Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

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Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

As of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company’s common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IP). As of February 11, 2022, there were approximately 8,963 record holders of common stock of the Company.

We pay regular quarterly cash dividends and expect to continue to pay regular quarterly cash dividends in the foreseeable future, though each quarterly dividend payment is subject to review and approval by our Board of Directors. Our ability to pay dividends is, and in the future may continue to be, limited by the terms of our debt documents.

The table below presents information regarding the Company’s purchases of its equity securities for the time periods presented.

PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

PeriodTotal Number of Shares Purchased (a)Average Price Paid per ShareTotal Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced ProgramsMaximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (in billions)
October 1, 2021 - October 31, 20212,400$55.92—$3.34
November 1, 2021 - November 30, 20213,536,15549.09—3.16
December 1, 2021 - December 31, 20215,206,59546.11—2.92
Total8,745,150

*(a)*12,661 shares were acquired from employees or board members as a result of share withholdings to pay income taxes under the Company's restricted stock program. The remainder were purchased under a share repurchase program. Under current Board authorization that was increased on October 12, 2021, we are authorized to purchase, in open market transactions (including block trades), privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, up to $3.3 billion of shares of our common stock. This repurchase program does not have an expiration date. As of December 31, 2021, approximately $2.9 billion aggregate amount of shares of our common stock remained authorized for purchase under this program.

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

The performance graph shall not be deemed "soliciting material" or to be "filed" with the Commission or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C under, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of, the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into such a filing.

The following line graph compares a $100 investment in Company stock on December 31, 2016 with a $100 investment in our Peer Group and the S&P Composite-500 Stock Index (S&P 500 Index) also made at market close on December 31, 2016. The graph portrays total return, 2016-2021, assuming reinvestment of all dividends.

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1)The companies included in the Peer Group are Graphic Packaging Holding Company, Klabin S.A., Metsa Board Corporation, Mondi Group, Packaging Corporation of America, Smurfit Kappa Group, Stora Enso Group, UPM-Kymmene Corp., and WestRock Company.

2)Returns are calculated in $USD

ITEM 6. RESERVED

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical consolidated financial information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates, and beliefs that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to those differences include those discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly in “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements.”

The following generally discusses 2021 and 2020 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2021 and 2020. Discussion of historical items in 2019, and year-to-year comparisons between 2020 and 2019, can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 19, 2021, under Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Full-year 2021 net earnings attributable to shareholders were $1.8 billion ($4.47 per diluted share) compared with $482 million ($1.22 per diluted share) for full-year 2020.

During 2021, International Paper grew revenue and earnings while managing through significant operational and supply chain constraints. We serviced strong customer demand in a highly challenging operating environment due to continued uncertainties associated with COVID-19. For much of 2021, we operated with a sub-optimized system, which limited our ability to capture the full opportunity that comes with a strong demand backdrop. We made strong progress on price realization from prior increases to mitigate the impact of substantial cost pressure from inputs and distribution. We generated full-year cash from operations of $2.0 billion and free cash flow of $1.5 billion which included approximately $500 million of tax payments associated with various asset monetization transactions completed in 2021, as well as payment of deferred payroll taxes under

the 2020 CARES Act. In 2021, we further strengthened our balance sheet, reducing debt by $2.5 billion. Additionally, our U.S. qualified pension plan has a 105% funded status with a surplus of $600 million as of December 31, 2021. Lastly, we returned $1.6 billion to shareowners, including about $810 million in share repurchases.

In 2021, we announced the Company's Building a Better IP initiative to drive value creation by streamlining and simplifying the Company, increasing efficiency and reducing costs and accelerating profitable growth. To that end, in 2021 we further focused our portfolio around corrugated packaging with the spin-off of the Printing Papers business as a stand-alone public company, Sylvamo Corporation, and we initiated meaningful actions to materially lower our cost structure and accelerate profitable growth, with a commitment to deliver $350 to $430 million of incremental earnings in 2024.

Comparing our 2021 results to 2020, price and mix improved, with strong price realization across all of our business segments and channels. Mix was also favorable, driven by solid growth in higher-margin, U.S. packaging channels and lower containerboard exports. Volume was essentially flat versus the prior year as significant operational and supply chain constraints limited our ability to capture the full benefits of a solid demand backdrop. This was particularly the case in the fourth quarter 2021, as volume improved less than we anticipated, primarily due to significant Covid-19 omicron variant related labor and supply chain constraints late in the quarter, especially in our U.S. box system. Our North American Industrial Packaging business operated with depleted inventories throughout much of 2021, which increased costs across our system. Across the Company, supply chain operating costs increased significantly versus 2020, representing more than half of the increase in operations and costs in 2021. The second half of 2021 was especially challenging due to slow supply chain velocity and poor logistics reliability, putting additional cost pressure on our manufacturing systems. Maintenance outage costs increased as planned, following deferrals we chose to make in 2020. Input costs rose sharply across most categories, with costs increasing throughout 2021, resulting in significantly elevated input cost levels exiting 2021. Interest expense was substantially lower in 2021, benefiting from significant debt reduction in 2020 and 2021. Although corporate expenses were lower, there was some offset in the fourth quarter 2021 related to expected dis-synergies, following the spin-off of the Printing Papers business. Equity earnings improved on strong performance from our Ilim joint venture, partially offset by reduced earnings from Graphic Packaging following the final

monetization of our investment in the first half of 2021.

Looking ahead to the first quarter 2022, as compared to the fourth quarter 2021, in our Industrial Packaging business, we expect to realize gains related to the August 2021 published price movement. Volume is expected to be lower in the first quarter 2022 on decreased seasonal demand and the impact of the Covid-19 omicron variant on labor availability and supply chains, although we do expect improvement as the first quarter progresses. Operations and costs are expected to decrease earnings, including additional costs related to the Prattville mill recovery and start-up costs, following the failure of the high-density storage tank in the fourth quarter 2021 Maintenance outage expense is expected to be significantly higher as the first quarter will be our highest outage quarter this year, representing about 40% of total planned outage costs in 2022. Input costs are expected to improve on lower recovered fiber and energy costs. In Global Cellulose fibers we expect our price and mix combined to be stable. We expect volume to decrease moderately due to on-going vessel delays. Operations and costs are expected to increase related to higher seasonal costs and the non-repeat of a favorable LIFO benefit in the fourth quarter 2021. Maintenance outage expense is expected to increase as the first quarter 2022 will also be Global Cellulose Fibers highest maintenance outage quarter in 2022. Input costs are expected to be slightly higher due mostly to higher energy costs. Lastly, equity earnings from the Ilim joint venture are expected to improve.

Looking to full-year 2022, year, we expect a solid demand environment for corrugated packaging and pulp, with demand growth normalizing as we recover from the near-term Covid-19 omicron constraints. We also expect to make good progress on our Building a Better IP initiatives, which will ramp up as the year progresses. We are well positioned to optimize our containerboard mill and corrugated box system following various disruptions in 2021, which will further improve our operating and distributions costs. With respect to our capital allocation, we are targeting capital expenditures of $1.1 billion. The planned increase is driven primarily by investments in our packaging business to build out capabilities and capacity in our box system to drive profitable growth. Additionally, we are committed to a competitive and sustainable dividend with a payout of 40 to 50% of free cash flow, which we will continue to review annually as earnings and cash flow grow. With regard to share repurchases, as of the end of 2021 we had $2.9 billion of available authorizations. We will continue to execute on these authorizations in a manner that balances the investment needs of the business and maximizes value for our shareowners.

On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures worldwide. During 2021, there continued to be a large number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States and throughout the world, and restrictive measures, including masks and vaccine requirements were implemented or reinstituted by various governmental authorities and private businesses. Economic recovery in the United States and various other regions of the world has continued but may be threatened by the continued adverse effects of COVID-19 and other factors. Most of our manufacturing and converting facilities have remained open and operational during the pandemic and at the current time our manufacturing and converting facilities are generally operational. The health and safety of our employees and contractors is our most important responsibility as we manage through the COVID-19 pandemic. We have implemented work-systems across the Company to maintain the health and safety of our employees including social distancing, site cleaning, contract tracing and other measures as recommended by the CDC and WHO.

The pandemic has not had a material impact on demand for our products. However, all of our operations continue to experience higher supply chain costs and a constrained transportation environment due in part to the impacts of COVID-19. Moreover, due to the competitive labor market, we have experienced and may continue to experience, a shortage of labor for certain positions and increased labor costs.

There continue to be significant uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, as detailed under RISKS RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC on page 8 to 19 of Item 1A. Risk Factors. The impacts of the pandemic had an adverse effect on our operations in 2021, and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows if public health and/or global economic conditions deteriorate.

Adjusted Operating Earnings and Adjusted Operating Earnings Per Share are non-GAAP measures and are defined as net earnings (loss) attributable to International Paper (a GAAP measure) excluding discontinued operations, net special items and non-operating pension expense (income). Net earnings (loss) and Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders are the most directly comparable GAAP measures. The Company calculates Adjusted Operating Earnings by excluding the after-tax effect of discontinued operations, non-operating pension expense (income) and items considered by management to be unusual (net

special items) from net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders reported under GAAP. Adjusted Operating Earnings Per Share is calculated by dividing Adjusted Operating Earnings by diluted average shares of common stock outstanding. Management uses this measure to focus on on-going operations, and believes that it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present consolidated operating results from continuing operations. The Company believes that using this information, along with the most direct comparable GAAP measure, provides for a more complete analysis of the results of operations.

The following are reconciliations of Earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders to Adjusted operating earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders on a total and per share basis. Additional detail is provided later in this Form 10-K regarding the net special items referenced in the charts below:

In millions20212020
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Shareholders$1,752$482
Less - Discontinued operations (gain) loss(630)(252)
Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations1,122230
Add back - Non-operating pension expense (income)(200)(41)
Add back - Net special items expense (income)371742
Income tax effect - Non-operating pension and special items expense(38)(83)
Adjusted Operating Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Shareholders$1,255$848
20212020
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Shareholders$4.47$1.22
Less - Discontinued operations (gain) loss per share(1.61)(0.64)
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share from Continuing Operations2.860.58
Add back - Non-operating pension expense (income) per share(0.51)(0.10)
Add back - Net special items expense (income) per share0.941.88
Income tax effect per share - Non-operating pension and special items expense(0.09)(0.22)
Adjusted Operating Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Shareholders$3.20$2.14
In millionsThree Months Ended December 31, 2021Three Months Ended September 30, 2021Three Months Ended December 31, 2020
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Shareholders$107$864$153
Less - Discontinued operations (gain) loss8(432)(88)
Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations11543265
Add back - Non-operating pension expense (income)(47)(50)(10)
Add back - Net special items expense (income)29549188
Income tax effect - Non-operating pension and special items expense(62)—(37)
Adjusted Operating Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Shareholders$301$431$206
Three Months Ended December 31, 2021Three Months Ended September 30, 2021Three Months Ended December 31, 2020
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Shareholders$0.28$2.20$0.39
Less - Discontinued operations (gain) loss per share0.02(1.10)(0.22)
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share from Continuing Operations0.301.100.17
Add back - Non-operating pension expense (income) per share(0.12)(0.12)(0.03)
Add back - Net special items expense (income) per share0.770.120.48
Income tax effect per share - Non-operating pension and special items expense(0.17)—(0.09)
Adjusted Operating Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Shareholders$0.78$1.10$0.53

Cash provided by operations, including discontinued operations, totaled $2.0 billion and $3.1 billion for 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company generated free cash flow of approximately $1.5 billion in 2021 and $2.3 billion in 2020, respectively. Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure and the most directly comparable GAAP measure is cash provided by operations. Management utilizes this measure in connection with managing our business and believes that free cash flow is useful to investors as a liquidity measure because it measures the amount of cash generated that is available, after reinvesting in the business, to maintain a strong balance sheet, pay dividends, repurchase stock, service debt and make

investments for future growth. It should not be inferred that the entire free cash flow amount is available for discretionary expenditures. By adjusting for certain items that are not indicative of the Company's ongoing underlying operational performance, we believe that free cash flow also enables investors to perform meaningful comparisons between past and present periods.

The following are reconciliations of free cash flow to cash provided by operations:

In millions20212020
Cash provided by operations$2,030$3,063
Adjustments:
Cash invested in capital projects, net of insurance recoveries(549)(751)
Free Cash Flow$1,481$2,312
In millionsThree Months Ended December 31, 2021Three Months Ended September 30, 2021Three Months Ended December 31, 2020
Cash provided by operations$107$645$789
Adjustments:
Cash invested in capital projects, net of insurance recoveries(201)(126)(94)
Free Cash Flow$(94)$519$695

The non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K as referenced above have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of our results calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, because not all companies utilize identical calculations, the Company’s presentation of non-GAAP measures in this Form 10-K may not be comparable to similarly titled measures disclosed by other companies, including companies in the same industry as the Company.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Business Segment Operating Profits are used by International Paper’s management to measure the earnings performance of its businesses. Management uses this measure to focus on on-going operations and believes that it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present operating results. International Paper believes that using this information, along with net earnings, provides a more complete analysis of the results of operations by year. Business Segment Operating Profits are defined as earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity earnings, but including the impact of noncontrolling interests, and

excluding interest expense, net, corporate expenses, net, corporate net special items, business net special items and non-operating pension expense. Business Segment Operating Profits is a measure reported to our management for purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to our business segments and assessing the performance of our business segments and is presented in our financial statement footnotes in accordance with ASC 280.

International Paper operates in two segments: Industrial Packaging and Global Cellulose Fibers. During 2021, as a result of the spin-off of our Printing Papers business along with certain mixed-use coated paperboard and pulp businesses and the associated reclassification of these businesses to Discontinued Operations, we no longer have a Printing Paper segment and the remaining sales and operating profits previously reported in the Printing Papers business have been reclassified for segment reporting for all periods presented.

The following table presents a comparison of net earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to International Paper Company to its total Business Segment Operating Profit:

In millions20212020
Net Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to International Paper Company$1,122$230
Add back (deduct)
Income tax provision (benefit)188176
Equity (earnings) loss, net of taxes(313)(77)
Noncontrolling interests, net of taxes2—
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Earnings999329
Interest expense, net337446
Noncontrolling interests included in operations(5)—
Corporate expenses, net13462
Corporate net special items352262
Business net special items18481
Non-operating pension expense (income)(200)(41)
$1,635$1,539
Business Segment Operating Profit (Loss):
Industrial Packaging$1,638$1,757
Global Cellulose Fibers(3)(218)
Total Business Segment Operating Profit$1,635$1,539

Business Segment Operating Profit in 2021 was $96 million higher than in 2020 as the benefits from higher average sales price realizations and mix ($1.6 billion) and higher sales volumes ($8 million) were partially offset by higher operating costs ($350 million), higher input costs ($981 million) and higher maintenance outage costs ($177 million).

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The principal changes in operating profit by business segment were as follows:

  • Industrial Packaging’s operating profit of $1.6 billion was $119 million lower than in 2020 as the benefits of higher average sales price, favorable mix and higher sales volumes were more than offset by higher operating costs, higher input costs and higher maintenance outage costs.

  • Global Cellulose Fibers' operating loss improved $215 million to $3 million compared with 2020 as the benefits of higher average sales price, favorable mix and higher sales volumes were more than offset by higher operating costs, higher input costs and higher maintenance outage costs.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Including discontinued operations, International Paper generated $2.0 billion of cash flow from operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with $3.1 billion in 2020. Capital spending for 2021 totaled $549 million, or 45% of depreciation and amortization expense. Our liquidity position remains strong, supported by approximately $2.1 billion of credit facilities.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

While the operating results for International Paper’s various business segments are driven by a number of business-specific factors, changes in International Paper’s operating results are closely tied to changes in general economic conditions in North America, Europe, Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East.

Factors that impact the demand for our products include industrial non-durable goods production, consumer preferences, consumer spending and movements in currency exchange rates.

Product prices are affected by a variety of factors including general economic trends, inventory levels, currency exchange rate movements and worldwide capacity utilization. In addition to these revenue-related factors, net earnings are impacted by various cost drivers, the more significant of which include changes in raw material costs, principally wood, recovered fiber and chemical costs; energy costs; freight costs; mill outage costs; salary and benefits costs, including pensions; and manufacturing conversion costs.

The following is a discussion of International Paper’s consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the major factors affecting these results compared to 2020.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, International Paper reported net sales of $19.4 billion, compared with $17.6 billion in 2020. International net sales (based on the location of the seller and including U.S. exports) totaled $5.2 billion or 27% of total sales in 2021. This compares with international net sales of $4.8 billion in 2020.

Full year 2021 net earnings attributable to International Paper Company totaled $1.8 billion ($4.47 per diluted share), compared with net earnings of $482 million ($1.22 per diluted share) in 2020. Amounts in all periods include the results of discontinued operations.

Earnings from continuing operations attributable to International Paper Company after taxes in 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

In millions20212020
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to International Paper Company$1,122(a)$230(b)

*(a)*Includes $284 million of net special items charges and $151 million of non-operating pension income.

*(b)*Includes $649 million of net special items charges and $31 million of non-operating pension income.

Compared with 2020, the benefits from higher average sales price and a favorable mix ($1.2 billion), higher sales volumes ($6 million), lower net interest expense ($82 million), and lower tax expense ($69 million) were partially offset by higher operating costs ($262 million), higher input costs ($734 million), higher maintenance outage costs ($133 million) and higher corporate and other costs ($51 million). In addition, 2021 results included higher equity earnings, net of taxes, relating to the Company’s investment in Ilim and other investments, partially offset by lower equity earnings relating to the Company's investment GPIP.

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See Business Segment Results on pages 29 through 31 of Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a discussion of the impact of these factors by segment.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

On October 1, 2021, the Company completed the previously announced spin-off of its Printing Papers business along with certain mixed-use coated paperboard and pulp businesses in North America, France and Russia into a standalone, publicly-traded company, Sylvamo Corporation. On August 6, 2021, the Company completed the sale of its Kwidzyn, Poland mill which included the pulp and paper mill in Kwidzyn and supporting functions. As a result of the Sylvamo Corporation spin-off and sale of Kwidzyn, the Company no longer has a Printing Papers business segment, and all current and historical results have been adjusted to reflect the Kwidzyn and the Printing Papers business and other businesses conveyed to Sylvamo Corporation as discontinued operations. See Note 8 on pages 61 through 63 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further discussion.

Discontinued operations include the operating earnings of the businesses noted above. Discontinued operations also includes an after-tax net special items gain of $330 million and charge of $7 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Details of these charges (gains) were as follows:

Special Items in Discontinued Operations
In millions20212020
Printing Papers spin-off expenses$92$8
Environmental remediation reserve adjustment—6
Gain on sale of Kwidzyn, Poland mill(344)—
Gain on sale of La Mirada, CA distribution center(65)—
Foreign value-added tax credit (including interest)(37)—
Foreign and state taxes related to Printing Papers spin-off24—
Tax benefit related to settlement of tax audits—(9)
Other—2
Total$(330)$7

INCOME TAXES

A net income tax provision from continuing operations of $188 million was recorded for 2021. Excluding a $87 million net tax benefit for other special items and a $49 million tax expense related to non-operating pension income, the operational tax provision was $226 million, or 19% of pre-tax earnings before equity earnings.

A net income tax provision from continuing operations of $176 million was recorded for 2020, including a tax benefit of $23 million related to the settlement of tax audits. Excluding this item, a $70 million net tax benefit for other special items and a $10 million tax expense related to non-operating pension income, the operational tax provision was $259 million, or 25% of pre-tax earnings before equity earnings.

EQUITY EARNINGS, NET OF TAXES

Equity earnings, net of taxes, consisted principally of the Company’s share of earnings from its 50% investment in Ilim of $311 million and $48 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively, and from its ownership interest in GPIP of $4 million in 2021 and its then 15.0% ownership interest at December 31, 2020 in GPIP of $40 million. The Company no longer had an ownership interest in GPIP at December 31, 2021 (see page 31).

INTEREST EXPENSE AND NONCONTROLLING INTEREST

Net corporate interest expense totaled $337 million in 2021 and $446 million in 2020. The decrease in 2021 compared with 2020 was due to lower average outstanding debt.

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests were $2 million in 2021, compared with zero in 2020.

SPECIAL ITEMS

Pre-tax special items included in continuing operations totaling $371 million and $742 million were recorded in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Details of these charges were as follows:

Special Items
In millions20212020
Business Segments
Restructuring and other, net$25$(1)
Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses(7)467
Abandoned property removal—14(a)
Riverdale mill conversion accelerated depreciation—1(b)
Other1(c)—
19481
Corporate
Restructuring and other, net$484$196
Sylvamo investment fair value adjustment32—
Real estate - office impairment21—
Environmental remediation reserve adjustments1041
Asbestos litigation reserve adjustment—43
India investment—11
Gain on sale of portion of equity investment in Graphic Packaging(204)(33)
Legal reserve adjustment(5)—
Net gain on sales and impairments of businesses—(2)
Other145
352261
Total$371$742

(a) Includes charges of $9 million recorded in the Industrial Packaging business segment and $5 million recorded in the Global Cellulose Fibers business segment.

(b) Recorded in the Industrial Packaging business segment.

(c) Allocation of income to noncontrolling interest associated with the sale of our EMEA Packaging business in Turkey.

Net losses on sales and impairments of businesses included in special items totaled a pre-tax gain of $7 million and loss of $465 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Details of these (gains) losses were as follows:

Net (Gains) Losses on Sales and Impairments of Businesses
In millions20212020
EMEA Packaging - Turkey$(7)$123
Brazil Packaging—348
Other—(6)(a)
Total$(7)$465

(a) Includes gains of $5 million recorded in the Industrial Packaging business segment and gains of $1 million recorded in Corporate.

See Note 8 Divestitures and Impairments on pages 61 through 63 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further discussion.

International Paper continually evaluates its operations for improvement opportunities targeted to (a) focus our portfolio on our core businesses, (b) realign capacity to operate fewer facilities with the same revenue capability, (c) close high cost, unprofitable facilities, and (d) reduce costs. Additionally, the Company is committed to its capital allocation framework to maintain a strong balance sheet including reducing debt to maximize value creation and maintain our current investment grade credit rating.

During 2021 and 2020, pre-tax restructuring and other charges, net, totaling $509 million and $195 million were recorded. Details of these charges were as follows:

Restructuring and Other, Net
In millions20212020
Business Segments
Building a Better IP initiative$14(a)$—
EMEA Packaging optimization12—
Other(1)(b)(1)(b)
25(1)
Corporate
Early debt extinguishment costs (see Note 16)$461$196
Building a Better IP initiative15—
Other8—
484196
Total$509$195

(a) Includes $11 million recorded in the Industrial Packaging business segment and $3 million recorded in the Global Cellulose Fibers business segment.

(b) Recorded in the Industrial Packaging business segment.

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS SEGMENTS

International Paper’s business segments discussed below are consistent with the internal structure used to manage these businesses. All segments are differentiated on a common product, common customer basis consistent with the business segmentation generally used in the forest products industry.

INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING

International Paper is the largest manufacturer of containerboard in the United States. Our U.S. production capacity is over 13 million tons annually. Our products include linerboard, medium, whitetop, recycled linerboard, recycled medium and saturating kraft. About 80% of our production is converted into corrugated packaging and other packaging by our 175 North American corrugated packaging plants. Additionally, we recycle approximately one million tons of OCC and mixed and white paper through our 16 recycling plants. Our corrugated packaging plants are supported by regional design centers, which offer total packaging solutions and supply chain initiatives. In EMEA, our operations include a recycled fiber containerboard mill in Morocco and one in Spain and 24 corrugated packaging plants in France, Italy, Spain, Morocco and Portugal. On May 31, 2021, the Company completed the sale of its 90.38% ownership interest in Olmuksan International Paper, a corrugated packaging business in Turkey, to Mondi Group. As a result of the sale of our Kwidzyn, Poland mill on August 6, 2021 and the completion of the previously announced spin-off of Sylvamo Corporation on October 1, 2021 which included certain mixed-use coated paperboard businesses, the Coated Paperboard business is no longer reported as part of the Industrial Packaging business segment. See Note 8 Divestitures and Impairments of Businesses on pages 61 through 63 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

GLOBAL CELLULOSE FIBERS

Our cellulose fibers product portfolio includes fluff, market and specialty pulps. International Paper is the largest producer of fluff pulp which is used to make absorbent hygiene products like baby diapers, feminine care, adult incontinence and other non-woven products. Our market pulp is used for tissue and paper products. We continue to invest in exploring new innovative uses for our products, such as our specialty pulps, which are used for non-absorbent end uses including textiles, filtration, construction material, paints and coatings, reinforced plastics and more. Our products are made in the United States and Canada and are sold around the world. International Paper facilities have annual dried pulp capacity of about 3 million metric tons. As a result of the sale of our Kwidzyn, Poland mill on August 6, 2021 and the completion of the previously announced spin-off of Sylvamo Corporation on October 1, 2021 which included pulp businesses, EMEA Global Cellulose Fibers is no longer reported as part of the Global Cellulose Fibers business segment. See Note 8 Divestitures and Impairments of Businesses on pages 61 through 63 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

ILIM

In October 2007, International Paper and Ilim completed a 50:50 joint venture to operate a pulp and paper business located in Russia. Ilim’s facilities include three paper mills located in Bratsk, Ust-Ilimsk, and Koryazhma, Russia, with combined total pulp and paper capacity of over 3.6 million metric tons. Ilim has exclusive harvesting rights on timberland and forest areas exceeding 19.8 million acres (8.01 million hectares).

GPIP

On January 1, 2018, the Company completed the transfer of its North American Consumer Packaging business, which included its North American Coated Paperboard and Foodservice businesses, to Graphic Packaging International Partners, LLC ("GPIP"), a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Company, in exchange for a 20.5% ownership interest in GPIP. GPIP subsequently transferred the North American Consumer Packaging business to Graphic Packaging International, LLC ("GPI"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of GPIP that holds the assets of the combined business. The Company has since fully monetized its investment in GPIP with transactions beginning in the first quarter 2020 through the second quarter 2021 and no longer has an ownership interest in GPIP. See Note 11 Equity Method Investments on page 65 through 66 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information.

BUSINESS SEGMENT RESULTS

The following tables present net sales and operating profit (loss) which is the Company's measure of segment profitability.

INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING

Demand for Industrial Packaging products is closely correlated with non-durable industrial goods production, as well as with demand for e-commerce, processed foods, poultry, meat and agricultural products. In addition to prices and volumes, major factors affecting the profitability of Industrial Packaging are raw material and energy costs, freight costs, mill outage costs, manufacturing efficiency and product mix.

Industrial Packaging
In millions20212020
Net Sales$16,326$14,900
Operating Profit (Loss)$1,638$1,757

Industrial Packaging net sales for 2021 increased 10% to $16.3 billion compared with $14.9 billion in 2020. Operating profits in 2021 were 7% lower than in 2020. Comparing 2021 with 2020, benefits from

higher average sales price and a favorable mix ($1.2 billion) and stable sales volumes were offset by higher operating costs ($237 million), higher input costs ($890 million) and higher maintenance outage costs ($142 million) .

North American Industrial Packaging
In millions20212020
Net Sales (a)$14,944$13,552
Operating Profit (Loss)$1,605$1,722

(a) Includes intra-segment sales of $126 million for 2021 and $117 million for 2020.

North American Industrial Packaging's sales volumes increased in 2021 compared with 2020 for corrugated boxes driven by strong demand across our customer segments. Domestic containerboard sales volumes also increased. Export containerboard sales volumes were lower. Total maintenance and economic downtime was about 25,000 tons higher in 2021 compared with 2020, primarily due to maintenance downtime. Average sales margins were higher reflecting higher prices for both containerboard and boxes and a favorable geographic mix. Operating and distribution costs increased, primarily due to inflation and supply chain and labor constraints related to the Omicron COVID-19 variant. 2021 earnings were impacted by the winter storms in the first quarter and the incident at the Prattville mill in the fourth quarter. 2020 earnings include costs related to the Riverdale conversion. Planned maintenance downtime costs were $143 million higher in 2021 than in 2020. Input costs were significantly higher, driven by higher wood, recovered fiber and energy costs.

Looking ahead to the first quarter of 2022, compared with the fourth quarter of 2021, sales volumes for boxes are expected to be lower, driven by seasonality and continued supply chain and labor constraints associated with the Omicron variant. Average sales margins are expected to be higher. Operating costs are expected to increase and include additional costs related to the Prattville mill. Planned maintenance downtime costs are expected to be $119 million higher. The first quarter of 2022 is expected to be the highest maintenance quarter of the year. Input costs are expected to be lower primarily for recovered fiber and energy.

EMEA Industrial Packaging
In millions20212020
Net Sales$1,508$1,317
Operating Profit (Loss)$33$38

EMEA Industrial Packaging's sales volumes in 2021 were lower than in 2020 driven by the sale of our EMEA Packaging business in Turkey in May 2021. Sales volumes improved in the Eurozone and

Morocco reflecting demand recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Average sales margins were lower in all regions driven by higher containerboard costs partially offset by corrugated packaging sales price recovery. Operating costs were lower, driven by improvements at the Madrid, Spain mill. Planned maintenance outage costs were $1 million lower in 2021 compared with 2020. Input costs were significantly higher, primarily driven by energy and fiber costs.

Entering the first quarter of 2022, compared with the fourth quarter of 2021, sales volumes are expected to be stable. Average sales margins are expected to be higher, reflecting lower input costs. Operating costs are expected to be higher. Planned maintenance outage costs are expected to be $1 million lower due to no planned outages in the first quarter. Input costs are expected to be higher, primarily for energy.

Brazilian Industrial Packaging
In millions20212020
Net Sales$—$148
Operating Profit (Loss)$—$(3)

On October 14, 2020, the Company closed the previously announced sale of its Brazilian Packaging business. See Note 8 Divestitures and Impairments on pages 61 through 63 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further discussion.

GLOBAL CELLULOSE FIBERS

Demand for Cellulose Fibers products is closely correlated with changes in demand for absorbent hygiene products, primarily driven by the demographics and income growth in various geographic regions. It is further affected by changes in currency rates that can benefit or hurt producers in different geographic regions. Principal cost drivers include manufacturing efficiency, raw material and energy costs, mill outage costs, and freight costs.

Global Cellulose Fibers
In millions20212020
Net Sales$2,732$2,393
Operating Profit (Loss)$(3)$(218)

Global Cellulose Fibers net sales for 2021 increased 14% to $2.7 billion, compared with $2.4 billion in 2020. Operating profits in 2021 improved significantly compared to 2020. Comparing 2021 with 2020, benefits from higher average sales price, favorable mix and sales volumes ($454 million) were partially offset by higher operating costs ($113 million), higher input costs ($91 million) and higher maintenance outage costs ($35 million).

Sales volumes in 2021 compared with 2020 were lower reflecting the extremely challenging supply chain environment. Total maintenance and economic downtime was about 11,000 tons lower in 2021 compared with 2020, primarily due to economic downtime. Average sales margins were higher, reflecting higher average fluff and market pulp prices. Operating costs increased, driven by inflation and supply chain related mill slowbacks and downtime. Distribution costs were significantly higher driven by global supply chain disruptions causing port congestion and container shortages. Planned maintenance outage costs were $35 million higher in 2021. Input costs were significantly higher, driven by wood, energy and chemicals.

Entering the first quarter of 2022, compared with the fourth quarter of 2021, sales volumes are expected to be flat as solid demand is offset by continuing supply chain constraints. Average sales margins are expected to be stable. Operating costs are expected to be seasonally higher. Distribution costs are also expected to increase from supply chain constraints. Planned maintenance outage costs are expected to be $4 million higher than in the fourth quarter of 2021. Input costs are expected to be seasonally higher, primarily for chemicals and energy.

EQUITY EARNINGS, NET OF TAXES - ILIM

International Paper accounts for its investment in Ilim, a separate reportable industry segment, using the equity method of accounting.

The Company recorded equity earnings, net of taxes, related to Ilim of $311 million in 2021, compared with earnings of $48 million in 2020. Foreign exchange gains (losses) included in equity earnings in 2021 were not material and JSC Ilim Group had no U.S. dollar-denominated debt outstanding as of December 31, 2021. Operating results recorded in 2020 included an after-tax non-cash foreign exchange loss of $50 million, primarily on the remeasurement of Ilim's U.S. dollar denominated net debt.

Driven by logistics issues and congestion at the Chinese border, sales volumes for the joint venture decreased by 3% in 2021, primarily for softwood pulp and hardwood pulp shipments to China, partially offset by higher shipments of softwood pulp and hardwood pulp to Russia and higher shipments of containerboard to China and other export markets. Average sales margins were significantly higher for sales of softwood pulp, hardwood pulp and containerboard reflecting higher average sales prices. Input costs were higher, primarily for wood, fuel and chemicals. Distribution costs were negatively impacted by transportation tariffs and inflation. Maintenance and repair expenses were higher. Due to escalating regulations, an environmental reserve

was recorded in 2021 for the Siberian mill sites. The Company received cash dividends from the joint venture of $154 million in 2021 and $141 million in 2020.

Entering the first quarter of 2022, sales volumes are expected to be higher than in the fourth quarter of 2021, as distribution constraints at the Chinese border are anticipated to be resolved. Based on results to date in the current quarter, average sales margins are expected to decrease for softwood pulp and hardwood pulp shipped to China. Average sales margins are expected to increase for shipments of containerboard to China. Input costs for wood are projected to be higher due to seasonality. Distribution costs will increase.

EQUITY EARNINGS - GPIP

International Paper recorded equity earnings of $4 million in 2021 and $40 million in 2020 on its ownership position in GPIP. The Company received cash dividends from the investment of $5 million in 2021 and $20 million in 2020. The Company no longer has an ownership interest in GPIP - see Description of Business Segments on pages 28 and 29 for further detail regarding our ownership interest.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

OVERVIEW

A major factor in International Paper’s liquidity and capital resource planning is its generation of operating cash flow, which is highly sensitive to changes in the pricing and demand for our major products. While changes in key operating cash costs, such as raw material, energy, mill outage and distribution, do have an effect on operating cash generation, we believe that our focus on commercial and operational excellence, as well as our ability to tightly manage costs and working capital has improved our cash flow generation over an operating cycle.

Use of cash during 2021 was primarily focused on working capital requirements, capital spending, debt reduction and returning cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases under the Company's share repurchase program.

CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Cash provided by operations, including discontinued operations, totaled $2.0 billion in 2021, compared with $3.1 billion for 2020. Cash used by working capital components (accounts receivable, contract assets and inventory less accounts payable and accrued liabilities, interest payable and other) totaled $426 million in 2021, compared with cash provided by working capital components of $324 million in 2020.

Cash dividends received from equity investments were $159 million in 2021, compared with $162 million in 2020.

INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES

Including discontinued operations, investment activities in 2021 increased from 2020, as 2021 included proceeds from the sale of the Kwidzyn, Poland mill and the sale of our ownership interest in Olmuksan International Paper for $827 million, net of cash divested, proceeds from the monetization of our investment in Graphic Packaging International Partners, LLC (GPIP) for $908 million (see Note 11 Equity Method Investments on pages 65 and 66 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data) and proceeds of $4.85 billion from the settlement of the 2015 Financing Entities Timber Notes (see Note 15 Variable Interest Entities on pages 74 and 75 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data). Capital spending was $549 million in 2021, or 45% of depreciation and amortization, compared with $751 million in 2020, or 58% of depreciation and amortization. Capital spending as a percentage of depreciation and amortization was 31% for Global Cellulose Fibers and 46% for Industrial Packaging in 2021.

The following table shows capital spending by business segment for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, excluding amounts related to discontinued operations of $69 million in 2021 and $88 million in 2020.

In millions20212020
Industrial Packaging$382$554
Global Cellulose Fibers8396
Subtotal465650
Corporate and other1513
Capital Spending$480$663

Capital spending in 2022 is expected to be approximately $1.1 billion, or 96% of depreciation and amortization.

Acquisitions

See Note 7 Acquisitions on page 61 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for a discussion of the Company's acquisitions.

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Including discontinued operations, financing activities during 2021 included debt issuance of $1.5 billion and reductions of $2.5 billion for a net decrease of $1.0 billion. Financing activities during 2020 included debt issuances of $583 million and reductions of $2.3 billion for a net decrease of $1.7 billion.

Amounts related to early debt extinguishment during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

In millions20212020
Early debt reductions (a)$2,472$1,640
Pre-tax early debt extinguishment costs (b)461196

*(a)*Reductions related to notes with interest rates ranging from 3.00% to 7.50% with original maturities from 2021 to 2048 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

*(b)*Amounts are included in Restructuring and other charges in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

The Company's early debt reductions in 2021 included debt tenders of $500 million with interest rates ranging from 4.80% to 5.15% and maturity dates ranging from 2035 to 2046, $200 million with an interest rate of 3.55% due in 2029, and $558 million with interest rates ranging from 4.35% to 4.40% and maturity dates ranging from 2047 to 2048. In addition to these debt tenders, the Company had make whole calls of $517 million related to debt with an interest rate 3.80% due in 2026 and $268 million related to debt with an interest rate of 3.00% due in 2027. Finally, the Company had $429 million in open market repurchases related to debt with interest rates ranging from 3.00% to 5.38% and maturity dates ranging from 2027 to 2048. In addition to the early debt reductions, the Company had debt reductions of $37 million in 2021 related primarily to capital leases, debt maturities, and international debt.

The Company had debt issuances in 2021 of $1.5 billion related primarily to Sylvamo debt issuances. In the fourth quarter of 2021, Sylvamo made a $1.4 billion net cash distribution to the Company as part of the spin-off.

Other financing activities during 2021 included the net issuance of approximately 1.9 million shares of treasury stock. Repurchases of common stock and payments of restricted stock withholding taxes totaled $838.6 million, including $810.9 million related to shares repurchased under the Company's share repurchase program. The Company has repurchased 85.1 million shares at an average price of $47.93, for a total of approximately $4.1 billion, since the repurchase program began in September 2013 through December 31, 2021. The Company paid cash dividends totaling $780 million during 2021.

Other financing activities during 2020 included the net issuance of approximately one million shares of treasury stock. Repurchases of common stock and payments of restricted stock withholding taxes totaled $42 million, including $14 million related to shares repurchased under the Company's share repurchase

program. The Company paid cash dividends totaling $806 million during 2020.

Interest Rate Swaps

Our policy is to manage interest cost using a mixture of fixed-rate and variable-rate debt. To manage this risk, International Paper utilizes interest rate swaps to change the mix of fixed and variable rate debt. During 2020, International Paper terminated its interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $700 million and maturities ranging from 2024 to 2026 with an approximate fair value of $85 million. Subsequent to the termination of the interest rate swaps, the fair value basis adjustment is amortized to earnings as interest income over the same period as a debt premium on the previously hedged debt. The Company had no outstanding interest rate swaps for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (see Note 17 Derivatives and Hedging Activities on pages 76 through 79 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data).

Variable Interest Entities

Information concerning variable interest entities is set forth in Note 15 Variable Interest Entities on pages 74 through 75 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. In connection with the 2006 International Paper installment sale of forestlands, we received $4.8 billion of installment notes. These installment notes were used by variable interest entities as collateral for borrowings from third-party lenders. These variable interest entities were restructured in 2015 when the installment notes and third-party loans were extended. The restructured variable interest entities held installment notes of $4.8 billion and third-party loans of $4.2 billion which both matured in August 2021. We settled the third-party loans at their maturity with the proceeds from the installment notes. This resulted in cash proceeds of approximately $630 million representing our equity in the variable interest entities. Maturity of the installment notes and termination of the monetization structure also resulted in a $72 million tax liability that was paid in the fourth quarter of 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the Company's remaining deferred tax liability associated with the 2015 Financing Entities was $813 million. The nature and timing of the income tax due related to these transactions is currently under review by the Internal Revenue Service.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES OUTLOOK FOR 2022

We expect another year of solid cash generation in 2022. Furthermore, we intend to continue to make choices for the use of cash that are consistent with our capital allocation framework to drive long-term

value creation. These include maintaining a strong balance sheet and investment grade credit rating, returning meaningful cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases and making organic investments to maintain our world-class system and strengthen our packaging business.

Our share repurchase program most recently approved by our Board of Directors on October 12, 2021, which does not have an expiration date, has approximately $2.9 billion aggregate amount of shares of common stock remaining authorized for purchase as of December 31, 2021. We may continue to repurchase shares under such authorization in open market transactions (including block trades), privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, subject to prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, restrictions in our debt documents, applicable securities laws requirements and other factors. In addition, we pay regular quarterly cash dividends and expect to continue to pay regular quarterly cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Each quarterly dividend is subject to review and approval by our Board of Directors, and is subject to restrictions in our debt documents.

Capital Expenditures and Long-Term Debt

Capital spending for 2022 is planned at approximately $1.1 billion, or about 96% of depreciation and amortization.

At December 31, 2021, International Paper’s credit agreements totaled $2.1 billion, which is comprised of the $1.5 billion contractually committed bank credit agreement and up to $550 million under the receivables securitization program. Management believes these credit agreements are adequate to cover expected operating cash flow variability during the current economic cycle. The credit agreements generally provide for interest rates at a floating rate index plus a pre-determined margin dependent upon International Paper’s credit rating. At December 31, 2021, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the $1.5 billion credit agreement or the $550 million receivables securitization program. The Company’s credit agreements are not subject to any restrictive covenants other than the financial covenants as disclosed on pages 75 and 76 in Note 16 - Debt and Lines of Credit of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, and the borrowings under the receivables securitization program being limited by eligible receivables. The Company was in compliance with all its debt covenants at December 31, 2021 and was well below the thresholds stipulated under the covenants as defined in the credit agreements. Further the financial covenants do not restrict any borrowings under the credit agreements.

International Paper also has a commercial paper program with a borrowing capacity up to $1.0 billion supported by its $1.5 billion credit agreement. Under the terms of the program, individual maturities on borrowings may vary, but not exceed one year from the date of issue. Interest bearing notes may be issued either as fixed or floating rate notes. The Company had no borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2021 under this program.

International Paper expects to be able to meet projected capital expenditures, service existing debt, meet working capital and dividend requirements and make common stock and/or debt repurchases for the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future thereafter with current cash balances and cash from operations, supplemented as required by its existing credit facilities. The Company will continue to rely on debt and capital markets for the majority of any necessary long-term funding not provided by operating cash flows. Funding decisions will be guided by our capital structure planning objectives. The primary goals of the Company’s capital structure planning are to maximize financial flexibility and maintain appropriate levels of liquidity to meet our needs while managing balance sheet debt and interest expense, and we have repurchased, and may continue to repurchase, our common stock (under our existing share repurchase program) and debt (including in open market purchases) to the extent consistent with this capital structure planning. The majority of International Paper’s debt is accessed through global public capital markets where we have a wide base of investors. During 2020, management took various actions to further strengthen the Company’s liquidity position in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This included the Company deferring the payment of our payroll taxes as allowed under CARES Act. The CARES Act allows for the deferral of the payment of the employer portion of Social Security taxes accrued between March 27, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Under the CARES Act 50% of the deferred payroll taxes was paid in 2021 and the remainder will be paid by December 31, 2022. We believe that our credit agreements and commercial paper program provide us with sufficient liquidity to operate in the current environment; however, an extended period of economic disruption could impact our access to additional sources of liquidity.

Maintaining an investment grade credit rating is an important element of International Paper’s financing strategy. At December 31, 2021, the Company held long-term credit ratings of BBB (stable outlook) and Baa2 (stable outlook) by S&P and Moody’s, respectively.

Contractual obligations for future payments under existing debt and lease commitments and purchase obligations at December 31, 2021, were as follows:

In millions20222023202420252026Thereafter
Debt maturities (a)$196$358$149$206$73$4,597
Operating lease obligations1399760382328
Purchase obligations (b)2,9005333862912591,052
Total (c)$3,235$988$595$535$355$5,677

*(a)*Includes financing lease obligations.

*(b)*Includes $798 million relating to fiber supply agreements entered into at the time of the 2006 Transformation Plan forestland sales and in conjunction with the 2008 acquisition of Weyerhaeuser Company’s Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling business. Also includes $979 million relating to fiber supply agreements assumed in conjunction with the 2016 acquisition of Weyerhaeuser's pulp business.

*(c)*Not included in the above table due to the uncertainty of the amount and timing of the payment are unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $160 million. Also not included in the above table is $106 million of Deemed Repatriation Transition Tax associated with the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which will be settled from 2022 - 2026.

We consider the undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021, to be permanently reinvested and, accordingly, no U.S. income taxes have been provided thereon (see Note 13 Income Taxes on pages 68 through 70 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data). We do not anticipate the need to repatriate funds to the United States to satisfy domestic liquidity needs arising in the ordinary course of business, including liquidity needs associated with our domestic debt service requirements.

Pension Obligations and Funding

At December 31, 2021, the projected benefit obligation for the Company’s U.S. defined benefit plans determined under U.S. GAAP was approximately $242 million lower than the fair value of plan assets, excluding non-U.S. plans. Approximately $595 million of this amount relates to plans that are subject to minimum funding requirements. Under current IRS funding rules, the calculation of minimum funding requirements differs from the calculation of the present value of plan benefits (the "projected benefit obligation") for accounting purposes. In December 2008, the Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 ("WERA") was passed by the U.S. Congress which provided for pension funding relief and technical corrections. Funding contributions depend on the funding method selected by the Company, and the timing of its implementation, as well as on actual demographic data and the targeted funding level. The Company continually reassesses the amount and timing of any discretionary contributions and elected not to make any voluntary contributions in 2019, 2020 or 2021. At this time, we

do not expect to have any required contributions to our plans in 2022, although the Company may elect to make future voluntary contributions. The timing and amount of future contributions, which could be material, will depend on a number of factors, including the actual earnings and changes in values of plan assets and changes in interest rates.

ILIM SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT

In October 2007, in connection with the formation of the Ilim joint venture, International Paper entered into a shareholders' agreement with an initial 15-year term expiring in October 2022 that automatically renews for successive five-year terms, unless terminated by either party. The shareholders' agreement also includes provisions relating to the reconciliation of disputes among the partners. This agreement provides that either the Company or its partners may commence procedures specified under the deadlock provisions. If these or any other deadlock procedures under the shareholders' agreement are commenced, although it is not obligated to do so, the Company may in certain situations choose to purchase its partners' 50% interest in Ilim. Any such transaction would be subject to review and approval by Russian and other relevant antitrust authorities. Based on the provisions of the agreement, the Company estimates that the current purchase price for its partners' 50% interests would be approximately $2.3 billion, excluding the impact of Ilim debt at December 31, 2021, which could be satisfied by payment of cash or International Paper common stock, or some combination of the two, at the Company's option. The purchase by the Company of its partners’ 50% interest in Ilim would result in the consolidation of Ilim's financial position and results of operations in all subsequent periods.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires International Paper to establish accounting policies and to make estimates that affect both the amounts and timing of the recording of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Some of these estimates require subjective judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain.

Accounting policies whose application has had or is reasonably likely to have a material impact on the reported results of operations and financial position of International Paper, and that can require a significant level of estimation or uncertainty by management that affect their application, include the accounting for contingencies, impairment or disposal of long-lived

assets and goodwill, pensions and income taxes. The Company has discussed the selection of critical accounting policies and the effect of significant estimates with the Audit and Finance Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors and with its independent registered public accounting firm.

While we have taken into account certain impacts arising from COVID-19 in connection with the accounting estimates reflected in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the full impact of COVID-19 is unknown and cannot be reasonably estimated. However, we have made appropriate accounting estimates based on the facts and circumstances available as of the reporting date. To the extent there are differences between these estimates and actual results, our consolidated financial statements may be affected.

