Essendant (ESND) 10-Q 26 Oct 16 2016 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Oct. 24, 2016
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	ESND
Entity Registrant Name	ESSENDANT INC
Entity Central Index Key	355,999
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		36,968,408

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 22,647	$ 29,983
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $16,696 in 2016 and $17,810 in 2015	752,260	716,537
Inventories	850,463	922,162
Other current assets	44,771	27,310
Total current assets	1,670,141	1,695,992
Property, plant and equipment, net	126,334	133,751
Goodwill	298,242	299,355
Intangible assets, net	86,886	96,413
Other long-term assets	55,059	37,348
Total assets	2,236,662	2,262,859
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	540,743	531,949
Accrued liabilities	192,189	177,472
Current maturities of long-term debt	35	51
Total current liabilities	732,967	709,472
Deferred income taxes	8,372	11,901
Long-term debt	620,155	716,264
Other long-term liabilities	92,535	101,488
Total liabilities	1,454,029	1,539,125
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.10 par value; authorized - 100,000,000 shares, issued - 74,435,628 shares in 2016 and 2015	7,444	7,444
Additional paid-in capital	406,964	410,927
Treasury stock, at cost – 36,967,378 shares in 2016 and 37,178,394 shares in 2015	(1,097,094)	(1,100,867)
Retained earnings	1,514,573	1,463,821
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(49,254)	(57,591)
Total stockholders’ equity	782,633	723,734
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 2,236,662	$ 2,262,859

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 16,696	$ 17,810
Common stock, par value	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Common stock, authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, issued	74,435,628	74,435,628
Treasury stock, shares	36,967,378	37,178,394

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMEN

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,407,504	$ 1,391,545	$ 4,114,323	$ 4,065,719
Cost of goods sold	1,208,650	1,166,402	3,519,564	3,430,062
Gross profit	198,854	225,143	594,759	635,657
Operating expenses:
Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses	138,107	172,159	463,410	526,653
Defined benefit plan settlement loss (Note 10)	419		12,163
Operating income	60,328	52,984	119,186	109,004
Interest expense, net	6,484	5,300	18,058	14,918
Income before income taxes	53,844	47,684	101,128	94,086
Income tax expense	17,102	20,017	34,923	42,594
Net income	$ 36,742	$ 27,667	$ 66,205	$ 51,492
Net income per share - basic:	$ 1	$ 0.74	$ 1.81	$ 1.36
Average number of common shares outstanding - basic	36,578	37,300	36,560	37,724
Net income per share - diluted:	$ 0.99	$ 0.74	$ 1.79	$ 1.35
Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted	36,938	37,608	36,896	38,109
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.14	$ 0.14	$ 0.42	$ 0.42

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEME5

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 36,742	$ 27,667	$ 66,205	$ 51,492
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Translation adjustments	(692)	7,497	2,441	3,076
Minimum pension liability adjustments	(2,298)	967	6,035	2,831
Cash flow hedge adjustments	288	(208)	(139)	(636)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,702)	8,256	8,337	5,271
Comprehensive income	$ 34,040	$ 35,923	$ 74,542	$ 56,763

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEME6

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 66,205	$ 51,492
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	34,199	36,344
Share-based compensation	6,903	6,447
(Gain) loss on the disposition of property, plant and equipment	(21,027)	1,562
Amortization of capitalized financing costs	502	659
Excess tax cost (benefit) related to share-based compensation	960	(402)
Asset impairment charges		34,893
Loss on sale of equity investment		33
Deferred income taxes	(6,970)	(15,285)
Pension settlement charge	12,163
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Increase in accounts receivable, net	(35,457)	(31,288)
Decrease in inventory	73,735	54,354
Increase in other assets	(35,221)	(8,720)
Increase in accounts payable	8,902	50,412
Increase in accrued liabilities	13,659	6,500
Decrease in other liabilities	(12,585)	(3,342)
Net cash provided by operating activities	105,968	183,659
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(28,167)	(18,133)
Proceeds from the disposition of property, plant and equipment	33,890	184
Acquisition, net of cash acquired		(40,471)
Proceeds from sale of equity investment		612
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	5,723	(57,808)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net repayments under revolving credit facility	(96,640)	(45,309)
Net proceeds (disbursements) from share-based compensation arrangements	621	(1,507)
Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost	(6,839)	(55,677)
Payment of cash dividends	(15,355)	(15,976)
Excess tax (cost) benefit related to share-based compensation	(960)	402
Payment of debt issuance costs	(86)	(36)
Net cash used in financing activities	(119,259)	(118,103)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	232	(513)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(7,336)	7,235
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	29,983	20,812
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	22,647	28,047
Other Cash Flow Information:
Income tax payments, net	27,821	53,704
Interest paid	$ 19,607	$ 16,032

