Item 1A. [RISK FACTORS](#ib48f9a18843b4853b72b1471a8545599118)

There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (Part I, Item 1A) other than as discussed below.

Risks Relating to the Proposed Business Combination with DS Smith

The proposed Business Combination with DS Smith may be delayed or not occur at all for a variety of reasons, including that the Business Combination is subject to various closing conditions, including governmental, regulatory and shareholder approvals, as well as other uncertainties, and there can be no assurances as to whether or when it may be completed. Failure to consummate the Business Combination could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and the market price of our shares.

On April 16, 2024, the Company issued an announcement pursuant to Rule 2.7 of the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Code”) (the “Rule 2.7 Announcement”) disclosing the terms of a recommended offer by the Company to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of DS Smith Plc, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales (“DS Smith”), in an all-stock transaction (the “Business Combination”).

The consummation of the Business Combination is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions. A number of the conditions are not within our control, and it is possible that such conditions may prevent, delay or otherwise materially adversely affect the completion of the Business Combination. These conditions include, among others: (i) the approval of the proposed scheme of arrangement (the “Scheme”) by DS Smith shareholders; (ii) the sanction of the Scheme by the High Court of Justice in England and Wales (the “Court”); (iii) the Scheme becoming effective no later than October 16, 2025; (iv) the receipt of certain required antitrust and other regulatory approvals; (v) the issuance of the New International Paper Shares (as defined in the Rule 2.7 Announcement) in connection with the Business Combination being duly approved by Company shareholders at the corresponding special meeting of Company shareholders; (vi) confirmation being received by the Company that the New International Paper Shares have been approved for listing, subject to official notice of issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange; and (vii) acknowledgement being received by the Company that the application for Admission (as defined in the Rule 2.7 Announcement) has been approved and the Company’s shares will be admitted to trading on the Main Market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange.

We cannot predict with certainty whether and when any of the remaining required conditions will be satisfied or if another uncertainty may arise. Failure to complete the Business Combination within the expected timeframe or at all could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and the market price of our common stock in a number of ways, including:

• the market price of our shares may decline to the extent that the current market price reflects an assumption that the Business Combination will be consummated;

• we have incurred, and will continue to incur, significant expenses for professional services in connection with the Business Combination for which we will have received little or no benefit if the Business Combination is not consummated; and

• we may experience negative publicity and/or reactions from our investors, employees, customers, and other business partners.

We may fail to realize the anticipated benefits and operating synergies expected from the Business Combination, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

The success of the Business Combination will depend, in significant part, on our ability to successfully integrate the acquired business, grow the revenue of the combined company and realize the anticipated strategic benefits and synergies from the

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Business Combination. We believe that the addition of DS Smith will complement our strategy by bringing together two complementary businesses to create a global sustainable packaging solutions leader with enhanced scale and improved positions in attractive and growing markets. We expect that the Business Combination will generate significant synergies, as set out in more detail in the Rule 2.7 Announcement. Achieving these goals requires growth of the revenue of the combined company and realization of the targeted operating synergies expected from the Business Combination. This growth and the anticipated benefits of the transaction may not be realized fully or at all, or may take longer to realize than we expect. Actual operating, technological, strategic and revenue opportunities, if achieved at all, may be less significant than we expect or may take longer to achieve than anticipated. If we are not able to achieve these objectives and realize the anticipated benefits and synergies expected from the Business Combination within a reasonable time, our business, financial condition and operating results may be adversely affected.

Efforts to complete the Business Combination could disrupt our relationships with third parties and employees, divert management’s attention, or result in negative publicity or legal proceedings, any of which could negatively impact our business, financial condition and operating results.

We have expended, and continue to expend, significant management time and resources in an effort to complete the Business Combination, which may have a negative impact on our ongoing business and operations. Uncertainty regarding the outcome of the Business Combination and our future could disrupt our business relationships with our existing and potential customers, channel partners, service providers and other business partners, who may attempt to negotiate changes in existing business relationships or consider entering into business relationships with parties other than us or DS Smith. Uncertainty regarding the outcome of the Business Combination could also adversely affect our ability to recruit and retain key personnel and other employees. The pendency of the Business Combination may also result in negative publicity and a negative impression of us in the financial markets, and may lead to litigation against us and our directors and officers. Such litigation would be distracting to management and, may, in the future, require us to incur significant costs. Such litigation could result in the Business Combination being delayed and/or enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction, which could prevent the Business Combination from being completed. The occurrence of any of these events individually or in combination could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Business Combination will result in significant integration costs and any material delays or unanticipated additional expenses may harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. We may not be able to integrate DS Smith into the combined company successfully.

