Employee Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

13. Employee Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

PCA has defined pension benefit plans for both salaried and hourly employees. The plans covering salaried employees are closed to new entrants with only certain current active participants still accruing benefits. The plans covering certain hourly employees are closed to new participants. We also have a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) and other

nonqualified defined benefit pension plans that provide unfunded supplemental retirement benefits to certain of our executives and former executives. The SERP provides for incremental pension benefits in excess of those offered in our principal pension plans.

Other Postretirement Benefits

PCA provides postretirement medical benefits for certain retired salaried employees and postretirement medical and life insurance benefits for certain hourly employees. The plan covering salaried employees is closed to new participants.      

Obligations and Funded Status of Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Plans

The funded status of PCA's plans change from year to year based on the plan asset investment return, contributions, benefit payments, the discount rate used to measure the liability, and expected participant longevity. The following table, which includes only company-sponsored defined benefit and other postretirement benefit plans, reconciles the beginning and ending balances of the projected benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets. We recognize the unfunded status of these plans on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and we recognize changes in funded status in the year changes occur through the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (dollars in millions):

	Pension Plans						Postretirement Plans
	Year Ended December 31						Year Ended December 31
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of period	$	1,204.9		$	1,300.2		$	14.6		$	16.5
Service cost		24.5			25.0			0.3			0.3
Interest cost		47.0			42.4			0.5			0.5
Plan amendments		2.3			3.0			(0.3	)		(0.4	)
Actuarial (gain) loss (a)		188.6			(121.1	)		0.2			(1.2	)
Participant contributions		—			—			1.1			1.1
Benefits paid		(47.2	)		(44.6	)		(1.9	)		(2.2	)
Benefit obligation at plan year end	$	1,420.1		$	1,204.9		$	14.5		$	14.6
Accumulated benefit obligation portion of above	$	1,374.4		$	1,163.3
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of period	$	873.2		$	954.8		$	—		$	—
Actual return on plan assets		188.9			(59.9	)		—			—
Company contributions		58.9			22.9			0.8			1.1
Participant contributions		—			—			1.1			1.1
Benefits paid		(47.2	)		(44.6	)		(1.9	)		(2.2	)
Fair value of plan assets at plan year end	$	1,073.8		$	873.2		$	—		$	—
Underfunded status	$	(346.3	)	$	(331.7	)	$	(14.5	)	$	(14.6	)
Amounts Recognized on Consolidated Balance Sheets
Current liabilities		(1.4	)		(1.4	)		(0.7	)		(0.8	)
Noncurrent liabilities		(344.9	)		(330.3	)		(13.8	)		(13.8	)
Accrued obligation recognized at December 31	$	(346.3	)	$	(331.7	)	$	(14.5	)	$	(14.6	)
Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Income) (Pre-Tax)
Prior service cost (credit)	$	24.7		$	28.7		$	(5.3	)	$	(5.4	)
Actuarial loss (gain)		239.2			194.6			(4.4	)		(5.0	)
Total	$	263.9		$	223.3		$	(9.7	)	$	(10.4	)

(a) The actuarial loss in 2019 was due primarily to a decrease in the weighted average discount rate used to estimate pension benefit obligations. The actuarial gain in 2018 was due primarily to an increase in the weighted average discount rate used to estimate our pension benefit obligations.

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss

The components of net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive (income) loss (pretax) were as follows (dollars in millions):

	Pension Plans									Postretirement Plans
	Year Ended December 31,									Year Ended December 31,
	2019			2018			2017			2019			2018			2017
Service cost	$	24.5		$	25.0		$	23.7		$	0.3		$	0.3		$	0.3
Interest cost		47.0			42.4			41.6			0.5			0.5			0.6
Expected return on plan assets		(52.1	)		(56.7	)		(53.9	)		—			—			—
Net amortization of unrecognized amounts
Prior service cost (credit)		6.3			6.9			5.8			(0.3	)		(0.3	)		(0.2	)
Actuarial loss (gain)		7.0			9.4			7.6			(0.4	)		(0.2	)		(0.1	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	32.7		$	27.0		$	24.8		$	0.1		$	0.3		$	0.6
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations    recognized in other comprehensive (income)    loss
Actuarial net loss (gain)	$	51.8		$	(4.6	)	$	32.2		$	0.2		$	(1.2	)	$	(2.2	)
Prior service cost (credit)		2.3			3.0			17.4			(0.3	)		(0.3	)		(0.6	)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		(6.3	)		(6.9	)		(5.8	)		0.3			0.3			0.2
Amortization of actuarial loss (gain)		(7.0	)		(9.4	)		(7.6	)		0.4			0.2			0.1
Total recognized in other comprehensive    loss (income) (b)	$	40.8		$	(17.9	)	$	36.2		$	0.6		$	(1.0	)	$	(2.5	)
Total recognized in net periodic benefit    cost and other comprehensive loss (income)    (pre-tax)	$	73.5		$	9.2		$	61.0		$	0.7		$	(0.7	)	$	(1.9	)

(b) Accumulated losses in excess of 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the market-related value of assets will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of active employees in PCA plans (which is between seven and ten years) and over the average remaining lifetime of inactive participants of Boise plans (which is between 24 and 27 years), to the extent that losses are not offset by gains in subsequent years. The estimated net loss and prior service cost that will be amortized from “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” into net periodic benefit in 2020 is $14.3 million.

