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Nominees for Election at the 20152016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Class C
(Term Ends 2015)

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" EACH NOMINEE NAMED ABOVE.

Class A
(Term Ends 2016)

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" EACH NOMINEE NAMED ABOVE.

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Class B
(Term Ends 2017)

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Class C
(Term Ends 2018)

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GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

Role of the Board

        The Board is the ultimate decision-making body of the Company, except with respect to matters reserved to stockholders. The primary function of the Board is oversight. The Board, in exercising its business judgment, acts as an advisor and counselor to senior management and defines and enforces standards of accountability—all with a view to enabling senior management to execute their responsibilities fully and in the interests of stockholders. The following are the Board's primary responsibilities, some of which may be carried out by one or more Committees of the Board or the independent directors as appropriate:

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Overseeing the conduct of the Company's business so that it is effectively managed in the long-term interests of stockholders;



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Selecting, evaluating, and determining the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and planning for CEO succession, as well as monitoring management's succession planning for other key executives;



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Overseeing and reviewing the Company's strategic direction and objectives;



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Monitoring the Company's accounting and financial reporting practices and reviewing the Company's financial and other controls;



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Overseeing the Company's compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and



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Overseeing the processes that are in place to safeguard the Company's assets and mitigate risks.

        In performing its oversight function, the Board is entitled to rely on the advice, reports and opinions of management, counsel, auditors and outside experts. In that regard, the Board and its Committees shall be entitled, at the expense of the Company, to engage such independent legal, financial or other advisors as they deem appropriate, without consulting or obtaining the approval of any officer of the Company.

Board Leadership Structure

        Our Bylaws require that our Chairman shall be a member of the Board of Directors and may or may not be an officer or employee of the Company. The principal duty of the Company's Chairman is to lead and oversee the Board. The Chairman should facilitate an open flow of information between management and the Board, and should lead a critical evaluation of Company management, practices and adherence to the Company's strategic plan and objectives.

        The Company's business is conducted by its employees, managers and officers, under the direction of senior management and led by the CEO. In carrying out the Company's business, the CEO and senior management are accountable to the Board and ultimately to stockholders. Management's primary responsibilities include the day-to-day operation of the Company's business, strategic planning, budgeting, financial reporting, and risk management.

        Roger W. Stone is the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. The Board believes that Mr. Stone's holding of both positions is in the best interests of the Company due to his vast experience in and knowledge of the paper industry. In addition, the Board believes that having the same person serve as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer facilitates information flow between management and the Board and helps to assure that the Company speaks with one voice. Mr. Stone's biography can be found on page 812 of this Proxy Statement.

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        The Board does not have a lead independent director. However, Brian R. Gamache, one of our independent directors, is the presiding director at each executive session of the Board's independent directors. Furthermore, each of our Board committees consists entirely of independent directors.

Who are the independent directors?

        Our Corporate Governance Guidelines require that all directors except the Chief Executive Officer and President be independent. An independent director is one who is free of any relationship with the Company or its management that may impair, or appear to impair, the director's ability to make independent judgments, and who meets the NYSE's definition of independence. All members of the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees shall be independent. The Board determines the independence of each director in accordance with the NYSE listing standards and the Corporate Governance Guidelines on an annual basis. The Board has determined that Robert J. Bahash, John M. Chapman, Jonathan R. Furer, David G. Gabriel, Brian R. Gamache, Ronald J. Gidwitz, Matthew H. Paull, Maurice S. Reznik, and David P. Storch are "independent" directors as that term is defined in the NYSE listing standards and the Corporate Governance Guidelines. In making this determination with respect to Mr. Gabriel, the Board considered, among other things, that (i) he is the President and CEO of Sonepar North America, a company with which the Company engages in ordinary course business transactions, including sales to Sonepar of corrugated containers and purchase from Sonepar of industrial, safety, and electrical materials. The Board had also determinedmaterials and (ii) that Jay Stewart washis son is employed by the Company as an independent director before his resignation from the Board effective May 14, 2014.account representative.

How often did the Board meet during 2014?2015?

        Directors are expected to attend all Board meetings and meetings of the Committees on which they serve. During the year ended December 31, 2014,2015, the Board held fiveseven meetings. Each director serving on the Board in 20142015 attended at least 80% of the aggregate total number of Board meetings and Board committee meetings of which he was a member and eligible to attend.attend, with the exception of Mr. Stone who missed two Board meetings while he was on medical leave of absence. The Board's independent directors meet in executive session, without any members of management present, at each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board. Brian R. Gamache is the presiding director at the executive sessions.

What is the Company's policy regarding director attendance at the Annual Meeting?

        Members of the Board are strongly encouraged to attend the Company's Annual Meeting of stockholders. All of the directors who were then serving on the Board attended the 20142015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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What committees has the Board established?

   ��    The Board has established three standing committees: Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance. All of the members of the Committees are independent in accordance with applicable SEC regulations, the NYSE listing standards and the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines.

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Committee charters are available on the Governance tab of the Company's website at http://governance.kapstonepaper.com. Each Committee performs its own annual self-assessment.