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	1. Basis of Presentation The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements represent Essendant Inc. (“ESND”) with its wholly owned subsidiary Essendant Co. (“ECO”), and ECO’s subsidiaries (collectively, “Essendant” or the “Company”). The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and include the accounts of ESND and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. The Company operates in a single reportable segment as a leading distributor of workplace essentials. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015, was derived from the December 31, 2015 audited financial statements. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Accordingly, the reader of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the “2015 Form 10-K”) for further information. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial position of Essendant at September 30, 2016 and the results of operations and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 should not necessarily be taken as indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for the entire year. New Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) that requires lessees to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases other than those that meet the definition of short-term leases. For short-term leases, lessees may elect an accounting policy by class of underlying asset under which these assets and liabilities are not recognized and lease payments are generally recognized over the lease term on a straight-line basis. This standard will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period, and early application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it will have on its consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting Inventory Approximately 98.4% of total inventory as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, has been valued under the LIFO method. An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method can be made only at the end of each fiscal year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Interim LIFO calculations are based on management’s estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs, and are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory valuation. Inventory valued under the LIFO accounting method is recorded at the lower of cost or market. If the Company had valued its entire inventory under the lower of FIFO cost or market, inventory values would have been $147.2 million and $147.8 million higher than reported as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The change in the LIFO reserve in the third quarter of 2016 included a LIFO liquidation relating to decrements in five of the Company’s thirteen LIFO pools. These decrements resulted in liquidation of LIFO inventory quantities carried at lower costs in prior years as compared with the cost of current year purchases. This liquidation resulted in LIFO income of $2.3 million which was partially offset by LIFO expense of $2.1 million related to current inflation for an overall net decrease in cost of sales of $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. For the three months ended September 30, 2015, the change in the method of inventory costing resulted in LIFO income of $3.5 million which was partially offset by LIFO expense of $0.8 million related to inflation for an overall net decrease in cost of sales of $2.7 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the LIFO income of $2.3 million related to the liquidation was more than offset by LIFO expense of $3.2 million related to current inflation for an overall net increase in cost of sales of $0.9 million.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions	2. Acquisitions Nestor Sales LLC On July 31, 2015, Essendant Co. completed the acquisition of 100% of the capital stock of Nestor Sales LLC (“Nestor”), a leading wholesaler and distributor of tools, equipment and supplies to the transportation industry. This acquisition accelerates the Company’s growth in the automotive aftermarket, complements the Company’s existing industrial offerings while providing access to new customer segments. The purchase price was $41.8 million. This acquisition was funded through a combination of cash on hand and cash available under the Company’s revolving credit facility. Purchase accounting for this transaction was completed as of June 30, 2016. At September 30, 2016, the allocation of the purchase price was as follows (amounts in thousands): Purchase price, net of cash acquired $ 39,983 Accounts receivable 9,230 Inventories 12,067 Other current assets 339 Property, plant and equipment, net 1,251 Other assets 752 Intangible assets 16,930 Total assets acquired 40,569 Accounts payable 4,992 Accrued liabilities 1,943 Deferred income taxes 3,287 Other long-term liabilities 76 Total liabilities assumed 10,298 Goodwill $ 9,712 The purchased identifiable intangible assets were as follows (amounts in thousands): Total Estimated Life Customer relationships $ 15,570 13 years Trademark 1,360 2-15 years Total $ 16,930

Sale-Leaseback

Sale-Leaseback	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Leases [Abstract]
Sale-Leaseback	3. Sale-Leaseback On September 23, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement for the sale and leaseback of its facility in City of Industry, CA. The agreement provided for the sale of the facility for a purchase price of $31.7 million and the subsequent leaseback for a two year period. The lease is classified as an operating lease. As a result, the Company recorded a gain of $20.5 million in “warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses.” A deferred gain of approximately $2.8 million that will be amortized into income over the term of the lease was also recorded. As of September 30, 2016, $1.4 million of the deferred gain is reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet under “other long-term liabilities”, with the remainder included as a component of “other current liabilities”. The cash proceeds from the sale were used primarily to pay down long-term debt.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Share-Based Compensation	4. Share-Based Compensation As of September 30, 2016, the Company has two active equity compensation plans. Under the 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended and restated), award instruments include, but are not limited to, stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and performance-based awards. Associates and non-employee directors of the Company are eligible to become participants in the plan. The Nonemployee Directors’ Deferred Stock Compensation Plan allows non-employee directors to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their annual retainer in deferred stock units. The Company granted 526,697

Severance and Restructuring Cha

Severance and Restructuring Charges	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]
Severance and Restructuring Charges	5. Severance and Restructuring Charges Commencing in the first quarter of 2015, the Company began certain restructuring actions which included workforce reductions and facility closures. Commencing in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company executed actions to reduce costs through management delayering in order to achieve broader functional alignment of the organization. The charges associated with these actions were included in “warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses.” The expenses, cash flows, and accrued liabilities associated with the restructuring actions described above are noted in the following table (in thousands): Expenses Cash flow Accrued Liabilities For the three months ended September 30, For the nine months ended September 30, For the nine months ended September 30, As of September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 First quarter 2015 Actions Workforce reduction $ (0.5 ) $ - $ (0.5 ) $ 6.0 Facility closure $ - 0.2 $ 0.3 0.5 Total $ (0.5 ) 0.2 $ (0.2 ) $ 6.5 $ 1.2 $ 3.0 $ 0.8 Fourth Quarter 2015 Action Workforce reduction $ (0.7 ) N/A $ (0.7 ) N/A $ 8.0 N/A $ 2.1

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are noted in the following table (in thousands): Goodwill, balance as of December 31, 2015 $ 299,355 Purchase accounting adjustments (1,858 ) Currency translation adjustments 745 Goodwill, balance as of September 30, 2016 $ 298,242 The following table summarizes the intangible assets of the Company by major class of intangible assets and the cost, accumulated amortization, net carrying amount, and weighted average life, if applicable (in thousands): September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 Weighted Weighted Average Average Gross Net Useful Gross Net Useful Carrying Accumulated Carrying Life Carrying Accumulated Carrying Life Amount Amortization Amount (years) Amount Amortization Amount (years) Intangible assets subject to amortization Customer relationships and other intangibles $ 137,678 $ (59,545 ) $ 78,133 16 $ 137,938 $ (51,357 ) $ 86,581 16 Non-compete agreements 4,651 (4,260 ) 391 4 4,644 (4,260 ) 384 4 Trademarks 13,725 (5,363 ) 8,362 14 13,688 (4,240 ) 9,448 14 Total $ 156,054 $ (69,168 ) $ 86,886 $ 156,270 $ (59,857 ) $ 96,413 The following table summarizes the amortization expense to be incurred in 2016 through 2020 on intangible assets (in thousands): Year Amount 2016 $ 12,242 2017 10,797 2018 8,054 2019 6,937 2020 6,934

