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BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION AND COMBINATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Accounting Prior to the spin-off, we historically operated as part of International Paper and not as a standalone company. These consolidated and combined financial statements reflect the combined historical financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as historically managed within International Paper for the periods prior to the completion of the spin-off and reflect our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the period after the completion of the spin-off. The consolidated and combined financial statements have been prepared in United States (“U.S.”) dollars and in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (‘‘U.S. GAAP’’). The consolidated and combined financial statements may not be indicative of the Company’s future performance and do not necessarily reflect what the results of operations, financial position and cash flows would have been had it operated as an independent company during all periods presented.
Consolidation
All intracompany transactions have been eliminated. Related party transactions between the Company and International Paper relating to general operating activities have been included in these consolidated and combined financial statements. These related party transactions historically settled in cash between the Company and International Paper have been reflected in the consolidated and combined balance sheets in “Accounts and notes receivable” or “Accounts payable” with the aggregate net effect of these related party transactions reflected in the consolidated and combined statements of cash flows as either “Accounts and notes receivable” or “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” within operating activities.

The aggregate net effect of transactions with International Paper not settled in cash, including corporate allocations, has been reflected in the consolidated and combined balance sheets as “Parent company investment” and in the consolidated and combined statements of cash flows as “Net transfers (to) from Parent” within financing activities.

In addition, certain of the Company’s Europe locations participated in International Paper’s centralized cash pooling arrangement. Amounts due from the cash pool were generally settled on a daily basis and have been reflected in the consolidated and combined balance sheets as “Accounts and notes receivable” with the aggregate net activity between the Company and International Paper reflected in the consolidated and combined statements of cash flows as “Cash pool arrangements with Parent” within investing activities. Our participation in International Paper’s centralized cash pooling arrangements was terminated prior to September 30, 2021.
International Paper utilized a centralized approach to cash management and financing its operations. This arrangement is not reflective of the manner in which the Company would have been able to finance its operations had it been independent from International Paper for the periods prior to the completion of the spin-off. The cash and temporary investments held by International Paper at the corporate level were not specifically identifiable to the Company and therefore have not been reflected in the Company’s consolidated and combined balance sheets. Cash and temporary investments in the consolidated and combined balance sheets for the periods prior to the completion of the spin-off represent only cash and temporary investments held locally by the Company.

The consolidated and combined financial statements for the periods prior to the completion of the spin-off include certain assets and liabilities that were historically held at the International Paper corporate level but were specifically identifiable or otherwise attributable to the Company. International Paper’s third-party debt and the related interest expense have not been allocated to the Company for any of the periods presented as the Company was not the legal obligor of such debt. During the third quarter of 2021, we entered into a series of financing transactions under which we incurred $1.5 billion of debt in conjunction with our spin-off from International Paper, consisting of two term loan facilities, the 2029 Senior Notes and borrowings from our cash flow-based revolving credit facility. The proceeds of the debt were used primarily to fund a $1.5 billion special payment to International Paper on September 29, 2021 and pay related fees and expenses.

The Company operates on a calendar year-end.
Use of Estimates
USE OF ESTIMATES

In preparing the consolidated and combined financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated and combined financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition, Shipping and Handling Costs
REVENUE RECOGNITION

The Company recognizes revenue on a point-in-time basis when the customer takes title to the goods and assumes the risks and rewards for the goods. For customized goods where the Company has a legally enforceable right to payment for the goods, the Company recognizes revenue over time, which generally is as the goods are produced.