The accumulated benefit obligations for the plans with obligations in excess of plan assets is $1.3 billion.

Assumptions

The following table presents the assumptions used in the measurement of our benefits obligations:

	Pension Plans			Postretirement Plans
	December 31,			December 31,
	2019	2018	2017	2019	2018	2017
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to    Determine Benefit Obligations at    December 31
Discount rate	3.25%	4.31%	3.66%	3.18%	4.21%	3.55%
Rate of compensation increase	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	N/A	N/A	N/A
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to    Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost for the    Years Ended December 31
Discount rate	4.31%	3.66%	4.24%	4.21%	3.57%	3.92%
Expected return on plan assets	6.06%	6.06%	6.55%	N/A	N/A	N/A
Rate of compensation increase	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	N/A	N/A	N/A

Discount Rate Assumption. The discount rate reflects the current rate at which the pension obligations could be settled on the measurement date: December 31. The discount rate assumption used to calculate the present value of pension and

postretirement benefit obligations reflects the rates available on high-quality, fixed-income debt instruments at December 31. In all periods, the bonds included in the models reflect anticipated investments that would be made to match the expected monthly benefit payments over time. The plans' projected cash flows were duration-matched to these models to develop an appropriate discount rate.

Asset Return Assumption. The expected return on plan assets reflects the expected long-term rates of return for the categories of investments currently held in the plans as well as anticipated returns for additional contributions made in the future. The expected long-term rate of return is adjusted when there are fundamental changes in expected returns on the plan investments. The weighted-average expected return on plan assets we will use in our calculation of 2020 net periodic pension benefit cost is 5.29%.

Rate of Compensation Increase. The rate of compensation increase is determined by PCA based upon annual reviews. The compensation increase assumption is not applicable for all plans as many of our pension plans are frozen and not accruing benefits.

Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumptions. PCA assumed health care cost trend rates for its postretirement benefits plans were as follows:

	2019	2018	2017
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year	7.09%	7.24%	7.57%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline    (the ultimate trend rate)	4.50%	4.44%	4.44%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate	2029	2028	2027

Postretirement Health Care Plan Assumptions. For postretirement health care plan accounting, PCA reviews external data and its own historical trends for health care costs to determine the health care cost trend rate assumption.

A one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects on the 2019 postretirement benefit obligation and the 2018 net postretirement benefit cost (dollars in millions):

	1-Percentage Point Increase		1-Percentage Point Decrease
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation	$	0.5	$	(0.5	)
Effect on net postretirement benefit cost		0.1		—

Investment Policies and Strategies

PCA has retained the services of professional advisors to oversee pension investments and provide recommendations regarding investment strategy. PCA’s overall strategy and related apportionments between equity and debt securities may change from time to time based on market conditions, external economic factors, and the funded status of the plans. The general investment objective for all of our plan assets is to optimize growth of the pension plan trust assets, while minimizing the risk of significant losses to enable the plans to satisfy their benefit payment obligations over time. The objectives take into account the long-term nature of the benefit obligations, the liquidity needs of the plans, and the expected risk/return trade-offs of the asset classes in which the plans may choose to invest. Assets of our pension plans were invested in the following classes of securities at December 31, 2019 and 2018:

	Percentage of Fair Value at December 31,
	2019			2018
Fixed income securities		50	%		53	%
International equity securities		27	%		27	%
Domestic equity securities		22	%		18	%
Other		1	%		2	%

At December 31, 2019, the targeted investment allocations differed between the acquired Boise plans and PCA’s historical plans based on funded status. At December 31, 2019, PCA’s historical plans, which comprised $498.8 million of the total fair value of plan assets, targeted 52% in fixed income securities, 47% invested in equities, and 1% in other, whereas the Boise plans, which comprised $575.0 million of the total fair value of plan assets, targeted 49% in both fixed income securities

and equities, and 2% in other. Our retirement committee reviews the investment allocations for reasonableness at a minimum, semi-annually.

Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility risk, all of which are subject to change. Due to the level of risk associated with some investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term, and such changes could materially affect the reported amounts.