Accumulated Other Comprehensive

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Equity [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	7. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) The change in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (“AOCI”) by component, net of tax, for the period ended September 30, 2016 was as follows (amounts in thousands): Foreign Currency Translation Cash Flow Hedges Defined Benefit Pension Plans Total AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2015 $ (9,866 ) $ 146 $ (47,871 ) $ (57,591 ) Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications 2,441 (579 ) (3,946 ) (2,084 ) Settlement loss reclassified from AOCI - - 7,453 7,453 Amounts reclassified from AOCI - 440 2,528 2,968 Net other comprehensive (loss) income 2,441 (139 ) 6,035 8,337 AOCI, balance as of September 30, 2016 $ (7,425 ) $ 7 $ (41,836 ) $ (49,254 ) The following table details the amounts reclassified out of AOCI into the income statement during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 Amount Reclassified From AOCI For the Three For the Nine Months Ended Months Ended September 30, September 30, Affected Line Item In The Statement Details About AOCI Components 2016 2016 Where Net Income is Presented Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges Gain on interest rate swap, before tax $ 249 $ 789 Interest expense, net Loss on foreign exchange hedges, before tax - (70 ) Cost of goods sold (96 ) (279 ) Tax provision $ 153 $ 440 Net of tax Defined benefit pension plan items Amortization of prior service cost and unrecognized loss $ 1,237 $ 4,125 Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses Settlement loss 419 12,163 Defined benefit plan settlement loss (641 ) (6,307 ) Tax provision 1,015 9,981 Net of tax Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax $ 1,168 $ 10,421

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	8. Earnings Per Share Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if dilutive securities were exercised into common stock. Stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and deferred stock units are considered dilutive securities. For the three-month period ending September 30, 2016 and 2015, 0.3 and 0.4 million shares of such securities, respectively, were outstanding but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would be antidilutive. For the nine-month period ending September 30, 2016, 0.3 million shares of securities were excluded from the computation. For the nine-month period September 30, 2015, no shares of securities were excluded from the computation. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data): For the Three Months Ended For the Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Numerator: Net income $ 36,742 $ 27,667 $ 66,205 $ 51,492 Denominator: Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares 36,578 37,300 36,560 37,724 Effect of dilutive securities: Employee stock options and restricted stock 360 308 336 385 Denominator for diluted earnings per share - Adjusted weighted average shares and the effect of dilutive securities 36,938 37,608 36,896 38,109 Net income per share: Net income per share - basic $ 1.00 $ 0.74 $ 1.81 $ 1.36 Net income per share - diluted $ 0.99 $ 0.74 $ 1.79 $ 1.35 Common Stock Repurchases As of September 30, 2016 , the Company had Board authorization to repurchase $68.2 million of common stock. During the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock. For the same period in the prior year, the Company repurchased 744,081 shares at an aggregate cost of $25.9 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company repurchased 241,270 and 1,525,222 shares of the Company’s common stock at an aggregate cost of $6.8 million and $57.4 million, respectively. Depending on market and business conditions and other factors, the Company may continue or suspend purchasing its common stock at any time without notice. Acquired shares are included in the issued shares of the Company and treasury stock, but are not included in average shares outstanding when calculating earnings per share data. During the first nine months of 2016 and 2015, the Company reissued 452,286 and 369,591 shares, respectively, of treasury stock to fulfill its obligations under its equity incentive plans.

Debt

Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	9. Debt ESND is a holding company and, as a result, its primary sources of funds are cash generated from operating activities of its direct operating subsidiary, ECO, and from borrowings by ECO. The 2013 Credit Agreement, the 2013 Note Purchase Agreement, and the Receivables Securitization Program (each as defined in Note 11 of the 2015 Form 10-K) (each a “Lending Agreement”) contain restrictions on the use of cash transferred from ECO to ESND. Each of the Lending Agreements also prohibits the Company from exceeding a Leverage Ratio (as defined in the 2013 Credit Agreement and the 2013 Note Purchase Agreement). The maximum Leverage Ratio is 3.50 to 1.00 but increases to up to 4.00 to 1.00 for the first four fiscal quarters (the “Adjusted Leverage Period”) following certain acquisitions. Following the 2015 acquisition of Nestor Sales, an Adjusted Leverage period was applicable through the quarter ended June 30, 2016. On August 30, 2016, the Lending Agreements were amended to extend the Adjusted Leverage Period for two additional quarters. As a result, the maximum permitted Leverage Ratio remains at 4.00 to 1.00 but will revert to 3.50 to 1.00 for the quarter ending March 31, 2017. Debt consisted of the following amounts (in millions): As of As of September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 2013 Credit Agreement $ 271.8 $ 368.4 2013 Note Purchase Agreement 150.0 150.0 Receivables Securitization Program 200.0 200.0 Mortgage & Capital Lease 0.1 0.1 Transaction Costs (1.7 ) (2.2 ) Total $ 620.2 $ 716.3 As of September 30, 2016, 75.9% of the Company’s outstanding debt, excluding capital leases and transaction costs, was priced at variable interest rates based primarily on the applicable bank prime rate or London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). The Company had outstanding letters of credit of $11.2 million and $11.6 million under the 2013 Credit Agreement as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. As of September 30, 2016, the applicable margin under the 2013 Credit Agreement was As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $552.9 million and $448.6 million, respectively, of receivables had been sold to the Investors (as defined in Note 11 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2015 Form 10-K). Essendant Receivables LLC had $200.0 million outstanding under the Receivables Securitization Program as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. For additional information about the 2013 Credit Agreement, the 2013 Note Purchase Agreement, and the Receivables Securitization Program, see Note 11 of the 2015 Form 10-K.