        Audit Committee.    The Audit Committee's function is to review, with the Company's independent registered public accounting firm and management, the annual financial statements and independent registered public accounting firm's opinion, review and maintain direct oversight of the plan, scope and results of the audit by the independent registered public accounting firm, review and approve all professional services performed and related fees charged by the independent registered public accounting firm, be solely responsible for the retention or replacement of the independent registered public accounting firm, and monitor the adequacy of the Company's accounting and financial policies, controls, and reporting systems. In addition, the Audit Committee is responsible for risk oversight of the Company and provides risk assessment reports to the Board. None of the members serve on more than three public company audit committees. All of the members are "financially literate" under the NYSE listing standards, and the Board has determined that Mr. Paull is an "audit committee financial expert" within the meaning of relevant SEC regulations. The Audit Committee held nine meetings in 2014.2015.

        Compensation Committee.    The functions of the Compensation Committee include providing guidance to management and assisting the Board in matters relating to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and executive officers, the Company's compensation and benefits programs, the Company's succession, retention and training programs, and such other matters that have a direct impact on the success of the Company's human resources. The details of the process and procedures followed by the Compensation Committee are disclosed in this Proxy Statement under the headings "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" and "Report of the Compensation Committee." The Compensation Committee held three meetings in 2014.2015.

        Nominating and Governance Committee.    The Nominating and Governance Committee performs the following functions: assists the Board by identifying prospective director nominees and recommends to the Board the nominees for the annual meeting of stockholders; oversees the Board's annual performance evaluation process; evaluates the composition, organization and governance of the Board

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and its committees; and oversees the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines. In addition, if any incumbent director fails to receive the required vote for re-election, the Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for making a recommendation to the Board about whether to accept the director's resignation. The Nominating and Governance Committee held four meetings in 2014.2015.

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How are directors nominated?

        The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for selecting candidates for Board membership, subject to Board approval, and for extending invitations to join the Board. In selecting candidates, the Board endeavors to find individuals of high integrity who have a solid record of accomplishment in their chosen fields and who display the independence of mind and strength of character to effectively represent the best interests of the stockholders. Candidates are selected for their ability to exercise good judgment, and to provide practical insights. Consistent with its charter, the Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for screening candidates, establishing criteria for nominees, and for recommending to the Board a slate of candidates for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In performing these tasks, the Nominating and Governance Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate any search firm to be used to identify candidates. Candidates are approved by the full Board. Robert J. Bahash and Maurice S. Reznik were each appointed to the Board on July 24, 2014 upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Mr. Bahash received a recommendation from Messrs. Gamache and Paull, and Mr. Reznik received a recommendation from Messrs. Stone and Kaplan.

        All directors except the Chief Executive Officer and the President are required to be independent. An independent director is one who is free of any relationship with the Company or its management that may impair, or appear to impair, the director's ability to make independent judgments, and who meets the NYSE's definition of independence.

        We do not have a specific diversity policy for our Board, however, we consider diversity to be a critical factor in evaluating the composition of the Board, and that for this purpose diversity includes perspectives, experience, differences and viewpoints, as well as race, ethnicity and gender. The Company values diversity and has women and/or minorities serving in several key positions including Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer,Officer; Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel; and Vice President of Containerboard and Kraft Paper Sales and Marketing.

        The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders on the same basis as it considers director candidates identified by the Committee. A stockholder who wishes to recommend a prospective nominee to the Board for consideration by the Nominating and Governance Committee must send a written notice to the company's Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel at the principal offices of the Company. Such notice must be delivered to our offices by the deadline relating to stockholder nominations as set forth in Article II, Section 4 of the Company's Bylaws and as described in this Proxy Statement under the heading "Additional Information."

        Each notice delivered by a stockholder who wishes to recommend a prospective nominee to the Board for consideration by the Nominating and Governance Committee must include the same information about the recommended nominee that would be required by the Company's Bylaws were the stockholder actually nominating such individual for election, including the following information:

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the name, age, business address and residence address of such person;



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the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company which are beneficially owned by such person and any other indirect pecuniary or economic interest in any capital stock of the Company, including, without limitation, derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit sharing arrangement;

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the principal occupation or employment of such person;



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written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; and



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a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made.

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        A full description of the information that must be provided as to a prospective nominee is set forth in Article II, Section 4 of the Company's Bylaws, which are available on the Governance tab of the Company's website at http://governance.kapstonepaper.com. The Nominating and Governance Committee may require any prospective nominee to furnish such other information as the Committee may reasonably require to determine the qualifications of such nominee to serve as a director of the Company.

20142015 Director Compensation

        The Nominating and Governance Committee recommends to the Board the form and amount of compensation for non-employee directors. Only non-employee directors are paid for their service on the Board. Each non-employee director of the Company received the following compensation for service as a director in 2014:2015:

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an annual retainer paid in four quarterly payments of $10,250 each, which was increased to $18,750 each quarter starting in the second quarter of 2014;$18,750;



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an additional quarterly retainer of $2,500, $1,500,$3,750, $3,750 and $1,500,$2,500, respectively, for service as the chairperson of the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees, which was increased to $3,750, $3,750 and $2,500, respectively, starting in the second quarter of 2014.



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a fee of $1,500 for each Board meeting and each committee meeting attended by such director, which was eliminated by the Board as of the second quarter of 2014;Committees;



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reimbursement of reasonable expenses to attend Board and committee meetings; and



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a grant of stock options and restricted stock units with a grant date value of approximately $85,000 (each option vests 50% on the second anniversary of the grant date and the remaining 50% on the third anniversary of the grant date; restricted stock units vest on the third anniversary of the grant date).