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Accruals for contingent liabilities, including personal injury, product liability, environmental, asbestos and other legal matters, are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred or an asset impaired and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Liabilities accrued for legal matters require judgments regarding projected outcomes and range of loss based on historical litigation and settlement experience and recommendations of legal counsel and, if applicable, other experts. Liabilities for environmental matters require evaluations of relevant environmental regulations and estimates of future remediation alternatives and costs. Liabilities for asbestos-related matters require reviews of recent and historical claims data. The Company utilizes its in-house legal and environmental experts to develop estimates of its legal, environmental and asbestos obligations, supplemented as needed by third-party specialists to analyze its most complex contingent liabilities.

We calculate our workers' compensation reserves based on estimated actuarially calculated development factors. The workers' compensation reserves are reviewed at least quarterly to determine the adequacy of the accruals and related financial statement disclosure. While we believe that our assumptions are appropriate, the ultimate settlement of workers' compensation reserves may differ significantly from amounts we have accrued in our consolidated financial statements.

Brazil Goodwill Tax Matter**:** The Brazilian Federal Revenue Service has challenged the deductibility of goodwill amortization generated in a 2007 acquisition by Sylvamo do Brasil Ltda., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company until the October 1, 2021 spin-off of the Printing Papers business. The Company received assessments for the tax years

2007-2015 totaling approximately $106 million in tax, and $351 million in interest, penalties, and fees as of December 31, 2021 (adjusted for variation in currency exchange rates). After a previous favorable ruling challenging the basis for these assessments, we received other subsequent unfavorable decisions from the Brazilian Administrative Council of Tax Appeals. The Company has appealed and intends to further appeal these and any future unfavorable administrative judgments to the Brazilian federal courts; however, this tax litigation matter may take many years to resolve. The Company believes that it has appropriately evaluated the transaction underlying these assessments, and has concluded based on Brazilian tax law, that its tax position would be sustained.

The Company intends to vigorously defend its position against the current assessments and any similar assessments that may be issued for tax years subsequent to 2015. This assessment pertains to a business that was conveyed to Sylvamo Corporation as of October 1, 2021, as part of our spin-off transaction. Pursuant to the terms of the tax matters agreement entered into between the Company and Sylvamo Corporation, the Company will pay 60% and Sylvamo will pay 40%, on up to $300 million of any tax assessment related to the matter, and the Company will pay all amounts of the assessment over $300 million. The Brazilian government may enact a tax amnesty program that would allow Sylvamo do Brasil Ltda. to resolve this dispute for less than the assessed amount. In addition, all decisions concerning the conduct of the litigation related to this matter, including strategy, settlement, pursuit and abandonment, continue to be made by the Company. Sylvamo Corporation thus has no control over any decision related to this ongoing litigation. As of October 1, 2021, in connection with the recording of the distribution of assets and liabilities resulting from the spin-off transaction, the Company has established a liability representing the initial fair value of the contingent liability under the tax matter agreement. The contingent liability was determined in accordance with ASC 460 "Guarantees" based on the probability weighting of various possible outcomes. The initial fair value estimate and recorded liability as of December 31, 2021 is $48 million. This liability will not be adjusted in subsequent periods unless facts and circumstances change such that an amount greater than the initial recognized liability becomes probable and estimable.

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND GOODWILL

An impairment of a long-lived asset exists when the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, and is recorded when the carrying amount is not recoverable through undiscounted cash flows from

future operations or disposals. A goodwill impairment exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its fair value. Assessments of possible impairments of long-lived assets and goodwill are made when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable through future operations. Additionally, evaluation for possible impairment of goodwill is required annually. The amount and timing of any impairment charges based on these assessments may require the estimation of future cash flows or the fair market value of the related assets based on management’s best estimates of certain key factors, including future selling prices and volumes, operating, raw material, energy and freight costs, various other projected operating economic factors and other intended uses of the assets. As these key factors change in future periods, the Company will update its impairment analysis to reflect its latest estimates and projections.

ASU 2011-08, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other," allows entities testing goodwill for impairment the option of performing a qualitative assessment before performing the quantitative goodwill impairment test. If a qualitative assessment is performed, an entity is not required to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test unless the entity determines that, based on that qualitative assessment, it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying value.

The Company performed its annual testing of its reporting units for possible goodwill impairments by applying the qualitative assessment to its North America Industrial Packaging reporting unit and the quantitative goodwill impairment test to its EMEA Industrial Packaging reporting unit as of October 1, 2021.

For the current year evaluation, the Company assessed various assumptions, events and circumstances that would have affected the estimated fair value of the North America Industrial Packaging reporting unit under the qualitative assessment and the results of the qualitative assessments indicated that it was not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit was less than its carrying value.

The Company also performed the quantitative goodwill impairment test which included comparing the carrying amount of the EMEA Industrial Packaging reporting unit to its estimated fair value. The Company performed the quantitative goodwill impairment test for EMEA Industrial Packaging due to the changes in the reporting unit's asset base as a result of acquisitions and divestitures since the previous quantitative goodwill impairment test. The Company calculated the estimated fair value of the 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. The results of our annual impairment test indicated that the carrying amount did not exceed the estimated fair value of the EMEA Industrial Packaging reporting unit.

In addition, the Company considered whether there were any events or circumstances outside of the annual evaluation that would reduce the fair value of its reporting units below their carrying amounts and necessitate a goodwill impairment evaluation. In consideration of all relevant factors, there were no indicators that would require goodwill impairment subsequent to October 1, 2021.

PENSION BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS

The charges recorded for pension benefit obligations are determined annually in conjunction with International Paper’s consulting actuary, and are dependent upon various assumptions including the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, discount rates, projected future compensation increases and mortality rates.

The calculations of pension obligations and expenses require decisions about a number of key assumptions that can significantly affect liability and expense amounts, including the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and the discount rate used to calculate plan liabilities.

In advance of the spin-off of the Printing Papers segment into a standalone, publicly traded company, Sylvamo, a legally separate Sylvamo Pension Plan was established to transfer both pension liabilities and qualified pension assets for the approximately 900 active qualified pension participants who transitioned to Sylvamo. Effective September 1, 2021, the Retirement Plan of International Paper and the Sylvamo Pension Plan were legally separated and remeasured as of that date.

Benefit obligations and fair values of plan assets as of December 31, 2021, for International Paper’s pension plan were as follows:

In millionsBenefit ObligationFair Value of Plan Assets
U.S. qualified pension$11,480$12,075
U.S. nonqualified pension353—
Non-U.S. pension6519

The table below shows the discount rate used by International Paper to calculate U.S. pension obligations for the years shown:

202120202019
Discount rate2.90%2.60%3.40%

International Paper determines these actuarial assumptions, after consultation with our actuaries, on December 31 of each year or more frequently if required, to calculate liability information as of that date and pension expense for the following year. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on projected rates of return for current asset classes in the plan’s investment portfolio. The discount rate assumption was determined based on a hypothetical settlement portfolio selected from a universe of high quality corporate bonds.

The weighted average expected long-term rate of return on U.S. pension plan assets used to determine net periodic cost for the year ended December 31, 2021 was 6.40%.

Increasing (decreasing) the expected long-term rate of return on U.S. plan assets by an additional 0.25% would decrease (increase) 2022 pension expense by approximately $27 million, while a (decrease) increase of 0.25% in the discount rate would (increase) decrease pension expense by approximately $19 million.

Actual rates of return earned on U.S. pension plan assets for each of the last 10 years were:

YearReturnYearReturn
20217.7%20167.1%
202024.7%20151.3%
201923.9%20146.4%
2018(3.0)%201314.1%
201719.3%201214.1%

The 2012, 2013 and 2014 returns above represent weighted averages of International Paper and Temple-Inland asset returns. International Paper and Temple-Inland assets were combined in October 2014. The annualized time-weighted rate of return

earned on U.S. pension plan assets was 14.0% and 11.3% for the past five and ten years, respectively.

ASC 715, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits,” provides for delayed recognition of actuarial gains and losses, including amounts arising from changes in the estimated projected plan benefit obligation due to changes in the assumed discount rate, differences between the actual and expected return on plan assets, and other assumption changes. These net gains and losses are recognized in pension expense prospectively over a period that approximates the average remaining service period of active employees expected to receive benefits under the plans to the extent that they are not offset by gains and losses in subsequent years.

Net periodic pension plan expenses, calculated for all of International Paper’s plans, were as follows:

In millions20212020201920182017
Pension (income) expense
U.S. plans$(112)$32$93$632$717
Non-U.S. plans45645
Net (income) expense$(108)$37$99$636$722

The decrease in 2021 pension expense primarily reflects a higher asset returns, lower interest cost due to a lower discount rate and lower actuarial loss due to a higher amortization period slightly offset by higher service cost.

Assuming that discount rates, expected long-term returns on plan assets and rates of future compensation increases remain the same as of December 31, 2021, projected future net periodic pension plan expense (income) would be as follows:

In millions20232022
Pension expense (income)
U.S. plans$(165)$(114)
Non-U.S. plans55
Net (income) expense$(160)$(109)

The Company estimates that it will record net pension income of approximately $114 million for its U.S. defined benefit plans in 2022, compared to income of $112 million in 2021.

The market value of plan assets for International Paper’s U.S. qualified pension plan at December 31, 2021 totaled approximately $12.1 billion, consisting of

approximately 18% equity securities, 68% debt securities, 8% real estate funds and 6% other assets. The Company’s funding policy for its qualified pension plans is to contribute amounts sufficient to meet legal funding requirements, plus any additional amounts that the Company may determine to be appropriate considering the funded status of the plan, tax deductibility, the cash flows generated by the Company, and other factors. The Company continually reassesses the amount and timing of any discretionary contributions and could elect to make voluntary contributions in the future. There were no required contributions to the U.S. qualified plan in 2021. The nonqualified defined benefit plans are funded to the extent of benefit payments, which totaled $21 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

INCOME TAXES

International Paper records its global tax provision based on the respective tax rules and regulations for the jurisdictions in which it operates. Where the Company believes that a tax position is supportable for income tax purposes, the item is included in its income tax returns. Where treatment of a position is uncertain, liabilities are recorded based upon the Company’s evaluation of the “more likely than not” outcome considering technical merits of the position based on specific tax regulations and facts of each matter. Changes to recorded liabilities are only made when an identifiable event occurs that changes the likely outcome, such as settlement with the relevant tax authority, the expiration of statutes of limitation for the subject tax year, change in tax laws, or recent court cases that are relevant to the matter.

Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. Significant judgment is required in evaluating the need for and magnitude of appropriate valuation allowances against deferred tax assets. The realization of these assets is dependent on generating future taxable income, as well as successful implementation of various tax planning strategies.

While International Paper believes that these judgments and estimates are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances, actual resolution of these matters may differ from recorded estimated amounts.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Information concerning the Company’s environmental and legal proceedings is set forth in Note 14 Commitments and Contingent Liabilities on pages 70 through 74 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS

See Note 2 Recent Accounting Developments on page 56 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for a discussion of new accounting pronouncements.

EFFECT OF INFLATION

While inflationary increases in certain input costs, such as energy, wood fiber and chemical costs, have an impact on the Company’s operating results, changes in general inflation have had minimal impact on our operating results in 2019 and 2020. The effects of inflation in the current year have been more significant than prior years as the pandemic has had an impact on economic conditions, including labor market conditions, economic activity, consumer behavior, supply shortages and disruptions and inflationary pressures. Sales prices and volumes are primarily influenced by economic supply and demand factors in specific markets and by exchange rate fluctuations but are also currently being impacted by the current inflationary environment.

FOREIGN CURRENCY EFFECTS

International Paper has operations in a number of countries. Its operations in those countries also export to, and compete with, imports from other regions. As such, currency movements can have a number of direct and indirect impacts on the Company’s financial statements. Direct impacts include the translation of international operations’ local currency financial statements into U.S. dollars and the remeasurement impact associated with non-functional currency financial assets and liabilities. Indirect impacts include the change in competitiveness of imports into, and exports out of, the United States (and the impact on local currency pricing of products that are traded internationally). In general, a weaker U.S. dollar and stronger local currency is beneficial to International Paper. The currency that has the most impact is the Euro.

MARKET RISK

We use financial instruments, including fixed and variable rate debt, to finance operations, for capital spending programs and for general corporate

purposes. Additionally, financial instruments, including various derivative contracts, are used to hedge exposures to interest rate, commodity and foreign currency risks. We do not use financial instruments for trading purposes. Information related to International Paper’s debt obligations is included in Note 16 Debt and Lines of Credit on pages 75 and 76 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. A discussion of derivatives and hedging activities is included in Note 17 Derivatives and Hedging Activities on pages 76 through 79 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The fair value of our debt and financial instruments varies due to changes in market interest and foreign currency rates and commodity prices since the inception of the related instruments. We assess this market risk utilizing a sensitivity analysis. The sensitivity analysis measures the potential loss in earnings, fair values and cash flows based on a hypothetical 10% change (increase and decrease) in interest and currency rates and commodity prices.

INTEREST RATE RISK

Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to short- and long-term debt obligations and investments in marketable securities. We invest in investment-grade securities of financial institutions and money market mutual funds with a minimum rating of AAA and limit exposure to any one issuer or fund. Our investments in marketable securities at December 31, 2021 and 2020 are stated at cost, which approximates market due to their short-term nature. Our interest rate risk exposure related to these investments was not material.

We issue fixed and floating rate debt in a proportion that management deems appropriate based on current and projected market conditions. Derivative instruments, such as, interest rate swaps, may be used to execute this strategy. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the fair value of the net liability of financial instruments with exposure to interest rate risk was approximately $6.7 billion and $9.3 billion, respectively. The potential increase in fair value resulting from a 10% adverse shift in quoted interest rates would have been approximately $304 million and $443 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

COMMODITY PRICE RISK

The objective of our commodity exposure management is to minimize volatility in earnings due to large fluctuations in the price of commodities. Commodity swap or forward purchase contracts may be used to manage risks associated with market fluctuations in energy prices. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the net fair value of these contracts was

immaterial and the potential loss in fair value from a 10% adverse change in quoted commodity prices for these contracts was also immaterial.

FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK

International Paper transacts business in many currencies and is also subject to currency exchange rate risk through investments and businesses owned and operated in foreign countries. Our objective in managing the associated foreign currency risks is to minimize the effect of adverse exchange rate fluctuations on our after-tax cash flows. We address these risks on a limited basis by entering into cross-currency interest rate swaps, or foreign exchange

contracts. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the net fair value of financial instruments with exposure to foreign currency risk was immaterial. The potential loss in fair value for such financial instruments from a 10% adverse change in quoted foreign currency exchange rates was also immaterial.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

See the preceding discussion and Note 17 Derivatives and Hedging Activities on pages 76 through 79 of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

REPORT OF MANAGEMENT ON:

Financial Statements

The management of International Paper Company is responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in this annual report. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America considered appropriate in the circumstances to present fairly the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows on a consistent basis. Management has also prepared the other information in this annual report and is responsible for its accuracy and consistency with the consolidated financial statements.

As can be expected in a complex and dynamic business environment, some financial statement amounts are based on estimates and judgments. Even though estimates and judgments are used, measures have been taken to provide reasonable assurance of the integrity and reliability of the financial information contained in this annual report. We have formed a Disclosure Committee to oversee this process.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been audited by the independent registered public accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP (PCAOB ID No. 34). During its audits, Deloitte & Touche LLP was given unrestricted access to all financial records and related data, including minutes of all meetings of stockholders and the board of directors and all committees of the board. Management believes that all representations made to the independent auditors during their audits were valid and appropriate.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The management of International Paper Company is also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules (13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Internal control over financial reporting is the process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes. All internal control systems have inherent limitations, including the possibility of circumvention and overriding of controls,

and therefore can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the designed control objectives. The Company’s internal control system is supported by written policies and procedures, contains self-monitoring mechanisms, and is audited by the internal audit function. Appropriate actions are taken by management to correct deficiencies as they are identified. Our procedures for financial reporting include the active involvement of senior management, our Audit and Finance Committee and our staff of highly qualified financial and legal professionals.

The Company has assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. In making this assessment, it used the criteria described in “Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO"). Based on this assessment, management believes that, as of December 31, 2021, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.

The Company completed the acquisitions of two packaging businesses located in Spain (La Gaviota and Cartonajes Trilla) on April 1, 2021. Due to the timing of these acquisitions, we have excluded these businesses from our evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. For the period ended December 31, 2021, sales and assets for these businesses represented approximately 0.1% of net sales and 0.4% of total assets.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, has issued its report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The report appears on pages 43 through 46.

Internal Control Environment And Board Of Directors Oversight

Our internal control environment includes an enterprise-wide attitude of integrity and control consciousness that establishes a positive “tone at the top.” This is exemplified by our ethics program that includes long-standing principles and policies on ethical business conduct that require employees to maintain the highest ethical and legal standards in the conduct of International Paper business, which have been distributed to all employees; a toll-free telephone helpline whereby any employee may anonymously report suspected violations of law or International Paper’s policy; and an office of ethics and business practice. The internal control system further includes careful selection and training of supervisory and management personnel, appropriate delegation of authority and division of responsibility, dissemination of accounting and business policies

throughout International Paper, and an extensive program of internal audits with management follow-up.

The Board of Directors, assisted by the Audit and Finance Committee ("Committee"), monitors the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and financial reporting procedures, the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent auditors, and other matters set forth in its charter. The Committee, which consists of independent directors, meets regularly with representatives of management, and with the independent auditors and the Internal Auditor, with and without management representatives in attendance, to review their activities. The Committee’s Charter takes into account the New York Stock Exchange rules relating to Audit Committees and the SEC rules and regulations promulgated as a result of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021, including critical accounting policies and significant management judgments, with management and the independent auditors. The Committee’s report recommending the inclusion of such financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K will be set forth in our Proxy Statement.

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MARK S. SUTTON

CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

ip-20211231_g5.jpg

TIMOTHY S. NICHOLLS

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of International Paper Company:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of International Paper Company and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 18, 2022, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that

respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit and finance committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Tax Free Printing Papers Spin-Off — Refer to Note 1 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

On October 1, 2021, the Company completed the spin-off of its Printing Papers segment along with certain mixed-use coated paperboard and pulp businesses in North America, France, and Russia into a standalone, publicly traded company, Sylvamo Corporation (“Sylvamo”). The transaction was executed by distributing shares of Sylvamo to the Company’s shareholders (the “Distribution”). The Company concluded the Distribution to be a tax-free transaction for U.S. Federal income tax purposes.

We identified the Company’s conclusion that the Distribution was a tax-free transaction to be a critical audit matter because of the complexity of the interpretation and application of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), the materiality of the potential tax consequences, and the need to involve our income tax specialists when performing audit procedures to evaluate the qualification of the Distribution as a tax-free transaction.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

With the assistance of our income tax specialists, the audit procedures we performed related to the Company’s conclusion that the Distribution was a tax-free transaction included the following, among others:

  • We tested the effectiveness of controls over the Company’s conclusion that the Distribution was a tax-free transaction.

  • We inspected the Private Letter Ruling (“PLR”) received by the Company from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the external opinions received by the Company from third-party advisors, which were relied upon in the Company’s evaluation of whether the Distribution qualified as a tax-free transaction.

  • We evaluated the key factors addressed in the PLR and external opinions regarding the qualification of the Distribution as a tax-free transaction in comparison to the corresponding criteria prescribed by the Code, including interpretations of the Code and related statutes.

  • We tested the key inputs to a mathematical model prepared by the Company and used in its evaluation of whether the Distribution qualified as a tax-free transaction.

  • We performed a sensitivity analysis on the key inputs used in the mathematical model, including the key inputs used in the determination of the fair market value and tax basis of the legal entities included in the Distribution.

  • We searched for contradictory evidence regarding the qualification of the Distribution as a tax-free transaction by reading minutes of the Company’s Board of Directors meetings and its committees, and reading other relevant documentation, such as income tax returns and historical financial information, of the Company and the legal entities included in the Distribution, as applicable.

  • We obtained written representations from management regarding the Company’s intent not to execute transactions in the future that could affect the qualification of the Distribution as a tax-free transaction.

Retirement Plans — Plan Assets — Refer to Note 19 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

As of December 31, 2021, the Company’s Pension Plans held approximately $3.0 billion in investments whose reported value is determined based on net

asset value (“NAV”). The strategic asset allocation policy prescribed by the Company’s Pension Plan includes permissible investments in certain hedge funds, private equity funds, and real estate funds whose reported values are determined based on the estimated NAV of each investment.

These NAVs are generally determined by the Pension Plan’s third-party administrators or fund managers and are subject to review and oversight by management of the Company and its third-party investment advisors.

Given a lack of a readily determinable value of these investments and the subjective nature of the valuation methodologies and unobservable inputs used in these methodologies, auditing the NAV associated with these investments requires a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve professionals in our firm having expertise in alternative investments.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the determination of NAV associated with the Company’s Pension Plan’s investments in hedge funds, private equity funds, and real estate funds included the following, among others:

  • We tested the effectiveness of controls over the Company’s determination and evaluation of NAV, including those related to the reliability of NAVs reported by third-party administrators and fund managers.

  • We inquired of management and the investment advisors regarding changes to the investment portfolio and investment strategies.

  • We obtained a confirmation from the third-party custodian as of December 31, 2021 of all individual investments held in trust for the Pension Plan to confirm the existence of each individual asset held in trust.

  • For each selected investment fund with a fiscal year end of December 31, we performed a retrospective review in which we compared the estimated fair value recorded by the Company in the December 31, 2020 financial statements, to the actual fair value of the fund (using the per-share NAV disclosed in the fund’s subsequently issued audited financial statements), to evaluate the appropriateness of management’s estimation process.