Pension and Post-Retirement Ben

Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans	10. Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans The Company maintains pension plans covering union and certain non-union employees. For more information on the Company’s retirement plans, see Note 13 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statement in the 2015 Form 10-K. A summary of net periodic pension cost related to the Company’s pension plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was as follows (dollars in thousands): For the Three Months Ended September 30, For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Service cost - benefit earned during the period $ 318 $ 321 $ 952 $ 1,121 Interest cost on projected benefit obligation 1,806 2,208 6,322 6,748 Expected return on plan assets (2,219 ) (2,803 ) (7,484 ) (8,413 ) Amortization of prior service cost 74 72 222 222 Amortization of actuarial loss 1,163 1,501 3,903 4,401 Settlement loss 419 - 12,163 - Net periodic pension cost $ 1,561 $ 1,299 $ 16,078 $ 4,079 The Company made cash contributions of $10.0 million and $2.0 million to its pension plans during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Additional contributions, if any, for 2016 have not yet been determined. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, the Company had accrued $44.7 million and $48.4 million of pension liability within “Other long-term liabilities” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. During 2016, the Company has taken several actions to mitigate the interest rate, mortality and investment risks of the Essendant Pension Plan. These actions include a limited-time voluntary lump-sum pension offering to eligible, terminated, vested plan participants As a result of the lump sum offer, a settlement and remeasurement of the Essendant Pension Plan was performed. The remeasurement and activity in the first nine months of 2016 had no cash impact to the Company since the payments were made by the Essendant Pension Trust, and resulted in a $1.5 million improvement to the net funded status of the plan, therefore reducing other long-term liabilities. However, the settlement caused a loss of $12.2 million, which was partially offset by the $8.4 million reduction in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income related to the unrecognized actuarial loss, for a net impact on shareholders’ equity of $3.8 million as of September 30, 2016 when compared to December 31, 2015. This offer also reduces future pension expense recognized by the Company and volatility related to future obligations of the plan. Defined Contribution Plan The Company has defined contribution plans covering certain salaried associates and non-union hourly paid associates (the “Plan”). The Plan permits associates to defer a portion of their pre-tax and after-tax salary as contributions to the Plan. The Plan also provides for Company-funded discretionary contributions as well as matching associates’ salary deferral contributions, at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Company recorded expense of $1.8 million and $5.5 million, respectively, for the Company match of employee contributions to the Plan for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. During the same periods last year, the Company recorded expense of $1.5 million and $4.4 million to match employee contributions.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	11. Fair Value Measurements The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities, including interest rate swap and foreign currency derivatives, at fair value on a recurring basis, based on market rates of the Company’s positions and other observable interest rates. The fair value of the interest rate swaps is determined by using quoted market forward rates (level 2 inputs) and reflects the present value of the amount the Company would pay for contracts involving the same notional amount and maturity date. The fair value of the foreign currency cash flow hedge is determined by using quoted market spot rates (level 2 inputs). Accounting guidance on fair value establishes a hierarchy for those instruments measured at fair value which distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy consists of three levels: • Level 1—Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; • Level 2—Inputs other than Level 1 inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable; and • Level 3—Unobservable inputs developed using estimates and assumptions developed by the Company which reflect those that a market participant would use. Determining which level to apply to an asset or liability requires significant judgment. The Company evaluates its hierarchy disclosures each quarter. The following table summarizes the financial instruments measured at fair value in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands): Fair Value Measurements as of September 30, 2016 Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets Foreign exchange hedges $ 95 $ - $ 95 $ - Liabilities Interest rate swap $ 501 $ - $ 501 $ - Foreign exchange hedges 30 - 30 - $ 531 $ - $ 531 $ - Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2015 Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets Foreign exchange hedges $ 91 $ - $ 91 $ - Liabilities Interest rate swap $ 469 $ - $ 469 $ - The carrying amount of accounts receivable at September 30, 2016, including $552.9 million of receivables sold under the Receivables Securitization Program, approximates fair value because of the short-term nature of this item. No assets or liabilities were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

Other Assets and Liabilities

Other Assets and Liabilities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Other Assets And Liabilities [Abstract]
Other Assets and Liabilities	12. Other Assets and Liabilities Receivables related to supplier allowances totaling $93.4 million and $111.0 million were included in “Accounts receivable” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. Accrued customer rebates of $64.3 million and $63.6 million as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, were included in “Accrued liabilities” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	13. Income Taxes The Company's tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of its annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded income tax expense of $17.1 million and $34.9 million on pre-tax income of $53.8 million and $101.1 million, for an effective tax rate of 31.8% and 34.5%, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recorded income tax expense of $20.0 million and $42.6 million on pre-tax income of $47.7 million and $94.1 million, for an effective tax rate of 42.0% and 45.3%, respectively. The Company’s U.S. statutory rate is 35.0%. The most significant factor impacting the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was the discrete tax impact of the payment of a dividend from a foreign subsidiary. The most significant factors impacting the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were the discrete tax impacts of the impairment charges and the establishment of a valuation allowance on a capital loss asset for financial reporting purposes related to selling a non-strategic business in the third quarter.

Legal Matters

Legal Matters	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Legal Matters	14. Legal Matters The Company has been named as a defendant in two lawsuits alleging that the Company sent unsolicited fax advertisements to the named plaintiffs, as well as other persons and entities, in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991, as amended by the Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005 ("TCPA"). One lawsuit was initially filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on May 1, 2015 and has been dismissed without prejudice and refiled in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The other lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on January 14, 2016. In both lawsuits the plaintiffs filed a motion asking the Court to certify a class of plaintiffs comprised of persons and entities who allegedly received fax advertisements from the Company. Under the TCPA, recipients of unsolicited fax advertisements can seek damages of $500 per fax for inadvertent violations and up to $1,500 per fax for knowing and willful violations. Other reported TCPA lawsuits have resulted in a broad range of outcomes, with each case being dependent on its own unique set of facts and circumstances. In each lawsuit, the Company is vigorously contesting class certification and denies that any violations occurred. Litigation of this kind, however, is likely to lead to settlement negotiations, including negotiations prompted by pre-trial civil court procedures. Regardless of whether the lawsuits are resolved at trial or through settlement, the Company believes that a loss associated with resolution of pending claims is probable. However, the amount of any such loss, which could be material, cannot be reasonably estimated because the Company is continuing to evaluate its defenses based on its internal review and investigation of prior events, new information and future circumstances. The Company is also involved in other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of or incidental to its business. The Company has established reserves, which are not material, for potential losses that are probable and reasonably estimable that may result from those proceedings. In many cases, however, it is difficult to determine whether a loss is probable or even possible or to estimate the amount or range of potential loss, particularly where proceedings may be in relatively early stages or where plaintiffs are seeking substantial or indeterminate damages. Matters frequently need to be more developed before a loss or range of loss can reasonably be estimated. The Company believes that such ordinary course legal proceedings will be resolved with no material adverse effect upon its financial condition or results of operations. 1

