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SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  
Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation: The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Matson, Inc. and all wholly-owned subsidiaries, after elimination of intercompany amounts and transactions. Significant investments in businesses, partnerships, and limited liability companies in which the Company does not have a controlling financial interest, but has the ability to exercise significant influence, are accounted for under the equity method. The Company accounts for its investment in SSAT using the equity method of accounting (see Note 4).

Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year: The year end for Matson is December 31. The period end for MatNav occurred on the last Friday in December, except for certain Company subsidiaries whose period closed on December 31. Included in these Consolidated Financial Statements are 52 weeks in fiscal years 2023 and 2022 and 53 weeks in fiscal year 2021 for MatNav.

Foreign Currency Transactions

Foreign Currency Transactions: The United States (U.S.) dollar is the functional currency for substantially all of the financial statements of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates existing at the respective balance sheet dates. Translation adjustments resulting from fluctuations in exchange rates are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain) within shareholders’ equity. The Company translates the result of operations of its foreign subsidiaries at the average exchange rate during the respective periods. Gains and losses

resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in Costs and Expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates: The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. Estimates and assumptions are used for, but not limited to: impairment of investments; impairment of long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill; capitalized interest; allowance for doubtful accounts and other receivables; legal contingencies; insurance reserves and other related liabilities; contingent acquisition related consideration; accrual estimates; pension and post-retirement estimates; multi-employer withdrawal liabilities; operating lease assets and liabilities; income (loss) from SSAT; and income taxes. Future results could be materially affected if actual results differ from these estimates and assumptions.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash: Cash equivalents consist of highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. The Company carries these investments at cost, which approximates fair value. Restricted cash relates to amounts that are subject to contractual restrictions and are not readily available. Restricted cash was $2.3 million and $3.9 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and are included in prepaid expenses and other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Accounts Receivable, net

Accounts Receivable, net: Accounts receivable represent amounts due from trade customers arising in the normal course of business. Accounts receivable are shown net of allowance for doubtful accounts receivable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable is established by management based on estimates of collectability. Estimates of collectability are principally based on an evaluation of the current financial condition of the customer and the potential risks to collection, the customer’s payment history, expected future credit losses and other factors which are regularly monitored by the Company.

Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable for the three years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:

    

Balance at

    

    

Write-offs

    

Balance at

Year (in millions)

    

Beginning of Year

    

Expense (1)

    

and Other

    

End of Year

2023

$

13.0

$

(2.1)

$

(1.0)

$

9.9

2022

$

10.1

$

3.2

$

(0.3)

$

13.0

2021

$

6.3

$

4.2

$

(0.4)

$

10.1

(1)Expense is shown net of amounts recovered from previously reserved doubtful accounts receivable.
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets: Prepaid expenses and other assets consist of the following at December 31, 2023 and 2022:

As of December 31, 

 

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets (in millions)

    

2023

    

2022

 

Income tax receivables, net

$

125.2

$

170.8

Prepaid fuel

22.5

26.3

Prepaid insurance and insurance related receivables

 

19.3

 

17.4

Restricted cash - vessel construction obligations

2.3

3.9

Other

 

19.6

 

22.9

Total

$

188.9

$

241.3

Income tax receivables primarily include a federal income tax refund related to the Company’s 2021 federal tax return of approximately $118.6 million, overpayments of federal and state taxes paid during the year ended December 31, 2023, and other income tax receivables.

Deferred Loan Fees

Deferred Loan Fees: The Company records deferred loan fees, excluding those related to the revolving credit facility, as a reduction to Total Debt in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (“ASU 2015-03”). These costs are being amortized over the life of the related debt using the effective interest method (see Note 8).

Deferred loan fees related to the Company’s revolving credit facility are recorded in other long-term assets in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and are amortized using the straight-line method, as the difference between that method and the use of the effective interest method is not material.