  • With the assistance of professionals in our firm having expertise in alternative investments, we rolled forward the valuation from the selected funds’ most recently audited financial statements to December 31, 2021. This roll forward procedure included consideration of the Company’s transactions in the fund during the period, as well as an estimate of the funds’ returns based on an appropriate, independently obtained benchmark or index. We then compared our independent fund valuation estimate to the December 31, 2021, balance recorded by the Company. For certain selected funds, our roll forward procedures included alternative procedures, such as inspecting trust statements for observable transactions near year-end to compare to the estimated fair value.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Memphis, Tennessee

February 18, 2022

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2002.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of International Paper Company":

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of International Paper Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, of the Company and our report dated February 18, 2022, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

As described in the Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management excluded from its assessment of the internal control over financial reporting the acquisitions of packaging businesses located in Spain (La Gaviota and Cartonajes Trilla) completed during 2021. The acquired businesses constitute 0.1% of net sales and 0.4% of total assets of the consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021. Accordingly, our audit did not include the internal control over financial reporting at these acquired businesses.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and

expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Memphis, Tennessee

February 18, 2022

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

In millions, except per share amounts, for the years ended December 31202120202019
NET SALES$19,363$17,565$18,317
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Cost of products sold13,83212,33912,669
Selling and administrative expenses1,3851,3531,449
Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested1,0971,0911,072
Distribution expenses1,4441,2871,250
Taxes other than payroll and income taxes139136133
Restructuring and other charges, net50919551
Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses(7)465205
Net (gains) losses on sales of equity method investments(204)(35)—
Net (gains) losses on mark to market investments32——
Antitrust fines——32
Interest expense, net337446499
Non-operating pension (income) expense(200)(41)36
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSSES)999329921
Income tax provision (benefit)188176477
Equity earnings (loss), net of taxes31377250
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS1,124230694
Discontinued operations, net of taxes630252526
NET EARNINGS (LOSS)1,7544821,220
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests2—(5)
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY$1,752$482$1,225
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations$2.88$0.59$1.77
Discontinued operations, net of taxes1.620.641.33
Net earnings (loss)$4.50$1.23$3.10
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations$2.86$0.58$1.75
Discontinued operations, net of taxes1.610.641.32
Net earnings (loss)$4.47$1.22$3.07

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

In millions for the years ended December 31202120202019
NET EARNINGS (LOSS)$1,754$482$1,220
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX
Amortization of pension and postretirement prior service costs and net loss:
U.S. plans (less tax of $41, $56 and $54)124170163
Non-U.S. plans (less tax of $0, $0 and $0)1—1
Pension and postretirement liability adjustments:
U.S. plans (less tax of $235, $76 and $7)70622922
Non-U.S. plans (less tax of $1, $1 and $3)7(2)(20)
Change in cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment (less tax of $0, $1 and $1)698116
Net gains/losses on cash flow hedging derivatives:
Net gains (losses) arising during the period (less tax of $1, $15 and $2)3(34)4
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net earnings (less tax of $2, $13 and $2)(9)264
TOTAL OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX901397290
Comprehensive Income (Loss)2,6558791,510
Net (Earnings) Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests(2)—5
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests2——
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY$2,655$879$1,515

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

In millions, except per share amounts, at December 3120212020
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and temporary investments$1,295$468
Accounts and notes receivable (less allowances of $34 in 2021 and $44 in 2020)3,2322,632
Contract assets378331
Inventories1,8141,626
Current financial assets of variable interest entities (Note 15)—4,850
Current assets of discontinued operations—1,050
Current investments245—
Assets held for sale—138
Other current assets132141
Total Current Assets7,09611,236
Plants, Properties and Equipment, net10,44110,945
Forestlands1818
Long-Term Investments7511,178
Long-Term Financial Assets of Variable Interest Entities (Note 15)2,2752,257
Goodwill3,1303,115
Overfunded Pension Plan Assets595—
Right of Use Assets365387
Long-Term Assets of Discontinued Operations—1,954
Deferred Charges and Other Assets572628
TOTAL ASSETS$25,243$31,718
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt$196$26
Current nonrecourse financial liabilities of variable interest entities (Note 15)—4,220
Accounts payable2,6062,035
Accrued payroll and benefits440410
Current liabilities of discontinued operations—495
Liabilities held for sale—181
Other current liabilities902917
Total Current Liabilities4,1448,284
Long-Term Debt5,3838,042
Long-Term Nonrecourse Financial Liabilities of Variable Interest Entities (Note 15)2,0992,092
Deferred Income Taxes2,6182,572
Underfunded Pension Benefit Obligation3771,032
Postretirement and Postemployment Benefit Obligation205235
Long-Term Lease Obligations236256
Long-Term Liabilities of Discontinued Operations—369
Other Liabilities1,099968
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Note 14)
Equity
Common stock $1 par value, 2021 - 448.9 shares and 2020 - 448.9 shares449449
Paid-in capital4,6686,325
Retained earnings9,0298,070
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(1,666)(4,342)
12,48010,502
Less: Common stock held in treasury, at cost, 2021 – 70.4 shares and 2020 – 55.8 shares3,3982,648
Total International Paper Shareholders’ Equity9,0827,854
Noncontrolling interests—14
Total Equity9,0827,868
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY$25,243$31,718

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

In millions for the years ended December 31202120202019
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net earnings (loss)$1,754$482$1,220
Depreciation, amortization, and cost of timber harvested1,2101,2871,306
Deferred income tax provision (benefit), net(291)9212
Restructuring and other charges, net50919557
Periodic pension (income) expense, net(112)3293
Net (gains) losses on mark to market investments32——
Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses(358)465205
Net (gains) losses on sales of equity method investments(205)(35)—
Net (gains) losses on sales of fixed assets(86)——
Antitrust fines——32
Equity method dividends received159162273
Equity (earnings) losses, net(313)(77)(250)
Other, net157219120
Changes in current assets and liabilities
Accounts and notes receivable(596)59246
Contract assets(49)352
Inventories(263)35(1)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities519141139
Interest payable(32)(55)(19)
Other(5)109(25)
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES2,0303,0633,610
INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES
Invested in capital projects, net of insurance recoveries(549)(751)(1,276)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired(80)(65)(103)
Proceeds from sales of equity method investments908500—
Proceeds from sales of businesses, net of cash divested8274081
Proceeds from settlement of Variable Interest Entities4,850——
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets101818
Other(3)(1)(20)
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES6,054(269)(1,300)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repurchases of common stock and payments of restricted stock tax withholding(839)(42)(535)
Issuance of debt1,512583534
Reduction of debt(2,509)(2,278)(1,507)
Change in book overdrafts6535(66)
Dividends paid(780)(806)(796)
Reduction of Variable Interest Entity loans(4,220)——
Distribution to Sylvamo Corporation(130)——
Net debt tender premiums paid(456)(188)(18)
Other(18)(4)(1)
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES(7,375)(2,700)(2,389)
Cash Included in Assets Held for Sale—(2)—
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash(9)(8)1
Change in Cash and Temporary Investments70084(78)
Cash and Temporary Investments
Beginning of the period595511589
End of the period$1,295$595$511

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

In millionsCommon Stock IssuedPaid-in CapitalRetained EarningsAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)Common Stock Held In Treasury, At CostTotal International Paper Shareholders’ EquityNoncontrolling InterestsTotal Equity
BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 2019$449$6,280$7,465$(4,500)$2,332$7,362$21$7,383
Adoption of ASU 2018-02 reclassification of stranded tax effects resulting from Tax Reform——529(529)————
Issuance of stock for various plans, net—(18)——(165)147—147
Repurchase of stock————535(535)—(535)
Dividends ($2.013 per share)——(811)——(811)—(811)
Transactions of equity method investees—35———35—35
Divestiture of noncontrolling interests——————(11)(11)
Comprehensive income (loss)——1,225290—1,515(5)1,510
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 20194496,2978,408(4,739)2,7027,71357,718
Adoption of ASU 2016-13 measurement of credit losses on financial instruments——(2)——(2)—(2)
Issuance of stock for various plans, net—(8)——(96)88—88
Repurchase of stock————42(42)—(42)
Dividends ($2.050 per share)——(818)——(818)—(818)
Transactions of equity method investees—36———36—36
Transactions with noncontrolling interest holders——————99
Comprehensive income (loss)——482397—879—879
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 20204496,3258,070(4,342)2,6487,854147,868
Sylvamo Corporation spin-off—(1,729)—1,773—44(1)43
Issuance of stock for various plans, net—54——(89)143—143
Repurchase of stock————839(839)—(839)
Dividends ($2.000 per share)——(793)——(793)—(793)
Transactions of equity method investees—18———18—18
Divestiture of noncontrolling interests——————(13)(13)
Comprehensive income (loss)——1,752903—2,655—2,655
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2021$449$4,668$9,029$(1,666)$3,398$9,082$—$9,082

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF BUSINESS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NATURE OF BUSINESS

International Paper (the "Company") is a global corrugated packaging company with primary markets and manufacturing operations in North America and Europe and additional markets and manufacturing operations in Latin America, North Africa and Asia. Substantially all of our businesses have experienced, and are likely to continue to experience, cycles relating to available industry capacity and general economic conditions.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures worldwide. During 2021, there continued to be a large number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States and throughout the world, and restrictive measures, including masks and vaccine requirements were implemented or reinstituted by various governmental authorities and private businesses. Economic recovery in the United States and various other regions of the world has continued but may be threatened by the continued adverse effects of COVID-19 and other factors. Most of our manufacturing and converting facilities have remained open and operational during the pandemic and at the current time our manufacturing and converting facilities are generally operational. The health and safety of our employees and contractors is our most important responsibility as we manage through the COVID-19 pandemic. We have implemented work-systems across the Company to maintain the health and safety of our employees including social distancing, site cleaning, contract tracing and other measures as recommended by the CDC and WHO.

There continue to be significant uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The impacts of the pandemic had an adverse effect on our operations in 2021, and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows if public health and/or global economic conditions deteriorate.

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States that require

the use of management’s estimates. Actual results could differ from management’s estimates.

Printing Papers Spinoff

On October 1, 2021, the Company completed the previously announced spin-off of its Printing Papers segment along with certain mixed-use coated paperboard and pulp businesses in North America, France and Russia into a standalone, publicly-traded company, Sylvamo Corporation. The transaction was implemented through the distribution of shares of the standalone company to International Paper's shareholders (the "Distribution"). As a result of the Distribution, Sylvamo Corporation is an independent public company that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SLVM".

The Distribution was made to the Company's stockholders of record as of the close of business on September 15, 2021 (the "Record Date"), and such stockholders received one share of Sylvamo Corporation common stock for every 11 shares of International Paper common stock held as of the close of business on the Record Date. The Company retained 19.9% of the shares of Sylvamo at the time of the separation and this retained investment is discussed further in Note 9 - Supplementary Financial Statement Information. In the third quarter of 2021, Sylvamo incurred $1.5 billion in debt in anticipation of a net cash distribution of $1.4 billion that was made to the Company as part of the spin-off. At the time of the spin, the Company distributed $130 million of cash to Sylvamo Corporation.

In addition to the spin-off of Sylvamo Corporation, the Company completed the sale of its Kwidzyn, Poland mill on August 6, 2021. See Note 8 - Divestitures and Impairments of Businesses for further details

All current and historical operating results of the Sylvamo Corporation businesses and Kwidzyn mill are presented as Discontinued Operations, net of tax, in the consolidated statement of operations. All historical assets and liabilities of the Sylvamo Corporation businesses and Kwidzyn are classified as current and long-term assets of discontinued operations and current and long-term liabilities of discontinued operations in the accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 2020. The spin-off was tax-free for the Company and its shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In connection with the Distribution, on September 29, 2021, the Company and Sylvamo Corporation entered into a separation and distribution agreement as well as various other agreements that govern the

relationships between the parties following the Distribution, including a transition services agreement, a tax matters agreement and an employee matters agreement. These agreements provide for the allocation between International Paper Company and Sylvamo Corporation of assets, liabilities and obligations attributable to periods prior to, at and after the Distribution and govern certain relationships between International Paper and Sylvamo Corporation after the Distribution. The Company is also party to various ongoing operational agreements with Sylvamo Corporation under which it sells fiber, paper and other products. Sales under these agreements were $185 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

See Note 8 - Divestitures and Impairments of Businesses for further details regarding the Sylvamo Corporation spin-off and discontinued operations.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

A discontinued operation may include a component or a group of components of the Company's operations. A disposal of a component or a group of components is reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on the Company's operations and financial results when the following occurs: (1) a component (or group of components) meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale; (2) the component or group of components is disposed of by sale; or (3) the component or group of components is disposed of other than by sale (for example, by abandonment or in a distribution to owners in a spin-off). For any component classified as held for sale or disposed of by sale or other than by sale, qualifying for presentation as a discontinued operation, the Company reports the results of operations of the discontinued operations (including any gain or loss recognized on the disposal or loss recognized on classification as held for sale of a discontinued operation), less applicable income taxes (benefit), as a separate component in the consolidated statement of operations for current and all prior periods presented. The Company also reports assets and liabilities associated with discontinued operations as separate line items on the consolidated balance sheet for prior periods.

CONSOLIDATION

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of International Paper and subsidiaries for which we have a controlling financial interest, including variable interest entities for which we are the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated.

EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS

The equity method of accounting is applied for investments when the Company has significant influence over the investee’s operations, or when the investee is structured with separate capital accounts. Our material equity method investments are described in Note 11.

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

The Company allocates the total consideration of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair value as of the business combination date. In developing estimates of fair values for long-lived assets, including identifiable intangible assets, the Company utilizes a variety of inputs including forecasted cash flows, anticipated growth rates, discount rates, estimated replacement costs and depreciation and obsolescence factors. Determining the fair value for specifically identified intangible assets such as customer lists and developed technology involves judgment. We may refine our estimates and make adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed over a measurement period, not to exceed one year. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or the final determination of the values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are charged to the consolidated statement of operations. Subsequent actual results of the underlying business activity supporting the specifically identified intangible assets could change, requiring us to record impairment charges or adjust their economic lives in future periods. See Note 7 for further details.

RESTRUCTURING LIABILITIES AND COSTS

For operations to be closed or restructured, a liability and related expense is recorded in the period when operations cease. For termination costs associated with employees covered by a written or substantive plan, a liability is recorded when it is probable that employees will be entitled to benefits and the amount can be reasonably estimated. For termination costs associated with employees not covered by a written and broadly communicated policy covering involuntary termination benefits (severance plan), a liability is recorded for costs to terminate employees (one-time termination benefits) when the termination plan has been approved and committed to by management, the employees to be terminated have been identified, the termination plan benefit terms are communicated, the employees identified in the plan have been notified and actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant

changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn. The timing and amount of an accrual is dependent upon the type of benefits granted, the timing of communication and other provisions that may be provided in the benefit plan. The accounting for each termination is evaluated individually. See Note 6 for further details.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

Generally, 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 on 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 that 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. See Note 3 for further details.

TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS

Temporary 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. See Note 9 for further details.

INVENTORIES

Inventories 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 pulp and paper 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. See Note 9 for further details.

LEASED ASSETS

Operating 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 or terminate 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 primarily relate to common area maintenance, insurance, taxes and utilities. Variable payments for equipment, vehicles, and leases within supply agreements primarily relate 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 except for certain gas and chemical agreements. See Note 10 for further details.

PLANTS, PROPERTIES AND EQUIPMENT

Plants, 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 pulp and paper mills, and the straight-line method is used for other plants and equipment. See Note 9 for further details.

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 amounts, 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, 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. The results of our annual impairment test indicated that the carrying amount did not exceed the estimated fair value of any reporting units. See Note 12 for further discussion.

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS

Long-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 whether assets are held and used or held for sale, 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 recorded at their estimated fair value. See Note 8 for further discussion.

INCOME TAXES

International Paper uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes whereby deferred income taxes are recorded for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are remeasured to reflect new tax rates in the periods rate changes are enacted.

International Paper records its worldwide tax provision based on the respective tax rules and regulations for the jurisdictions in which it operates. Where the Company believes that a tax position is supportable for income tax purposes, the item is included in its income tax returns. Where treatment of a position is uncertain, liabilities are recorded based upon the Company’s evaluation of the “more likely than not” outcome considering the technical merits of the position based on specific tax regulations and the facts of each matter. Changes to recorded liabilities are made only when an identifiable event occurs that changes the likely outcome, such as settlement with the relevant tax authority, the expiration of statutes of limitation for the subject tax year, a change in tax laws, or a recent court case that addresses the matter.

While the judgments and estimates made by the Company are based on management’s evaluation of the technical merits of a matter, assisted as necessary by consultation with outside consultants, historical experience and other assumptions that management believes are appropriate and reasonable under current circumstances, actual

resolution of these matters may differ from recorded estimated amounts, resulting in adjustments that could materially affect future financial statements. See Note 13 for further details.

International Paper uses the flow-through method to account for investment tax credits earned on eligible open-loop biomass facilities and combined heat and power system expenditures. Under this method, the investment tax credits are recognized as a reduction to income tax expense in the year they are earned rather than a reduction in the asset basis.

ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION COSTS

Costs associated with environmental remediation obligations are accrued when such costs are probable and reasonably estimable. Such accruals are adjusted as further information develops or circumstances change. Costs of future expenditures for environmental remediation obligations are discounted to their present value when the amount and timing of expected cash payments are reliably determinable. See Note 14 for further details.

TRANSLATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Balance sheets of international operations are translated into U.S. dollars at year-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 loss.

NOTE 2 RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS

Other than as described below, no new accounting pronouncement issued or effective during the fiscal year has had or is expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

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. The Company 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 financial statements and related disclosures.

Government Assistance

In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-10, "Government Assistance (Topic 832): Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance." This guidance requires a business entity to provide certain disclosures around assistance received from governments. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of the guidance.

NOTE 3 - REVENUE RECOGNITION

DISAGGREGATED REVENUE

A geographic disaggregation of revenues across our company segmentation in the following tables provides information to assist in evaluating the nature, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows and how they may be impacted by economic factors.

2021
Reportable SegmentsIndustrial PackagingGlobal Cellulose FibersCorporate & IntersegmentTotal
Primary Geographical Markets (a)
United States$14,006$2,510$253$16,769
EMEA1,506109(4)1,611
Pacific Rim and Asia5911335207
Americas, other than U.S.755—21776
Total$16,326$2,732$305$19,363
Operating Segments
North American Industrial Packaging$14,944$—$—$14,944
EMEA Industrial Packaging1,508——1,508
Global Cellulose Fibers—2,732—2,732
Intra-segment Eliminations(126)——(126)
Corporate & Inter-segment Sales——305305
Total$16,326$2,732$305$19,363

(a) Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of the reportable segment making the sale.

2020
Reportable SegmentsIndustrial PackagingGlobal Cellulose FibersCorporate & IntersegmentTotal
Primary Geographical Markets (a)
United States$12,770$2,212$196$15,178
EMEA1,30990(4)1,395
Pacific Rim and Asia579155203
Americas, other than U.S.764—25789
Total$14,900$2,393$272$17,565
Operating Segments
North American Industrial Packaging$13,552$—$—$13,552
EMEA Industrial Packaging1,317——1,317
Brazilian Industrial Packaging148——148
Global Cellulose Fibers—2,393—2,393
Intra-segment Eliminations(117)——(117)
Corporate & Inter-segment Sales——272272
Total$14,900$2,393$272$17,565

(a) Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of the reportable segment making the sale.

2019
Reportable SegmentsIndustrial PackagingGlobal Cellulose FibersCorporate & IntersegmentTotal
Primary Geographical Markets (a)
United States$12,968$2,427$221$15,616
EMEA1,327104(4)1,427
Pacific Rim and Asia65149173387
Americas, other than U.S.900—(13)887
Total$15,260$2,680$377$18,317
Operating Segments
North American Industrial Packaging$13,808$—$—$13,808
EMEA Industrial Packaging1,335——1,335
Brazilian Industrial Packaging235——235
Global Cellulose Fibers—2,680—2,680
Intra-segment Eliminations(118)——(118)
Corporate & Inter-segment Sales——377377
Total$15,260$2,680$377$18,317

(a) Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of the reportable segment making the sale.

REVENUE CONTRACT BALANCES

A contract asset is created when the Company recognizes revenue on its customized products prior to having an unconditional right to payment from the customer, which generally does not occur until title and risk of loss passes to the customer.

A contract liability is created when customers prepay for goods prior to the Company transferring those goods to the customer. The contract liability is reduced once control of the goods is transferred to the customer. The majority of our customer prepayments are received during the fourth quarter each year for goods that will be transferred to customers over the following twelve months. Current liabilities of $27 million and $21 million are included in Other current liabilities in the accompanying condense consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. During the second quarter of 2021, the Company also recorded a contract liability of $115 million related to the April 2021 acquisition disclosed in Note 7 - Acquisitions.

The difference between the opening and closing balances of the Company's contract assets and contract liabilities primarily results from the difference between the price and quantity at comparable points in time for goods which we have an unconditional right to payment or receive prepayment from the customer, respectively.

PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT JUDGEMENTS

International Paper's principal business is to manufacture and sell fiber-based packaging and pulp goods. As a general rule, none of our businesses provide equipment installation or other ancillary services outside of producing and shipping packaging and pulp products to customers.

The nature of the Company's contracts can vary based on the business, customer type and region; however, in all instances it is International Paper's customary business practice to receive a valid order from the customer, in which each parties' rights and related payment terms are clearly identifiable.

Contracts or purchase orders with customers could include a single type of product or it could include multiple types/grades of products. Regardless, the contracted price with the customer is agreed to at the individual product level outlined in the customer contracts or purchase orders. The Company does not

bundle prices; however, we do negotiate with customers on pricing and rebates for the same products based on a variety of factors (e.g. level of contractual volume, geographical location, etc.). Management has concluded that the prices negotiated with each individual customer are representative of the stand-alone selling price of the product.

NOTE 4 EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY COMMON SHAREHOLDERS

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing earnings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed assuming that all potentially dilutive securities were converted into common shares.

There are no adjustments required to be made to net income for purposes of computing basic and diluted EPS.

A reconciliation of the amounts included in the computation of basic earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations, and diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations is as follows:

In millions, except per share amounts202120202019
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to International Paper common shareholders$1,122$230$699
Weighted average common shares outstanding389.4393.0395.3
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted performance share plan3.02.73.5
Weighted average common shares outstanding – assuming dilution392.4395.7398.8
Basic earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations$2.88$0.59$1.77
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations$2.86$0.58$1.75

NOTE 5 OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The following table presents changes in AOCI, net of tax, reported in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31:

In millions202120202019
Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Adjustments
Balance at beginning of period$(1,880)$(2,277)$(1,916)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications7132272
Reclassification of stranded tax effects——(527)
Reclassification related to Sylvamo Corporation spin-off80——
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income125170164
Balance at end of period(962)(1,880)(2,277)
Change in Cumulative Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
Balance at beginning of period(2,457)(2,465)(2,581)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications(115)(319)14
Reclassification related to Sylvamo Corporation spin-off1,692——
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income184327102
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest2——
Balance at end of period(694)(2,457)(2,465)
Net Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedging Derivatives
Balance at beginning of period(5)3(3)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications3(34)4
Reclassification of stranded tax effects——(2)
Reclassification related to Sylvamo Corporation spin-off1——
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income(9)264
Balance at end of period(10)(5)3
Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) at End of Period$(1,666)$(4,342)$(4,739)

Reclassifications out of AOCI for the three years ended December 31 were as follows:

Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive IncomeLocation of Amount Reclassified from AOCI
202120202019
In millions
Defined benefit pension and postretirement items:
Prior-service costs$(20)$(19)$(10)(a)Non-operating pension expense
Actuarial gains/(losses)(146)(207)(208)(a)Non-operating pension expense
Total pre-tax amount(166)(226)(218)
Tax (expense)/benefit415654
Net of tax(125)(170)(164)
Reclassification of stranded tax effects——527Retained Earnings
Reclassification related to Sylvamo Corporation spin-off(80)——Paid-in Capital
Total, net of tax(205)(170)363
Change in cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments:
Business acquisitions/divestiture(184)(327)(102)Net (gains) losses on sales and impairment of businesses and Discontinued operations, net of taxes
Tax (expense)/benefit———
Net of tax(184)(327)(102)
Reclassification related to Sylvamo Corporation spin-off(1,692)——Paid-in Capital
Total, net of tax(1,876)(327)(102)
Net gains and losses on cash flow hedging derivatives:
Cash flow hedges11(39)(6)(b)Cost of products sold and Discontinued operations, net of taxes
Total pre-tax amount11(39)(6)
Tax (expense)/benefit(2)132
Net of tax9(26)(4)
Reclassification of stranded tax effects——2Retained Earnings
Reclassification related to Sylvamo Corporation spin-off(1)——Paid-in Capital
Total, net of tax8(26)(2)
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax$(2,073)$(523)$259

(a) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 19 for additional details).

(b) This accumulated other comprehensive income component is included in our derivatives and hedging activities (see Note 17 for additional details).

NOTE 6 RESTRUCTURING CHARGES AND OTHER ITEMS

2021: During 2021, restructuring and other charges, net, totaling $509 million before taxes were recorded. The charges included:

In millions2021
Early debt extinguishment costs (see Note 16)$461
Building a Better IP (a)29
EMEA packaging restructuring (b)12
Other restructuring items7
Total$509

(a) Severance related to our Building a Better IP initiative which is focused on value creation through streamlined operations and

process optimization. The majority of the severance charges are expected to be paid in 2022.

b) Severance related to the optimization of our EMEA Packaging business. The majority of the severance charges are expected to be paid in 2022.

2020: During 2020, restructuring and other charges, net, totaling $195 million before taxes were recorded. These charges included:

In millions2020
Early debt extinguishment costs (see Note 16)$196
Other restructuring items(1)
Total$195

2019: During 2019, restructuring and other charges, net, totaling $51 million before taxes were recorded.

These charges included:

In millions2019
Overhead cost reduction initiative (a)$15
EMEA packaging restructuring (b)15
Early debt extinguishment costs (see Note 16)21
Total$51

(a) Includes pre-tax charges of $11 million in Corporate and $4 million in the Global Cellulose Fibers segment for severance related to an overhead cost reduction initiative. The majority of the severance charges were paid in 2020.

(b) Includes $14 million of severance and $1 million in other charges in conjunction with the restructuring of our EMEA Packaging business. The majority of the severance charges were paid in 2020.