Basis of Presentation (Policies

Basis of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Consolidation, Policy	The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements represent Essendant Inc. (“ESND”) with its wholly owned subsidiary Essendant Co. (“ECO”), and ECO’s subsidiaries (collectively, “Essendant” or the “Company”). The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and include the accounts of ESND and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. The Company operates in a single reportable segment as a leading distributor of workplace essentials. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015, was derived from the December 31, 2015 audited financial statements. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Accordingly, the reader of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the “2015 Form 10-K”) for further information. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial position of Essendant at September 30, 2016 and the results of operations and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 should not necessarily be taken as indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for the entire year.
New Accounting Pronouncements	New Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) that requires lessees to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases other than those that meet the definition of short-term leases. For short-term leases, lessees may elect an accounting policy by class of underlying asset under which these assets and liabilities are not recognized and lease payments are generally recognized over the lease term on a straight-line basis. This standard will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period, and early application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it will have on its consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting
Inventory	Inventory Approximately 98.4% of total inventory as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, has been valued under the LIFO method. An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method can be made only at the end of each fiscal year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Interim LIFO calculations are based on management’s estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs, and are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory valuation. Inventory valued under the LIFO accounting method is recorded at the lower of cost or market. If the Company had valued its entire inventory under the lower of FIFO cost or market, inventory values would have been $147.2 million and $147.8 million higher than reported as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The change in the LIFO reserve in the third quarter of 2016 included a LIFO liquidation relating to decrements in five of the Company’s thirteen LIFO pools. These decrements resulted in liquidation of LIFO inventory quantities carried at lower costs in prior years as compared with the cost of current year purchases. This liquidation resulted in LIFO income of $2.3 million which was partially offset by LIFO expense of $2.1 million related to current inflation for an overall net decrease in cost of sales of $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. For the three months ended September 30, 2015, the change in the method of inventory costing resulted in LIFO income of $3.5 million which was partially offset by LIFO expense of $0.8 million related to inflation for an overall net decrease in cost of sales of $2.7 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the LIFO income of $2.3 million related to the liquidation was more than offset by LIFO expense of $3.2 million related to current inflation for an overall net increase in cost of sales of $0.9 million.

Acquisitions (Tables)

Acquisitions (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation	At September 30, 2016, the allocation of the purchase price was as follows (amounts in thousands): Purchase price, net of cash acquired $ 39,983 Accounts receivable 9,230 Inventories 12,067 Other current assets 339 Property, plant and equipment, net 1,251 Other assets 752 Intangible assets 16,930 Total assets acquired 40,569 Accounts payable 4,992 Accrued liabilities 1,943 Deferred income taxes 3,287 Other long-term liabilities 76 Total liabilities assumed 10,298 Goodwill $ 9,712
Summary of Purchased Identifiable Intangible Assets	The purchased identifiable intangible assets were as follows (amounts in thousands): Total Estimated Life Customer relationships $ 15,570 13 years Trademark 1,360 2-15 years Total $ 16,930

Severance and Restructuring C23

Severance and Restructuring Charges (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]
Schedule of Expenses, Cash Flows, and Accrued Liabilities Associated with Restructuring Actions	The expenses, cash flows, and accrued liabilities associated with the restructuring actions described above are noted in the following table (in thousands): Expenses Cash flow Accrued Liabilities For the three months ended September 30, For the nine months ended September 30, For the nine months ended September 30, As of September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 First quarter 2015 Actions Workforce reduction $ (0.5 ) $ - $ (0.5 ) $ 6.0 Facility closure $ - 0.2 $ 0.3 0.5 Total $ (0.5 ) 0.2 $ (0.2 ) $ 6.5 $ 1.2 $ 3.0 $ 0.8 Fourth Quarter 2015 Action Workforce reduction $ (0.7 ) N/A $ (0.7 ) N/A $ 8.0 N/A $ 2.1

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill	The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are noted in the following table (in thousands): Goodwill, balance as of December 31, 2015 $ 299,355 Purchase accounting adjustments (1,858 ) Currency translation adjustments 745 Goodwill, balance as of September 30, 2016 $ 298,242
Summary of Intangible Assets of Company by Major Class	The following table summarizes the intangible assets of the Company by major class of intangible assets and the cost, accumulated amortization, net carrying amount, and weighted average life, if applicable (in thousands): September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 Weighted Weighted Average Average Gross Net Useful Gross Net Useful Carrying Accumulated Carrying Life Carrying Accumulated Carrying Life Amount Amortization Amount (years) Amount Amortization Amount (years) Intangible assets subject to amortization Customer relationships and other intangibles $ 137,678 $ (59,545 ) $ 78,133 16 $ 137,938 $ (51,357 ) $ 86,581 16 Non-compete agreements 4,651 (4,260 ) 391 4 4,644 (4,260 ) 384 4 Trademarks 13,725 (5,363 ) 8,362 14 13,688 (4,240 ) 9,448 14 Total $ 156,054 $ (69,168 ) $ 86,886 $ 156,270 $ (59,857 ) $ 96,413
Summary of Amortization Expense to be Incurred in 2016 Through 2020 on Intangible Assets	The following table summarizes the amortization expense to be incurred in 2016 through 2020 on intangible assets (in thousands): Year Amount 2016 $ 12,242 2017 10,797 2018 8,054 2019 6,937 2020 6,934