Fair Value Measurements of Plan Assets

The following tables set forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, discussed in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, the pension plan assets, by major asset category, at fair value at December 31, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in millions):

	Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2019
Asset Category	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Net Asset Value (NAV) (a)		Total
Cash and short-term investments	$	—	$	14.9	$	—	$	—	$	14.9
Common/collective trust funds:
International equities		163.0		20.8		—		102.3		286.1
Domestic equities		—		240.5		—		—		240.5
Corporate and government bonds:
Fixed income		140.4		154.6		—		—		295.0
Government bonds and agencies		—		160.7		—		—		160.7
Corporate bonds		—		70.6		—		—		70.6
Municipal bonds		—		5.8		—		—		5.8
Private equity securities (b)		—		—		2.6		—		2.6
Total securities at fair value	$	303.4	$	667.9	$	2.6	$	102.3	$	1,076.2
Accrued expenses and receivables										(2.4	)
Total fair value of plan assets									$	1,073.8

	Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2018
Asset Category	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Net Asset Value (NAV) (a)		Total
Cash and short-term investments	$	0.4	$	11.6	$	—	$	—	$	12.0
Common/collective trust funds:
Domestic equities		—		154.5		—		—		154.5
International equities		136.9		17.8		—		84.1		238.8
Corporate and government bonds:
Government bonds		155.0		9.4		—				164.4
Corporate bonds		—		64.4		—				64.4
Fixed income		95.7		138.8		—		—		234.5
Private equity securities (b)		—		—		3.3		—		3.3
Total securities at fair value	$	388.0	$	396.5	$	3.3	$	84.1	$	871.9
Receivables and accrued expenses										1.3
Total fair value of plan assets									$	873.2

(a) In accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, certain investments that do not have readily-determinable fair values are measured at fair value using the net asset value (NAV) per share practical expedient and are not classified within the fair value hierarchy.

(b) Investments in this category are invested in the Pantheon Global Secondary Fund IV, LP. The fund specializes in investments in the private equity secondary market and occasionally directly in private companies to maximize capital growth. Fund investments are carried at fair value as determined quarterly using the market approach to estimate the fair value of private investments. The market approach utilizes prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions, type of security, size of the position, degree of liquidity, restrictions on the disposition, latest round of

financing data, current financial position, and operating results, among other factors. In circumstances where fair values are not provided with respect to any of the company's fund investments, the investment advisor will seek to determine the fair value of such investments based on information provided by the general partners or managers of such funds or from other sources. Audited financial statements are provided by fund management annually. Notwithstanding the above, the variety of valuation bases adopted and quality of management data of the ultimate underlying investee companies means that there are inherent difficulties in determining the value of the investments. Amounts realized on the sale of these investments may differ from the calculated values. Boise had originally committed to a $15.0 million investment, with $5.0 million of the commitment unfunded at December 31, 2019.

The following table sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the pension plans' Level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2019 (dollars in millions):

	2019
Balance, beginning of year	$	3.3
Acquisitions		—
Purchases		—
Sales		(0.7	)
Unrealized gain		—
Balance, end of year	$	2.6

Funding and Cash Flows

PCA makes pension plan contributions that are sufficient to fund its actuarially determined costs, generally equal to the minimum amounts required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). From time to time, PCA may make discretionary contributions based on the funded status of the plans, tax deductibility, income from operations, and other factors. In 2019, 2018, and 2017, we made contributions of $57.9 million, $21.8 million, and $42.1 million, respectively, to our qualified pension plans. We expect to contribute at least the estimated required minimum contributions to our qualified pension plans of approximately $19.8 million in 2020.

The following are estimated benefit payments to be paid to current plan participants by year (dollars in millions). Qualified pension benefit payments are paid from plan assets, while nonqualified pension benefit payments are paid by the Company.

	Pension Plans		Postretirement Plans
2020	$	52.7	$	0.7
2021		56.7		0.7
2022		60.4		0.7
2023		64.1		0.7
2024 - 2029		442.5		4.5

Defined Contribution Plans

Some of our employees participate in contributory defined contribution savings plans, available to most of our salaried and hourly employees. The defined contribution plans permit participants to make contributions by salary reduction pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Code. PCA made employer-matching contributions of $48.9 million, $45.6 million, and $42.8 million in 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. All company-matching contributions to all employees were made in cash. We expense employer matching contributions and charge dividends on shares held by the ESOP to retained earnings. Shares of company stock held by the ESOP are included in basic shares for earnings-per-share computations. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the ESOP held 1.5 million and 1.9 million shares of Company stock, respectively.

Certain salaried and hourly employees that are not participating in a PCA sponsored defined benefit pension plan receive a service-related company retirement contribution to their defined contribution plan account in addition to any employer matching contribution. This contribution increases with years of service and ranges from 3% to 5% of base pay. We contributed $27.8 million, $24.5 million, and $22.4 million for this retirement contribution during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

Deferred Compensation Plans

Key managers can elect to participate in a deferred compensation plan. The deferred compensation plan is unfunded; therefore, benefits are paid from our general assets. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, we had $17.4 million and $14.2 million, respectively, of liabilities attributable to participation in our deferred compensation plan on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.