The Business Combination involves the integration of two businesses that previously operated independently. If the parties complete the Business Combination, the composition of the Company’s Board may change from the current board of directors and, following an assessment, the Company’s leadership team may change. The complexity and magnitude of the integration effort associated with the Business Combination are significant and require that we fund significant capital and operating expenses to support the integration of the combined operations. Such expenses have included significant transaction, consulting and third-party service fees. As set out in the Rule 2.7 Announcement, we anticipate that the total costs to achieve the synergies associated with the Business Combination would be approximately $370 million (£297 million). However, the anticipated costs are subject to change. We have incurred and expect to continue to incur additional operating expenses as we build up internal resources or engage third party providers while we integrate the combined company following the Business Combination.

Additionally, the process of integrating operations could cause an interruption of, or loss of momentum in, the activities of one or both of us and DS Smith. The diversion of management’s attention and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with the integration of the operations, or the failure to successfully integrate the two businesses, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The complexity of the integration and transition associated with the Business Combination, together with DS Smith’s increased scale and global presence, may affect our internal control over financial reporting and our ability to effectively and timely report our financial results.

The additional scale of DS Smith’s operations, together with the complexity of the integration effort, including changes to or implementation of critical information technology systems, may adversely affect our ability to report our financial results on a timely basis. In addition, we will have to train new employees and third-party providers, and assume operations in jurisdictions where we have not previously had operations. We expect that the Business Combination may necessitate significant modifications to our internal control systems, processes and information systems, both on a transition basis and over the longer-term as we fully integrate the combined company. Due to the complexity of the Business Combination, we cannot be certain that changes to our internal control over financial reporting will be effective for any period, or on an ongoing basis. If we are unable to accurately report our financial results in a timely manner, or are unable to assert that our internal controls over

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financial reporting are effective, our business, financial condition and results of operations and the market perception thereof may be materially adversely affected.

The Business Combination may expose us to significant unanticipated liabilities that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Business Combination may expose us to significant unanticipated liabilities relating to the operation of the combined company. These liabilities could include employment or severance-related obligations under applicable law or other benefits arrangements, legal claims, warranty or similar liabilities to customers, and claims by or amounts owed to vendors. Particularly in international jurisdictions, our acquisition of DS Smith, or our decision to independently enter new international markets where DS Smith previously conducted business, could also expose us to tax liabilities and other amounts owed by DS Smith. The incurrence of such unforeseen or unanticipated liabilities, should they be significant, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Certain DS Smith agreements may contain change of control provisions which, if not waived, could have material adverse effects on the combined company.

DS Smith is a party to various agreements with third parties, including certain financing agreements, customer and supplier contracts and other material contracts, that may contain change of control provisions that will be triggered upon the completion of the Business Combination. In addition, certain DS Smith financing instruments contain change of control provisions that will be triggered upon the completion of the Business Combination if coupled with a downgrade in (or withdrawal of) the credit rating of the applicable instruments to below investment grade during a period of time after completion of the Business Combination. Agreements with change of control provisions typically provide for or permit the termination of the agreement upon the occurrence of a change of control of one of the parties which can be waived by the relevant counterparties. If the Company and DS Smith determine that one or more such waivers are necessary, DS Smith will make reasonable efforts to seek and obtain these waivers. There can be no assurance that such consent will be obtained at all or on favorable terms, and as of the date of this document, no such waivers have been sought or obtained. The inability to obtain waivers from more than one relevant counterparty could have a material adverse effect on the combined company.

Stockholders in the combined company will be exposed to additional currency exchange rate fluctuations as, following completion of the Business Combination, there will be an increased proportion of assets, liabilities and earnings denominated in foreign currencies.

As a result of the Business Combination, the financial results of the combined company will be more exposed to currency exchange rate fluctuations and an increased proportion of assets, liabilities and earnings will be denominated in non-U.S. Dollar currencies. The combined company will present its financial statements in U.S. Dollars and will have a significant proportion of net assets and income in non-U.S. Dollar currencies, primarily the Pound Sterling and Euro. The combined company’s financial condition and results of operation will therefore be more sensitive to movements in foreign exchange rates. A depreciation of non-U.S. Dollar currencies relative to the U.S. Dollar could have an adverse impact on the combined company’s financial results.

The Takeover Code restricts the Company’s ability to cause DS Smith to consummate the Business Combination and limits the relief the Company may obtain in the event DS Smith’s Board of Directors withdraws its support of the Business Combination.

The Takeover Code limits the contractual commitments that may be obtained from DS Smith to take actions in furtherance of the Business Combination, and DS Smith’s Board of Directors may, if its fiduciary duties so require, withdraw its recommendation in support for the Business Combination, and withdraw the Scheme, at any time prior to the Scheme arrangement becoming effective. The Takeover Code does not permit DS Smith to pay any break fee to the Company if the DS Smith Board of Directors does so, nor can DS Smith be subject to any restrictions on soliciting or negotiating other offers or transactions involving DS Smith other than the restrictions that arise under the Takeover Code against undertaking actions or entering into agreements which might frustrate the Company’s takeover offer for DS Smith.