Other Long-Term Assets

Other Long-Term Assets: Other long-term assets consist of the following at December 31, 2023 and 2022:

As of December 31, 

 

Other Long-Term Assets (in millions)

    

2023

    

2022

 

Vessel and equipment spare parts

$

14.2

$

13.2

Pension plan assets

34.8

18.9

Insurance related receivables

10.2

12.1

Other

7.2

9.4

Total

$

66.4

$

53.6

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment: Property and equipment is stated at cost. Property and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives of property and equipment range up to the following maximum life as follows:

Classification

    

Life 

Vessels

 

40 years

Terminal cranes

 

30 years

Containers and chassis

15 years

Terminal facilities and other property

 

35 years

Capitalized Interest Capitalized Interest: The Company capitalizes interest costs during the period the qualified assets are being readied for their intended use. The Company determined that vessel construction costs are considered qualifying assets for the purposes of capitalizing interest on these assets. The amount of capitalized interest is calculated based on the amount of payments incurred related to the construction of these vessels using a weighted average interest rate. The weighted average interest rate is determined using the Company’s average borrowings outstanding during the period. Capitalized interest is included in vessel construction in progress in property and equipment in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets (see Note 5). During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company capitalized $2.6 million, $0.7 million and $0.2 million of interest related to the construction of new vessels, respectively.
Leases Leases: Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, Leases (“ASC 842”) requires lessees to record leases on their balance sheets but recognize the expenses in their income statements. ASC 842 states that a lessee would recognize a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments, and a right-of-use asset for the underlying leased asset for the period of the lease term.  Refer to Note 9 for additional information on the Company’s lease related disclosures.
Deferred Dry-docking Costs

Deferred Dry-docking Costs: U.S. flagged vessels must meet specified seaworthiness standards established by U.S. Coast Guard rules and classification society rules. These standards require U.S. flagged vessels to undergo two dry-docking inspections within a five-year period, with a maximum of 36 months between them. However, U.S. flagged vessels that are enrolled in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Underwater Survey in lieu of Dry-docking (“UWILD”) program are allowed to have their Intermediate Survey dry-docking requirement met with a less costly underwater inspection. Non-U.S. flagged vessels are required to meet applicable classification society rules and their own local standards for seaworthiness, which also mandate vessels to undergo two dry-docking inspections every five years.

The Company is responsible for maintaining its vessels in compliance with U.S. and international standards. As costs associated with dry-docking inspections provide future economic benefits to the Company through continued operation of the vessels, the costs are deferred and amortized until the scheduled date of the next required dry-docking, which is usually over a two to five-year period. Amortization of deferred dry-docking costs are charged to operating expenses of the Ocean Transportation segment in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. Routine vessel maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets: Goodwill and intangible assets arise as a result of acquisitions made by the Company (see Note 6). Intangible assets consist of customer relationships which are being amortized using the straight-line method over the expected useful lives ranging up to 21 years, and a trade name that has an indefinite life.

Impairment Evaluation of Long-Lived Assets, Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Impairment Evaluation of Long-Lived Assets, Intangible Assets and Goodwill: The Company evaluates its long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill for possible impairment in the fourth quarter, or whenever events or changes in

circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than its carrying amount. The Company has reporting units within the Ocean Transportation and Logistics reportable segments.

Long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets are grouped at the lowest level reporting unit for which identifiable cash flows are available. In evaluating for impairment, the estimated future undiscounted cash flows generated by each of these asset groups are compared with the carrying value recorded for each asset group to determine if its carrying value is recoverable. If this review determines that the amount recorded will not be recovered, the amount recorded for the asset group is reduced to its estimated fair value. No impairment charges of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets were recorded for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Indefinite-life intangible assets and goodwill are grouped at the lowest level reporting unit for which identifiable cash flows are available. In estimating the fair value of a reporting unit, the Company uses a combination of a discounted cash flow model and fair value based on market multiples of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Based upon the Company’s evaluation of its indefinite-life intangible assets and goodwill for impairment, the Company determined that the fair value of each reporting unit exceeds book value. No impairment charges of indefinite-life intangible assets and goodwill were recorded for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Impairment Evaluation of SSAT

Impairment Evaluation of SSAT: The Company’s investment in SSAT, a related party, is evaluated for impairment whenever there is evidence of impairment during the reporting period. If any impairment is identified, the Company evaluates if the decrease in the fair value of the investment below its carrying value is other-than-temporary. No impairment of the Company’s investment in SSAT was identified during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Other Liabilities

