
Primarily represents intersegment sales from our Wood Products segment to our Building Materials Distribution segment.


17


12.    Commitments, Legal Proceedings and Contingencies, and Guarantees
 
Commitments
 
We are a party to a number of long-term log supply agreements that are discussed in Note 15, Commitments, Legal Proceedings and Contingencies, and Guarantees, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" in our 2016 Form 10-K. In addition, we have purchase obligations for goods and services, capital expenditures, and raw materials entered into in the normal course of business. As of September 30, 2017, there have been no material changes to the above commitments disclosed in the 2016 Form 10-K, except for entering into a ten-year log supply agreement to purchase approximately $95 million (or approximately $9.5 million per year) of logs in the Pacific Northwest. The amount is estimated using pricing in effect upon execution of the agreement on July 1, 2017, but the actual prices will be set quarterly and depend on a pricing index. Under the contract, we have the right to cancel or reduce our commitments in the event of a mill curtailment or shutdown.
 
Legal Proceedings and Contingencies

We are a party to routine legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our business, including commercial liability claims, premises claims, environmental claims, and employment-related claims, among others. As of the date of this filing, we believe it is not reasonably possible that any of the legal actions against us will, 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. Note 15, Commitments, Legal Proceedings and Contingencies, and Guarantees, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" in our 2016 Form 10-K describes 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. As of September 30, 2017, there have been no material changes to the guarantees disclosed in the 2016 Form 10-K.  

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ITEM 2.
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 in "Item 1. Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q, as well as our 2016 Form 10-K. The following discussion includes statements regarding our expectations with respect to our future performance, liquidity, and capital resources. Such statements, along with any other nonhistorical statements in the discussion, are forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, indicate, or imply future results, performance, or achievements and may contain the words "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "should," "plan," "anticipate," and other similar expressions. All of these forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by our management that, although believed by us to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our 2016 Form 10-K, as well as those factors listed in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We do not assume an obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Our future actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any of the forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q.
 
Background
 
Boise Cascade Company is a building products company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. As used in this Form 10-Q, the terms "Boise Cascade," "we," and "our" refer to Boise Cascade Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. Boise Cascade is a large, vertically-integrated wood products manufacturer and building materials distributor. We have two reportable segments: (i) Wood Products, which manufactures engineered wood products (EWP), plywood, ponderosa pine lumber, studs, and particleboard; and (ii) Building Materials Distribution (BMD), which is a wholesale distributor of building materials. For more information, see Note 11, Segment Information, of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 1. Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q.

Executive Overview
 
We recorded income from operations of $56.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared with income from operations of $31.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2016. In our Wood Products segment, income increased $12.5 million to $24.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, from $11.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in segment income was due primarily to higher sales prices of plywood, EWP, and lumber, offset partially by higher OSB costs used in the manufacture of I-joists. In our Building Materials Distribution segment, income increased $13.0 million to $39.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, from $26.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, driven primarily by a gross margin increase of $22.3 million generated from a sales increase of 18%, offset partially by increased selling and distribution expenses of $7.6 million. These changes are discussed further in "Our Operating Results" below.

We ended third quarter 2017 with $172.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and $438.0 million of debt. At September 30, 2017, we had $393.6 million of unused committed bank line availability. We generated $68.2 million of cash during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as cash provided by operations was offset partially by capital spending. A further description of our cash sources and uses for the nine month comparative periods are discussed further in "Liquidity and Capital Resources" below.

Demand for the products we manufacture, as well as the products we purchase and distribute, is closely correlated with new residential construction in the U.S., which has historically been cyclical. To a lesser extent, demand for our products correlates with residential repair-and-remodeling activity and light commercial construction. As of October 2017, the Blue Chip Economic Indicators consensus forecast for 2017 and 2018 single- and multi-family housing starts in the U.S. were 1.21 million and 1.29 million units, respectively, compared with actual housing starts of 1.17 million in 2016 and 1.11 million in 2015, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Single-family housing starts have represented approximately two thirds of total housing starts in recent years and are the primary driver of our sales.

