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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

13. Commitments and Contingencies

We are subject to laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. We provide for expenses associated with environmental remediation obligations when such amounts are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Such accruals are adjusted as new information develops or circumstances change and are generally not discounted. We have been designated as a potentially responsible party or have received claims in three active federal and state Superfund and other multiparty remediation sites. In addition to these sites, we may also have the obligation to remediate six other previously and currently owned facilities. At the Superfund sites, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act provides that our liability could be joint and several, meaning that we could be required to pay an amount in excess of our proportionate share of the remediation costs.

Our understanding of the financial strength of other potentially responsible parties at the multiparty sites and of other liable parties at the previously owned facilities has been considered, where appropriate, in the determination of our estimated liability. We believe that our recorded accruals, recorded in Accrued liabilities and other and Other noncurrent liabilities, are adequate to cover our share of the potential costs of remediation at each of the multiparty sites and the previously and currently owned facilities. It is not possible to quantify with certainty the potential impact of actions regarding environmental matters, particularly remediation and other compliance efforts that we may undertake in the future. However, in our opinion, compliance with the present environmental protection laws, before taking into account estimated recoveries from third parties, will not have a material effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In April 2019, we received a subpoena from the SEC related to previous business dealings with the Brazilian Ministry of Education. The SEC and Department of Justice (“DOJ”) are investigating the matter, and we are cooperating as they conduct their investigations. In addition, the Brazil authorities are also investigating the matter.

From time to time, our clients and others file voluntary petitions for reorganization under United States bankruptcy laws. In such cases, certain pre-petition payments received by us from these parties could be considered preference items and subject to return. In addition, we may be party to certain litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We believe that the final resolution of these preference items and litigation will not have a material effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Leases

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are recorded in Operating lease assets, Short-term operating lease liabilities and Long-term operating lease liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Operating lease assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. In determining the present value of lease payments, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date. Operating lease assets reflects lease payments and are reduced by any lease incentives received. Our lease terms may include options to extend or not terminate the lease when we are reasonably certain that we will exercise any such options. Leases with an expected term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term.

Our most significant leases are real estate leases for plants, warehouses, storage facilities, offices and other facilities. For real estate leases, we elected the practical expedient permitted under Topic 842 to combine lease and non-lease components. As a result, non-lease components, such as common area maintenance charges, are accounted for as a single lease element. Our remaining operating leases are primarily comprised of leases of machinery and technology equipment. Finance leases are not material.

Certain of our operating lease agreements include variable payments that are passed-through by the landlord, such as insurance, taxes and common area maintenance, payments based on the usage of the asset and rental payments adjusted periodically for inflation. Pass-through charges, payments due to change in usage of the asset and payments due to changes in inflation are included within variable rent expense.

Our lease agreements do not contain material residual value guarantees, restrictions or covenants. 

Contingencies related to LSC Communication, Inc. and Subsidiaries (“LSC”) and Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Donnelley Financial”)

Subsequent to the spinoff of LSC Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries (“LSC”) and Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Donnelley Financial”) on October 1, 2016, we may be contingently liable for obligations under various operating leases for office, warehouse and manufacturing locations of LSC and Donnelley Financial. In the event that LSC or Donnelley Financial, or any successor lessee, fail to make lease payments or fail to pay other obligations under these lease agreements, we may be required to satisfy those obligations to the lessor. Under various agreements executed at the time of the spinoff, LSC and Donnelley Financial agreed to fully indemnify us in the event that we would be required to make a payment on their behalf; however, there can be no assurance that the indemnities from LSC and Donnelley Financial will be sufficient to satisfy the full amount of any such contingent obligations. Our exposure to these potential contingent liabilities will decrease over time as LSC and Donnelley Financial pay monthly lease obligations and as the leases expire. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, these potential contingent obligations were approximately $65.2 million and $78.8 million, respectively, for LSC, and $4.3 million and $5.5 million, respectively for Donnelley Financial. On April 13, 2020, LSC announced that it, along with most of its U.S. subsidiaries, voluntarily filed for business reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.  At the time of this filing, no plan of reorganization has been filed and we cannot assess the potential impact of any such plan on our contingent liabilities related to the spin-off of LSC.

In May and June 2020 we became aware that LSC failed to make required monthly contributions to certain of their multiemployer pension plans (“MEPP”). In accordance with laws and regulations governing multiemployer pension plans, we believe that we and Donnelley Financial, as former members of the control group, are contingently liable on a joint and several liability basis for LSC’s MEPP obligations. We believe that the total undiscounted MEPP obligations for which LSC is responsible is approximately $100.0 million and is payable over an average 13 year period. The amount of our ultimate liability related to LSC's MEPP obligations is contingent upon whether LSC or a successor company will be required to make full or partial required contributions to their MEPPs as determined by the bankruptcy court, as well as the outcome of our negotiations with Donnelley Financial concerning how the obligations would be apportioned between us and Donnelley Financial. At June 30, 2020, we recorded an immaterial accrual representing our estimated share of payments that were due but not made by LSC during the second quarter of 2020. At this time, however, we cannot make a reasonable estimate of our ultimate exposure, and therefore, have not recorded an additional contingent liability related to LSC’s MEPP obligations as of June 30, 2020.