Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are based on management's best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment. We adjust such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in these estimates will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements in future periods.

Revenue Recognition

In accordance with ASU 2014-09 (Topic 606): Revenue from Contracts with Customers, we recognize revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services. The timing of revenue recognition for most goods and services occurs when performance obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied. This occurs with the transfer of control of our products at a specific point in time. For most packaging and paper products, revenue is recognized when the product is shipped from the mill or from our manufacturing facility to our customer. Shipping and handling fees billed to a customer are recorded on a gross basis in “Net sales”, with the corresponding shipping and handling costs included in “Cost of sales” in the concurrent period as the revenue is recorded. We present taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities on a net basis in our Consolidated Statements of Income. See Note 4, Revenue, for more information.

Cash and cash equivalents include all cash balances and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $618.7 million and $974.6 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which included cash equivalents of $532.9 million and $662.2 million, respectively. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had $1.2 million and $2.2 million, respectively, of cash at our operations outside the United States.

Marketable Debt Securities

The Company’s marketable debt securities have been classified and accounted for as available-for-sale (AFS) marketable debt securities in accordance with ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326). The Company reports its marketable debt securities at fair value, and they are classified as short-term or long-term based on each security’s underlying contractual maturity date.

The Company’s marketable debt securities are analyzed at the individual debt security level. Changes in the fair value of the debt security have the potential to impact accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI), the Company’s earnings, or both.

The Company regularly reviews its investment portfolio to determine if any debt security is impaired. A decline in the fair value of the debt security below its amortized cost results in an impairment of the debt security. If there is an intent to sell the debt security, or if it is more likely than not that the debt security will be sold prior to recovering the amortized cost basis, the Company recognizes the impairment as a realized loss in earnings by writing down the debt security’s amortized cost basis.

Additional analysis is required if there is not an intent to sell the debt security, or if a recovery of the amortized cost basis is expected to be made prior to the sale of the security. If any portion of the impairment is the result of a credit loss, the Company recognizes this portion in earnings through an allowance for credit losses, with the remainder recognized as unrealized loss in AOCI. Subsequent improvements in credit losses are recognized as a reduction in the allowance. Any impairment not attributed to credit loss is recognized as an unrealized loss in AOCI in its entirety.

The Company considers several factors when determining if a portion of an impairment is the result of a credit loss including, but not limited to, adverse conditions related to the financial health and future outlook of the issuer; the credit quality of the issuer, as reported by credit rating agencies; trends present in the issuer’s industry in which it operates; and general market conditions.

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we do not consider any of the impairments related to our marketable debt securities to be the result of credit losses. See Note 12, Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Debt Securities, for more information.

Trade Accounts Receivable, Allowances, and Customer Deductions

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at amortized cost and represent a contractual right to receive payment from a customer. The Company’s trade accounts receivable are short-term receivables, with most requiring payment within 30 to 60 days, and represent the primary class of financing receivables utilized by the Company.

The Company has entered into a number of customer-based supply chain financing programs to accelerate the receipt of payments for outstanding accounts receivable from certain customers. Receivables transferred under these programs meet the requirements to be accounted for as sales in accordance with guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 860, Transfers and Servicing. The receivables are sold without recourse and are reflected as a reduction of accounts receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at the time of sale. The corresponding proceeds are reflected in cash flows from operating activities within the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Receivables involved with these programs constituted less than 5% of our 2021 net sales.

In accordance with ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), the Company established an allowance for credit losses, which is a valuation account that estimates the expected credit loss over the lifetime of the asset and is deducted from, or added to, the amortized cost basis of the trade accounts receivable. The allowance for credit losses is based upon a combination of factors such as historical collection experience, aged receivables, current economic conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts on future economic conditions. Expected recoveries of amounts previously written off, not to exceed the aggregate of the amount previously written off, are also considered when determining the necessary allowance at the balance sheet date. When determining the allowance for credit losses, management also considers specific customer accounts that may be considered higher risk or uncollectible due to customer industry trends, bankruptcy filings, or substantial downgrades of credit scores.

Current period estimates for the allowance for credit losses are compared against the allowance previously recorded, and all required adjustments are reported as credit loss expense (for expected losses or write offs) or a reversal of credit loss expense (for expected recoveries) in net income. Outstanding trade accounts receivable balances are written off when deemed uncollectible after undergoing reasonable collection efforts. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the allowance for credit losses was $4.9 million and $3.0 million, respectively.