Accumulated Other Comprehensi25

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Equity [Abstract]
Change in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (AOCI) by Component, Net of Tax	The change in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (“AOCI”) by component, net of tax, for the period ended September 30, 2016 was as follows (amounts in thousands): Foreign Currency Translation Cash Flow Hedges Defined Benefit Pension Plans Total AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2015 $ (9,866 ) $ 146 $ (47,871 ) $ (57,591 ) Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications 2,441 (579 ) (3,946 ) (2,084 ) Settlement loss reclassified from AOCI - - 7,453 7,453 Amounts reclassified from AOCI - 440 2,528 2,968 Net other comprehensive (loss) income 2,441 (139 ) 6,035 8,337 AOCI, balance as of September 30, 2016 $ (7,425 ) $ 7 $ (41,836 ) $ (49,254 )
Amounts Reclassified Out of AOCI into Income Statement	The following table details the amounts reclassified out of AOCI into the income statement during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 Amount Reclassified From AOCI For the Three For the Nine Months Ended Months Ended September 30, September 30, Affected Line Item In The Statement Details About AOCI Components 2016 2016 Where Net Income is Presented Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges Gain on interest rate swap, before tax $ 249 $ 789 Interest expense, net Loss on foreign exchange hedges, before tax - (70 ) Cost of goods sold (96 ) (279 ) Tax provision $ 153 $ 440 Net of tax Defined benefit pension plan items Amortization of prior service cost and unrecognized loss $ 1,237 $ 4,125 Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses Settlement loss 419 12,163 Defined benefit plan settlement loss (641 ) (6,307 ) Tax provision 1,015 9,981 Net of tax Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax $ 1,168 $ 10,421

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data): For the Three Months Ended For the Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Numerator: Net income $ 36,742 $ 27,667 $ 66,205 $ 51,492 Denominator: Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares 36,578 37,300 36,560 37,724 Effect of dilutive securities: Employee stock options and restricted stock 360 308 336 385 Denominator for diluted earnings per share - Adjusted weighted average shares and the effect of dilutive securities 36,938 37,608 36,896 38,109 Net income per share: Net income per share - basic $ 1.00 $ 0.74 $ 1.81 $ 1.36 Net income per share - diluted $ 0.99 $ 0.74 $ 1.79 $ 1.35

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Long-Term Debt Components	Debt consisted of the following amounts (in millions): As of As of September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 2013 Credit Agreement $ 271.8 $ 368.4 2013 Note Purchase Agreement 150.0 150.0 Receivables Securitization Program 200.0 200.0 Mortgage & Capital Lease 0.1 0.1 Transaction Costs (1.7 ) (2.2 ) Total $ 620.2 $ 716.3

Pension and Post-Retirement B28

Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost	A summary of net periodic pension cost related to the Company’s pension plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was as follows (dollars in thousands): For the Three Months Ended September 30, For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Service cost - benefit earned during the period $ 318 $ 321 $ 952 $ 1,121 Interest cost on projected benefit obligation 1,806 2,208 6,322 6,748 Expected return on plan assets (2,219 ) (2,803 ) (7,484 ) (8,413 ) Amortization of prior service cost 74 72 222 222 Amortization of actuarial loss 1,163 1,501 3,903 4,401 Settlement loss 419 - 12,163 - Net periodic pension cost $ 1,561 $ 1,299 $ 16,078 $ 4,079

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value	The following table summarizes the financial instruments measured at fair value in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands): Fair Value Measurements as of September 30, 2016 Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets Foreign exchange hedges $ 95 $ - $ 95 $ - Liabilities Interest rate swap $ 501 $ - $ 501 $ - Foreign exchange hedges 30 - 30 - $ 531 $ - $ 531 $ - Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2015 Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets Foreign exchange hedges $ 91 $ - $ 91 $ - Liabilities Interest rate swap $ 469 $ - $ 469 $ -

Basis of Presentation - Additio

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Percentage inventory valued under LIFO	98.40%		98.40%	98.40%
Higher inventory if FIFO applied entirely	$ 147.2		$ 147.2	$ 147.8
Effect of LIFO inventory liquidation on income	2.3	$ 3.5	2.3
LIFO expense related to inflation increase in cost of sales	2.1	0.8	3.2
Increase (decrease) in cost of sales due to LIFO accounting method	$ (0.2)	$ (2.7)	$ 0.9

Acquisitions - Additional Infor

Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail) - Nestor Sales LLC [Member] $ in Millions	Jul. 31, 2015USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Stock acquisition, percentage acquired	100.00%
Business acquisition cash paid	$ 41.8

Acquisitions - Purchase Price A

Acquisitions - Purchase Price Allocation (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 298,242	$ 299,355
Nestor Sales LLC (Preliminary) [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price, net of cash acquired	39,983
Accounts receivable	9,230
Inventories	12,067
Other current assets	339
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,251
Other assets	752
Intangible assets	16,930
Total assets acquired	40,569
Accounts payable	4,992
Accrued liabilities	1,943
Deferred income taxes	3,287
Other long-term liabilities	76
Total liabilities assumed	10,298
Goodwill	$ 9,712

Acquisitions - Summary of Purch

Acquisitions - Summary of Purchased Identifiable Intangible Assets (Detail) - Nestor Sales LLC (Preliminary) [Member] $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets	$ 16,930
Customer relationships [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets	$ 15,570
Finite lived intangible assets estimated life	13 years
Trademarks [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets	$ 1,360
Trademarks [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets estimated life	2 years
Trademarks [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets estimated life	15 years

