FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The financial instruments recorded in our Consolidated Balance Sheets include cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, debt obligations and derivative instruments. Due to their short-term maturity, the carrying amounts of trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable approximate their fair market values. The following table summarizes the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our other financial instruments at December 31:



	2017				2016
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	53,533	$	53,533	$	24,690	$	24,690
Derivative instruments (other current assets)	1,150		1,150		1,094		1,094

Liabilities:
Bank debt	$	903,945	$	903,945	$	771,192	$	771,192
5% Notes	280,000		281,691		500,000		510,130
5½% Notes	300,000		308,301		300,000		312,750
4¾% Notes	300,000		309,390		—		—
3¼% Notes	780,325		813,793		—		—
Derivative instruments (accrued liabilities)	115		115		244		244

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE

GAAP 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 at the measurement date (exit price). GAAP classifies the inputs used to measure fair value into a hierarchy consisting of three levels. Level 1 inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. Level 3 inputs represent unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The financial assets and liabilities that are measured on a recurring basis at December 31, 2017 and 2016 consist of our cash and cash equivalents and derivative instruments. We measured the fair value of cash and cash equivalents using Level 1 inputs. We measured the fair value of our derivative instruments using the income approach. The fair value of our derivative instruments reflects the estimated amounts that we would pay or receive based on the present value of the expected cash flows derived from market rates and prices. As such, these derivative instruments are classified within Level 2.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS NOT MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE

Our bank debt, 5% Notes, 5½% Notes, 4¾% Notes and 3¼% Notes were recorded at historical amounts in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, as we have not elected to measure them at fair value. We measured the fair value of our variable rate bank debt using the market approach based on Level 2 inputs. Fair values of the 5% Notes, 5½% Notes, 4¾% Notes and 3¼% Notes were estimated based on the quoted market price, a Level 1 input.

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

Currently, we utilize certain derivative financial instruments to manage a portion of our natural gas cost exposure. Historically, we had also utilized certain derivative instruments to manage a portion of our interest rate exposure. We generally limit our use of derivative financial instruments to interest rate and natural gas swap agreements. We do not utilize derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.

Our interest rate and natural gas swap agreements were qualified and accounted for as cash flow hedges. Changes in their fair values were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, a component of stockholders’ equity, and reclassified into earnings in future periods when earnings were also affected by the variability of the hedged cash flows.

INTEREST RATE SWAP AGREEMENTS

Historically, we have entered into U.S. dollar interest rate swap agreements to manage a portion of our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. These interest rate swap agreements effectively converted interest rate exposure from variable rates to fixed rates of interest. The difference between amounts to be paid or received on interest rate swap agreements was recorded in interest and other debt expense in our Consolidated Statements of Income and was not significant for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. At December 31, 2017, we had no outstanding interest rate swap agreements. The total fair value of our interest rate swap agreements at December 31, 2016 was not significant.

NATURAL GAS SWAP AGREEMENTS

We have entered into natural gas swap agreements with a major financial institution to manage a portion of our exposure to fluctuations in natural gas prices. The difference between amounts to be paid or received on natural gas swap agreements is recorded in cost of goods sold in our Consolidated Statements of Income and was not significant for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. The total fair value of our natural gas swap agreements in effect at December 31, 2017 and 2016 was not significant.

FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE RISK

We utilize certain internal hedging strategies to minimize our foreign currency exchange rate risk. Net investment hedges that qualify for hedge accounting result in the recognition of foreign currency gains or losses, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive loss. We generally do not utilize external derivative financial instruments to manage our foreign currency exchange rate risk.

In an effort to minimize foreign currency exchange rate risk, we have financed acquisitions of foreign operations primarily with borrowings denominated in Euros and Canadian dollars. In addition, where available, we have borrowed funds in local currency or implemented certain internal hedging strategies to minimize our foreign currency exchange rate risk related to foreign operations, including net investment hedges related to the 3¼% Notes which are Euro denominated. Foreign currency (losses) gains related to our net investment hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive loss were $(46.1) million, $7.6 million and $26.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

We derive a significant portion of our revenue from multi-year supply agreements with many of our customers. Aggregate revenues from our three largest customers (Nestlé Food Company, Campbell Soup Company and Del Monte Corporation) accounted for approximately 23.7 percent, 27.2 percent and 26.7 percent of our net sales in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The receivable balances from these customers collectively represented 6.2 percent and 12.4 percent of our trade accounts receivable at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As is common in the packaging industry, we provide extended payment terms to some of our customers due to the seasonality of the vegetable and fruit packing process. Exposure to losses is dependent on each customer’s financial position. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition, and our receivables are generally not collateralized. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts which we believe is adequate to cover potential credit losses based on customer credit evaluations, collection history and other information. Accounts receivable are considered past due based on the original due date and write-offs occur only after all reasonable collection efforts are exhausted.