The Company’s revenue is primarily derived from fixed consideration; however, we do have contract terms that give rise to variable consideration, primarily volume rebates, early payment discounts and other customer refunds. The Company estimates its volume rebates at the individual customer level based upon the terms of the arrangement and expected volume purchases over the contract period, consistent with the most likely amount method outlined in ASC 606. The Company estimates early payment discounts and other customer refunds based on the historical experience across the Company’s portfolio of customers to record reductions in revenue which is consistent with the expected value method outlined in ASC 606. Management has concluded that these methods result in the best estimate of the consideration the Company will be entitled to from its customers.
The Company has elected to present all sales taxes on a net basis, account for shipping and handling activities as fulfillment activities, recognize the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset the Company would recognize is one year or less, and not record interest income or interest expense when the difference in timing of control or transfer and customer payment is one year or less. SHIPPING AND HANDLING COSTSShipping and handling costs, such as freight to customers’ destinations, are included in distribution expenses in the consolidated and combined statements of operations.
Temporary Investments TEMPORARY INVESTMENTSTemporary investments with an original maturity of three months or less and money market funds with greater than three-month maturities but with the right to redeem without notice are treated as cash equivalents and are stated at cost, which approximates market value.
Inventories INVENTORIESInventories are valued at the lower of cost or market value and include all costs directly associated with manufacturing products: materials, labor and manufacturing overhead. In the United States, costs of raw materials and finished paper and pulp products are generally determined using the last-in, first-out method. Other inventories are valued using the first-in, first-out or average cost methods.
Leased Assets LEASED ASSETSOperating lease right of use (“ROU”) assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company’s leases may include options to extend the lease. These options to extend are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Some leases have variable payments, however, because they are not based on an index or rate, they are not included in the ROU assets and liabilities. Variable payments for real estate leases are primarily related to common area maintenance, insurance, taxes and utilities. Variable payments for equipment, vehicles and leases within supply agreements are primarily related to usage, repairs and maintenance. As the implicit rate is not readily determinable for most of the Company’s leases, the Company applies a portfolio approach using an estimated incremental borrowing rate to determine the initial present value of lease payments over the lease terms on a collateralized basis over a similar term, which is based on market and company specific information. We use the unsecured borrowing rate and risk-adjust that rate to approximate a collateralized rate, and apply the rate based on the currency of the lease, which is updated on a quarterly basis for measurement of new lease liabilities. Leases having a lease term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet and the related lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. In addition, the Company has applied the practical expedient to account for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component for all of the Company’s leases.
Plants, Properties and Equipment PLANTS, PROPERTIES AND EQUIPMENTPlants, properties and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for betterments are capitalized, whereas normal repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. The units-of-production method of depreciation is used for the mills, and the straight-line method is used for other plants and equipment.
Goodwill
GOODWILL
Annual evaluation for possible goodwill impairment is performed as of the beginning of the fourth quarter of each year, with additional interim evaluation performed when management believes that it is more likely than not that events or circumstances have occurred that would result in the impairment of a reporting unit’s goodwill.

The Company has the option to evaluate goodwill for impairment by first performing a qualitative assessment of events and circumstances to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, the Company determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the quantitative goodwill impairment test is not required to be performed. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, or if the Company does not elect the option to perform an initial qualitative assessment, then the
Company is required to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test. In performing this evaluation, the Company estimates the fair value of its reporting unit using a weighted approach based on discounted future cash flows, market multiples and transaction multiples. The determination of fair value using the discounted cash flow approach requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to forecasts of future revenues, operating profit margins and discount rates. The determination of fair value using market multiples and transaction multiples requires management to make significant assumptions related to revenue multiples and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) multiples. For reporting units whose carrying amount is in excess of their estimated fair value, the reporting unit will record an impairment charge by the amount that the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETSLong-lived assets are reviewed for impairment upon the occurrence of events or changes in circumstances that indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. A recoverability test is performed based on undiscounted cash flows, requiring judgments as to the weighting of operational alternatives being considered by management and estimates of the amount and timing of expected future cash flows from the use of the long-lived assets generated by their use. Impaired assets are written-down to their estimated fair value.
Employee Retirement Benefits
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Prior to September 1, 2021, certain of the Company’s employees participated in defined benefit and other postretirement plans sponsored by International Paper in the U.S., Belgium, France, and Poland. These plans were accounted for by International Paper in accordance with accounting guidance for defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans. The Company accounted for the participation of its employees in these plans as a participant in a multi-employer plan sponsored by International Paper. On September 1, 2021, the Company established legally separate plans from International Paper, in which International Paper transferred both pension liabilities and qualified pension assets to the Company for all of the Company’s active participants.
The Company also serves as the sponsor of certain direct defined benefit pension and postretirement plans in Brazil and the United Kingdom, which the Company accounts for using the single-employer method, with the net funded status of these plans recorded as an asset or liability in the consolidated and combined balance sheets.
Income Taxes
INCOME TAXES

The Company was included in the foreign and domestic tax returns of International Paper until its separation from International Paper on October 1, 2021. For the periods prior to the spin-off, we calculated the provision for income taxes by using a separate-return method. Any difference between the tax provision (or benefit) allocated to us under the separate-return method and payments to be made to (or received from) International Paper for tax expense is treated as either dividends or capital contributions.

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that we believe that these assets are more likely than not to be realized.

We record uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740 on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) we determine whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we recognize the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.
While we believe that these judgments and estimates are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances, actual resolution of these matters may differ from recorded estimates and amounts.
Translation of Financial Statements TRANSLATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTSBalance sheets of international operations are translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates, while statements of operations are translated at average rates. Adjustments resulting from financial statement translations are included as cumulative translation adjustments in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”).
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS NOT YET ADOPTED
Reference Rate Reform
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.” This guidance provides companies with optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates that are expected to be discontinued. This guidance is effective upon issuance and generally can be applied through December 31, 2022. We will apply the amendments in this update to account for contract modifications due to changes in reference rates once those occur. We do not expect these amendments to have a material impact on our consolidated and combined financial statements.