Although we expect only modest residential construction growth due to constraints faced by builders, such as availability of labor and building lots, we believe U.S. demographics are supportive of further recovery in housing starts. The

19


pace of household formation rates and residential repair-and-remodeling activity will be affected by continued employment growth, wage growth, prospective home buyers' access to financing, improved consumer confidence, as well as other factors. Improved household formation rates in turn will help stimulate new construction.

We expect to experience seasonally slower demand in fourth quarter 2017. On an annual basis, total housing starts in the U.S. continue to show modest improvement, with single-family starts growth offsetting weakness in multi-family starts in 2017. We remain optimistic that the improvement in demand for our products will continue as household formation rates and residential construction recover and we will continue to manage our production levels to our sales demand. As in past years, we plan to take scheduled capital and maintenance-related downtime at certain plywood facilities during the fourth quarter.

Future commodity product pricing could be volatile in response to industry operating rates, net import and export activity, the North American softwood lumber trade dispute, inventory levels in our distribution channels, and seasonal demand patterns. Furthermore, commodity product pricing is currently above historical levels. As a wholesale distributor of a broad mix of commodity products and a manufacturer of certain commodity products, we have sales and profitability exposure to declines in commodity product prices.
 
Factors That Affect Our Operating Results and Trends
 
Our results of operations and financial performance are influenced by a variety of factors, including the following:

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

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;

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

product shortages, loss of key suppliers, and our dependence on third-party suppliers and manufacturers;

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

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

the need to successfully formulate and implement succession plans for key members of our management team;

availability and cost of raw materials, including wood fiber and glues and resins;

our ability to successfully and efficiently complete and integrate acquisitions;

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;

restrictive covenants contained in our debt agreements;

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;

substantial ongoing capital investment costs, including those associated with recent acquisitions, and the difficulty in offsetting fixed costs related to those investments;

cost of compliance with government regulations, in particular environmental regulations;

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declines in demand for our products due to competing technologies or materials, as well as changes in building code provisions;

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

the impact of actuarial assumptions, investment return on pension assets, and regulatory activity on pension costs and pension funding requirements;

the financial condition and creditworthiness of our customers;

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

fluctuations in the market for our equity; and

the other factors described in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our 2016 Form 10-K.

21



Our Operating Results
 
The following tables set forth our operating results in dollars and as a percentage of sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
(millions)
Sales
$
1,226.6

 
$
1,067.2

 
$
3,340.0

 
$
2,991.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and expenses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)
1,045.8

 
922.1

 
2,872.8

 
2,586.4

Depreciation and amortization
19.7

 
19.5

 
58.6

 
53.2

Selling and distribution expenses
87.6

 
80.0

 
243.6

 
224.9

General and administrative expenses
16.5

 
14.4

 
45.6

 
46.0

Other (income) expense, net
1.1

 

 
(0.1
)
 
(1.5
)
 
1,170.6

 
1,035.9

 
3,220.5

 
2,909.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from operations
$
56.0

 
$
31.3

 
$
119.6

 
$
82.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(percentage of sales)
Sales
100.0
%
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)
85.3
%
 
86.4
 %
 
86.0
 %
 
86.5
 %
Depreciation and amortization
1.6

 
1.8

 
1.8

 
1.8

Selling and distribution expenses
7.1

 
7.5

 
7.3

 
7.5

General and administrative expenses
1.3

 
1.3

 
1.4

 
1.5

Other (income) expense, net
0.1

 

 

 

 
95.4
%
 
97.1
 %
 
96.4
 %
 
97.2
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from operations
4.6
%
 
2.9
 %
 
3.6
 %
 
2.8
 %
 

22


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 three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
 
Three Months Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
(thousands)
U.S. Housing Starts (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Single-family
229.6

 
206.5

 
648.6

 
594.6

Multi-family
87.8

 
106.5

 
263.5

 
290.3

 
317.4

 
313.0

 
912.1

 
884.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(thousands)
Segment Sales
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Wood Products
$
366,920

 
$
340,928

 
$
1,042,854

 
$
990,743

Building Materials Distribution
1,045,646

 
889,026

 
2,842,035

 
2,456,322

Intersegment eliminations and other
(185,922
)
 
(162,740
)
 
(544,863
)
 