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        The following table provides information regarding the compensation of the non-employee directors for 2014.2015.

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Non-Employee Director Outstanding Equity Awards at 2014 Fiscal Year EndDecember 31, 2015

Director Stock Ownership Requirements

        The Board has created stock ownership requirements to further align the interests of our non-employee directors with those of the Company's stockholders and encourage long-term stockholder value by requiring our non-employee directors to hold a significant equity stake in the Company. On March 13, 2014, our Board increased the stock ownership requirements applicable to our non-employee directors from three times the annual Board cash retainer to five times the annual Board cash retainer. Restricted stock unit awards and vested stock options count toward the ownership requirements. Under the policy, newly appointed or elected directors have four (4) years from joining the Board to comply with these requirements. The Board may, in its discretion, make exceptions to the stock ownership requirements in periods of volatile markets. As of the record date, all directors met the applicable ownership threshold except for Messrs. Bahash, Gabriel, and Reznik. Mr. Gabriel joined the Board on May 16, 2013 and has until May 16, 2017 to meet the ownership threshold, while Messrs. Bahash and Reznik, who joined the Board on July 24, 2014 and havehas until July 24, 2018 to meet them.the ownership threshold.

Corporate Governance

        The following corporate governance materials are available on the Governance tab of the Company's website at http://governance.kapstonepaper.com: (1) Corporate Governance Guidelines; (2) Code of Conduct and Ethics; and (3) the Charterscharters of our Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees. We will provide a copy of these documents to our stockholders, without charge, upon written request addressed to the Company at 1101 Skokie Blvd.,Boulevard, Suite 300, Northbrook, IL 60062, Attention: Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel.

Risk Oversight

        The Board's involvement in risk oversight involves both the Audit Committee and the full Board. Risk oversight is a standing agenda item at each Audit Committee meeting. The Committee receives reports from the Company's Vice President, Internal Audit as well as from the independent registered public accounting firm at each Audit Committee meeting. The Company's Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as well as its Vice President and Corporate Controller both provide reports to the Audit Committee regarding risk factors, including, but not limited to, treasury risks pertaining to credit, debt, and interest rates as well as financial and accounting risks. The General Counsel keeps the Audit

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Committee abreast of issues pertaining to litigation, regulatory matters, and compliance. The Chairman of the Audit Committee reports on the activities of the Committee regarding risk at each meeting of the full Board. Other committees of our Board may also practice risk oversight related directly to such committees' responsibilities. In addition, each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board includes a report from the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and its Vice PresidentsPresident and General ManagersManager of the Mill and Container Divisions regarding operating risks at each facility, and risks affecting the industry as a whole.

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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

        The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in its general oversight of KapStone's financial reporting, internal controls, risk and audit functions. The Audit Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors and met nine times during the year.

        As described in the Audit Committee Charter, the Committee has oversight responsibilities to stockholders, potential stockholders, the investment community, and other stakeholders related to the:

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integrity of the Company's financial statements;



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financial reporting process;



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systems of internal accounting and financial controls;



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performance of the Company's internal audit function and independent registered public accounting firm;



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independent registered public accounting firm's qualifications and independence;



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compliance with ethics policies and legal and regulatory requirements; and



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risk oversight.

        The Audit Committee charter is available on KapStone's website at http://governance.kapstonepaper.com and was last amended in 2014.

        The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and Ernst & Young LLP, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of KapStone's financial statements; accounting and financial reporting principles; establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the "Exchange Act") Rule 13a-15(e)); establishing and maintaining internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)); evaluating the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures; evaluating the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting; and evaluating any change in internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting. Ernst & Young LLP is responsible for performing an independent audit of the consolidated financial statements and expressing an opinion on the conformity of those financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, as well as expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.

        The Audit Committee provided oversight and advice to management relating to management's assessment of the adequacy of KapStone's internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the requirements of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. The Audit Committee held private sessions with Ernst & Young LLP to discuss the annual audit. At the conclusion of the process, the Audit Committee reviewed a report from management on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. The Committee also reviewed the report of management contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014,2015, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2015,26, 2016, as well as Ernst & Young LLP's Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K related to its audit of (i) the consolidated financial statements and (ii) the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.

        The Audit Committee has discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the matters required to be discussed under Auditing Standard No. 16 (Communications with Audit Committees) as amended and as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the "PCAOB"). In addition, the Audit Committee has received from Ernst & Young LLP the written disclosures and the letter regarding the

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auditors' communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB, and has discussed with Ernst & Young LLP its independence. In addressing the quality of management's accounting judgments, the Audit Committee asked for management's representations and reviewed certifications prepared by the Chief Executive Officer and

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Chief Financial Officer that the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Based on the review of the consolidated financial statements and discussions with and representations from management and Ernst & Young LLP referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in KapStone's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014,2015, for filing with the SEC.

        The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm. Ernst & Young LLP has been the Company's independent registered public accounting firm since 2006. The Audit Committee and the Board believe that, due to Ernst & Young LLP's knowledge of the Company and of the industry in which the Company operates, it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to continue retention of Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm.