Sale-Leaseback - Additional Inf

Sale-Leaseback - Additional Information (Detail) - Facility in City of Industry [Member] - CA - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 23, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016
Sale Leaseback Transaction [Line Items]
Sale and leaseback agreement date		Sep. 23, 2016
Purchase price for sale of facility	$ 31.7
Subsequent leaseback period	2 years
Classification of lease		operating lease
Sale and leaseback, deferred gain amortized into income over lease term	$ 2.8
Warehousing, Marketing and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Sale Leaseback Transaction [Line Items]
Sale and leaseback, recorded gain	$ 20.5
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Sale Leaseback Transaction [Line Items]
Sale and leaseback, deferred gain		$ 1.4

Share-Based Compensation - Addi

Share-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016Plansshares	Sep. 30, 2015shares
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of share-based compensation plans | Plans	2
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock and restricted stock units granted	526,697	440,948
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock and restricted stock units granted	290,725	162,092

Severance and Restructuring C36

Severance and Restructuring Charges - Schedule of Expenses, Cash Flows, and Accrued Liabilities Associated with Restructuring Actions (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Cash flow associated with restructuring actions			$ 1,200	$ 3,000
Accrued Liabilities associated with restructuring actions	$ 800		800
Fourth Quarter 2015 Action Workforce Reduction [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Cash flow associated with restructuring actions			8,000
Accrued Liabilities associated with restructuring actions	2,100		2,100
Warehousing, Marketing and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses associated with restructuring actions	(500)	$ 200	(200)	6,500
Warehousing, Marketing and Administrative Expenses [Member] | First Quarter 2015 Actions Workforce Reduction [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses associated with restructuring actions	(500)		(500)	6,000
Warehousing, Marketing and Administrative Expenses [Member] | First Quarter 2015 Actions Facility Closure [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses associated with restructuring actions		$ 200	300	$ 500
Warehousing, Marketing and Administrative Expenses [Member] | Fourth Quarter 2015 Action Workforce Reduction [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Expenses associated with restructuring actions	$ (700)		$ (700)

Goodwill and Intangible Asset37

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Summary of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Detail) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill, balance as of December 31, 2015	$ 299,355
Purchase accounting adjustments	(1,858)
Currency translation adjustments	745
Goodwill, balance as of September 30, 2016	$ 298,242

Goodwill and Intangible Asset38

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Summary of Intangible Assets of Company by Major Class (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule Of Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Gross Carrying Amount	$ 156,054	$ 156,270
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Accumulated Amortization	(69,168)	(59,857)
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Net Carrying Amount	86,886	96,413
Customer relationships and other intangibles [Member]
Schedule Of Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Gross Carrying Amount	137,678	137,938
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Accumulated Amortization	(59,545)	(51,357)
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Net Carrying Amount	$ 78,133	$ 86,581
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted Average Useful Life (years)	16 years	16 years
Non-compete Agreements [Member]
Schedule Of Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Gross Carrying Amount	$ 4,651	$ 4,644
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Accumulated Amortization	(4,260)	(4,260)
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Net Carrying Amount	$ 391	$ 384
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted Average Useful Life (years)	4 years	4 years
Trademarks [Member]
Schedule Of Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Gross Carrying Amount	$ 13,725	$ 13,688
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Accumulated Amortization	(5,363)	(4,240)
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Net Carrying Amount	$ 8,362	$ 9,448
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted Average Useful Life (years)	14 years	14 years

Goodwill and Intangible Asset39

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Summary of Amortization Expense to be Incurred in 2016 Through 2020 on Intangible Assets (Detail) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
2,016	$ 12,242
2,017	10,797
2,018	8,054
2,019	6,937
2,020	$ 6,934

Accumulated Other Comprehensi40

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Change in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (AOCI) by Component, Net of Tax (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2015			$ 723,734
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications			(2,084)
Settlement loss reclassified from AOCI			7,453
Amounts reclassified from AOCI			2,968
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	$ (2,702)	$ 8,256	8,337	$ 5,271
AOCI, balance as of September 30, 2016	782,633		782,633
Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2015			(9,866)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications			2,441
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			2,441
AOCI, balance as of September 30, 2016	(7,425)		(7,425)
Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2015			146
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications			(579)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI			440
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(139)
AOCI, balance as of September 30, 2016	7		7
Defined Benefit Pension Plans [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2015			(47,871)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications			(3,946)
Settlement loss reclassified from AOCI			7,453
Amounts reclassified from AOCI			2,528
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			6,035
AOCI, balance as of September 30, 2016	(41,836)		(41,836)
AOCI, Total [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2015			(57,591)
AOCI, balance as of September 30, 2016	$ (49,254)		$ (49,254)

Accumulated Other Comprehensi41

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Amounts Reclassified Out of AOCI into Income Statement (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest expense, net	$ 6,484	$ 5,300	$ 18,058	$ 14,918
Cost of goods sold	1,208,650	1,166,402	3,519,564	3,430,062
Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses	138,107	172,159	463,410	526,653
Defined benefit plan settlement loss (Note 10)	419		12,163
Tax provision	(17,102)	(20,017)	(34,923)	(42,594)
Net income	36,742	$ 27,667	66,205	$ 51,492
Amount Reclassified From AOCI [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net income	1,168		10,421
Amount Reclassified From AOCI [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of goods sold			(70)
Tax provision	(96)		(279)
Net income	153		440
Amount Reclassified From AOCI [Member] | Defined Benefit Pension Plans [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses	1,237		4,125
Defined benefit plan settlement loss (Note 10)	419		12,163
Tax provision	(641)		(6,307)
Net income	1,015		9,981
Amount Reclassified From AOCI [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest expense, net	$ 249		$ 789