Other Liabilities: Other liabilities consist of the following at December 31, 2023 and 2022:

As of December 31, 

 

Other Liabilities (in millions)

    

2023

    

2022

 

Payroll and vacation

 

$

38.3

 

$

34.7

Employee incentives and other benefits

33.9

33.2

Insurance reserves and other related liabilities - short term

17.5

15.6

Multi-employer withdrawal liabilities - short term

4.1

4.1

Income tax and other tax related liabilities

1.6

2.2

Other short-term liabilities

12.6

15.7

Total

 

$

108.0

 

$

105.5

Other long-term Liabilities

Other Long-Term Liabilities: Other long-term liabilities consist of the following at December 31, 2023 and 2022:

As of December 31, 

 

Other Long-Term Liabilities (in millions)

    

2023

    

2022

 

Multi-employer withdrawal liability

$

46.5

$

48.6

Insurance reserves and other related liabilities

23.8

29.8

Pension and post-retirement liabilities

21.8

17.8

Other long-term liabilities

 

21.6

 

18.6

Total

$

113.7

$

114.8

Pension and Post-Retirement Plans

Pension and Post-Retirement Plans: The Company is a member of the Pacific Maritime Association (“PMA”) and the Hawaii Stevedoring Industry Committee, which negotiate multi-employer pension plans covering certain shoreside bargaining unit personnel. The Company directly negotiates multi-employer pension plans covering other bargaining unit personnel. Pension costs are accrued in accordance with contribution rates established by the PMA, the parties to a plan or the trustees of a plan. Several trusteed, non-contributory, single-employer defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans cover substantially all other employees.

The estimation of the Company’s pension and post-retirement benefit expenses and liabilities requires that the Company make various assumptions. These assumptions include factors such as discount rates, expected long-term rates of return on pension plan assets, salary growth, health care cost trend rates, inflation, retirement rates, mortality rates, and expected contributions. Actual results that differ from the assumptions made could materially affect the Company’s financial condition or its future operating results. Additional information about the Company’s pension and post-retirement plans is included in Note 11.

Insurance Related Liabilities

Insurance Related Liabilities: The Company purchases insurance with deductibles or self-insured retentions to mitigate significant risks that it is exposed to. Such insurance includes, but is not limited to, employee health, workers’ compensation, marine liability, cybersecurity, auto liability and physical damage to property and equipment. For certain risks, the Company elects to not purchase insurance because of the excessive cost of insurance, the perceived remoteness of the risk or insurance coverage is not commercially available. The Company retains the risk of loss for insurance deductibles and self-insured retentions, for amounts that exceed the limits of the Company’s insurance policies, and for other risks not covered by insurance.

When estimating its reserves for retained risks and related liabilities, the Company considers a number of factors, including historical claims experience, demographic factors, current trends, and analyses provided by independent third parties. Periodically, management reviews its assumptions and estimates used to determine the adequacy of the Company’s reserves for retained risks and other related liabilities.

Recognition of Revenues and Expenses

Recognition of Revenues and Expenses: Revenue in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements is presented net of elimination of intercompany transactions. The following is a description of the Company’s principal revenue generating activities by segment, and the Company’s revenue recognition policy for each activity for the periods presented:

Years Ended December 31,

Ocean Transportation (in millions) (1)

2023

2022

2021

Ocean Transportation services

$

2,420.8

$

3,508.0

$

3,101.9

Terminal and other related services

36.9

18.5

16.0

Fuel sales

12.3

11.3

7.2

Vessel management and related services

7.0

6.8

7.7

Total

$

2,477.0

$

3,544.6

$

3,132.8

(1)Ocean Transportation revenue transactions are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars except for less than 3 percent of Ocean Transportation services revenue and fuel sales revenue categories which are denominated in foreign currencies.

Ocean Transportation services revenue is recognized ratably over the duration of a voyage based on the relative transit time completed in each reporting period. Vessel operating costs and other ocean transportation operating costs, such as terminal operating overhead and selling, general and administrative expenses, are charged to operating costs as incurred.
Terminal and other related services revenue is recognized as the services are performed. Related costs are recognized as incurred.
Fuel sales revenue and related costs are recognized when the Company has completed delivery of the product to the customer in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.
Vessel management and related services revenue is recognized in proportion to the services completed. Related costs are recognized as incurred.