        In accordance with Audit Committee policy and the requirements of law, the Audit Committee pre-approves all non-audit services to be provided by Ernst & Young LLP. In addition, the Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and audit related services provided by Ernst & Young LLP. A further discussion of the fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP for audit and non-audit expenses is included below under the heading "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm."

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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

        Ernst & Young LLP has acted as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company since 2006. During such period Ernst & Young LLP also has provided certain audit-related and permitted non-audit services. The Audit Committee's policy is to approve all audit, audit-related, tax and permitted non-audit services performed by Ernst & Young LLP for the Company in accordance with Section 10A(i) of the Exchange Act, and the SEC's rules adopted thereunder. In 20142015 and 2013,2014, the Audit Committee approved in advance all engagements by Ernst & Young LLP on a specific project-by-project basis, including audit, audit-related, tax and permitted non-audit services. No services were rendered by Ernst & Young LLP to the Company in 20142015 or 20132014 pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.

        Ernst & Young LLP's fees for services provided for the years ended December 31, 2014,2015, and 2013,2014, respectively, are as follows:

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

        The following list sets forth the names of our current executive officers, their ages, and their positions as of December 31, 2014.2015. An asterisk denotes that the person is a Named Executive Officer, as designated by the Board.

Biographical information regarding Messrs. Stone and Kaplan is under the heading
"Proposal 1— "Proposal 1—Election of Directors."

        Andrea K. Tarbox was appointed as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in January 2007, prior to which she served as a financial consultant to the Company. From March 2003 through March 2006, Ms. Tarbox served as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for Uniscribe Professional Services, Inc. Previously, Ms. Tarbox assumed financial positions of increasing responsibility at Gartner Inc., British Petroleum, p.l.c. and Fortune Brands, Inc. Ms. Tarbox began her career with Ernst & Young LLP and is a Certified Public Accountant.

        Timothy P. Keneally has been Vice President and General Manager of the Company since January 2007, and was appointed President of the Company's Container Division in August 2013. Previously, Mr. Keneally served as President of the Company's Mill Division from 2007 to 2013. He served as Vice President of Industrial Packaging of International Paper Co. from 2000 to 2006. Before that, Mr. Keneally worked in positions of increasing responsibility at International Paper Co. and Union Camp Corp. Mr. Keneally is on the board of directors of the Fibre Box Association, and has 4344 years of experience in the paper and packaging industry.

        Randy J. Nebel has been Vice President and General Manager of the Company and President of the Company's Mill Division since August 2013. Previously, Mr. Nebel served as President of Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging, Inc., a producer of unbleached kraft paper products and corrugated products, from 2008 to 2013 and as its Vice President of Mill Operations and Chief Operating Officer from 2008 to 2009. From 1997 to 2007 he served in various roles at Weyerhaeuser Co., including Vice President and Mill Manager. Before that, Mr. Nebel worked at positions of increasing responsibility at Crown-Zellerbach Corp., James River Co., and Georgia-Pacific Corp. He is on the board of directors of the National Association of Manufacturers.

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        Antionette Meyers was appointed Vice President—Containerboard and Kraft Paper Sales and Marketing of the Company in September 2013. Previously, she served as Vice President, Domestic Kraft Paper and Linerboard Sales and Marketing, and as Vice President—Mills Sales and Customer Service. She previously worked in positions of increasing responsibility at Champion International Ltd. and International Paper Co. until the Company's acquisition of its kraft papers business.

        Michael J. Murphy was appointed as Vice President—Finance in October 2014. Previously, Mr. Murphy served as Vice President and Treasurer of Boise, Inc., a manufacturer of packaging and paper products, until its sale to Packaging Corporation of America in October 2013. He spent over

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15 years in investment banking at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC covering the basic materials industry, including packaging companies. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

        Timothy P. DavissonKathryn D. Ingraham has beenwas appointed as Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Company since 2008, and Secretary since 2012. Hein May 2015. Previously, Ms. Ingraham served as DirectorDeputy General Counsel of LegalDover Corporation from 2011 to 2015. Prior thereto, she was Deputy General Counsel of Aon Hewitt (f/k/a Hewitt Associates Inc.) and a partner at Altivity Packaging LLC from 2006 to 2008 until its merger with Graphic Packaging Corp. Before that, Mr. Davisson worked for eighteen years in positions of increasing responsibility at Stone Container Corp. and its successor, Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.Dentons (f/k/a Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP).

        Mark A. Niehus has been Corporate Controller of the Company since 2007, and Vice President since 2010. Before joining the Company, Mr. Niehus held a variety of senior financial management positions at Abbott Laboratories, R.R. Donnelley & Sons, and Midway Games. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

        In this section, we describe the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. Our Named Executive Officers for 20142015 were the following individuals: Roger W. Stone, the Company's Chief Executive Officer; Matthew Kaplan, the Company's President and Chief Operating Officer; Timothy P. Keneally, the Company's Vice President and General Manager and President of the Company's Container Division; Randy J. Nebel, the Company's Vice President and General Manager and President of the Company's Mill Division; and Andrea K. Tarbox, the Company's Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

        Our compensation programs for our Named Executive Officers are administered by the Compensation Committee (the "Committee"), which is composed solely of independent directors as defined in the NYSE listing standards. The Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. The Committee has reviewed and approved the following discussion and analysis, which analyzes the objectives and results for 20142015 of the Company's compensation policies and procedures for its five Named Executive Officers. The Company's compensation programs have been adopted in order to implement the Committee's compensation philosophy, while taking into account the Company's financial performance. The Committee periodically reviews the Company's compensation programs and practices in light of the Committee's compensation philosophy, changes in laws and regulations, and the Company's financial goals.