The customer deductions reserve represents the estimated amount required for customer returns, allowances, and earned discounts. Based on the Company’s experience, customer returns, allowances, and earned discounts have averaged approximately 1% of gross selling price. Accordingly, PCA reserves 1% of its open customer accounts receivable balance for these items. The reserves for customer deductions of $9.4 million and $7.6 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, are also included as a reduction of the accounts receivable balance.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company records its derivatives, if any, in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The guidance requires the Company to recognize derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use and designation of the derivative instrument. For a derivative designated as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative is recognized in earnings in the period of change at fair value together with the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item. For a derivative instrument designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the derivative’s gain or loss is initially reported as a component of AOCI and is subsequently recognized in earnings when the hedged exposure affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss is recognized in earnings. We were not party to any derivative-based arrangements at December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Fair Value Measurements

PCA measures the fair value of its financial instruments and marketable debt securities in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. The guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. It is determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, ASC 820 establishes the following hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation methodologies used to measure fair value:

Level 1 — Valuations based on quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 — Valuations based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 — Valuations based on unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

Assets that are measured at fair value using the net asset value (NAV) per share as a practical expedient are not categorized within the fair value hierarchy.

Financial instruments and marketable debt securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis include the fair values of our marketable debt securities and our pension and postretirement benefit assets and liabilities. The valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of the Company’s marketable debt securities and pension and postretirement benefit assets and liabilities, which generally have counterparties with high credit ratings, are based on quoted market prices or model-driven valuations using significant inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data. See Note 12, Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Debt Securities, and Note 13, Employee Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits, for more information.

Other assets and liabilities measured and recognized at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include assets acquired and liabilities assumed in acquisitions and our asset retirement obligations. Given the nature of these assets and liabilities, evaluating their fair value from the perspective of a market participant is inherently complex. Assumptions and estimates about future values can be affected by a variety of internal and external factors. Changes in these factors may require us to revise our estimates and could require us to retroactively adjust provisional amounts that we recorded for the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with business combinations. These adjustments could have a material effect on our financial condition and results of operations. See Note 5, Acquisitions, and Note 14, Asset Retirement Obligations, for more information.

Inventory Valuation

We value our raw materials, work in process, and finished goods inventories using lower of cost, as determined by the average cost method, or net realizable value. Supplies and materials are valued at the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost methods.

The components of inventories were as follows (dollars in millions):


	December 31,
	2021		2020
Raw materials	$	324.2	$	263.5
Work in process		16.2		11.6
Finished goods		201.0		183.6
Supplies and materials		361.1		329.2
Inventories	$	902.5	$	787.9

Property, plant, and equipment consisted of the following (dollars in millions):


	December 31,
	2021			2020
Land and land improvements	$	189.8		$	179.6
Buildings		938.7			858.5
Machinery and equipment		6,159.1			5,826.6
Construction in progress		481.0			360.0
Other		102.9			88.8
Property, plant and equipment, at cost		7,871.5			7,313.5
Less accumulated depreciation		(4,342.5	)		(4,120.1	)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	3,529.0		$	3,193.4

The amount of interest capitalized from construction in progress was $3.8 million, $3.7 million, and $3.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

Depreciation is computed on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Assets under finance leases are depreciated on the straight-line method over the term of the lease or the useful life, if shorter. The following lives are used for the various categories of assets:


Buildings and land improvements		5 to 40 years
Machinery and equipment		3 to 25 years
Trucks and automobiles		3 to 10 years
Furniture and fixtures		3 to 20 years
Computers and hardware		3 to 10 years
Leasehold improvements		Period of the lease or useful life, if shorter

The amount of depreciation expense was $376.0 million, $362.5 million, and $346.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. In 2021, 2020, and 2019, we recognized incremental depreciation expense of $4.7 million, $4.5 million, and $0.3 million, respectively. The incremental depreciation expense for 2021 related to Jackson mill conversion-related activities and closures of corrugated products facilities. For 2020, the incremental depreciation expense related to closures of corrugated products facilities, while the incremental depreciation expense for 2019 primarily related to the second quarter 2018 discontinuation of paper grades at the Wallula, Washington mill associated with the conversion of the No. 3 paper machine to produce virgin kraft linerboard.

Pursuant to the terms of an industrial revenue bond, title to certain property, plant, and equipment was transferred to a municipal development authority in 2009 in order to receive a property tax abatement. The title of these assets will revert back to PCA upon retirement or cancellation of the bond. The assets are included in the consolidated balance sheets under the caption “Property, plant, and equipment, net”, as all risks and rewards remain with the Company.

Leases

We determine if an arrangement is, or contains, a lease at the inception date based on the presence of identified assets and our right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefit from or to direct the use of such assets. When we determine a lease exists, we record a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability on our consolidated balance sheets. Right-of-use assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term. Lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Right-of-use assets are recognized at commencement date at the value of the lease liability and are adjusted for any prepayments, lease incentives received, and initial direct costs incurred. Lease liabilities are recognized at lease commencement date based on the present value of remaining lease payments over the lease term. As the discount rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable in most of our leases, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Our lease terms include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option.

Operating lease balances are included in Operating lease right-of-use assets with the related liabilities included in Current operating lease obligations and Long-term operating lease obligations. Assets under finance leases are included in Property, plant and equipment, net, with the related liabilities included in Current finance lease obligations and Long-term finance lease obligations.

We do not record lease contracts with a term of 12 months or less on our consolidated balance sheets.

We recognize fixed lease expense for operating leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For finance leases, we recognize amortization expense on the right-of-use asset and interest expense on the lease liability over the lease term.