NOTE 7 ACQUISITIONS

2021: On April 1, 2021, the Company closed on the previously announced acquisition of two box plants located in Spain. The total purchase consideration, inclusive of working capital adjustments, was approximately €71 million (approximately $83 million based on the April 1, 2021 exchange rate), subject to post-closing adjustments.

The following table summarizes the provisional fair value assigned to assets and liabilities acquired as of April 1, 2021:

In millions
Cash and temporary investments$5
Accounts and notes receivable10
Inventories3
Plants, properties and equipment50
Goodwill23
Intangible assets13
Total assets acquired104
Short-term debt2
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities4
Other current liabilities2
Long-term debt1
Deferred income taxes12
Total liabilities assumed21
Net assets acquired$83

Since the date of acquisition, Net sales of $28 million and Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings of $1 million have been included in the Company's consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021.

The purchase price and related allocation are preliminary and could be revised as a result of adjustments made to the purchase price, additional information obtained regarding assets acquired and

liabilities assumed, and revisions of provisional estimates of fair values, including, but not limited to, the completion of independent appraisals and valuations related to inventory, property, plant and equipment and acquired intangible assets. Adjustments to provisional amounts will be finalized as new information becomes available, but within the adjustment period of up to one year from the acquisition date.

Pro forma information has not been included as it is impracticable to obtain the information due to the lack of availability of historical U.S. GAAP financial data. The results of the operations of these businesses do not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations.

The Company has accounted for the above acquisition under ASC 805, "Business Combinations" and the results of operations have been included in International Paper's financial statements beginning with the date of acquisition.

In April 2021, the Company received a noncontrolling interest in a U.S-based corrugated packaging producer. In the second quarter, the Company recorded its investment of $115 million based on the fair value of the noncontrolling interest, and a corresponding contract liability that is amortized over 15 years. The Company is party to various agreements with the entity which includes a containerboard supply agreement. The Company is accounting for its interest as an equity method investment.

2020: In May 2020, the Company increased its noncontrolling interest in an entity that produces corrugated sheets. The equity purchase price was $56 million. The Company is party to various agreements with the entity which includes a containerboard supply agreement. The Company accounts for its interest as an equity method investment.

NOTE 8 DIVESTITURES AND IMPAIRMENTS OF BUSINESSES

PRINTING PAPERS SPIN-OFF

2021: On October 1, 2021, the Company completed the previously announced spin-off of its Printing Papers segment along with certain mixed-use coated paperboard and pulp businesses in North America, France and Russia into a standalone, publicly-traded company, Sylvamo Corporation. The transaction was implemented through the distribution of shares of the standalone company to International Paper's shareholders (the "Distribution"). As a result of the Distribution, Sylvamo Corporation is an independent

public company that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SLVM".

All current and historical operating results of the Sylvamo Corporation businesses and Kwidzyn are presented as Discontinued Operations, net of tax, in the consolidated statement of operations. Kwidzyn was previously part of the Printing Papers business prior to its sale in August 2021. See Kwidzyn Mill section below for further details regarding this sale. The following summarizes the major classes of line items comprising Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes and Equity Earnings reconciled to Discontinued Operations, net of tax, related to the Sylvamo Corporation businesses and Kwidzyn for all prior periods presented in the consolidated statement of operations:

In millions202120202019
Net Sales$2,417$3,015$4,059
Costs and Expenses
Cost of products sold1,5082,0362,597
Selling and administrative expenses224165199
Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested113196234
Distribution expenses229264310
Taxes other than payroll and income taxes243538
Restructuring and other charges, net——6
Net (gains) losses on sales of fixed assets(86)——
Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses(351)——
Interest expense, net(19)(2)(7)
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes and Equity Earnings775321682
Income tax provision (benefit)14569156
Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes$630$252$526

All historical assets and liabilities of the Sylvamo Corporation businesses and Kwidzyn are classified as current and long-term assets of discontinued operations and current and long-term liabilities of discontinued operations in the accompanying balance sheet. The following summarizes the major classes of assets and liabilities of the Sylvamo Corporation businesses and Kwidzyn reconciled to current assets and long-term assets of discontinued operations and current liabilities and long-term liabilities of

discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet:

In millions2020
Cash and temporary investments$127
Accounts and notes receivable432
Contract assets24
Inventories424
Other current assets43
Current assets of discontinued operations$1,050
Plants, Properties and Equipment$1,272
Forestlands293
Goodwill200
Right of Use Assets73
Deferred Charges and Other Assets116
Long-Term Assets of Discontinued Operations$1,954
Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt$4
Accounts payable285
Accrued payroll and benefits56
Other current liabilities150
Current liabilities of discontinued operations$495
Long-Term Debt$22
Deferred Income taxes171
Pension Benefit Obligation24
Postretirement and Postemployment Benefit Obligation17
Long-Term Lease Obligations59
Other Liabilities76
Long-Term Liabilities of Discontinued Operations$369

The following summarizes the total cash provided by operations and total cash used for investing activities related to the Sylvamo Corporation businesses and Kwidzyn and included in the consolidated statement of cash flows:

In millions202120202019
Cash Provided by (Used For) Operating Activities$290$463$831
Cash Provided by (Used For) Investment Activities$757$(111)$(147)

In anticipation of the spin-off, Sylvamo incurred $1.5 billion in debt during the third quarter of 2021 with the proceeds used for a distribution to the Company and other expenses associated with the transaction. The

Company was an obligor of the debt prior to the spin-off as Sylvamo was a wholly-owned subsidiary. Subsequent to the distribution of the net assets, the Company was no longer an obligor of the Sylvamo debt. The $1.5 billion of borrowings was comprised of $450 million of 7.00% senior unsecured notes due 2029 issued in September 2021. It was also comprised of the senior secured credit facility that Sylvamo entered into in September 2021 which consisted of $450 million of borrowings related to its term loan “B” facility, $520 million of borrowings related to its term loan “F” facility, and the $100 million draw on its revolving credit facility which had a capacity of $450 million. Additionally, at the time of the spin-off in the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company distributed $130 million to Sylvamo. The debt issuance and distribution to Sylvamo Corporation are classified as financing activities in the accompanying consolidated statement of cash flows.

KWIDZYN MILL

2021: On August 6, 2021, the Company completed the sale of its Kwidzyn, Poland mill for €669 million (approximately $794 million using the July 31, 2021 exchange rate) in cash, subject to final working capital and net debt adjustments. The business includes the pulp and paper mill in Kwidzyn and supporting functions. During the third quarter of 2021, the Company recorded a net gain of $360 million ($350 million after taxes) including a gain of $404 million ($394 million after taxes) related to the sale of net assets and a loss of $44 million (before and after taxes) related to the cumulative foreign currency translation loss. During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company incurred $9 million ($6 million after taxes) of costs related to the sale of Kwidzyn. All current year and historical operating results for Kwidzyn have been presented as Discontinued Operations, net of tax, in the consolidated statement of operations.

OLMUKSAN INTERNATIONAL PAPER

2021: On May 31, 2021, the Company completed the sale of its 90.38% ownership interest in Olmuksan International Paper, a corrugated packaging business in Turkey, to Mondi Group for €66 million (approximately $81 million using the May 31, 2021 exchange rate). During the second quarter of 2021, the Company recorded a gain of $6 million ($0 after taxes) related to the business working capital adjustment. This charge is included in the Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and is included in the results for the Industrial Packaging segment.

In conjunction with the announced agreement in the fourth quarter of 2020, a determination was made that the current book value of the Olmuksan International Paper disposal group exceeded its estimated fair value of $79 million which was based on the agreed upon transaction price. As a result, a preliminary charge of $123 million (before and after taxes) was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company recorded an additional charge of $2 million (before and after taxes) related to the cumulative foreign currency translation loss. This charge is included in the Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and is included in the results for the Industrial Packaging segment.

BRAZIL PACKAGING

2020: On October 14, 2020, the Company closed the previously announced sale of its Brazilian Industrial Packaging business for R$330 million ($58.5 million U.S. dollars), with R$280 million ($49.6 million U.S. dollars) paid at closing and R$50 million ($8.9 million U.S. dollars) to be paid one year from closing. This business includes three containerboard mills and four box plants and the agreement follows International Paper's previously announced strategic review of the Brazilian Industrial Packaging business.

In conjunction with the announced agreement, net pre-tax charges of $347 million ($340 million after taxes) were recorded in 2020. These charges included $327 million related to the cumulative foreign currency translation loss and a $20 million loss related the write down of the long-lived assets of the Brazilian Industrial Packaging business to their estimated fair value. These charges are included in Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and is included in the results for the Industrial Packaging segment.

NOTE 9 SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION

TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS

Temporary 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 notices are treated as cash equivalents and are stated at cost. Temporary investments totaled $1.1 billion and $294 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

ACCOUNTS AND NOTES RECEIVABLE

Accounts and notes receivable, net, by classification were:

In millions at December 3120212020
Accounts and notes receivable:
Trade$3,027$2,365
Other205267
Total$3,232$2,632

The allowance for expected credit losses was $34 million and $44 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Based on the Company's accounting estimates and the facts and circumstances available as of the reporting date, we believe our allowance for expected credit losses is adequate.

INVENTORIES

In millions at December 3120212020
Raw materials$245$211
Finished pulp and packaging products1,014876
Operating supplies486501
Other6938
Inventories$1,814$1,626

The last-in, first-out inventory method is used to value most of International Paper’s U.S. inventories. Approximately 80% of total raw materials and finished products inventories were valued using this method. The last-in, first-out inventory reserve was $195 million and $183 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

CURRENT INVESTMENTS

As a result of the spin-off of Sylvamo Corporation, the Company retained 19.9% of the shares of Sylvamo. The intent is to monetize its investment and to provide additional proceeds to the Company. The Company is accounting for its ownership interest in Sylvamo at fair value as an investment in equity securities. As of December 31, 2021 the investment was valued at $245 million and is recorded in Current investments on the accompanying balance sheet.

PLANTS, PROPERTIES AND EQUIPMENT

In millions at December 3120212020
Pulp and packaging facilities$27,025$26,706
Other properties and equipment9721,047
Gross cost27,99727,753
Less: Accumulated depreciation17,55616,808
Plants, properties and equipment, net$10,441$10,945

Non-cash additions to plants, property and equipment included within accounts payable were $106 million,

$41 million and $164 million at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Amounts invested in capital projects in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of cash flows are presented net of insurance recoveries of $17 million and $42 million received during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. There were no insurance recoveries received during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Annual straight-line depreciable lives generally are, for buildings - 20 to 40 years, and for machinery and equipment - 3 to 20 years. Depreciation expense was $1.1 billion for each of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 and $1.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019. Cost of products sold excludes depreciation and amortization expense.

INTEREST

Interest payments of $473 million, $682 million and $748 million were made during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Amounts related to interest were as follows:

In millions202120202019
Interest expense$430$597$701
Interest income93151202
Capitalized interest costs123128

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

At December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had recorded liabilities of $107 million and $94 million, respectively, related to asset retirement obligations.

NOTE 10 LEASES

International Paper leases various real estate, including certain operating facilities, warehouses, office space and land. The Company also leases material handling equipment, vehicles, and certain other equipment. The Company's leases have remaining lease terms of up to 32 years.

COMPONENTS OF LEASE EXPENSE

In millions202120202019
Operating lease costs, net$138$132$121
Variable lease costs404351
Short-term lease costs, net534646
Finance lease cost
Amortization of lease assets11109
Interest on lease liabilities333
Total lease cost, net$245$234$230

SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION RELATED TO LEASES

In millionsClassification20212020
Assets
Operating lease assetsRight of use assets$365$387
Finance lease assetsPlants, properties and equipment, net (a)5762
Total leased assets$422$449
Liabilities
Current
OperatingOther current liabilities$132$134
FinanceNotes payable and current maturities of long-term debt1010
Noncurrent
OperatingLong-term lease obligations236256
FinanceLong-term debt5661
Total lease liabilities$434$461

(a) Finance leases are recorded net of accumulated amortization of $51 million and $43 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

LEASE TERM AND DISCOUNT RATE

In millions20212020
Weighted average remaining lease term (years)
Operating leases4.0 years4.0 years
Finance leases9.1 years9.3 years
Weighted average discount rate
Operating leases2.12%2.63%
Finance leases4.50%4.45%

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION RELATED TO LEASES

In millions202120202019
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows related to operating leases$166$162$147
Operating cash flows related to financing leases455
Financing cash flows related to finance leases14109
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities
Operating leases156179162
Finance leases91111

MATURITY OF LEASE LIABILITIES

In millionsOperating LeasesFinancing LeasesTotal
2022$139$13$152
20239712109
2024601070
202538947
202623831
Thereafter283462
Total lease payments38586471
Less imputed interest172037
Present value of lease liabilities$368$66$434

NOTE 11 EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS

The Company accounts for the following investments under the equity method of accounting.

ILIM S.A. ("Ilim")

The Company holds a 50% equity interest in Ilim, which has subsidiaries whose primary operations are in Russia. The Company recorded equity earnings, net of taxes, of $311 million, $48 million, and $207 million in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, for Ilim. Foreign exchange gains (losses) included in equity earnings in 2021, were not material and JSC Ilim Group had no U.S. dollar-denominated debt outstanding as of December 31, 2021. Equity earnings includes an after-tax foreign exchange (loss) gain of $(50) million, and $32 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively, primarily on the remeasurement of U.S. dollar-denominated net debt. The Company received cash dividends from the joint venture of $154 million, $141 million and $246 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company's investment in Ilim, which is recorded in Investments in the consolidated balance sheet, was $557 million and $393 million, respectively, which was $121 million and $127 million, respectively, more than the Company's proportionate share of the joint venture's underlying net assets.

The differences primarily relate to currency translation adjustments and the basis difference between the fair value of our investment at acquisition and the underlying net assets. Prior to the spin-off of the Printing Papers segment on October 1, 2021, the Company was party to a joint marketing agreement with JSC Ilim Group, a subsidiary of Ilim, under which the Company purchased, marketed and sold paper produced by JSC Ilim Group. Purchases under this agreement were $125 million, $174 million and $215 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.The joint marketing agreement

was conveyed to Sylvamo Corporation as part of the spin-off transaction on October 1, 2021.

Summarized financial information for Ilim is presented in the following tables:

Balance Sheet

In millions20212020
Current assets$1,010$739
Noncurrent assets3,1452,733
Current liabilities1,212674
Noncurrent liabilities2,0472,249
Noncontrolling interests2417

Income Statement

In millions202120202019
Net sales$2,693$2,015$2,189
Gross profit1,4328381,025
Income from continuing operations635115438
Net income613113424

GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS, LLC

The Company completed the transfer of its North American Consumer Packaging business in exchange for an initial 20.5% ownership interest (79,911,591 units) in Graphic Packaging International Partners, LLC (GPIP) in 2018. The Company has since fully monetized its investment in GPIP with transactions beginning in the first quarter 2020 through the second quarter 2021.

GPIP Monetization Transactions

DateTransaction TypeUnitsProceedsPre-Tax GainAfter-Tax Gain
In millions except units
2020 First QuarterUnits exchange15,150,784$250$33$25
2020 Third QuarterUnits exchange17,399,414250——
2021 First QuarterUnits exchange and open market sale24,588,3163973325
2021 First QuarterTRA (a)4231
2021 Second QuarterUnits exchange and open market sale22,773,0774036448
2021 Second QuarterTRA (a)6650

(a) The TRA entitles the Company to 50% of the amount of any tax benefits projected to be realized by GPIP upon the Company's exchange of its units. The Company made income tax payments of $310 million in 2021 as a result of the monetization of its investment in GPIP.

As of June 30, 2021, the Company no longer had an ownership interest in GPIP. The Company recorded equity earnings of $4 million, $40 million and $46 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company received cash dividends from GPIP of $5 million, $20 million and $27 million during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Company's remaining equity method investments are not material.

NOTE 12 GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES

GOODWILL

The following table presents changes in the goodwill balances as allocated to each business segment for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

In millionsIndustrial PackagingGlobal Cellulose FibersTotal
Balance as of December 31, 2019
Goodwill$3,410$52$3,462
Accumulated impairment losses(296)(52)(348)
3,114—3,114
Currency translation and other (a)6—6
Goodwill additions/reductions(5)(b)(c)—(5)
Balance as of December 31, 2020
Goodwill3,411523,463
Accumulated impairment losses(296)(52)(348)
3,115—3,115
Currency translation and other (a)(8)—(8)
Goodwill additions/reductions23(c)—23
Balance as of December 31, 2021
Goodwill3,426523,478
Accumulated impairment losses(296)(52)(348)
Total$3,130$—$3,130

*(a)*Represents the effects of foreign currency translations and reclassifications.

(b) Reflects a reduction from tax benefits generated by the deduction of goodwill amortization for tax purposes in the U.S.

(c) Reflects the goodwill for the acquisitions and divestitures of Industrial Packaging box plants in EMEA.

The Company performed its annual testing of its reporting units for possible goodwill impairments by applying the qualitative assessment to its North America Industrial Packaging reporting unit and the quantitative goodwill impairment test to its EMEA Industrial Packaging reporting unit as of October 1, 2021.

For the current year evaluation, the Company assessed various assumptions, events and circumstances that would have affected the estimated fair value of the North America Industrial Packaging reporting unit under the qualitative assessment and the results of the qualitative assessments indicated that it was not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit was less than its carrying value.

The Company also performed the quantitative goodwill impairment test which included comparing the carrying amount of the EMEA Industrial Packaging reporting unit to its estimated fair value.

The Company performed the quantitative goodwill impairment test for EMEA Industrial Packaging due to the changes in the reporting unit's asset base as a result of acquisitions and divestitures since the previous quantitative goodwill impairment test. The Company calculated the estimated fair value of the reporting unit using a weighted approach based on discounted future cash flows, market multiples and transaction multiples. The carrying amount did not exceed the estimated fair value of the EMEA Industrial Packaging reporting unit.

In addition, the Company considered whether there were any events or circumstances outside of the annual evaluation that would reduce the fair value of its reporting units below their carrying amounts and necessitate a goodwill impairment evaluation. In consideration of all relevant factors, there were no indicators that would require goodwill impairment subsequent to October 1, 2021.

OTHER INTANGIBLES

Identifiable intangible assets comprised the following:

20212020
In millions at December 31Gross Carrying AmountAccumulated AmortizationNet Intangible AssetsGross Carrying AmountAccumulated AmortizationNet Intangible Assets
Customer relationships and lists$493$273$220$483$244$239
Tradenames, patents and trademarks, and developed technology1701313917011753
Land and water rights826826
Software1515—1515—
Other9631073
Total$695$427$268$686$385$301

The Company recognized the following amounts as amortization expense related to intangible assets:

In millions202120202019
Amortization expense related to intangible assets$44$45$45

Based on current intangibles subject to amortization, estimated amortization expense for each of the succeeding years is as follows: 2022 – $44 million, 2023 – $40 million, 2024 – $40 million, 2025 – $35 million, 2026 – $30 million, and cumulatively thereafter – $73 million.

NOTE 13 INCOME TAXES

The components of International Paper’s earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings by taxing jurisdiction were as follows:

In millions202120202019
Earnings (loss)
U.S.$906$660$1,103
Non-U.S.93(331)(182)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings (losses)$999$329$921

The provision (benefit) for income taxes from continuing operations (excluding noncontrolling interests) by taxing jurisdiction was as follows:

In millions202120202019
Current tax provision (benefit)
U.S. federal$413$98$219
U.S. state and local473118
Non-U.S.37(3)18
$497$126$255
Deferred tax provision (benefit)
U.S. federal$(274)$(2)$47
U.S. state and local(27)2(21)
Non-U.S.(8)50196
$(309)$50$222
Income tax provision (benefit)$188$176$477

The Company’s deferred income tax provision (benefit) includes an $8 million benefit, a $2 million benefit and a $44 million benefit for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, for the effect of various changes in non-U.S. and U.S. federal and state tax rates.

International Paper made income tax payments, net of refunds, of $601 million, $162 million and $349 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

A reconciliation of income tax expense using the statutory U.S. income tax rate compared with the actual income tax provision follows:

In millions202120202019
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings$999$329$921
Statutory U.S. income tax rate21%21%21%
Tax expense (benefit) using statutory U.S. income tax rate21069193
State and local income taxes1526(1)
Impact of rate differential on non-U.S. permanent differences and earnings52925
Foreign valuation allowance——203
Adjustment to tax basis of assets(14)——
Non-deductible business expenses146
Non-deductible impairments—9231
Non-deductible compensation11112
Tax audits9(28)—
Deemed repatriation, net of foreign tax credits——1
U.S. federal tax rate change—7—
Foreign derived intangible income deduction(7)—4
US tax on non-U.S. earnings (GILTI and Subpart F)5629
Foreign tax credits(6)(3)2
General business and other tax credits(39)(42)(31)
Tax expense (benefit) on equity earnings—810
Other, net(2)(3)3
Income tax provision (benefit)$188$176$477
Effective income tax rate19%53%52%

The tax effects of significant temporary differences, representing deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2021 and 2020, were as follows:

In millions20212020
Deferred income tax assets:
Postretirement benefit accruals$84$91
Pension obligations—280
Tax credits199293
Net operating and capital loss carryforwards661563
Compensation reserves184170
Lease obligations9299
Environmental reserves104111
Other189191
Gross deferred income tax assets$1,513$1,798
Less: valuation allowance (a)(708)(681)
Net deferred income tax asset$805$1,117
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Intangibles$(140)$(114)
Investments(56)(251)
Right of use assets(92)(99)
Pension obligations(34)—
Plants, properties and equipment(1,776)(1,826)
Forestlands, related installment sales, and investment in subsidiary(1,279)(1,351)
Gross deferred income tax liabilities$(3,377)$(3,641)
Net deferred income tax liability$(2,572)$(2,524)

(a) The net change in the total valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was a increase of $27 million and an decrease of $(6) million, respectively.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet under the captions Deferred charges and other assets and Deferred income taxes. Of the $1.3 billion of deferred tax liabilities for forestlands, related installment sales, and investment in subsidiary, $813 million is attributable to an investment in subsidiary and relates to a 2006 International Paper installment sale of forestlands and $487 million is attributable to a 2007 Temple-Inland installment sale of forestlands (see Note 15).

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:

In millions202120202019
Balance at January 1$(143)$(166)$(172)
(Additions) reductions for tax positions related to current year(13)(10)(5)
(Additions) for tax positions related to prior years(23)(10)(3)
Reductions for tax positions related to prior years1305
Settlements10137
Expiration of statutes of limitations112
Currency translation adjustment1(1)—
Balance at December 31$(166)$(143)$(166)

If the Company were to prevail on the unrecognized tax benefits recorded, substantially all of the balances at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 would benefit the effective tax rate.

The Company accrues interest on unrecognized tax benefits as a component of interest expense. Penalties, if incurred, are recognized as a component of income tax expense. The Company had approximately $21 million and $16 million accrued for the payment of estimated interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The Company is currently subject to audits in the United States and other taxing jurisdictions around the world. Generally, tax years 2009 through 2020 remain open and subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities. The Company frequently faces challenges regarding the amount of taxes due. These challenges include positions taken by the Company related to the timing, nature, and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. Pending audit settlements and the expiration of statute of limitations could reduce the uncertain tax positions by $3 million during the next twelve months.

The Company provides for foreign withholding taxes and any applicable U.S. state income taxes on earnings intended to be repatriated from non-U.S. subsidiaries, which we believe will be limited in the future to each year's current earnings. No provision for these taxes on approximately $2.3 billion of undistributed earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021 has been made, as these earnings are considered indefinitely invested. Determination of the amount of taxes that might be paid on these undistributed earnings if eventually remitted in a taxable manner is not practicable.

If management decided to monetize the Company’s foreign investments, we would recognize the tax cost related to the excess of the book value over the tax basis of those investments. This would include foreign withholding taxes and any applicable U.S. Federal and state income taxes. Determination of the

tax cost that would be incurred upon monetization of the Company’s foreign investments is not practicable; however, we do not believe it would be material.