Compensation Policies and Objectives

        The Committee believes that compensation for Named Executive Officers should be determined according to a competitive framework, taking into account the financial performance of the Company, individual contributions and the external market in which the Company competes for executive talent. In determining the compensation of the Company's Named Executive Officers, the Committee seeks to achieve the following objectives through a combination of fixed and variable compensation.

Pay Competitively

        A total compensation package should be competitive. For Named Executive Officers, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer, the Committee considers the level of compensation paid to individuals in comparable executive positions in the Company's peer group in order to recruit and retain executive talent.

Pay for Performance

        Our compensation practices are designed to create a direct link between the aggregate compensation paid to each Named Executive Officer and the financial performance of the Company. In order to accomplish this, the Committee considers the individual performance of each Named Executive Officer by reviewing, among other factors, the achievement of pre-established corporate objectives as well as the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer. The amount of each component of a Named Executive Officer's compensation is based in part on the Committee's assessment of that individual's performance as well as the other factors discussed in this section.

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Executives as Stockholders

        Our compensation practices are also designed to link a portion of each Named Executive Officer's compensation opportunity directly to the value of the Company's Common Stock through the use of stock-based awards.

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Elements of Compensation

        To accomplish its compensation objectives and philosophy, the Committee relies on the following elements of compensation, each of which is discussed in more detail below:

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Base salary;



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Annual performance-based cash awards; and



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Long-term incentive compensation (in the form of stock options and restricted stock units).

        When approving the compensation of the Company's Named Executive Officers, the Committee reviews all of the elements of the Company's executive compensation program. Each component of executive compensation is designed for a specific purpose. For example, salaries are a significant component of cash-based annual compensation. Salaries are set to compensate each executive based on that executive's employment and salary history and position within the Company and comparable competitive salaries at companies included in our peer group and the survey data. With regard to the variable components of the compensation package, annual performance-based cash awards are tied generally to the Company's short-term financial performance, while equity-based compensation is directed towards the Company's successful results over a longer period. The purpose of the combination of salary, annual cash awards, and equity awards is to provide the appropriate level of total annual cash compensation and long-term incentives, combined with an appropriate performance-based component. The Committee places the greatest emphasis on performance-based compensation through annual cash awards and long-term equity-based awards, which together comprise the largest portion of Named Executive Officer compensation. The Committee believes that the Company's executive compensation package, consisting of these components, is comparable to the compensation provided in the market in which the Company competes for executive talent and is critical to accomplishing its recruitment and retention aims.

No Severance Agreements

        The Company does not have employment agreements or severance arrangements with any of the Named Executive Officers.Officers and executive officers.

Overview of Compensation Program and Process

Role of Committee

        The Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the base salaries, annual performance-based cash awards, and long-term incentive compensation for the Company's Named Executive Officers.

Role of Management

        Management assists the Committee in fulfilling its responsibilities with respect to evaluating executive performance, proposing appropriate performance targets for the annual and long-term incentive plans and developing recommendations as to appropriate salary levels and award amounts. For 2014,2015, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Stone, provided to the Committee his recommendations with respect to potential compensation of the other Named Executive Officers. The Committee reviewed and gave considerable weight to these recommendations because of Mr. Stone's

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direct knowledge of the other executives' performance and contributions. With respect to those officers, the Committee ultimately used its collective judgment to determine the compensation levels, including base salaries, annual performance-based cash awards and long-term equity award grants. Mr. Stone recommended that his compensation levels be identical to those of the Company's President, Mr. Kaplan, due to the current and historical level of work and responsibilities shared by them. The

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Committee ultimately determined and approved Mr. Stone's compensation independently based on its collective judgment, and accepted his recommendation to compensate Mr. Kaplan in the same manner.

Role of Compensation Consultant

        As part of its process, the Committee utilized the assistance of Frederic W. Cook & Co., an executive compensation consulting company ("Cook"), to assist in evaluating executive compensation programs and in evaluating Named Executive Officers' compensation compared to an established peer group of similar companies. Cook was engaged by and communicated directly with the Committee. In determining compensation for 2014,2015, the Committee considered a market analysis prepared by Cook in early 20142015 which compared our compensation program to a variety of third-party industry compensation surveys and a peer group of 1718 companies. The companies included in the peer group are set forth in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis under the heading "Benchmarking."

        Other than as described herein, Cook did not provide any other services to the Company or the Committee in 2014.2015. The Committee has considered the independence of Cook in light of SEC rules and NYSE listing standards. In connection with this process, the Committee has reviewed, among other items, a letter from Cook addressing the independence of Cook and the members of the consulting team serving the Committee, including the following factors: (i) other services provided to us by Cook, (ii) fees paid by us as a percentage of Cook's total revenue, (iii) policies or procedures of Cook that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest, (iv) any business or personal relationships between the senior advisor of the consulting team with a member of the Committee, (v) any Company stock owned by the senior advisor or any immediate family member, and (vi) any business or personal relationships between our executive officers and the senior advisor. The Committee discussed these considerations and concluded that the work performed by Cook and its senior advisor involved in the engagement did not raise any conflict of interest.

