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EXHIBIT 99.2 -- ERISA-BASED U.S. QUALIFIED PENSION-PLAN PROJECTIONS (AS OF
JANUARY 1, 2004)

<Table>
<Caption>
AMOUNT OVERFUNDED(A)
--------------------------------------
REQUIRED CASH FUNDING CREDIT CURRENT LIABILITY ACCRUED LIABILITY
CONTRIBUTION BALANCE BASIS(B) BASIS(C)
(In millions) ------------- -------------- ------------------ -----------------

2003.................................. $0 $258 $577 $633
2004.................................. 0 224 313 613
2005.................................. 0 241 320 613
2006.................................. 0 261 228 523
2007.................................. 0 282 252 536
2008.................................. 0 304 285 559
2009.................................. 0 329 327 590
2010.................................. 0 355 377 630
2011.................................. 0 383 437 677
2012.................................. 0 414 504 732
2013.................................. 0 447 580 796
</Table>

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(a) Funded status

ERISA measures the ability of plan assets to fund plan obligations on both
a current liability basis and on an accrued liability (long-term) basis.
The company's pension plan is subject to funding criteria under both bases
at the measurement date (January 1 of each year). All figures in the table
above are as of January 1 of each year.

Using the assumptions specified below, Pactiv projects that no minimum
ERISA cash contributions to the plans will be required over the next ten
years.

(b) ERISA current liability method

The amounts shown represent the projected overfunding relative to 90% of
the current liability as specified by ERISA.

The projections included in this exhibit were prepared only for the company's
qualified U.S. plans and were based on management's current reasonable
good-faith expectations and represent point-in-time calculations. These
calculations are affected by multiple variables which can work independently or
in concert to materially affect the projections shown. Such variables include:
actual versus assumed rates of return on assets; discount rates used in
calculating liabilities; changes in governmental regulations; and actuarial
assumptions, such as expectations regarding employee compensation, demographics,
turnover, and estimated age and life expectancies.

The annual ERISA current liability test as of the plan measurement date compares
the smoothed value of plan assets to the present value of ERISA's equivalent of
SFAS No. 87's accumulated benefit obligations. The discount rate used to
determine the present value is currently 120% of the four-year average of 30-
year treasury notes (6.65%). If the smoothed value of plan assets is more than
90% of the current liability, the company is not required to contribute cash to
the plan, unless the plan's accrued liability is not fully funded and the plan
has no funding credit balance.

With certain exceptions, if the plan assets to current liability ratio falls
below 90%, the company must make a cash contribution to the plan to bring the
ratio up to at least 90%, unless a funding credit balance has been built up by
previously making cash contributions in excess of minimum requirements. Pactiv
had a funding credit balance of $206 million as of January 1, 2004.

The accrued liability funded status is determined by comparing the smoothed
value of plan assets with ERISA's equivalent of SFAS No. 87's projected
benefit obligations.

Because ERISA utilizes smoothing techniques to dampen the effect of market
fluctuations on plan assets, there is a time lag before differences between
actual and expected rates of return on plan assets are fully reflected in
the smoothed value of assets.

Assumptions:

(1) Funding interest rate: 8%

(2) Current liability rate: 6.65% for 2003; 6% for 2004-2013 (intentionally
conservative estimate of high-quality corporate-bond yields; in the
event of higher rates in the future, the likelihood of cash
contributions is further lessened.)

(3) Effective 2006, the use of the U. S. Treasury Department's updated
mortality tables (reflecting longer life expectancies) is expected to
become effective.

(4) Compound rate of return on assets: 9%/yr. If the rate of return is
8.0%, cash contributions are not required through 2013.