Earnings Per Share - Additional

Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share amount	300,000	400,000	300,000	0
Additional authorized repurchase amount	$ 68.2		$ 68.2
Number of shares repurchased	0	744,081	241,270	1,525,222
Repurchase of common stock, value		$ 25.9	$ 6.8	$ 57.4
Treasury stock reissued, shares			452,286	369,591

Earnings Per Share - Schedule o

Earnings Per Share - Schedule of Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 36,742	$ 27,667	$ 66,205	$ 51,492
Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares	36,578	37,300	36,560	37,724
Effect of dilutive securities: Employee stock options and restricted stock	360	308	336	385
Denominator for diluted earnings per share - Adjusted weighted average shares and the effect of dilutive securities	36,938	37,608	36,896	38,109
Net income per share - basic	$ 1	$ 0.74	$ 1.81	$ 1.36
Net income per share - diluted	$ 0.99	$ 0.74	$ 1.79	$ 1.35

Debt - Additional Information (

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of outstanding debt priced at variable interest rates	75.90%
Receivables sold to Investors	$ 552.9			$ 448.6
2013 Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding letters of credit	$ 11.2			11.6
LIBOR-based loans rates	2.00%
Alternate base rate loans rates	1.00%
Credit facility	$ 271.8			368.4
2013 Note Purchase Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Leverage ratio	2.77		3.51
Credit facility, frequency of payment and payment terms	Interest under the 2013 Note Purchase Agreement is payable semi-annually at a rate per annum equal to 3.75% (3.66% after the effect of terminating an interest rate swap),
Basis spread on variable rate	3.75%
Effective interest rate	3.66%
2013 Note Purchase Agreement [Member] | Leverage Ratio Between 3.50 to 3.75 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Increase in interest rate	0.625%
2013 Note Purchase Agreement [Member] | Leverage Ratio Between 3.75 to 4.00 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Increase in interest rate	0.75%
Receivables Securitization Program [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility	$ 200			200
Receivables Securitization Program [Member] | Essendant Receivables LLC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility	$ 200			$ 200
Maximum [Member] | Lending Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Leverage ratio	3.50
Leverage ratio	4
Maximum [Member] | 2013 Note Purchase Agreement [Member] | Leverage Ratio Between 3.50 to 3.75 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Leverage ratio	3.75
Maximum [Member] | 2013 Note Purchase Agreement [Member] | Leverage Ratio Between 3.75 to 4.00 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Leverage ratio	4
Minimum [Member] | 2013 Note Purchase Agreement [Member] | Leverage Ratio Between 3.50 to 3.75 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Leverage ratio	3.50
Minimum [Member] | 2013 Note Purchase Agreement [Member] | Leverage Ratio Between 3.75 to 4.00 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Leverage ratio	3.75
Scenario Forecast [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Lending Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Leverage ratio		3.50

Debt - Schedule of Long-Term De

Debt - Schedule of Long-Term Debt Components (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage & Capital Lease	$ 0.1	$ 0.1
Transaction Costs	(1.7)	(2.2)
Total	620.2	716.3
2013 Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit Agreement	271.8	368.4
2013 Note Purchase Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Note Purchase Agreement	150	150
Receivables Securitization Program [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit Agreement	$ 200	$ 200

Pension and Post-Retirement B46

Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans - Schedule of Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost (Detail) - Pension Plans [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefit earned during the period	$ 318	$ 321	$ 952	$ 1,121
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	1,806	2,208	6,322	6,748
Expected return on plan assets	(2,219)	(2,803)	(7,484)	(8,413)
Amortization of prior service cost	74	72	222	222
Amortization of actuarial loss	1,163	1,501	3,903	4,401
Settlement loss	419		12,163
Net periodic pension cost	$ 1,561	$ 1,299	$ 16,078	$ 4,079

Pension and Post-Retirement B47

Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Cash contribution to pension plan during the period			$ 10,000	$ 2,000
Pension plan liabilities	$ 44,700		44,700		$ 48,400
Improvement to net funded status of plan			1,500
Settlement of Pension Plan, net impact on shareholders' equity			3,800
Reduction of unrecognized actuarial loss included in accumulated and other comprehensive income			8,400
Pension settlement charge	419		12,163
Company contributions	$ 1,800	$ 1,500	$ 5,500	$ 4,400

Fair Value Measurements - Sched

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total	$ 531
Foreign Exchange [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign exchange hedges	95	$ 91
Foreign exchange hedges	30
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Interest rate swap	501	469
Significant Other Observable Inputs Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total	531
Significant Other Observable Inputs Level 2 [Member] | Foreign Exchange [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign exchange hedges	95	91
Foreign exchange hedges	30
Significant Other Observable Inputs Level 2 [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Interest rate swap	$ 501	$ 469

Fair Value Measurements - Addit

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Receivables sold to Investors	$ 552,900,000	$ 448,600,000
Assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis	0
Liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis	$ 0

Other Assets and Liabilities -

Other Assets and Liabilities - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Other Assets And Liabilities [Abstract]
Receivables related to supplier allowances included Accounts receivable	$ 93.4	$ 111
Accrued customer rebates included in Accrued liabilities	$ 64.3	$ 63.6

Income Taxes - Additional Infor

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income tax expense	$ 17,102	$ 20,017	$ 34,923	$ 42,594
Income before income taxes	$ 53,844	$ 47,684	$ 101,128	$ 94,086
Effective income tax percent	31.80%	42.00%	34.50%	45.30%
United States statutory income tax rate, percent			35.00%

Legal Matters - Additional Info

Legal Matters - Additional Information (Detail)	Jan. 14, 2016Lawsuit	May 01, 2015Lawsuit	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)Lawsuit
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits filed			2
Inadvertent Violation under TCPA for Unsolicited Fax Advertisement [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought by plaintiff per violation | $			$ 500
Willful Violation under TCPA for Unsolicited Fax Advertisement [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought by plaintiff per violation | $			$ 1,500
United States District Court California [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits filed		1
United States District Court Illinois [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits filed	1