Feb 25, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Paper and packaging maker Boise Inc. reported a 4Q net loss of $15.5 million or 20 cents per diluted share, compared to net income of $4.4 million or 6 cents a share in the previous quarter. Special items in the 4Q 2008 included $37.6 million in pre-tax charges associated with the St. Helens, Ore., mill restructuring – $28.8 million of which is related to non-cash expenses – and a $2.9 million gain associated with the freeze of the company’s salaried pension plan. Boise Inc. reported a $45.5 million net loss for 2008. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization – which do not include special items – totaled $76 million in the 4Q compared to $77.9 million in the 3Q and $70.6 million in the 4Q 2007. For the full year, this total was $247.1 million in 2008 and $254.7 million in 2007. The company in February 2008 purchased Boise Cascade LLC’s packaging and paper manufacturing businesses. Both companies are Boise-based. Boise Inc. said the predecessor’s operations earned $70.8 million in the 4Q 2007 and $22.8 million in all of 2007. Sales for Boise Inc. totaled $591.1 million in the 4Q, up by 1% from a year earlier but down 7% from the 3Q 2008. Full-year sales totaled $2.4 billion, up 4% from 2007. From 2007, the 4Q result reflected a 2% drop in paper segment sales and a 5% gain in packaging segment sales; both segments saw higher prices partly offset lower volumes. “Last year brought unprecedented challenges with significant cost inflation, credit market contraction, and slowing markets,” President and CEO Alexander Toeldte said in a release. “Despite this environment, we continued to improve operating performance.”