The following details the scheduled expiration dates of the Company’s net operating loss and income tax credit carryforwards:

In millions2022 Through 20312032 Through 2041IndefiniteTotal
U.S. federal and non-U.S. NOLs$53$123$425$601
State taxing jurisdiction NOLs (a)528—60
U.S. federal, non- U.S. and state tax credit carryforwards (a)815113199
Total$186$136$538$860
Less: valuation allowance (a)(100)(118)(389)(607)
Total, net$86$18$149$253

(a) State amounts are presented net of federal benefit.

NOTE 14 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

GUARANTEES

In connection with sales of businesses, property, equipment, forestlands and other assets, International Paper commonly makes representations and warranties relating to such businesses or assets, and may agree to indemnify buyers with respect to tax and environmental liabilities, breaches of representations and warranties, and other matters. Where liabilities for such matters are determined to be probable and reasonably estimable, accrued liabilities are recorded at the time of sale as a cost of the transaction.

Brazil Goodwill Tax Matter**:** The Brazilian Federal Revenue Service has challenged the deductibility of goodwill amortization generated in a 2007 acquisition by Sylvamo do Brasil Ltda., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("Sylvamo Brazil") until the October 1, 2021 spin-off of the Printing Papers business after which is became a subsidiary of Sylvamo Corporation. Sylvamo Brazil received assessments for the tax years 2007-2015 totaling approximately $106 million in tax, and $351 million in interest, penalties, and fees as of December 31, 2021 (adjusted for variation in currency exchange rates).

After a previous favorable ruling challenging the basis for these assessments, Sylvamo Brazil received subsequent unfavorable decisions from the Brazilian Administrative Council of Tax Appeals. Sylvamo Brazil has appealed these and any future unfavorable administrative judgments to the Brazilian federal courts; however, this tax litigation matter may take many years to resolve. Sylvamo Brazil and International Paper believe the transaction underlying these assessments was appropriately evaluated, and that Sylvamo Brazil's tax position would be sustained, based on Brazilian tax law.

This matter pertains to a business that was conveyed to Sylvamo Corporation as of October 1, 2021, as part of our spin-off transaction. Pursuant to the terms of the tax matters agreement entered into between the Company and Sylvamo Corporation, the Company will pay 60% and Sylvamo will pay 40%, of up to $300 million of any tax assessment related to the matter, and the Company will pay all tax assessment amounts over $300 million. All decisions concerning the conduct of the litigation related to this matter, including strategy, settlement, pursuit and abandonment, will be made by the Company. Sylvamo Corporation thus has no control over any decision related to this ongoing litigation. The Company intends to vigorously defend this historic tax position against the current assessments and any similar assessments that may be issued for tax years subsequent to 2015. The Brazilian government may enact a tax amnesty program that would allow Sylvamo do Brasil Ltda. to resolve this dispute for less than the assessed amount. As of October 1, 2021, in connection with the recording of the distribution of assets and liabilities resulting from the spin-off transaction, the Company has established a liability representing the initial fair value of the contingent liability under the tax matters agreement. The contingent liability was determined in accordance with ASC 460 "Guarantees" based on the probability weighting of various possible outcomes. The initial fair value estimate and recorded liability as of December 31, 2021 is $48 million. This liability will not be adjusted in subsequent periods unless facts and circumstances change such that an amount greater than the initial recognized liability becomes probable and estimable.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Environmental

The Company has been named as a potentially responsible party (PRP) in environmental remediation actions under various federal and state laws, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Many of these proceedings involve the

cleanup of hazardous substances at large commercial landfills that received waste from many different sources. While joint and several liability is authorized under CERCLA and equivalent state laws, as a practical matter, liability for CERCLA cleanups is typically allocated among the many PRPs. There are other remediation costs typically associated with the cleanup of hazardous substances at the Company’s current, closed or formerly-owned facilities, and recorded as liabilities in the balance sheet.

Remediation costs are recorded in the consolidated financial statements when they become probable and reasonably estimable. International Paper has estimated the probable liability associated with these environmental remediation matters, including those described herein, to be approximately $182 million ($191 million undiscounted) in the aggregate as of December 31, 2021. Other than as described below, completion of required environmental remedial actions is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Cass Lake: One of the matters included above arises out of a closed wood-treatment facility located in Cass Lake, Minnesota. In June 2011, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected and published a proposed soil remedy at the site with an estimated cost of $46 million. In April 2020, the EPA issued a final plan concerning clean-up standards at a portion of the site, the estimated cost of which is included within the soil remedy cost referenced above.

Kalamazoo River: The Company is a PRP with respect to the Allied Paper, Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Superfund Site in Michigan. The EPA asserts that the site is contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) primarily as a result of discharges from various paper mills located along the Kalamazoo River, including a paper mill formerly owned by St. Regis Paper Company (St. Regis). The Company is a successor in interest to St. Regis.

  • Operable Unit 5, Area 1: In March 2016, the Company and other PRPs received a special notice letter from the EPA (i) inviting participation in implementing a remedy for a portion of the site known as Operable Unit 5, Area 1, and (ii) demanding reimbursement of EPA past costs totaling $37 million, including $19 million in past costs previously demanded by the EPA. The Company responded to the special notice letter. In December 2016, the EPA issued a unilateral administrative order to the Company and other PRPs to perform the remedy. The Company responded to the unilateral administrative order,

agreeing to comply with the order subject to its sufficient cause defenses.

  • Operable Unit 1: In October 2016, the Company and another PRP received a special notice letter from the EPA inviting participation in the remedial design component of the landfill remedy for the Allied Paper Mill, which is also known as Operable Unit 1. The Record of Decision establishing the final landfill remedy for the Allied Paper Mill was issued by the EPA in September 2016. The Company responded to the Allied Paper Mill special notice letter in December 2016. In February 2017, the EPA informed the Company that it would make other arrangements for the performance of the remedial design.

In addition, in December 2019, the United States published notice in the Federal Register of a proposed consent decree with NCR Corporation (one of the parties to the allocation/apportionment litigation described below), the State of Michigan and natural resource trustees under which NCR would make payments of more than $100 million and perform work in Operable Unit 5, Areas 2, 3, and 4 at an estimated cost of $136 million. In December 2020, the Federal District Court approved the proposed consent decree.

The Company’s CERCLA liability has not been finally determined with respect to these or any other portions of the site, and except as noted above, the Company has declined to perform any work or reimburse the EPA at this time. As noted below, the Company is involved in allocation/apportionment litigation with regard to the site. Accordingly, it is premature to predict the outcome or estimate our maximum reasonably possible loss or range of loss with respect to this site. We have recorded a liability for future remediation costs at the site that are probable and reasonably estimable, and it remains reasonably possible that additional losses in excess of this recorded liability could be material.

The Company was named as a defendant by Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP, Fort James Corporation and Georgia Pacific LLC in a contribution and cost recovery action for alleged pollution at the site. NCR Corporation and Weyerhaeuser Company are also named as defendants in the suit. The suit seeks contribution under CERCLA for costs purportedly expended by plaintiffs ($79 million as of the filing of the complaint) and for future remediation costs. In June 2018, the Court issued its Final Judgment and Order, which fixed the past cost amount at approximately $50 million (plus interest to be determined) and allocated to the Company a 15% share of responsibility for those past costs. The Court did not address responsibility for future costs in its

decision. In July 2018, the Company and each of the other parties filed notices appealing the Final Judgment and prior orders incorporated into that Judgment. The Company appeal is pending.

Harris County: International Paper and McGinnis Industrial Maintenance Corporation (MIMC), a subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc. (WMI), are PRPs at the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site in Harris County, Texas. The PRPs have been actively participating in the activities at the site and share the costs of these activities.

In October 2017, the EPA issued a Record of Decision (ROD) selecting the final remedy for the site: removal and relocation of the waste material from both the northern and southern impoundments. The EPA did not specify the methods or practices needed to perform this work. The EPA’s selected remedy was accompanied by a cost estimate of approximately $115 million ($105 million for the northern impoundment, and $10 million for the southern impoundment). Subsequent to the issuance of the ROD, there have been numerous meetings between the EPA and the PRPs, and the Company continues to work with the EPA and MIMC/WMI to develop the remedial design.

To this end, in April 2018, the PRPs entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) with the EPA, agreeing to work together to develop the remedial design for the northern impoundment. That remedial design work is ongoing. The AOC does not include any agreement to perform waste removal or other construction activity at the site. Rather, it involves adaptive management techniques and a pre-design investigation, the objectives of which include filling data gaps (including but not limited to post-Hurricane Harvey technical data generated prior to the ROD and not incorporated into the selected remedy), refining areas and volumes of materials to be addressed, determining if an excavation remedy is able to be implemented in a manner protective of human health and the environment, and investigating potential impacts of remediation activities to infrastructure in the vicinity.

During the first quarter of 2020, through a series of meetings among the Company, MIMC/WMI, our consultants, the EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), progress was made to resolve key technical issues previously preventing the Company from determining the manner in which the selected remedy for the northern impoundment would be feasibly implemented. As a result of these developments the Company reserved the following amounts in relation to remediation at this site: (a) $10 million for the southern impoundment; and (b)

$55 million for the northern impoundment, which represents the Company's 50% share of our estimate of the low end of the range of probable remediation costs.

We have submitted the Final Design Package for the southern impoundment to the EPA, and the EPA approved this plan May 7, 2021. The EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order for Remedial Action of the southern impoundment on August 5, 2021.

With respect to the northern impoundment, although several key technical issues have been resolved, we still face significant challenges remediating this area in a cost-efficient manner and without a release to the environment and therefore our discussions with the EPA on the best approach to remediation will continue. Because of ongoing questions regarding cost effectiveness, timing and gathering other technical data, additional losses in excess of our recorded liability are possible. We are currently unable to reasonably estimate any further adjustment to our recorded liability or any loss or range of loss in excess of such liability; however, we believe it is unlikely any adjustment would be material.

Asbestos-Related Matters

We have been named as a defendant in various asbestos-related personal injury litigation, in both state and federal court, primarily in relation to the prior operations of certain companies previously acquired by the Company. As of December 31, 2021, the Company's total recorded liability with respect to pending and future asbestos-related claims was $103 million, net of estimated insurance recoveries. While it is reasonably possible that the Company may incur losses in excess of its recorded liability with respect to asbestos-related matters, we are unable to estimate any loss or range in excess of such liability, and do not believe additional material losses are probable.

Antitrust

In March 2017, the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) commenced an investigation into the Italian packaging industry to determine whether producers of corrugated sheets and boxes violated the applicable European competition law. In April 2019, the ICA concluded its investigation and issued initial findings alleging that over 30 producers, including our Italian packaging subsidiary (IP Italy), improperly coordinated the production and sale of corrugated sheets and boxes. On August 6, 2019, the ICA issued its decision and assessed IP Italy a fine of €29 million (approximately $32 million at current exchange rates) which was recorded in the third quarter of 2019. We appealed the ICA decision and our appeal was denied on May 25, 2021. However, we continue to

believe we have numerous and strong bases to challenge the ICA decision, and we have further appealed the decision to the Italian Council of State.

Taxes Other Than Payroll and Income Taxes

In 2017, the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court decided that the state value-added tax (VAT) should not be included in the basis of federal VAT calculations. In 2018 and 2019, the Brazilian tax authorities published both an internal consultation and a normative ruling with a narrow interpretation of the effects of the case. Based upon the best information available to us at that time, we determined an estimated refund was probable of being realized. As of March 31, 2021, we had recognized a receivable of $11 million based upon the authority's narrow interpretation. On May 13, 2021, the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court ruled again on the case. This ruling provides a much broader definition of the state VAT, which increased the exclusion amount from the Federal VAT calculations. Therefore, we recognized an additional receivable of $70 million during the three months ended June 30, 2021, which brought the total receivable to $81 million as of June 30, 2021. The $70 million of income recognized during the second quarter of 2021 included income of $42 million in Cost of Products sold and income of $28 million in Interest expense, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations. A portion of this receivable has been consumed by offsetting various taxes payable leaving a remaining receivable of $48 million. This remaining receivable was conveyed to Sylvamo Corporation on of October 1, 2021, as part of our spin-off transaction.

General

The Company is involved in various other inquiries, administrative proceedings and litigation relating to environmental and safety matters, personal injury, product liability, labor and employment, contracts, sales of property, intellectual property, tax, and other matters, some of which allege substantial monetary damages. See Note 13 for details regarding a tax matter. Assessments of lawsuits and claims can involve a series of complex judgments about future events, can rely heavily on estimates and assumptions, and are otherwise subject to significant uncertainties. As a result, there can be no certainty that the Company will not ultimately incur charges in excess of presently recorded liabilities. The Company believes that loss contingencies arising from pending matters including the matters described herein, will not have a material effect on the consolidated financial position or liquidity of the Company. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties involved in pending or threatened legal matters, some

of which are beyond the Company's control, and the large or indeterminate damages sought in some of these matters, a future adverse ruling, settlement, unfavorable development, or increase in accruals with respect to these matters could result in future charges that could be material to the Company's results of operations or cash flows in any particular reporting period.

NOTE 15 VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

In connection with the 2006 sale of approximately 5.6 million acres of forestlands, International Paper received installment notes (the "Timber Notes") totaling approximately $4.8 billion. The Timber Notes were used as collateral for borrowings from third party lenders, which effectively monetized the Timber Notes through the creation of newly formed special purposes entities (the "Entities"). The monetization structure preserved the tax deferral that resulted from the 2006 forestlands sales. During 2015, International Paper initiated a series of actions in order to extend the 2006 monetization structure and maintain the long-term nature of the deferred tax liability. The Entities, with assets and liabilities primarily consisting of the Timber Notes and third-party bank loans (the "Extension Loans"), were restructured which resulted in the formation of wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote special purpose entities (the "2015 Financing Entities").

In August 2021, the Timber Notes of $4.8 billion and the Extension Loans of $4.2 billion related to the 2015 Financing Entities both matured. We settled the Extension Loans at their maturity with the proceeds from the Timber Notes. This resulted in cash proceeds of approximately $630 million representing our equity in the variable interest entities. Maturity of the installment notes and termination of the monetization structure also resulted in a $72 million tax liability that was paid in the fourth quarter of 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the remaining deferred tax liability was $813 million. The 2015 timber monetization restructuring is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service. An unfavorable resolution in such current examination, future administrative procedures, or future tax litigation could result in material, accelerated cash tax payments as a result of all or a portion of deferred tax liability becoming payable.

Activity between the Company and the 2015 Financing Entities was as follows:

In millions202120202019
Revenue (a)$61$95$95
Expense (a)34122128
Cash receipts (b)959595
Cash payments (c)38157128

*(a)*The revenue and expense are included in Interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

*(b)*The cash receipts are interest received on the Financial assets of variable interest entities.

*(c)*The cash payments represent interest paid on Current nonrecourse financial liabilities of variable interest entities.

In connection with the acquisition of Temple-Inland in February 2012, two special purpose entities became wholly-owned subsidiaries of International Paper. The use of the two wholly-owned special purpose entities discussed below preserved the tax deferral that resulted from the 2007 Temple-Inland timberlands sales. As of December 31, 2021, this deferred tax liability was $487 million, which will be settled with the maturity of the notes in 2027.

In October 2007, Temple-Inland sold 1.55 million acres of timberland for $2.4 billion. The total consideration consisted almost entirely of notes due in 2027 issued by the buyer of the timberland, which Temple-Inland contributed to two wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote special purpose entities. The notes are shown in Long-term financial assets of variable interest entities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and are supported by $2.4 billion of irrevocable letters of credit issued by three banks, which are required to maintain minimum credit ratings on their long-term debt.

In December 2007, Temple-Inland's two wholly-owned special purpose entities borrowed $2.1 billion which is shown in Long-term nonrecourse financial liabilities of variable interest entities. The loans are repayable in 2027 and are secured by the $2.4 billion of notes and the irrevocable letters of credit securing the notes, and are nonrecourse to us. The loan agreements provide that if a credit rating of any of the banks issuing the letters of credit is downgraded below the specified threshold, the letters of credit issued by that bank must be replaced within 30 days with letters of credit from another qualifying financial institution.

As of both December 31, 2021 and 2020, the fair value of the notes receivable was $2.3 billion. As of both December 31, 2021 and 2020, the fair value of this debt was $2.1 billion. The notes receivable and debt are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy, which is further defined in Note 17.

Activity between the Company and the 2007 financing entities was as follows:

In millions202120202019
Revenue (a)$24$41$79
Expense (b)244376
Cash receipts (c)52962
Cash payments (d)164069

*(a)*The revenue is included in Interest expense, net, in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and includes approximately $19 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, of accretion income for the amortization of the purchase accounting adjustment on the Financial assets of variable interest entities.

(b) The expense is included in Interest expense, net, in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and includes approximately $7 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 respectively, of accretion expense for the amortization of the purchase accounting adjustment on the Long-term nonrecourse financial liabilities of variable interest entities.

(c) The cash receipts are interest received on the Financial assets of special purpose entities.

(d) The cash payments are interest paid on Nonrecourse financial liabilities of special purpose entities.

NOTE 16 DEBT AND LINES OF CREDIT

Amounts related to early debt extinguishment during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

In millions202120202019
Early debt reductions (a)$2,472$1,640$614
Pre-tax early debt extinguishment costs (b)46119621

*(a)*Reductions related to notes with interest rates ranging from 3.00% to 9.50% with original maturities from 2021 to 2048 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

*(b)*Amounts are included in Restructuring and other charges in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

The Company's early debt reductions in 2021 included debt tenders of $500 million with interest rates ranging from 4.80% to 5.15% and maturity dates ranging from 2035 to 2046, $200 million with an interest rate of 3.55% due in 2029, and $558 million with interest rates ranging from 4.35% to 4.40% and maturity dates ranging from 2047 to 2048. In addition

to these debt tenders, the Company had make whole calls of $517 million related to debt with an interest rate 3.80% due in 2026 and $268 million related to debt with an interest rate of 3.00% due in 2027. Finally, the Company had $429 million in open market repurchases related to debt with interest rates ranging from 3.00% to 5.38% and maturity dates ranging from 2027 to 2048.

The Company had debt issuances in 2021 of $1.5 billion related primarily to Sylvamo debt issuances as discussed further in Note 8 - Divestitures and Impairments of Businesses. In addition to the early debt reductions, the Company had debt reductions of $37 million in 2021 related primarily to capital leases, debt maturities, and international debt.

The borrowing capacity of the Company's commercial paper program is $1.0 billion. Under the terms of this program, individual maturities on borrowings may vary, but not exceed one year from the date of issue. Interest bearing notes may be issued either as fixed or floating rate notes. The Company had no borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, under this program.

In March 2020, the Company entered into a $750 million contractually committed 364-day revolving credit agreement with a syndicate of banks and other financial institutions which supplemented the Company's $1.5 billion credit agreement. The Company determined not to extend the $750 million credit agreement after its expiration on March 24, 2021. In June 2021, the Company extended the maturity date of the $1.5 billion credit facility from December 2022 to June 2026. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the $1.5 billion credit agreement.

In April 2020, the Company's receivable securitization program was amended from an uncommitted financing arrangement to a committed financing arrangement with a borrowing limit up to $550 million based on eligible receivables balances that expires in April 2022. In February 2021, the Company's receivable securitization program was amended from a committed financing arrangement to an uncommitted financing arrangement with the borrowing limit and expiration date remaining unchanged. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the program.

A summary of long-term debt follows:

In millions at December 3120212020
6.875% notes – due 20239494
7.350% notes – due 20254444
7.750% notes – due 20253131
3.800% notes – due 2026—517
7.200% notes – due 20265858
6.400% notes – due 202655
3.000% notes – due 2027—477
7.150% notes – due 202777
3.550% notes – due 2029—200
6.875% notes – due 20293737
5.000% notes – due 2035407600
6.650% notes – due 203744
8.700% notes – due 2038265265
7.300% notes – due 2039722722
6.000% notes – due 2041585585
4.800% notes – due 2044686800
5.150% notes – due 2046449700
4.400% notes – due 20476481,084
4.350% notes – due 2048744938
Floating rate notes – due 2020 – 2024 (a)222245
Environmental and industrial development bonds – due 2022 – 2035 (b)489579
Total principal5,4977,992
Capitalized leases6671
Premiums, discounts, and debt issuance costs(48)(80)
Terminated interest rate swaps5880
Other (c)65
Total (d)5,5798,068
Less: current maturities19626
Long-term debt$5,383$8,042

*(a)*The weighted average interest rate on these notes was 1.4% in 2021 and 1.3% in 2020.

*(b)*The weighted average interest rate on these bonds was 3.2% in 2021 and 3.5% in 2020.

*(c)*Includes $1 million and $4 million of fair market value adjustments as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

*(d)*The fair market value was approximately $7.1 billion at December 31, 2021 and $10.5 billion at December 31, 2020.

At December 31, 2021, contractual obligations for future payments of debt maturities (including finance lease liabilities disclosed in Note 10 - Leases and excluding the timber monetization structures disclosed in Note 15 - Variable Interest Entities) by calendar year were as follows over the next five years: 2022 – $196 million; 2023 – $358 million; 2024 – $149 million; 2025 – $206 million; and 2026 – $73 million.

The Company’s financial covenants require the maintenance of a minimum net worth, as defined in our debt agreements, of $9 billion and a total debt-to-capital ratio of less than 60%. Net worth is defined as

the sum of common stock, paid-in capital and retained earnings, less treasury stock plus any cumulative goodwill impairment charges. The calculation also excludes accumulated other comprehensive income/loss and both the current and long-term Nonrecourse Financial Liabilities of Variable Interest Entities. The total debt-to-capital ratio is defined as total debt divided by the sum of total debt plus net worth. As of December 31, 2021, we were in compliance with our debt covenants.

NOTE 17 DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

International Paper periodically uses derivatives and other financial instruments to hedge exposures to interest rate, commodity and currency risks. International Paper does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. For hedges that meet the hedge accounting criteria at inception, International Paper formally designates and documents the instrument as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge or a net investment hedge of a specific underlying exposure.

INTEREST RATE RISK MANAGEMENT

Our policy is to manage interest cost using a mixture of fixed-rate and variable-rate debt. To manage this risk in a cost-efficient manner, we enter into interest rate swaps whereby we agree to exchange with the counterparty, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed and variable interest amounts calculated by reference to a notional amount.

Interest rate swaps that meet specific accounting criteria are accounted for as fair value or cash flow hedges. For fair value hedges, the changes in the fair value of both the hedging instruments and the underlying debt obligations are immediately recognized in interest expense. For cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument is reported in Accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) and reclassified into interest expense over the life of the underlying debt. The ineffective portion for both cash flow and fair value hedges, which is not material for any year presented, is immediately recognized in earnings.

FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK MANAGEMENT

We manufacture and sell our products and finance operations in a number of countries throughout the

world and, as a result, are exposed to movements in foreign currency exchange rates. The purpose of our foreign currency hedging program is to manage the volatility associated with the changes in exchange rates.

To manage this exchange rate risk, we have historically utilized a combination of forward contracts, options and currency swaps. Contracts that qualify are designated as cash flow hedges of certain forecasted transactions denominated in foreign currencies or net investment hedges of foreign denominated subsidiaries. For cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the changes in fair value of these instruments is reported in AOCI and reclassified into earnings in the same financial statement line item and in the same period or periods during which the related hedged transactions affect earnings. The ineffective portion, which is not material for any year presented, is immediately recognized in earnings. For net investment hedges, all changes in the fair value of these instruments are recorded in AOCI, offsetting the currency translation adjustment of the related investment that is also recorded in AOCI.

The change in value of certain non-qualifying instruments used to manage foreign exchange exposure of intercompany financing transactions and certain balance sheet items subject to revaluation is immediately recognized in earnings, substantially offsetting the foreign currency mark-to-market impact of the related exposure.