(455,383
)
Total net sales
$
1,226,644

 
$
1,067,214

 
$
3,340,026

 
$
2,991,682

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(millions)
Wood Products
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales Volumes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) (cubic feet)
4.1

 
4.4

 
13.3

 
12.6

I-joists (equivalent lineal feet)
57

 
62

 
183

 
177

Plywood (sq. ft.) (3/8" basis)
405

 
385

 
1,110

 
1,143

Lumber (board feet)
44

 
46

 
129

 
143

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(dollars per unit)
Wood Products
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average Net Selling Prices
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) (cubic foot)
$
17.22

 
$
16.57

 
$
16.82

 
$
16.70

I-joists (1,000 equivalent lineal feet)
1,157

 
1,102

 
1,120

 
1,125

Plywood (1,000 sq. ft.) (3/8" basis)
324

 
288

 
304

 
273

Lumber (1,000 board feet)
553

 
481

 
535

 
465

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(percentage of Building Materials Distribution sales)
Building Materials Distribution
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Product Line Sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity
48.3
%
 
46.9
%
 
47.1
%
 
46.5
%
General line
33.9
%
 
35.1
%
 
34.2
%
 
35.4
%
Engineered wood
17.8
%
 
18.0
%
 
18.7
%
 
18.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross margin percentage (b)
12.4
%
 
12.0
%
 
12.0
%
 
12.0
%
_______________________________________ 

(a)
Actual U.S. housing starts data 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.


23


Sales
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2017, total sales increased $159.4 million, or 15%, to $1,226.6 million from $1,067.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, total sales increased by $348.3 million, or 12%, to $3,340.0 million from $2,991.7 million for the same period in the prior year. As described below, both of our segments had increased sales, with single-family residential construction activity being the key demand driver of our sales. In third quarter 2017, total U.S. housing starts increased 1%, with single-family starts up 11% from the same period in 2016. On a year-to-date basis through September 2017, total housing starts increased 3%, with single-family up 9% from the same period in 2016. Average composite panel and average composite lumber prices for the three months ended September 30, 2017, were 17% and 16% higher, respectively, than in the same period in the prior year, as reflected by Random Lengths composite lumber and panel pricing. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, average composite lumber and average composite panel prices were up 18% and 14%, respectively, compared with the same period in the prior year. These improvements in composite commodity pricing resulted in improved sales in both of our segments, as noted below.

Wood Products.  Sales, including sales to our BMD segment, increased $26.0 million, or 8%, to $366.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, from $340.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in sales was driven primarily by higher sales prices for plywood and lumber of 13% and 15%, respectively, resulting in increased sales of $14.7 million and $3.2 million, respectively. In addition, sales prices for I-joists and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) increased 5% and 4%, respectively, resulting in increased sales of $3.1 million and $2.7 million, respectively. An increase in plywood sales volumes of 5% also contributed $5.6 million to the improved sales. These increases were offset by decreases in I-joists and LVL sales volumes of 8% and 7%, or $5.1 million and $5.3 million in sales, respectively. Our third quarter 2016 EWP sales volumes included liquidation of Georgia-Pacific (GP) branded EWP from the acquisition of two EWP facilities located in Thorsby, Alabama, and Roxboro, North Carolina, on March 31, 2016 (Acquisition). As expected, we converted a minority of the legacy GP EWP customers to Boise Cascade branded EWP as wholesale distribution channel partnerships shifted following the Acquisition. For Boise Cascade branded EWP, LVL sales volumes were up 7% compared with the year-ago quarter and I-joist sales volumes declined 1%.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, sales, including sales to BMD, increased $52.1 million, or 5%, to $1,042.9 million from $990.7 million for the same period in the prior year. The increase in sales was driven primarily by higher sales prices for plywood and lumber of 11% and 15%, respectively, resulting in increased sales of $33.9 million and $9.0 million, respectively. In addition, sales volumes of LVL and I-joists increased 6% and 4%, respectively, resulting in increased sales of $11.6 million and $7.0 million, respectively. An increase in LVL sales prices of 1% also contributed $1.6 million to the improved sales. These increases were offset by decreases in plywood and lumber sales volumes of 3% and 10%, or $8.9 million and $6.6 million in sales, respectively. We have shifted a higher proportion of our internally produced veneer into EWP, resulting in the decline in plywood production and sales volumes. Sales prices for I-joists were relatively flat compared with the same period in the prior year.