Years Ended December 31,

Logistics (in millions) (1)

2023

2022

2021

Transportation Brokerage and Freight Forwarding services

$

546.8

$

695.1

$

707.4

Warehousing and distribution services

42.5

53.5

44.7

Supply chain management and other services

 

28.3

 

49.8

 

40.4

Total

$

617.6

$

798.4

$

792.5

(1)Logistics revenue transactions are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars except for less than 3 percent of transportation brokerage and freight forwarding services revenue, and supply chain management and other services revenue categories which are denominated in foreign currencies.

Transportation Brokerage and Freight Forwarding services revenue consists of amounts billed to customers for services provided. The primary costs include third-party purchased transportation services, agent commissions, labor and equipment. Revenue and the related purchased third-party transportation costs are recognized over the duration of a delivery based upon the relative transit time completed in each reporting period. Labor, agent commissions, and other operating costs are expensed as incurred. The Company reports revenue on a gross basis as the Company serves as the principal in these transactions because it is responsible for fulfilling the contractual arrangements with the customer and has latitude in establishing prices.
Warehousing and distribution services revenue consist of amounts billed to customers for storage, handling, and value-added packaging of customer merchandise. Storage revenue is recognized in the month the service is provided to the customer. Storage related costs are recognized as incurred. Other warehousing and distribution services revenue and related costs are recognized in proportion to the services performed.
Supply chain management and other services revenue, and related costs are recognized in proportion to the services performed.

The Company generally invoices its customers at the commencement of the voyage or the transportation service being provided, or as other services are being performed. Revenue is deferred when services are invoiced in advance to the customer. The Company’s receivables are classified as short-term as collection terms are for periods of less than one year. The Company expenses sales commissions and contract acquisition costs as incurred because the amounts are generally immaterial. These expenses are included in selling, general and administration expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

Customer Concentration

Customer Concentration: The Ocean Transportation segment serves customers in numerous industries and carries a wide variety of cargo, mitigating its dependence upon any single customer or single type of cargo. In 2023, the Company’s 10 largest Ocean Transportation customers accounted for approximately 16 percent of the Company’s Ocean Transportation operating revenue.

The Logistics segment serves customers in numerous industries and geographical locations. In 2023, the Company’s 10 largest Logistics customers accounted for approximately 21 percent of the Company’s Logistics operating revenue.

Dividends

Dividends: The Company recognizes dividends as a liability when approved by the Board of Directors.

Repurchase of Shares

Repurchase of Shares: During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company repurchased approximately 2.1 million, 5.0 million and 2.5 million shares, respectively, for $158.2 million, $397.0 million and $200.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, the number of remaining shares that may be repurchased under the Company’s share repurchase program was approximately 2.5 million shares.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation: The Company records compensation expense for all share-based awards made to employees and directors. The Company’s various stock-based compensation plans are more fully described in Note 15.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes: The estimate of the Company’s income tax expense requires the Company to make various estimates and judgments. These estimates and judgments are applied in the calculation of taxable income, tax credits, tax benefits, CCF and other tax deductions, and in the calculation of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities, which arise from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue, costs and expenses for tax purposes. The Company also considers the impact of expected future events such as changes in tax rates, changes in tax laws, regulations and rulings. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted to the extent necessary to reflect tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse.

The Company records a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, management believes that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a recorded deferred tax asset would not be realized in future periods. The Company’s income taxes are more fully described in Note 10.

Rounding

Rounding: Amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements are rounded to tenth of millions, except for per share calculations and percentages which were determined based on amounts before rounding. Accordingly, a recalculation of some per-share amounts and percentages, if based on the reported data, may be slightly different.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements:

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”). ASU 2023-07 requires disclosure of incremental segment information on an annual and interim basis. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and requires retrospective application to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of adopting ASU 2023-07 but does not expect it will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as information on income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2025. The Company is currently evaluating the effects

of adoption ASU 2023-09 but does not expect it to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.