COMMODITY RISK MANAGEMENT

Certain raw materials used in our production processes are subject to price volatility caused by weather, supply conditions, political and economic variables and other unpredictable factors. To manage the volatility in earnings due to price fluctuations, we may utilize swap contracts or forward purchase contracts.

Derivative instruments are reported in the consolidated balance sheets at their fair values, unless the derivative instruments qualify for the normal purchase normal sale ("NPNS") exception under GAAP and such exception has been elected. If the NPNS exception is elected, the fair values of such contracts are not recognized on the balance sheet.

Contracts that qualify are designated as cash flow hedges of forecasted commodity purchases. The effective portion of the changes in fair value for these

instruments is reported in AOCI and reclassified into earnings in the same financial statement line item and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transactions affect earnings. The ineffective and non-qualifying portions, which are not material for any year presented, are immediately recognized in earnings. The change in the fair value of certain non-qualifying instruments used to reduce commodity price volatility is immediately recognized in earnings.

The notional amounts of qualifying and non-qualifying instruments used in hedging transactions were as follows:

In millionsDecember 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships: (a)
Foreign exchange contracts (USD)—3
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Electricity contract (MWh)0.50.2

*(a)*These contracts had maturities of two years or less as of December 31, 2021.

The following table shows gains or losses recognized in AOCI, net of tax, related to derivative instruments:

Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)
In millions202120202019
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
Foreign exchange contracts$3$(34)$4
Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging Relationships:
Foreign exchange contracts18——
Interest rate contracts—257
Total$18$25$7

During the next 12 months, the amount of the December 31, 2021 AOCI balance, after tax, that is expected to be reclassified to earnings is a loss of $1 million.

The amounts of gains and losses recognized in the consolidated statement of operations on qualifying and non-qualifying financial instruments used in hedging transactions were as follows:

Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)
In millions202120202019
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
Foreign exchange contracts$10$(25)$(3)Cost of products sold and Discontinued operations, net of taxes
Interest rate contracts(1)(1)(1)Interest expense, net
Total$9$(26)$(4)
Gain (Loss) Recognized in IncomeLocation of Gain (Loss) in Consolidated Statement of Operations
In millions202120202019
Derivatives in Fair Value Hedging Relationships:
Interest rate contracts$—$38$30Interest expense, net
Debt—(38)(30)Interest expense, net
Total$—$—$—
Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging Relationships:
Foreign exchange contracts$—$2$—Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses
Total$—$2$—
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Electricity Contracts$15$(2)$3Cost of products sold
Foreign exchange contracts(2)—(2)Cost of products sold
Total$13$(2)$1

Fair Value Measurements

International Paper’s financial assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value consist of derivative contracts, including interest rate swaps, foreign currency forward contracts, options and other financial instruments that are used to hedge exposures to interest rate, commodity and currency risks. For these financial instruments, fair value is determined at each balance sheet date using an income approach.

The guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures sets out a fair value hierarchy that groups fair value measurement inputs into the following three classifications:

Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Observable market-based inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability reflecting the reporting entity’s own assumptions or external inputs from inactive markets.

Transfers between levels are recognized at the end of the reporting period. All of International Paper’s derivative fair value measurements use Level 2 inputs.

Below is a description of the valuation calculation and the inputs used for each class of contract:

Interest Rate Contracts

Interest rate contracts are valued using swap curves obtained from an independent market data provider.

The market value of each contract is the sum of the fair value of all future interest payments between the contract counterparties, discounted to present value.

The fair value of the future interest payments is determined by comparing the contract rate to the derived forward interest rate and present valued using the appropriate derived interest rate curve.

Foreign Exchange Contracts

Foreign currency forward and option contracts are valued using standard valuation models. Significant inputs used in these standard valuation models are foreign currency forward and interest rate curves and a volatility measurement. The fair value of each contract is present valued using the applicable interest rate. All significant inputs are readily available in public markets, or can be derived from observable market transactions.

Electricity Contract

The Company is party to an electricity contract used to manage market fluctuations in energy pricing. The Company's electricity contract is valued using the Mid-C index forward curve obtained from the Intercontinental Exchange. The market value of the

contract is the sum of the fair value of all future purchase payments between the contract counterparties, discounted to present value. The fair value of the future purchase payments is determined by comparing the contract price to the forward price and present valued using International Paper's cost of capital.

Since the volume and level of activity of the markets that each of the above contracts are traded in has been normal, the fair value calculations have not

been adjusted for inactive markets or disorderly transactions.

The following table provides a summary of the impact of our derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheet:

Fair Value Measurements

Level 2 – Significant Other Observable Inputs

AssetsLiabilities
In millionsDecember 31, 2021December 31, 2020December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Electricity contract$10(a)$—$—$1(b)

*(a)*Includes $6 million recorded in Other current assets and $4 million in Deferred charges recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

*(b)*Included $1 million recorded in Other current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

The above contracts are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements that provide rights of offset with each counterparty when amounts are payable on the same date in the same currency or in the case of certain specified defaults. Management has made an accounting policy election to not offset the fair value of recognized derivative assets and derivative liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. The amounts owed to the counterparties and owed to the Company are considered immaterial with respect to each counterparty and in the aggregate with all counterparties.

Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features

International Paper evaluates credit risk by monitoring its exposure with each counterparty to ensure that exposure stays within acceptable policy limits. Credit risk is also mitigated by contractual provisions with

the majority of our banks. Certain of the contracts include a credit support annex that requires the posting of collateral by the counterparty or International Paper based on each party’s rating and level of exposure. Based on the Company’s current credit rating, the collateral threshold is generally $15 million.

If the lower of the Company’s credit rating by Moody’s or S&P were to drop below investment grade, the Company would be required to post collateral for all of its derivatives in a net liability position, although no derivatives would terminate. There were no derivative instruments containing credit-risk-related contingent features in a net liability position as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The Company was not required to post any collateral as of December 31, 2021 or 2020.

NOTE 18 CAPITAL STOCK

The authorized capital stock at both December 31, 2021 and 2020, consisted of 990,850,000 shares of common stock, $1 par value; 400,000 shares of cumulative $4 preferred stock, without par value (stated value $100 per share); and 8,750,000 shares of serial preferred stock, $1 par value. The serial preferred stock is issuable in one or more series by the Board of Directors without further shareholder action.

The following is a rollforward of shares of common stock for the three years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019:

Common Stock
In thousandsIssuedTreasury
Balance at January 1, 2019448,91648,310
Issuance of stock for various plans, net—(3,416)
Repurchase of stock—11,906
Balance at December 31, 2019448,91656,800
Issuance of stock for various plans, net—(2,010)
Repurchase of stock—1,027
Balance at December 31, 2020448,91655,817
Issuance of stock for various plans, net—(1,855)
Repurchase of stock—16,400
Balance at December 31, 2021448,91670,362

NOTE 19 RETIREMENT PLANS

International Paper sponsors and maintains the Retirement Plan of International Paper Company (the "Pension Plan"), a tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan that provides retirement benefits to certain employees.

The Pension Plan provides defined pension benefits based on years of credited service and either final average earnings (salaried employees and hourly employees receiving salaried benefits), hourly job rates or specified benefit rates (hourly and union employees).

The Company also has two unfunded nonqualified defined benefit pension plans: a Pension Restoration Plan that provides retirement benefits based on eligible compensation in excess of limits set by the

Internal Revenue Service, and a supplemental retirement plan for senior managers ("SERP"), which

is an alternative retirement plan for salaried employees who are senior vice presidents and above or who are designated by the chief executive officer as participants. These nonqualified plans are only funded to the extent of benefits paid, which totaled $21 million, $31 million and $26 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and which are expected to be $21 million in 2022.

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company froze participation, including credited service and compensation, for salaried employees under the Pension Plan, the Pension Restoration Plan and the SERP plan. This change does not affect benefits accrued through December 31, 2018. For service after December 31, 2018, employees affected by the freeze receive a company contribution to their individual Retirement Savings Account as described later in this Note 19.

Many non-U.S. employees are covered by various retirement benefit arrangements, some of which are considered to be defined benefit pension plans for accounting purposes.

In advance of the spin-off of the Printing Papers segment into a standalone, publicly-traded company, Sylvamo, a legally separate Sylvamo Pension Plan was established to transfer both pension liabilities and qualified pension assets for the approximately 900 active pension participants who transitioned to Sylvamo. Effective September 1, 2021, the Retirement Plan of International Paper (“IP Pension Plan”) and the Sylvamo Pension Plan were legally separated and remeasured as of that date. The remeasurement resulted in a net asset balance of $520 million for the IP Pension Plan, which has been classified as part of the Pension Assets balance on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Based on the September 1, 2021 remeasurement, the IP Pension Plan completed the transfer of approximately $287 million in projected benefit obligation and approximately $255 million in pension assets, net of post-spin true-up adjustments, to the Sylvamo Pension Plan.

OBLIGATIONS AND FUNDED STATUS

The following table shows the changes in the benefit obligation and plan assets for 2021 and 2020, and the plans’ funded status.

20212020
In millionsU.S. PlansNon- U.S. PlansU.S. PlansNon- U.S. Plans
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, January 1$13,020$264$11,699$253
Service cost1005855
Interest cost33343936
Curtailment———(1)
Settlements———(5)
Actuarial loss (gain)(760)(11)1,35710
Divestitures(287)(187)—(1)
Plan amendments——42—
Benefits paid(573)(5)(556)(7)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate movements—(5)—4
Benefit obligation, December 31$11,833$65$13,020$264
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, January 1$12,018$190$10,165$183
Actual return on plan assets86442,37711
Company contributions216329
Benefits paid(573)(5)(556)(7)
Settlements———(5)
Divestiture(255)(175)——
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate movements—(1)—(1)
Fair value of plan assets, December 31$12,075$19$12,018$190
Funded status, December 31$242$(46)$(1,002)$(74)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet:
Overfunded pension plan assets$595$—$—$5
Underfunded pension benefit obligation - current(21)(1)(20)(3)
Underfunded pension benefit obligation - non-current(332)(45)(982)(76)
$242$(46)$(1,002)$(74)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income under ASC 715 (pre-tax):
Prior service cost (credit)$95$—$120$—
Net actuarial loss1,19942,29782
$1,294$4$2,417$82

The non-current asset for the qualified plan is included in the accompanying consolidated balance

sheet under Overfunded Pension Plan Assets. The non-current portion of the liability is included with the pension liability under Underfunded Pension Benefit Obligation.

The largest contributor to the actuarial gain affecting the benefit obligation was the increase in the discount rate from 2.60% at December 31, 2020 to 2.90% at December 31, 2021.

The components of the $(1.1) billion and $(78) million related to U.S. plans and non-U.S. plans, respectively, in the amounts recognized in OCI during 2021 consisted of:

In millionsU.S. PlansNon- U.S. Plans
Current year actuarial (gain) loss$(961)$(8)
Amortization of actuarial loss(138)(2)
Current year prior service cost(2)—
Amortization of prior service cost(22)—
Divestiture—(67)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate movements—(1)
$(1,123)$(78)

The portion of the change in the funded status that was recognized in net periodic benefit cost and OCI for the U.S. plans was $(1.0) billion, $(500) million and $(172) million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The portion of the change in funded status for the non-U.S. plans was $(73) million, $13 million, and $24 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The accumulated benefit obligation at December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $11.8 billion and $13.0 billion, respectively, for our U.S. defined benefit plans and

$56 million and $246 million, respectively, at December 31, 2021 and 2020 for our non-U.S. defined benefit plans.

The following table summarizes information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets at December 31, 2021 and 2020:

20212020
In millionsU.S. PlansNon-U.S. PlansU.S. PlansNon-U.S. Plans
Projected benefit obligation$353$65$13,020$245
Accumulated benefit obligation3535612,997227
Fair value of plan assets—1912,018166

ASC 715, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits” provides for delayed recognition of actuarial gains and losses, including amounts arising from changes in the estimated projected plan benefit obligation due to changes in the assumed discount rate, differences between the actual and expected return on plan assets and other assumption changes. These net gains and losses are recognized prospectively over a period that approximates the average remaining service period of active employees expected to receive benefits under the plans to the extent that they are not offset by gains in subsequent years.

NET PERIODIC PENSION EXPENSE

Service cost is the actuarial present value of benefits attributed by the plans’ benefit formula to services rendered by employees during the year. Interest cost represents the increase in the projected benefit obligation, which is a discounted amount, due to the passage of time. The expected return on plan assets reflects the computed amount of current-year earnings from the investment of plan assets using an estimated long-term rate of return.

Net periodic pension expense for qualified and nonqualified U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit plans comprised the following:

202120202019
In millionsU.S. PlansNon- U.S. PlansU.S. PlansNon- U.S. PlansU.S. PlansNon- U.S. Plans
Service cost$100$5$85$5$68$5
Interest cost333439364408
Expected return on plan assets(705)(7)(668)(8)(631)(10)
Actuarial loss (gain)138220222002
Amortization of prior service cost22—20—16—
Curtailment loss (gain)———(1)—(1)
Settlement loss———1—2
Net periodic pension (income) expense$(112)$4$32$5$93$6

The components of net periodic pension expense other than the Service cost component are included in Non-operating pension (income) expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations with the exception of $(3) million related to Sylvamo participants in 2021 recorded in Discontinued Operations.

The decrease in 2021 pension expense primarily reflects higher asset returns, lower interest cost due to a lower discount rate and lower actuarial loss due to a higher amortization period slightly offset by higher service cost.

ASSUMPTIONS

International Paper evaluates its actuarial assumptions annually as of December 31 (the measurement date) and considers changes in these long-term factors based upon market conditions and the requirements for employers’ accounting for pensions. These assumptions are used to calculate

benefit obligations as of December 31 of the current year and pension expense to be recorded in the following year (i.e., the discount rate used to determine the benefit obligation as of December 31, 2021 is also the discount rate used to determine net pension expense for the 2022 year).

Major actuarial assumptions used in determining the benefit obligations and net periodic pension cost for our defined benefit plans are presented in the following table:

202120202019
U.S. PlansNon- U.S. PlansU.S. PlansNon- U.S. PlansU.S. PlansNon- U.S. Plans
Actuarial assumptions used to determine benefit obligations as of December 31:
Discount rate2.90%2.59%2.60%2.32%3.40%2.70%
Rate of compensation increase3.00%2.92%2.25%3.66%2.25%3.62%
Actuarial assumptions used to determine net periodic pension cost for years ended December 31:
Discount rate (a)2.67%2.32%3.40%2.70%4.30%3.97%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets (a)6.40%4.99%7.00%4.92%7.25%6.20%
Rate of compensation increase2.25%3.66%2.25%3.62%2.25%4.05%

(a) Represents the weighted average rate for the U.S. qualified plans in 2021 due to the spin-off remeasurement..

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on projected rates of return for current asset classes in the plan’s investment portfolio. Projected rates of return are developed through an asset/liability study in which projected returns for each of the plan’s asset classes are determined after analyzing historical experience and future expectations of returns and volatility of the various asset classes.

Based on the target asset allocation for each asset class, the overall expected rate of return for the portfolio is developed considering the effects of active portfolio management and expenses paid from plan assets. The discount rate assumption was determined from a universe of high quality corporate bonds. A settlement portfolio is selected and matched to the present value of the plan’s projected benefit payments. To calculate pension expense for 2022, the Company will use an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets of 6.00% for the Retirement Plan of International Paper, a discount rate of 2.90% and an assumed rate of compensation increase of 2.25%. The Company estimates that it will record net pension income of approximately $114 million for its U.S. defined benefit plans in 2022, compared to income of $112 million in 2021.

For non-U.S. pension plans, assumptions reflect economic assumptions applicable to each country.

The following illustrates the effect on pension expense for 2022 of a 25 basis point decrease in the above assumptions:

In millions2022
Expense (Income):
Discount rate$19
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets27

PLAN ASSETS

International Paper’s Board of Directors has appointed a Fiduciary Review Committee that is responsible for fiduciary oversight of the U.S. Pension Plan, approving investment policy and reviewing the management and control of plan assets. Pension Plan assets are invested to maximize returns within prudent levels of risk.

The Pension Plan maintains a strategic asset allocation policy that designates target allocations by asset class. Investments are diversified across classes and within each class to minimize the risk of large losses. Derivatives, including swaps, forward and futures contracts, may be used as asset class substitutes or for hedging or other risk management purposes. Periodic reviews are made of investment

policy objectives and investment manager performance. For non-U.S. plans, assets consist principally of common stock and fixed income securities.

International Paper’s U.S. pension allocations by type of fund at December 31, 2021 and 2020 and target allocations were as follows:

Asset Class20212020Target Allocations
Equity accounts18%40%14% - 25%
Fixed income accounts68%48%62% - 78%
Real estate accounts8%7%4% - 10%
Other6%5%2% - 7%
Total100%100%

The fair values of International Paper’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2021 and 2020 by asset class are shown below. Hedge funds disclosed in the following table are allocated to fixed income accounts for target allocation purposes.

Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2021
Asset ClassTotalQuoted Prices in Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1)Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
In millions
Equities – domestic$805$471$334$—
Equities – international1,381976405—
Corporate bonds2,249—2,249—
Government securities5,733—5,733—
Mortgage backed securities126—126—
Other fixed income(1,482)—(1,498)16
Derivatives(21)——(21)
Cash and cash equivalents266266——
Other investments:
Hedge funds1,368
Private equity721
Real estate funds929
Total Investments$12,075$1,713$7,349$(5)
Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2020
Asset ClassTotalQuoted Prices in Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1)Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
In millions
Equities – domestic$1,806$1,037$769$—
Equities – international2,9212,181740—
Corporate bonds2,345—2,345—
Government securities3,377—3,377—
Mortgage backed securities133—133—
Other fixed income(1,585)—(1,599)14
Derivatives336342—(6)
Cash and cash equivalents210210——
Other investments:
Hedge funds1,112
Private equity563
Real estate funds800
Total Investments$12,018$3,770$5,765$8

In accordance with accounting standards, certain investments that are measured at NAV and are not classified in the fair value hierarchy.

Other Investments at December 31, 2021
InvestmentFair ValueUnfunded CommitmentsRedemption FrequencyRemediation Notice Period
In millions
Hedge funds1,368176Daily to annually1 - 100 days
Private equity721190(a)None
Real estate funds929176Quarterly45 - 60 days
Total$3,018$542

(a) A private equity fund investment ("partnership interest") is contractually locked up for the life of the private equity fund by the partnership agreement. Limited partners do not have the option to redeem partnership interests.

Other Investments at December 31, 2020
InvestmentFair ValueUnfunded CommitmentsRedemption FrequencyRemediation Notice Period
In millions
Hedge funds1,112—Daily to annually1 - 100 days
Private equity563290(a)None
Real estate funds800210Quarterly45 - 60 days
Total$2,475$500

(a) A private equity fund investment ("partnership interest") is contractually locked up for the life of the private equity fund by the partnership agreement. Limited partners do not have the option to redeem partnership interests.

Equity securities consist primarily of publicly traded U.S. companies and international companies. Publicly traded equities are valued at the closing prices reported in the active market in which the individual securities are traded.

Fixed income consists of government securities, mortgage-backed securities, corporate bonds, common collective funds and other fixed income investments. Government securities are valued by third-party pricing sources. Mortgage-backed security holdings consist primarily of agency-rated holdings. The fair value estimates for mortgage securities are calculated by third-party pricing sources chosen by the custodian’s price matrix. Corporate bonds are valued using either the yields currently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings or using a discounted cash flows approach that utilizes observable inputs, such as current yields of similar instruments, but includes adjustments for certain risks that may not be observable, such as credit and liquidity risks. Common collective funds are valued at the net asset value per share multiplied by the number of shares held as of the measurement date. Other fixed income investments of $(1.5) billion and $(1.6) billion at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, primarily include reverse repurchase agreement obligations in which we have sold a security and have an agreement to repurchase the same or substantially the same security at a later date for a price specified in the agreement.

Derivative investments such as futures, forward contracts, options and swaps are used to help manage risks. Derivatives are generally employed as asset class substitutes (such as when employed in a portable alpha strategy), for managing asset/liability mismatches, or bona fide hedging or other appropriate risk management purposes. Derivative instruments are generally valued by the investment managers or in certain instances by third-party pricing sources.

Hedge funds are investment structures for managing private, loosely-regulated investment pools that can pursue a diverse array of investment strategies with a

wide range of different securities and derivative instruments. These investments are made through funds-of-funds (commingled, multi-manager fund structures) and through direct investments in individual hedge funds. Hedge funds are primarily valued by each fund’s third-party administrator based upon the valuation of the underlying securities and instruments and primarily by applying a market or income valuation methodology as appropriate depending on the specific type of security or instrument held. Funds-of-funds are valued based upon the net asset values of the underlying investments in hedge funds.

Private equity consists of interests in partnerships

that invest in U.S. and non-U.S. debt and equity securities. Partnership interests are valued using the most recent general partner statement of fair value, updated for any subsequent partnership interest cash flows.

Real estate funds include commercial properties, land and timberland, and generally include, but are not limited to, retail, office, industrial, multifamily and hotel properties. Real estate fund values are primarily reported by the fund manager and are based on

valuation of the underlying investments which include inputs such as cost, discounted cash flows, independent appraisals and market based comparable data.

The following is a reconciliation of the assets that are classified using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) at December 31, 2021.

Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

In millionsOther fixed incomeDerivativesTotal
Beginning balance at December 31, 2019$14$(19)$(5)
Actual return on plan assets:
Relating to assets still held at the reporting date12122
Relating to assets sold during the period(1)268267
Purchases, sales and settlements—(276)(276)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3———
Ending balance at December 31, 2020$14$(6)$8
Actual return on plan assets:
Relating to assets still held at the reporting date2(20)(18)
Relating to assets sold during the period—(101)(101)
Purchases, sales and settlements—106106
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3———
Ending balance at December 31, 2021$16$(21)$(5)

FUNDING AND CASH FLOWS

The Company’s funding policy for the Pension Plan is to contribute amounts sufficient to meet legal funding requirements, plus any additional amounts that the Company may determine to be appropriate considering the funded status of the plans, tax deductibility, cash flow generated by the Company, and other factors. The Company continually reassesses the amount and timing of any discretionary contributions. No voluntary contributions were made in 2019, 2020 or 2021. Generally, International Paper’s non-U.S. pension plans are funded using the projected benefit as a target, except in certain countries where funding of benefit plans is not required.

At December 31, 2021, projected future pension benefit payments, excluding any termination benefits, were as follows:

In millions
2022$589
2023604
2024613
2025621
2026631
2027-20313,193

OTHER U.S. PLANS

International Paper sponsors the International Paper Company Salaried Savings Plan and the International Paper Company Hourly Savings Plan, both of which are tax-qualified defined contribution 401(k) savings plans. Substantially all U.S. salaried and certain hourly employees are eligible to participate and may make elective deferrals to such plans to save for retirement. International Paper makes matching contributions to participant accounts on a specified percentage of employee deferrals as determined by the provisions of each plan. The Company makes Retirement Savings Account contributions equal to a percentage of an eligible employee’s pay. Beginning in 2019, as a result of the freeze for salaried employees under the Pension Plan, all salaried employees are eligible for the contribution to the Retirement Savings Account.

The Company also sponsors the International Paper Company Deferred Compensation Savings Plan, which is an unfunded nonqualified defined contribution plan. This plan permits eligible employees to continue to make deferrals and receive company matching contributions (and Retirement Savings Account contributions) when their contributions to the International Paper Salaried Savings Plan are stopped due to limitations under U.S. tax law. Participant deferrals and company contributions are not invested in a separate trust, but are paid directly from International Paper’s general assets at the time benefits become due and payable.

Company contributions to the plans totaled approximately $172 million, $154 million and $172 million for the plan years ending in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

NOTE 20 POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

U.S. POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

International Paper provides certain retiree health care and life insurance benefits covering certain U.S. salaried and hourly employees. These employees are generally eligible for benefits upon retirement and completion of a specified number of years of creditable service. International Paper does not fund these benefits prior to payment and has the right to modify or terminate certain of these plans in the future.

In addition to the U.S. plan, certain Brazilian and Moroccan employees are eligible for retiree health care and life insurance benefits.