Building Materials Distribution.  Sales increased $156.6 million, or 18%, to $1,045.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, from $889.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Compared with the same quarter in the prior year, the overall increase in sales was driven by sales price and sales volume increases of 10% and 8%, respectively. By product line, commodity sales increased 21%, or $89.0 million; general line product sales increased 14%, or $42.3 million; and sales of EWP (substantially all of which are sourced through our Wood Products segment) increased 16%, or $25.3 million.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, sales increased $385.7 million, or 16%, to $2,842.0 million from $2,456.3 million for the same period in the prior year. Compared with the same period in the prior year, the overall increase in sales was driven by 8% increases in each sales volume and sales price. By product line, commodity sales increased 17%, or $197.0 million; general line product sales increased 12%, or $101.9 million; and sales of EWP increased 19%, or $86.8 million.

Costs and Expenses
 
Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation) increased $123.7 million, or 13%, to $1,045.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $922.1 million during the same period in the prior year. In our Wood Products segment, the increase in materials, labor, and other operating expenses was primarily driven by higher per-unit costs of OSB (used in the manufacture of I-joists) and logs of 24% and 3%, respectively, compared with third quarter 2016. However, materials, labor, and other operating expenses as a percentage of sales (MLO rate) in our Wood Products segment decreased by 280 basis points. The decrease in the MLO rate was primarily due to higher sales prices, resulting in improved leveraging of wood fiber, labor, and other manufacturing costs. In BMD, the increase in materials, labor, and other operating expenses was driven by higher purchased materials costs as a result of higher sales volumes, compared with third

24


quarter 2016. In addition, the BMD segment MLO rate decreased 30 basis points compared with third quarter 2016 because of improved margins on commodity products and EWP, offset partially by lower margins of general line products.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation), increased $286.4 million, or 11%, to $2,872.8 million, compared with $2,586.4 million in the same period in the prior year. In our Wood Products segment, the increase in materials, labor, and other operating expenses was primarily driven by higher per-unit costs of OSB and logs of 22% and 2%, respectively, compared with the first nine months of 2016. However, the MLO rate in our Wood Products segment decreased by 90 basis points. The decrease in the MLO rate was primarily due to higher sales prices, resulting in improved leveraging of manufacturing costs, offset partially by higher wood fiber and labor costs. In BMD, the increase in materials, labor, and other operating expenses was driven by higher purchased materials costs as a result of higher sales volumes, compared with the first nine months of 2016. However, the BMD segment MLO rate was flat compared with the first nine months of 2016 as improved margins of commodity products and EWP were offset by slightly lower margins of general line products.

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $0.2 million, or 1%, to $19.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $19.5 million during the same period in the prior year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, these expenses increased $5.4 million, or 10%, to $58.6 million, compared with $53.2 million in the same period in the prior year. The increase was due primarily to the acquisition of two EWP facilities located in Thorsby, Alabama, and Roxboro, North Carolina, on March 31, 2016 (Acquisition), and other capital expenditures. We also expect to begin depreciation on approximately $45 million of veneer and LVL related assets at our Roxboro, North Carolina EWP facility in fourth quarter 2017 as we make further progress on start-up activities.
    
Selling and distribution expenses increased $7.5 million, or 9%, to $87.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $80.0 million during the same period in the prior year, due primarily to higher employee-related expenses and shipping and handling costs of $3.5 million and $2.7 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, selling and distribution expenses increased $18.7 million, or 8%, to $243.6 million, compared with $224.9 million during the same period in 2016, due primarily to higher employee-related expenses and shipping and handling costs of $10.2 million and $6.8 million, respectively. The increases for both periods were primarily a result of increased sales volumes and improved operating results in our BMD segment.
 