We have lease agreements with non-lease components that relate to lease components (e.g., common area maintenance such as cleaning or landscaping, insurance, etc.). We account for each lease and any non-lease components associated with that lease as a single lease component for all underlying asset classes. Accordingly, all costs associated with a lease contract are accounted for as lease costs.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment

Long-lived assets other than goodwill and other intangibles are reviewed for impairment in accordance with provisions of ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment. In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of any long-lived assets may be impaired, an evaluation of recoverability is performed. If an evaluation is required, the estimated future undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset (or group of assets) is compared to the assets (or group of assets) carrying amount to determine if a write-down to fair value is required.

During the second quarter of 2020, with the exacerbated deterioration in uncoated freesheet market conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and the estimated impact on our Paper segment and its projected future results of operations, we identified a triggering event indicating possible impairment of our long-lived assets within our Paper reporting unit, including property, plant, and equipment, and performed a recoverability test on the Paper reporting unit long-lived assets as of May 31, 2020. The recoverability test was based on forecasts of undiscounted cash flows. The results of the recoverability test indicated that the long-lived assets within our Paper segment, inclusive of property, plant, and equipment, were 100% recoverable.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The Company has capitalized certain intangible assets, primarily goodwill, customer relationships, and trademarks and trade names, based on their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. Amortization is provided for customer relationships on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from ten to 40 years, and trademarks and trade names over periods ranging from five to 20 years.

Goodwill, which amounted to $923.5 million and $863.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, is not amortized but is subject to an annual impairment test in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. We test goodwill for impairment annually in the fourth quarter or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may exceed fair value. Additionally, we evaluate the remaining useful lives of our finite-lived purchased intangible assets to determine whether any adjustments to the useful lives are necessary.

During the second quarter of 2020, with the exacerbated deterioration in uncoated freesheet market conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and the estimated impact on our Paper segment and its projected future results of operations, we identified a triggering event indicating possible impairment of goodwill within our Paper reporting unit and performed an interim quantitative impairment analysis as of May 31, 2020. Based on the evaluation performed, we determined that the carrying value of the Paper reporting unit exceeded its fair value, which resulted in a goodwill impairment charge totaling $55.2 million.

The Company concluded that none of the goodwill or intangible assets were impaired during the 2021, 2020, and 2019 annual impairment tests. See Note 9, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for additional information.

For postretirement health care plan accounting, the Company reviews external data and its own historical trends for health care costs to determine the health care cost trend rate assumption.

Trade Agreements

PCA regularly trades containerboard with other manufacturers primarily to reduce shipping costs. These agreements are entered into with other producers on an annual basis, pursuant to which both parties agree to ship an identical number of tons of containerboard to each other within the agreement period. These agreements lower transportation costs by allowing each party’s containerboard mills to ship containerboard to the other party’s closer corrugated products plant. PCA tracks each shipment to ensure that the other party’s shipments to PCA match PCA’s shipments to the other party during the agreement period. Such transfers are possible because certain grades of containerboard are commodity products with no distinguishing product characteristics. These transactions are accounted for at carrying value, and revenue is not recorded as the transactions do not represent the culmination of an earnings process. The transactions are recorded into inventory accounts, and no sale or income is recorded until such inventory is converted to a finished product and sold to an end-use customer.

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for acquisitions under ASC 805, Business Combinations and ASU 2017-01 (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. ASC 805 requires separate recognition of assets acquired and liabilities assumed from goodwill at the acquisition date fair values. ASU 2017-01 (Topic 805) provides additional guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transfers of assets and activities should be accounted for as acquisitions of assets or businesses. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company records adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the consolidated financial statements.

New Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2021-08 requires contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination to be recognized and measured by the acquirer on the acquisition date in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Under current business combination guidance in ASC 805, Business Combinations, such assets and liabilities are recognized by the acquirer at fair value on the acquisition date, whereas the new guidance requires the acquirer to recognize such assets and liabilities as if it had originated the contracts. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. The amended guidance should be applied on a prospective basis to any business combinations that occur on or after the adoption date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance but does not expect the guidance to have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flow.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for, or recognizing the effects of, reference rate reform on financial reporting. The amendments in this Update are elective and apply to all entities, subject to meeting certain criteria, that have contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, which extends some of the optional expedients under Topic 848 to include derivative contracts impacted by discounting transition. Companies can apply the ASU immediately. The ASU can be adopted on a full retrospective basis as of any date from the beginning of an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, or on a prospective basis to any new modification from any date within an interim period that includes or is subsequent to the date of the issuance of a final Update, up to the date that financial statements are available to be issued. The optional guidance will only be available until December 31, 2022. While the Company's fixed-rate outstanding debt will not be impacted by the reference rate reform, the Company is still evaluating the impact of this guidance on its revolving credit facility, as the interest rate associated with any future borrowings against the revolving credit facility is based on LIBOR. Overall, the Company does not expect the guidance to have a significant impact on its financial position or related disclosures.

There were no other accounting standards recently issued that had or are expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.