Antitrust laws restrict the Company’s ability to coordinate with DS Smith on certain matters.

To the extent that DS Smith needs to renegotiate any material commercial contracts before completion of the Business Combination, antitrust laws prevent the Company from coordinating with DS Smith regarding such renegotiations and, while

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DS Smith will negotiate in its shareholders best interests, factors outside of DS Smith’s control may cause such renegotiations to result in a negative impact to DS Smith’s business or our view of the business of the combined company.

Even if a material adverse change to DS Smith’s business or prospects were to occur prior to closing, we may not be able to invoke the offer conditions and terminate the Business Combination, which could reduce the value of our shares.

Under the Takeover Code, and except for a limited number of conditions, such as the approval of the Share Issuance Proposal and the DS Smith shareholder approval (or the minimum acceptance condition if the Business Combination is implemented by way of a takeover offer) we may invoke a condition to the Business Combination to cause the Business Combination not to proceed only if the UK Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Panel”) is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to that condition not being satisfied are of material significance to the Company in the context of the Business Combination. Because of this Panel consent requirement, the conditions, including as to a material adverse change affecting DS Smith, may provide us less protection than the customary conditions in an offer for a U.S. domestic company.

Issuance of Company shares in connection with the Business Combination will reduce our existing stockholders’ aggregate ownership and voting interest in the Company, will result in existing stockholders exercising less influence over management, and may adversely affect the market price of our shares.

In connection with the payment of the Business Combination consideration, we expect to issue approximately 180 million Company shares. Company stockholders and DS Smith shareholders are expected to own approximately 66.3% and 33.7%, respectively, of the combined group following closing. The issuance of these new shares will reduce our existing stockholders’ ownership and voting interest in the Company and, as a result, our existing stockholders, individually and in the aggregate, will be able to exert less influence. Additionally, continuing our current dividend practices following the Business Combination will require additional cash to pay such dividends. For this and other reasons generally affecting the ability to pay dividends, Company stockholders may not receive the same dividends they have received in the past following the Business Combination. The issuance of these new shares may also result in fluctuations in the market price of Company shares, including a price decrease.

Following completion of the Business Combination, our international operations will be subject to the laws and regulations of the United States and many foreign countries. Failure to comply with these laws may affect our ability to conduct business in certain countries and may affect our financial performance.

We and DS Smith are, and, following completion of the Business Combination, will be, subject to a variety of laws regarding our international operations, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act and regulations issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security, and the regulations of various foreign governmental and regulatory agencies. We cannot predict the nature, scope or effect of future regulatory requirements to which our international operations might be subject or the manner in which existing laws might be administered or interpreted. In addition, actual or alleged violations of these laws could result in enforcement actions and financial penalties that could result in substantial costs. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Following completion of the Business Combination, we will be subject to specific risks associated with expanded international operations.

Revenues derived from international operations following completion of the Business Combination are subject to risks inherent in doing business outside the U.S. These risks include:

• economic or political instability;

• trade protection measures, including tariffs or import-export restrictions;

• restrictions on currency repatriation;

• significant adverse changes in taxation policies or other laws or regulations;

• partial or total expropriation of international assets; and

• the disruption of operations from political disturbances, terrorist activities, insurrection or war.

If any of these risks were to materialize, they may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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

PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

Period			Total Number of Shares Purchased (a)			Average Price Paid per Share			Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of a Publicly Announced Plan or Program			Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (in billions)
January 1, 2024 - January 31, 2024			3,375			$36.13			—			$2.96
February 1, 2024 - February 29, 2024			611,416			35.40			—			2.96
March 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024			1,167			36.86			—			2.96
Total			615,958

(a) 615,958 shares were acquired from employees or members of our Board as a result of share withholdings to pay income taxes under the Company's restricted stock program. During these periods, no shares were purchased under our share repurchase program, which does not have an expiration date. On October 11, 2022, our Board increased the authorization up to a total of $3.35 billion shares. As of March 31, 2024, approximately $2.96 billion aggregate shares of our common stock remained authorized for repurchase under a previous Board authorization.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during the quarter ended March 31, 2024, no director or Section 16 officer adopted or terminated any Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements, as defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

2.1						Rule 2.7 Announcement dated April 16, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 16, 2024).
2.2						Co-operation Agreement between International Paper Company and DS Smith, Plc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 16, 2024).
10.1						Employment Offer Letter dated March 14, 2024, between International Paper Company and Andrew K. Silvernail (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 19, 2024).
31.1*						Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*						Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32**						Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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** Filed herewith*

*** Furnished herewith*

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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.

			INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY (Registrant)
April 26, 2024			By			/s/ Timothy S. Nicholls
						Timothy S. Nicholls
						Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
April 26, 2024			By			/s/ Holly G. Goughnour
						Holly G. Goughnour
						Vice President – Finance and Corporate Controller