General and administrative expenses increased $2.1 million, or 15%, to $16.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $14.4 million for the same period in the prior year, due primarily to higher employee-related expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.4 million, or 1%, to $45.6 million, compared with $46.0 million during the same period in 2016. The decrease was primarily due to acquisition-related expenses of $3.6 million in our Wood Products segment incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2016, offset partially by higher employee-related expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Other (income) expense, net, was $1.1 million of expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017, which included a $1.0 million noncash asset write-down in our Wood Products segment. Other (income) expense, net, for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was insignificant. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, other (income) expense, net, was $0.1 million of income, which included a $1.2 million gain from the sale of machinery and equipment, offset by a $1.0 million noncash asset write-down, in our Wood Products segment. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, other (income) expense, net, was $1.5 million of income, which included a $1.5 million gain from the sale of a timber deed in our Wood Products segment.
 
Income From Operations
 
Income from operations increased $24.7 million to $56.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $31.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Income from operations increased $37.0 million to $119.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $82.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
 
Wood Products.  Segment income increased $12.5 million to $24.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $11.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in segment income was due primarily to higher sales prices of plywood, EWP, and lumber, offset partially by higher OSB costs used in the manufacture of I-joists.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, segment income increased $13.1 million to $46.8 million from $33.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in segment income was due primarily to higher plywood,

25


lumber, and EWP sales prices. In addition, the nine months ended September 30, 2016 included $3.6 million of acquisition-related expenses. These improvements were offset partially by higher OSB costs used in the manufacture of I-joists, as well as higher per-unit conversion costs resulting from lower plywood and lumber sales volumes. In addition, depreciation and amortization expense increased $3.7 million due primarily to the Acquisition on March 31, 2016, and other capital expenditures.

Building Materials Distribution.  Segment income increased $13.0 million to $39.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, from $26.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The improvement in segment income was driven primarily by a gross margin increase of $22.3 million generated from a sales increase of 18%, offset partially by increased selling and distribution expenses of $7.6 million.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, segment income increased $24.9 million to $93.9 million from $68.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The improvement in segment income was driven primarily by a gross margin increase of $47.2 million generated from a sales increase of 16%, offset partially by increased selling and distribution expenses of $19.0 million.
    
Corporate and Other.  Unallocated corporate expenses increased $0.7 million to $7.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, from $6.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, unallocated corporate expenses increased $1.0 million to $21.1 million from $20.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increases for both periods were primarily a result of higher employee-related expenses.

Other
 
Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased $0.8 million, or 12%, to $6.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $7.1 million during the same period in the prior year. The higher interest expense during the prior year period was primarily due to timing related to the senior notes refinancing in which we issued new senior notes on August 29, 2016, but did not redeem $115.5 million of the replaced senior notes until November 1, 2016. As such, the three months ended September 30, 2016, included interest on both notes for a portion of the period. Interest expense decreased $0.2 million, or 1%, to $19.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $19.4 million during the same period in the prior year. For more information related to our indebtedness, see Note 6, Debt, of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 1. Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q.

Change in fair value of interest rate swaps. For information related to our interest rate swaps, see the discussion under "Interest Rate Risk and Interest Rate Swaps" of Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 1. Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q.

Loss on extinguishment of debt. In connection with the issuance of the $350 million of 5.625% senior notes due September 1, 2024 (2024 Notes), we commenced a tender offer to purchase any and all of our $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.375% senior notes (2020 Notes) then outstanding. On August 29, 2016, we accepted for purchase an aggregate principal amount of $184.5 million of the 2020 Notes that were tendered. In connection with these transactions, we recognized a pre-tax loss on the extinguishment of debt of $9.5 million during the third quarter of 2016. The loss includes a $7.6 million tender premium paid and $1.9 million for the net write-off of a portion of the unamortized deferred financing costs and unamortized premium related to the 2020 Notes.

Income Tax Provision

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded $18.3 million and $36.5 million, respectively, of income tax expense and had an effective rate of 36.6% and 36.4%, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, we recorded $5.5 million and $19.2 million, respectively, of income tax expense and had an effective rate of 35.6% and 36.0%, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the primary reason for the difference between the federal statutory income tax rate of 35% and the effective tax rate was the effect of state taxes. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the primary reason for the difference between the federal statutory income tax rate of 35% and the effective tax rate was the effect of state taxes, offset partially by other tax credits.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
We ended third quarter 2017 with $172.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and $438.0 million of debt. At September 30, 2017, we had $565.8 million of available liquidity (cash and cash equivalents and undrawn committed bank line

26


availability). We generated $68.2 million of cash during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as cash provided by operations was offset partially by capital spending. A further description of our cash sources and uses for the nine month comparative periods are noted below.
    