Results of Advisory Votes

        At the 20142015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Company's stockholders approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, the overall compensation of the Company's Named Executive Officers as presented in the Proxy Statement for that meeting, with approximately 97%98% of the votes cast in favor. Given the high level of stockholder support, the Compensation Committee did not make any changes to the Company's executive compensation philosophy, principles, and elements in response to the vote.

Benchmarking

        The Committee reviews survey information of executive compensation payable by a designated peer group, both with respect to target and actual compensation data available. The purpose of this review is to evaluate whether the Company's total executive compensation levels (including base salaries, annual cash awards, and equity awards) is viewed by the Committee to be reasonable, competitive, and appropriate. One of the Company's objectives is to deliver compensation within the median market range. The Company considers compensation to be within median market range with respect to salary if it is within 10% of the median, with respect to bonus if it is within 15% of the median, and with respect to long term incentive and total compensation if it is within 20% of the median. The Committee considers executive compensation paid at the peer companies when setting executive compensation levels at the Company, but the Committee does not attempt to maintain a specified target percentile within this peer group to determine executive compensation. In light of the

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request by Mr. Stone that he and Mr. Kaplan receive the same level of compensation, the Committee compares the aggregate compensation for Messrs. Stone and Kaplan against the aggregate compensation for the chief executive officers and chief operating officers of the peer group companies.

        The peer group of companies is comprised of firms that are similar to the Company in terms of business lines, market conditions, and size. The Committee expects to reevaluate from time to time the composition of the designated peer group as the Company executes its strategy of organic and strategic growth. For 2014,In 2015, the Committee added Bemis Company,Resolute Forest Products, Inc., Boise Cascade LLC, Domtar

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Corporation, and Sonoco Product Company and removed Boise, Inc., Buckeye Technologies, Verso Paper Corp., and Wausau Paper Corporation to its peer group as a part of this exercise. These additions and removals were intended to reflect recent industry mergers as well as KapStone's significant growth in 2013. The comparison group of seventeeneighteen companies has a median revenue of approximately $3.1$3.7 billion.

20142015 Peer Group

Components of Executive Compensation

        The following provides an analysis of each element of compensation, what each is designed to reward, and why the Committee chose to include it as an element of the Company's executive compensationcompensation.

Base Salary

        Base salaries are reviewed annually in the context of the Committee's consideration of the effect of base compensation on recruiting and retaining executive talent. Accordingly, the Committee considers the executive compensation of the peer group. In establishing each Named Executive Officer's base salary, the Committee considers several factors, including individual job performance, salary history, competitive external market conditions for recruiting and retaining executive talent, the scope of the executive's position and level of experience and changes in responsibilities.

        In March 2014,2015, the base salaries of Named Executive Officers were established in accordance with the foregoing practices. Salaries for the Named Executive Officers were reviewed in March and increases, based on the compensation objectives discussed above, became effective April 1, 2014.2015. The salaries were increased to better position compensation within the median market range. Of the Named Executive Officers, the Committee increased the salaries of Mr. Stone and Mr. Kaplan from $575,000$650,000 to $650,000.$700,000. The Committee increased the salarysalaries of Mr. Keneally, from $373,000 to $400,000, the salary of Mr. Nebel from $382,591 to $400,000, and the salary of Ms. Tarbox from $367,000$400,000 to $400,000.$430,000.

        The salary increases for the Named Executive Officers reflect the performance of the Company in 2013,2014, including net sales; earnings per share, earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA); and successful integration of Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging, Inc. into the Company..

Annual Performance-Based Cash Awards

        The objective of the annual performance-based cash award element of compensation is to align the interests of the Named Executive Officers with the Company's financial goals for the year. In setting

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financial and operating targets, which are established in the first calendar quarter, the Committee considers the Company's annual budget and certain short-term operating and financial objectives.

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        With respect to the Company's EBITDA goal for 2014,2015, the Committee established the following target payout levels:

        EBITDA is defined as net earnings excluding interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, extraordinary items and the cumulative effect of accounting changes. This non-GAAP measure is the same measure management uses internally to manage and to evaluate the business and performance of the Company. At the time it set these target payout levels, the Committee believed that, based on the Company's budget, it would be difficult for executives to achieve payouts towards the high end of the EBITDA target payout levels. The Company's EBITDA for 20142015 used for incentive plan calculations was $449,151,000$357,431,000 resulting in the Named Executive Officers achieving payouts of 99.5%54.8% of the EBITDA target ("EBITDA Achievement").target.

        In 2014,2015, Mr. Stone and Mr. Kaplan had an approved target of 100% of their respective salary, or $650,000,$700,000, and a maximum of 200% of their salary, or $1,300,000.$1,400,000. Their cash award was weighted 100% on the achievement of the Company's EBITDA goal. Accordingly, each achieved and was paid an incentive payment of $646,750$383,600 ($650,000700,000 × 99.5%54.8%).