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 for at least the next 12 months.

Sources and Uses of Cash
 
We generate cash primarily from sales of our products, as well as short-term and long-term borrowings. 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 and pension 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.
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
2017
 
2016
 
(thousands)
Net cash provided by operations
$
117,136

 
$
113,254

Net cash used for investment
(45,971
)
 
(270,780
)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing
(2,958
)
 
104,214


Operating Activities
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, our operating activities generated $117.1 million of cash, compared with $113.3 million of cash generated in the same period in 2016. The $3.9 million increase in cash provided by operations was due primarily to a $24.9 million improvement in income from the Building Materials Distribution segment, a $13.1 million increase in income from the Wood Products segment, as well as a $1.7 million decrease in pension contributions. These increases were offset partially by a $31.3 million increase in working capital during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared with a $12.5 million increase for the same period in the prior year. In addition, cash paid for taxes, net of refunds received, was $15.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared with income tax refunds, net of taxes paid, of $1.4 million during the same period in the prior year. Cash payments for interest also increased $6.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016. See "Our Operating Results" in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for more information related to factors affecting our operating results.

The change in working capital in both periods was primarily attributable to higher receivables and inventories, offset by an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The increases in receivables in both periods primarily reflect increased sales of approximately 47% and 23%, comparing sales for the months of September 2017 and 2016 with sales for the months of December 2016 and 2015, respectively. The increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities provided $108.1 million of cash during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $102.3 million in the same period a year ago. During both periods, seasonally higher inventory purchases and extended terms offered by major vendors to our Building Materials Distribution segment led to the increase in accounts payable.

Investment Activities

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, we used $48.1 million and $55.4 million, respectively, of cash for purchases of property and equipment, including business improvement and quality/efficiency projects, replacement and expansion projects, and ongoing environmental compliance. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we used $215.9 million for the Acquisition. Excluding potential acquisitions, we expect capital expenditures in 2017 to total approximately $75 million to $85 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. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we received asset sales proceeds of $2.3 million, primarily from the sale of machinery and equipment in our Wood Products segment.


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Financing Activities
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, our financing activities used $3.0 million of cash, compared with $104.2 million of cash generated in the same period in 2016.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we borrowed $410.4 million under our revolving credit facility to fund intra-month working capital needs, which were subsequently repaid during the same period with cash on hand. At September 30, 2017, we had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility. We also used $2.9 million of cash for tax withholding payments on stock-based awards during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, our financing activities generated $104.2 million of cash. On August 29, 2016, we issued $350 million of 5.625% senior notes due September 1, 2024 (2024 Notes). In connection with the 2024 Notes issuance, we commenced a tender offer to purchase any and all of our $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2020 Notes then outstanding. Concurrently, we accepted for purchase an aggregate principal amount of $184.5 million of the 2020 Notes that were tendered. In connection with the tender, we paid a tender premium of $7.6 million.

On August 29, 2016, we irrevocably instructed the trustee for the 2020 Notes to issue a redemption notice to holders of the remaining $115.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2020 Notes outstanding and irrevocably deposited $119.2 million of cash received upon the issuance of the 2024 Notes, representing the remaining principal amount and call premium, in an account with the trustee for the 2020 Notes, redeemed on November 1, 2016.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we issued a new $75.0 million term loan (Term Loan) to partially fund the Acquisition. Under our revolving credit facility, we also borrowed $355.0 million to fund intra-month working capital needs and $55.0 million to partially fund the Acquisition, which were subsequently repaid with cash on hand during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. At September 30, 2016, we had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility. We used $6.3 million of cash for financing costs related to our debt issuances during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. In addition, we repurchased 180,100 shares of our common stock for $2.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

For more information related to our debt structure and common stock repurchase program, see the discussion in Note 6, Debt, and Note 9, Stockholders' Equity, respectively, of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 1. Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q.

Contractual Obligations
 
For information about contractual obligations, see Contractual Obligations in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2016 Form 10-K. There have been no material changes in contractual obligations outside the ordinary course of business since December 31, 2016, except for entering into a ten-year log supply agreement to purchase approximately $95 million (or approximately $9.5 million per year) of logs in the Pacific Northwest. The amount is estimated using pricing in effect upon execution of the agreement on July 1, 2017, but the actual prices will be set quarterly and depend on a pricing index. Under the contract, we have the right to cancel or reduce our commitments in the event of a mill curtailment or shutdown.

Off-Balance-Sheet Activities
 
At September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, we had no material off-balance-sheet arrangements with unconsolidated entities.
 
Guarantees
 
Note 7, Debt, and Note 15, Commitments, Legal Proceedings and Contingencies, and Guarantees, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" in our 2016 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. As of September 30, 2017, there have been no material changes to the guarantees disclosed in our 2016 Form 10-K.
 

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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 first and second quarters in preparation and response to the building season. Seasonally cold weather increases costs, especially energy consumption, at most of our manufacturing facilities.
 
Employees
 
As of October 22, 2017, we had approximately 6,310 employees. Approximately 24% of these employees work pursuant to collective bargaining agreements. As of October 22, 2017, we had nine collective bargaining agreements. We have an agreement, covering approximately 730 employees at our Oakdale and Florien plywood plants, that expired on July 15, 2017, but has been extended indefinitely pending negotiations. We also have an agreement covering approximately 91 employees at our Canadian EWP facility that is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2017. We may not be able to renew these agreements or may renew them on terms that are less favorable to us than currently. As a result, 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.

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 prices. As of September 30, 2017, there have been no material changes to financial market risks disclosed in our 2016 Form 10-K.

Environmental
 
For additional information about environmental issues, see Environmental in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2016 Form 10-K.
 
Critical Accounting Estimates
 
Critical accounting estimates are those that are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results. These estimates require management's most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to estimate matters that are inherently uncertain. We review the development, selection, and disclosure of our critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our board of directors. For information about critical accounting estimates, see Critical Accounting Estimates in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2016 Form 10-K. At September 30, 2017, there have been no material changes to our critical accounting estimates from those disclosed in our 2016 Form 10-K.

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 Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 1. Financial Statements" in this Form 10-Q.
 
ITEM 3.          QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
For information relating to quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk, see the discussion under "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" and under the headings "Disclosures of Financial Market Risks" and "Financial Instruments" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2016 Form 10-K. As of September 30, 2017, there have been no material changes in our exposure to market risk from those disclosed in our 2016 Form 10-K.
 

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ITEM 4.          CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
We maintain "disclosure controls and procedures," as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act. We have designed these controls and procedures to reasonably assure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act, such as this Form 10-Q, 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 our chief executive officer (CEO) and our chief financial officer (CFO), as appropriate, to allow them to make timely decisions regarding our required disclosures. Based on an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, our CEO and CFO have concluded that as of September 30, 2017, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in meeting the objectives for which they were designed.
  
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.
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2017, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.



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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.          LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
We are a party to routine legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our business, including commercial liability claims, premises claims, environmental claims, and employment-related claims, among others. As of the date of this filing, we believe it is not reasonably possible that any of the legal actions against us will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
 
ITEM 1A.       RISK FACTORS
 
This report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about our expectations, anticipated financial results, projected capital expenditures, and future business prospects, are forward-looking statements. You can identify these statements by our use of words such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "should," "plan," "anticipate," and other similar expressions. You can find examples of these statements throughout this report, including "Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." We cannot guarantee that our actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking statements we make in this report. You should review carefully the risk factors listed in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, there have been no material changes to the risk factors presented in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our 2016 Form 10-K. We do not assume an obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

ITEM 2.          UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

ITEM 3.          DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
 
None.
 
ITEM 4.          MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.
 
ITEM 5.          OTHER INFORMATION
 
None.

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ITEM 6.          EXHIBITS
 
Filed With the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2017
 
Number
 
Description
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
 
 


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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
BOISE CASCADE COMPANY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Kelly E. Hibbs
 
 
Kelly E. Hibbs
Vice President and Controller
 
 
(As Duly Authorized Officer and Chief Accounting Officer)
 
Date:  October 30, 2017


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