        Mr. Keneally, Mr. Nebel, and Ms. Tarbox had an approved target of 65% of their respective salary, or $260,000,$279,500, and a maximum of 130% of their salary, or $520,000.$559,000. Their cash award was weighted 100% on the achievement of the Company's EBITDA goal. Accordingly, each achieved and was paid an incentive payment of $258,700$153,166 ($260,000279,500 × 99.5%54.8%).

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

        The Committee determines the awards of long-term compensation through equity incentives (in the form of stock options and restricted stock units) granted to Named Executive Officers as well as other eligible employees. The Committee believes that including an equity component in executive compensation closely aligns the interests of the executives and the Company's stockholders and rewards executives in line with stockholder gains. The practice of the Committee is to consider annual equity grants to key employees, including the Named Executive Officers, at its regularly scheduled meeting in March or April.March. Equity grants at other times depend upon extraordinary circumstances such as promotions, new hires, or acquisitions.

        EquityThe 2015 equity awards were made under the Amended and Restated 20062014 Incentive Plan ("20062014 Incentive Plan"), which provides for the grant of non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. The Company's long-term incentive compensation for 20142015 consisted of stock options and restricted stock units. This equity award allocation reflected the desire to maintain a strong long-term equity component in executive compensation, and to reduce the number of equity units required to provide such component.

        Equity grants made during 20142015 to executive officers and senior management, including the Named Executive Officers, were determined by the Committee based upon the compensation objectives of the Committee, as discussed above, and informed by the evolving nature of executive compensation practices. In determining the size of the equity grants for the Named Executive Officers, the Committee made an evaluation of a number of factors, including: competitive market practices; the level of responsibility of the individual; the individual's job performance and ability to influence corporate results; and the cost to the Company and the related effect of equity grants on earnings per share dilution. The Committee's intention was to deliver approximately the same economic value

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through the restricted stock unit component of the award as the stock option component. Accordingly, during 2014,2015, restricted stock units were awarded in a ratio of about 1 restricted stock unit for about every 2.93.2 stock options awarded. This allocation reflects the relationship between the value of restricted

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stock units, which is based on the market value of the underlying Common Stock on the date of grant, and the fair market value of stock options on the date of grant (which is generally two or three to one).

        Stock options produce value for executives and employees only if the Common Stock price increases over the exercise price, which is set at the closing price on the date of grant. Also, through vesting and forfeiture provisions, stock options and restricted stock units create incentives for executive officers and senior management to remain with the Company.

Prohibition on Repricing of Options Without Stockholder Approval

        At the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Company held on May 15, 2014 the Company's stockholders approved the KapStone Paper and Packaging 2014 Incentive Plan, which had been previously approved by the Company's Board, subject to shareholder approval.        The 2014 Incentive Plan prohibits the purchase of underwater options and the repricing of options and also prohibits buy-outsSARs, the cancellation of options and SARs in exchange for a new option or restricted stock unitsSAR with a lower purchase or base price, and the cancellation of an underwater option or SAR in exchange for cash or another award, without stockholder approval. At this year's Annual Meeting, the stockholders will be asked to approve the KapStone Paper and Packaging 2016 Incentive Plan, which includes the same prohibitions.

2014 2015 Awards

        The Committee granted the following equity awards under the 20062014 Incentive Plan to the Named Executive Officers in 2014:2015:

        Each of the stock options was granted by the Committee on March 12, 201426, 2015 with an exercise price of $30.41$31.89 per share.

        All stock options that were granted vest 50% on the second anniversary of the grant date and the remaining 50% on the third anniversary of the grant date, subject to the executive's continued employment through the vesting dates. Restricted stock units granted will vest 100% on the third anniversary of the grant date, subject to the executive's continued employment through the vesting date. All stock options and restricted stock units vest immediately upon the death, disability or retirement of a recipient who has attained the age of 65.

Clawback of Compensation

        Clawback provisions are included in all awards under the 2006 Incentive Plan and the 2014 Incentive Plan (collectively, the "Incentive Plans"). Pursuant to those provisions, the Board may require an employee, executive officer, or director who engaged in fraud or misconduct to immediately repay annual performance-based cash awards and long-term incentive awards. In addition, the Board may terminate all vested and unvested options in the event that employee, executive officer, or director engages in fraud or misconduct.

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No Pledging of Stock

        The Company's Insider Trading Policy prohibits its executive officers, employees and directors from pledging Company securities as collateral for a loan or holding Company securities in a margin account. The 2014 Incentive Plan allows the Company to terminate any long-term incentive award that is pledged and repurchase any pledged restricted stock units upon notice to the grantee. The 2016 Incentive Plan, which is subject to stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting, contains a similar provision.

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No Hedging Transactions

        The Company has enacted an anti-hedging policy regarding Company securities applicable to all executive officers and directors. The Company's Insider Trading Policy prohibits all directors, employees, and officers from (i) engaging in short sales in Company securities (including "sales against the box"); (ii) engaging in any zero-cost collars and forward sale contracts with respect to Company equity securities; or (iii) engaging in any transactions in puts, calls or other derivative securities, on an exchange or in any other organized market with respect to Company equity securities.

Severance and Change-in-Control Benefits

        The Company does not agree in advance to provide post-termination or change-in-control benefits to Named Executive Officers in the event that they terminate employment with the Company. The Company reserves the right to provide severance benefits to executives when they terminate employment with the Company. None of the Named Executive Officers has an employment agreement that provides for termination, severance or change-in-control benefits.

        The Company does not have formal change-in-control provisions in the Incentive Plans. However, the Incentive Plans provide the Board with the discretion to adjust equity awards in the event of certain corporate transactions, including a change-in-control. This adjustment may include the assumption of awards by an acquiring or successor entity, the termination of unexercised awards upon a change-in-control, and the cash-out of awards in the event of a sale or similar transaction which results in the Company's stockholders receiving a payment for their shares of Common Stock. The Committee may also provide for the acceleration and vesting of awards at any time, including upon a change-in-control.

        Stock options and restricted stock units awarded under the Incentive Plans vest immediately upon an award recipient's death, Retirement or Disability. The terms "Retirement" and "Disability" are defined in the Incentive Plans.

        The Performance Incentive Plan provides that if a participant is terminated by the Company following a change-in-control but prior to the payment of an annual incentive award for a performance period thereunder, the participant will be entitled to such award only if the applicable performance goals are achieved, such award to be prorated for the actual number of months worked in the year.

        The Committee believes that the provisions provided under both the Incentive Plans and the Performance Incentive Plan are appropriate because an employee's position could be adversely affected by a change in control even if he or she is not terminated.

Perquisites and Personal Benefits

        In general, the Company does not provide perquisites or personal benefits to the Named Executive Officers that are not available to other employees.

Pension Benefits or Supplemental Retirement Benefits

        TheIn 2015, the Company providesprovided pension or retirement benefits to the Named Executive Officers consisting of the 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and retirement savings account contributions. Pursuant to the 401(k) plan, the Company makesmade a matching contribution equal to 100% of the first 4% of the employee's pay contributed to the plan plus 50% of the next 2%4% of pay contributed. At the end of eachthe 401(k) plan year for 2015, the Company makesmade an additional retirement savings account contribution based upon the age of the respective Named Executive Officer at the end of the plan year and total earnings for the year subject to maximum amount of $260,000$265,000 in accordance with Internal Revenue Service regulations.

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Health and Welfare Benefits

        All full-time employees, including our Named Executive Officers, may participate in our health and welfare benefit programs, including medical, dental and vision care coverage, disability insurance and life insurance.

Regulatory Considerations

        Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally denies a publicly traded company a Federal income tax deduction for compensation in excess of $1.0 million paid to certain of its Named Executive Officers. Performance-based compensation is exempt from the deduction limit, however, if certain requirements are met. The Compensation Committee structures compensation to take

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advantage of this exemption under Section 162(m) to the extent practicable, while satisfying the Company's compensation policies and objectives. Because the Compensation Committee also recognizes the need to retain flexibility to make compensation decisions that may not meet the standards of Section 162(m) when deemed necessary to enable the Company to continue to attract, retain, and motivate highly-qualified executives, it reserves the authority to approve potentially non-deductible compensation.

Named Executive Officer Stock Ownership Requirements

        Since 2011, ourOur Board has had stock ownership requirements applicable to the Named Executive Officers based on a multiple of annual base salary. The Board created these requirements to further align the interests of our Named Executive Officers with those of the Company's stockholders and encourage long-term stockholder value by requiring our Named Executive Officers to hold a significant equity stake in the Company. The following table illustrates the current stock ownership requirements:

        Named Executive Officers may aggregate their shareholdings to accomplish their ownership requirement, and restricted stock units and vested options count toward the ownership requirements. Shares that are hedged or pledged, if any, would not count toward satisfaction of the minimum ownership requirements. Newly appointed Named Executive Officers have four years from their appointment to comply with the requirements. The Board may, in its discretion, make exceptions to the policy in periods of volatile markets. As of the record date, all Named Executive Officers complied with these requirements,had achieved the required level of ownership, except for Mr. Nebel. Mr. Nebel joined the Company on July 18, 2013, upon the Company's acquisition of Longview Fibre. Accordingly, Mr. Nebel has until July 18, 2017 to comply with the stock ownership requirements, in accordance with their terms.

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Report of the Compensation Committee

        The Committee reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of SEC Regulation S-K with management. Based on such review and discussions, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K and this Proxy Statement.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        There were no interlocks or other relationships among the Company's executive officers and directors during 20142015 that are required to be disclosed under applicable SEC disclosure requirements.

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RISK OVERSIGHT OF COMPENSATION RISK

        The Compensation Committee assesses the risks and rewards associated with the Company's compensation programs. The Committee reviews and approves compensation programs with features designed to reward long-term achievement and discourage excessive short-term risk taking. As discussed in the Compensation Discussion &and Analysis, an independent executive compensation consulting firm hired by the Committee advises the committee with respect to our executive compensation practices and programs, including their associated risks. The Committee concluded that the Company's compensation programs, taken as a whole and considered within the other financial control and approval processes in place at the Company, do not present a reasonable likelihood of having a material adverse effect on the Company.

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

        The following table summarizes the total compensation earned by or paid to the Named Executive Officers for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012.2013.

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20142015 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

        The following table provides information on non-equity incentives, restricted stock units and stock options granted in 20142015 to each of the Named Executive Officers.