The components of postretirement benefit expense in 2021, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

In millions202120202019
U.S. PlansNon- U.S. PlansU.S. PlansNon- U.S. PlansU.S. PlansNon- U.S. Plans
Service cost$—$—$—$—$—$1
Interest cost517281
Actuarial loss515142
Amortization of prior service credits—(2)(1)(2)(2)(3)
Net postretirement expense$10$—$11$1$10$1

International Paper evaluates its actuarial assumptions annually as of December 31 (the measurement date) and considers changes in these long-term factors based upon market conditions and the requirements of employers’ accounting for postretirement benefits other than pensions. The discount rate assumption was determined based on a hypothetical settlement portfolio selected from a universe of high quality corporate bonds.

The discount rates used to determine net U.S. and non-U.S. postretirement benefit cost for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

202120202019
U.S. PlansNon- U.S. PlansU.S. PlansNon- U.S. PlansU.S. PlansNon- U.S. Plans
Discount rate2.50%6.91%3.30%7.15%4.20%9.10%

The weighted average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation at December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

20212020
U.S. PlansNon- U.S. PlansU.S. PlansNon- U.S. Plans
Discount rate2.90%5.20%2.50%6.91%
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year7.00%4.00%6.50%8.56%
Rate that the cost trend rate gradually declines to5.00%4.00%5.00%4.23%
Year that the rate reaches the rate it is assumed to remain2030202220262031

The plans are only funded in an amount equal to benefits paid. The following table presents the changes in benefit obligation and plan assets for 2021 and 2020:

In millions20212020
U.S. PlansNon- U.S. PlansU.S. PlansNon- U.S. Plans
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, January 1$201$20$214$31
Service cost————
Interest cost5172
Participants’ contributions3—3—
Actuarial (gain) loss(12)—41
Benefits paid(26)—(28)(1)
Less: Federal subsidy1—1—
Divestiture—(15)—(7)
Currency Impact—(1)—(6)
Benefit obligation, December 31$172$5$201$20
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, January 1$—$—$—$—
Company contributions23—251
Participants’ contributions3—3—
Benefits paid(26)—(28)(1)
Fair value of plan assets, December 31$—$—$—$—
Funded status, December 31$(172)$(5)$(201)$(20)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet under ASC 715:
Current liability$(17)$—$(18)$—
Non-current liability(155)(5)(183)(20)
$(172)$(5)$(201)$(20)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income under ASC 715 (pre-tax):
Net actuarial loss (gain)$29$—$46$12
Prior service credit———(12)
$29$—$46$—

The non-current portion of the liability is included with the postemployment liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet under Postretirement and postemployment benefit obligation.

The components of the ($17) million and $0 million change in the amounts recognized in OCI during 2021 for U.S. and non-U.S. plans, respectively, consisted of:

In millionsU.S. PlansNon- U.S. Plans
Current year actuarial (gain) loss$(12)$—
Amortization of actuarial (loss) gain(5)(1)
Current year prior service cost——
Amortization of prior service credit—2
Divestitures—(2)
Currency impact—1
$(17)$—

The portion of the change in the funded status that was recognized in net periodic benefit cost and OCI for the U.S. plans was $27 million, $12 million and $29 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The portion of the change in funded status for the non-U.S. plans was $1 million, $0 million, and $9 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

At December 31, 2021, estimated total future postretirement benefit payments, net of participant contributions and estimated future Medicare Part D subsidy receipts, were as follows:

In millionsBenefit PaymentsSubsidy ReceiptsBenefit Payments
U.S. PlansU.S. PlansNon- U.S. Plans
2022$18$1$—
2023161—
2024151—
2025141—
2026141—
2027 – 20315731

NOTE 21 INCENTIVE PLANS

International Paper currently has an Incentive Compensation Plan (ICP). The ICP authorizes grants of restricted stock, restricted or deferred stock units, performance awards payable in cash or stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals, dividend equivalents, stock options, stock

appreciation rights, other stock-based awards, and cash-based awards at the discretion of the Management Development and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee") that administers the ICP. Additionally, restricted stock, which may be deferred into RSU’s, may be awarded under a Restricted Stock and Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.

PERFORMANCE SHARE PLAN

Under the Performance Share Plan ("PSP"), contingent awards of International Paper common stock are granted by the Committee. The PSP awards are earned over a three-year period. PSP awards are earned based on the achievement of defined performance of Return on Invested Capital ("ROIC") measured against our internal benchmark and ranking of Total Shareholder Return ("TSR") compared to the TSR peer group of companies. The 2019-2021, 2020-2022 and 2021-2023 Awards are weighted 50% ROIC and 50% TSR for all participants. The ROIC component of the PSP awards is valued at the closing stock price on the day prior to the grant date. As the ROIC component contains a performance condition, compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is recorded over the requisite service period based on the most probable number of awards expected to vest. The TSR component of the PSP awards is valued using a Monte Carlo simulation as the TSR component contains a market condition. The Monte Carlo simulation estimates the fair value of the TSR component based on the expected term of the award, a risk-free rate, expected dividends, and the expected volatility for the Company and its competitors. The expected term is estimated based on the vesting period of the awards, the risk-free rate is based on the yield on U.S. Treasury securities matching the vesting period, and the volatility is based on the Company’s historical volatility over the expected term. PSP grants are made in performance-based restricted stock units.

The following table sets forth the assumptions used to determine compensation cost for the market condition component of the PSP plan:

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2021
Expected volatility24.36% - 36.92%
Risk-free interest rate0.17% - 2.44%

The following summarizes PSP activity for the three years ended December 31, 2021:

Share/UnitsWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 20185,766,477$38.79
Granted2,353,61343.49
Shares issued(2,367,135)36.79
Forfeited(238,227)50.64
Outstanding at December 31, 20195,514,72841.14
Granted2,171,38549.15
Shares issued(1,221,950)51.70
Forfeited(844,138)51.70
Outstanding at December 31, 20205,620,02540.36
Granted2,316,29545.24
Shares issued(994,052)63.54
Forfeited(1,016,126)57.55
Outstanding at December 31, 20215,926,142$35.43

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD PROGRAMS

The service-based Restricted Stock Award program ("RSA"), designed for recruitment, retention and special recognition purposes, provides for awards of restricted stock to key employees.

The following summarizes the activity of the RSA program for the three years ended December 31, 2021:

SharesWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2018132,111$50.17
Granted87,91043.70
Shares issued(52,021)48.90
Forfeited(7,300)45.10
Outstanding at December 31, 2019160,70047.27
Granted82,22840.12
Shares issued(83,053)44.25
Forfeited(33,800)46.43
Outstanding at December 31, 2020126,07544.83
Granted85,09850.90
Shares issued(85,768)45.59
Forfeited(21,636)45.52
Outstanding at December 31, 2021103,769$49.03

At December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 a total of 7.7 million, 8.5 million and 9.8 million shares, respectively, were available for grant under the ICP.

Stock-based compensation expense and related income tax benefits were as follows:

In millions202120202019
Total stock-based compensation expense (included in selling and administrative expense)$130$72$130
Income tax benefits related to stock-based compensation131730

At December 31, 2021, $84 million of compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to unvested restricted performance shares, executive continuity awards and restricted stock attributable to future performance had not yet been recognized. This amount will be recognized in expense over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years.

NOTE 22 FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY BUSINESS SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA

International Paper’s business segments, Industrial Packaging and Global Cellulose Fibers are consistent with the internal structure used to manage these businesses. See the Description of Business Segments on pages 28 and 29 in Part II. Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a description of the types of products and services from which each reportable segment derives its revenues. On October 1, 2021, the Company completed the previously announced spin-off of its Printing Papers business into a new, publicly-traded company, Sylvamo Corporation, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Additionally, on August 6, 2021, the Company completed the sale of its Kwidzyn, Poland mill which included the pulp and paper mill in Kwidzyn and supporting functions. As a result of the Sylvamo Corporation spin-off and the sale of Kwidzyn, the Company no longer has a Printing Papers segment, and all current and prior year amounts have been adjusted to reflect the Sylvamo Corporation and Kwidzyn businesses as a discontinued operation. All segments are differentiated on a common product, common customer basis consistent with the business segmentation generally used in the Forest Products industry.

Business segment operating profits are used by International Paper’s management to measure the earnings performance of its businesses. Management believes that this measure allows a better understanding of trends in costs, operating efficiencies, prices and volumes. Business segment operating profits are defined as earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings, but including the impact of noncontrolling interests, excluding interest expense, net, corporate

items, net, corporate net special items, business net special items and non-operating pension expense.

External sales by major product is determined by aggregating sales from each segment based on similar products or services. External sales are defined as those that are made to parties outside International Paper’s consolidated group, whereas sales by segment in the Net Sales table are determined using a management approach and include intersegment sales.

INFORMATION BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

Net Sales

In millions202120202019
Industrial Packaging$16,326$14,900$15,260
Global Cellulose Fibers2,7322,3932,680
Corporate and Intersegment Sales (a)305272377
Net Sales$19,363$17,565$18,317

Operating Profit (Loss)

In millions202120202019
Industrial Packaging$1,638$1,757$2,011
Global Cellulose Fibers(3)(218)(12)
Business Segment Operating Profit1,6351,5391,999
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings999329921
Interest expense, net337446499
Noncontrolling interests adjustment (b)(5)——
Corporate expenses, net (a)13462129
Corporate net special items (a)352262263
Business net special items18481151
Non-operating pension (income) expense(200)(41)36
$1,635$1,539$1,999

Business Net Special Items

In millions202120202019
Industrial Packaging$15$476$83
Global Cellulose Fibers3568
Business Net Special Items$18$481$151

Assets

In millions20212020
Industrial Packaging$16,247$15,951
Global Cellulose Fibers3,5213,444
Corporate and other (c)5,47512,323
Assets$25,243$31,718

Capital Spending

In millions202120202019
Industrial Packaging$382$554$951
Global Cellulose Fibers8396163
Subtotal4656501,114
Corporate and other (d)151323
Capital Spending$480$663$1,137

Depreciation, Amortization and Cost of Timber Harvested

In millions202120202019
Industrial Packaging$829$813$799
Global Cellulose Fibers265274262
Corporate (e)3411
Depreciation and Amortization$1,097$1,091$1,072

External Sales By Major Product

In millions202120202019
Industrial Packaging$16,276$14,851$15,192
Global Cellulose Fibers2,7302,3942,675
Other (f)357320450
Net Sales$19,363$17,565$18,317

INFORMATION BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA

Net Sales (g)

In millions202120202019
United States (h)$16,769$15,178$15,616
EMEA1,6111,3951,427
Pacific Rim and Asia207203387
Americas, other than U.S.776789887
Net Sales$19,363$17,565$18,317

Long-Lived Assets (i)

In millions20212020
United States$9,317$9,780
EMEA745759
Americas, other than U.S.397424
Long-Lived Assets$10,459$10,963

*(a)*Includes sales of $44 million in 2021, $56 million in 2020 and $161 million in 2019, operating profit (losses) of $9 million in 2021, $1 million in 2020 and $25 million in 2019, and corporate net special items expense of $0 million in 2021, $0 million in 2020 and $159 million in 2019, from previously divested businesses.

*(b)*Operating profits for industry segments include each segment’s percentage share of the profits of subsidiaries included in that segment that are less than wholly-owned. The pre-tax noncontrolling interests for these subsidiaries is added here to present consolidated earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings.

*(c)*Includes corporate assets and assets of divested businesses.

*(d)*Includes corporate assets and assets of previously divested businesses of $0 million in 2021, $0 million in 2020 and $4 million in 2019.

*(e)*Includes $0 million in 2021, $0 million in 2020 and $7 million in 2019 from previously divested businesses.

*(f)*Includes $44 million in 2021, $56 million in 2020 and $161 million in 2019 from previously divested businesses.

*(g)*Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of the seller.

*(h)*Export sales to unaffiliated customers were $2.6 billion in 2021, $2.4 billion in 2020 and $2.6 billion in 2019.

*(i)*Long-Lived Assets includes Forestlands and Plants, Properties and Equipment, net.

INTERIM FINANCIAL RESULTS (UNAUDITED)

In millions, except per share amounts and stock prices1****st Quarter2****nd Quarter3****rd Quarter4th QuarterYear
2021
Net sales$4,593$4,770$4,914$5,086$19,363
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings306(a)252(a)397(a)44(a)999(a)
Gain (loss) from discontinued operations82(b)124(b)432(b)(8)(b)630(b)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to International Paper Company349(a-c)432(a-d)864(a-c)107(a-c)1,752(a-d)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to International Paper Company common shareholders:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations$0.68$0.79$1.11$0.30$2.88
Gain (loss) from discontinued operations0.210.311.11(0.02)1.62
Net earnings (loss)0.891.102.220.284.50
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to International Paper Company common shareholders:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations0.680.781.100.302.86
Gain (loss) from discontinued operations0.200.311.10(0.02)1.61
Net earnings (loss)0.881.092.200.284.47
Dividends per share of common stock0.51250.51250.51250.46252.0000
2020
Net sales$4,450$4,299$4,376$4,440$17,565
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings(138)(e)241(e)202(e)24(e)329(e)
Gain (loss) from discontinued operations94(f)15(f)55(f)88(f)252(f)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to International Paper Company(141)(e-g)266(e-g)204(e-g)153(e-g)482(e-g)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to International Paper Company common shareholders:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations$(0.59)$0.64$0.38$0.17$0.59
Gain (loss) from discontinued operations0.230.030.140.220.64
Net earnings (loss)(0.36)0.670.520.391.23
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to International Paper Company common shareholders:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations(0.59)0.640.380.170.58
Gain (loss) from discontinued operations0.230.030.140.220.64
Net earnings (loss)(0.36)0.670.520.391.22
Dividends per share of common stock0.51250.51250.51250.51252.0500

Note: International Paper's common shares (symbol: IP) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Note: Since basic and diluted earnings per share are computed independently for each period and category, full year per share amounts may not equal the sum of the four quarters. In addition, the unaudited selected consolidate financial data are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and have been revised to reflect discontinued operations.

Footnotes to Interim Financial Results

(a) Includes the following pre-tax charges (gains):

2021
In millionsQ1Q2Q3Q4
Debt extinguishment costs$18$170$35$238
EMEA Packaging business optimization12———
Building a Better IP———29
Legal reserve adjustment———(5)
Environmental remediation reserve adjustment—55—
Gain on sale of equity investment in Graphic Packaging(74)(130)——
EMEA Packaging impairment - Turkey2(9)——
Sylvamo investment - fair value adjustment———32
Real estate - office impairment—21——
Other items—1191
Non-operating pension expense(52)(51)(50)(47)
Total$(94)$17$(1)$248

(b) Includes the operating earnings of the Printing Papers business for the full year. Also includes the following charges (gains):

2021
In millionsQ1Q2Q3Q4
Printing Papers spin-off expenses$20$20$47$5
Gain on sale of Kwidzyn, Poland mill——(350)6
Gain on sale of La Mirada, CA distribution center——(65)—
Foreign value-added tax credit—(47)10—
Foreign and state taxes related to spin-off of Printing Papers business——27(3)
Non-operating pension expense(1)(1)——
Total$19$(28)$(331)$8

(c) Includes the following tax expenses (benefits):

2021
In millionsQ1Q2Q3Q4
Tax impact of other special items12(14)(12)(73)
Tax impact of non-operating pension expense13131211
Total$25$(1)$—$(62)

(d) Includes the allocation of income to noncontrolling interest of $1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 related to the gain on the sale of our EMEA Packaging business in Turkey.

(e) Includes the following pre-tax charges (gains):

2020
In millionsQ1Q2Q3Q4
Brazil Packaging impairment$344$8$(4)$—
India investment17(6)——
Asbestos litigation reserve adjustment—43——
Environmental remediation reserve adjustment41———
Gain on sale of equity investment in Graphic Packaging(33)———
Abandoned property removal95——
Riverdale mill conversion accelerated depreciation1———
Debt extinguishment costs81810565
EMEA Packaging impairment - Turkey———123
Other items(3)—1—
Non-operating pension expense(6)(14)(11)(10)
Total$378$54$91$178

(f) Includes the operating earnings of the Printing Papers business for the full year. Also includes the following charges (gains):

2020
In millionsQ1Q2Q3Q4
Printing Papers spin-off expenses$—$—$—$8
Environmental remediation reserve adjustment——6—
Tax benefit related to settlement of tax audits———(9)
Other items——(1)3
Total$—$—$5$2

(g) Includes the following tax expenses (benefits):

2020
In millionsQ1Q2Q3Q4
Tax benefit related to settlement of tax audits$—$—$—$(23)
Tax impact of other special items(12)(18)(24)(16)
Tax impact of non-operating pension expense1342
Total$(11)$(15)$(20)$(37)

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

As of December 31, 2021, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act). Based upon this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2021.

The Company completed the acquisitions of two packaging businesses located in Spain (La Gaviota and Cartonajes Trilla) on April 1, 2021. Due to the timing of these acquisitions, we have excluded these businesses from our evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. For the period ended December 31, 2021, sales and assets for these businesses represented approximately 0.1% of net sales and 0.4% of total assets.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2021, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

See Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data on pages 41 and 42 of this Form 10-K for management's annual report on our internal control over financial reporting and the attestation report of our independent public accounting firm.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS

None.

PART III.

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Information concerning our directors is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement that will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") within 120 days of the close of our fiscal year. The Audit and Finance Committee of the Board of Directors has at least one member who is a financial expert, as that term is defined in Item 401(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Further information concerning the composition of the Audit and Finance Committee and our audit committee financial experts is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement that will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the close of our fiscal year. Information with respect to our executive officers is set forth on page 7 in Part I of this Form 10-K under the caption, “Information About Our Executive Officers.”

Executive officers of International Paper are elected to hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting of shareholders and, until the election of successors, subject to removal by the Board.

The Company’s Code of Business Ethics (Code) is applicable to all employees of the Company, including the chief executive officer and senior financial officers, as well as the Board of Directors. We disclose any amendments to our Code and any waivers from a provision of our Code granted to our directors, chief executive officer and senior financial officers on our website within four business days following such amendment or waiver. To date, no waivers of the Code have been granted.

We make available free of charge on our website at www.internationalpaper.com, and in print to any shareholder who requests them, our Corporate Governance Principles, our Code of Business Ethics and the Charters of our Audit and Finance Committee, Management Development and Compensation Committee, Governance Committee and Public Policy and Environment Committee. Requests for copies may be directed to the corporate secretary at our corporate headquarters.

Information with respect to compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and our corporate governance is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement that will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the close of our fiscal year.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information with respect to the compensation of executives and directors of the Company is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement that will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the close of our fiscal year.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

A description of the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and equity compensation plan information is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement that will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the close of our fiscal year.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

A description of applicable information with respect to certain relationships and related transactions and director independence matters, is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement that will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the close of our fiscal year.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

Information with respect to fees paid to, and services rendered by, our independent registered public accounting firm, and our policies and procedures for pre-approving those services, is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement that will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the close of our fiscal year.

PART IV.

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(1)Financial Statements – See Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

(2)Financial Statement Schedules – The following additional financial data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Schedules not included with this additional financial data have been omitted because they are not applicable, or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.

Additional Financial Data

2021, 2020 and 2019

(2.1)Transaction Agreement, dated October 23, 2017, by and among the Company, Graphic Packaging Holding Company, Gazelle Newco LLC and Graphic Packaging International, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 24, 2017).
(2.2)Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2021, by and between International Paper Company and Sylvamo Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 1, 2021).
(3.1)Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 13, 2013).
(3.2)By-laws of the Company, as amended through February 9, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 8, 2016).
(4.1)Indenture, dated as of April 12, 1999, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 16, 2000).
(4.2)Supplemental Indenture (including the form of Notes), dated as of June 4, 2008, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 4, 2008).
(4.3)Supplemental Indenture (including the form of Notes), dated as of December 7, 2009, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 7, 2009).
(4.4)Supplemental Indenture (including the form of Notes), dated as of November 16, 2011, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 16, 2011).
(4.5)Supplemental Indenture (including the form of Notes), dated as of June 10, 2014, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 10, 2014).
(4.6)Supplemental Indenture (including the form of Notes), dated as of May 26, 2015, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 26, 2015).
(4.7)Supplemental Indenture (including the form of Notes), dated as of August 11, 2016, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 11, 2016).
(4.8)Supplemental Indenture (including the form of Notes), dated as of August 9, 2017, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 9, 2017.
(4.9)Supplemental Indenture (including the form of Notes), dated as of June 10, 2019, between the Company and the The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 10, 2019).
(4.10)In accordance with Item 601 (b) (4) (iii) (A) of Regulation S-K, certain instruments respecting long-term debt of the Company have been omitted but will be furnished to the Commission upon request.
(4.11)Description of Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019).
(10.1)Amended and Restated 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan (ICP) (corrected version of a previously filed exhibit) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019). +
(10.2)Restricted Stock and Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, Amended and Restated as of May 10, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010). +
(10.3)Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017). +
(10.4)Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (cash settled) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017). +
(10.5)Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (stock settled) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017). +
(10.6)Form of Performance Share Plan award certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017). +
(10.7)Pension Restoration Plan for Salaried Employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009). +
(10.8)Amendment Number One to the International Paper Pension Restoration Plan for Salaried Employees effective January 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019). +
(10.9)Amendment Number Two to the International Paper Pension Restoration Plan for Salaried Employees effective January 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019). +
(10.10)Amendment Number Three to the International Paper Pension Restoration Plan for Salaried Employees effective January 1, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019). +
(10.11)Amendment Number Four to the International Paper Pension Restoration Plan for Salaried Employees effective July 1, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019). +
(10.12)Amendment Number Five to the International Paper Pension Restoration Plan for Salaried Employees effective January 1, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019). +
(10.13)Amendment Number Six to the International Paper Pension Restoration Plan for Salaried Employees effective January 1, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020). +
(10.14)Unfunded Supplemental Retirement Plan for Senior Managers, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007). +
(10.15)Amendment No. 1 to the International Paper Company Unfunded Supplemental Retirement Plan for Senior Managers, effective October 13, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 17, 2008). +
(10.16)Amendment No. 2 to the International Paper Company Unfunded Supplemental Retirement Plan for Senior Managers, effective October 14, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 17, 2008). +
(10.17)Amendment No. 3 to the International Paper Company Unfunded Supplemental Retirement Plan for Senior Managers, effective December 8, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008). +
(10.18)Amendment No. 4 to the International Paper Company Unfunded Supplemental Retirement Plan for Senior Managers, effective January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009). +
(10.19)Amendment No. 5 to the International Paper Company Unfunded Supplemental Retirement Plan for Senior Managers, effective October 31, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009). +
(10.20)Amendment No. 6 to the International Paper Company Unfunded Supplemental Retirement Plan for Senior Managers, effective January 1, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011). +
(10.21)Amendment No. 7 to the International Paper Company Unfunded Supplemental Retirement Plan for Senior Managers effective July 12, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019). +
(10.22)Amendment No. 8 to the International Paper Company Unfunded Supplemental Retirement Plan for Senior Managers effective January 1, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019). +
(10.23)Amendment No. 9 to the International Paper Company Unfunded Supplemental Retirement Plan for Senior Managers effective November 1, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. +
(10.24)Form of Non-Competition Agreement, entered into by certain Company employees (including named executive officers) who have received restricted stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008). +
(10.25)Form of Non-Solicitation Agreement, entered into by certain Company employees (including named executive officers) who have received restricted stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006). +
(10.26)Form of Change-in-Control Agreement - Tier I, for the Chief Executive Officer and all "grandfathered" senior vice presidents elected prior to 2012 (all but one named executive officer) - approved September 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013). +
(10.27)Form of Change-in-Control Agreement - Tier II, for all future senior vice presidents and all "grandfathered" vice presidents (one named executive officer) elected prior to February 2008 - approved September 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013). +
(10.28)Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003). +
(10.29)Board Policy on Severance Agreements with Senior Executives (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 18, 2005). +
(10.30)Board Policy on Change of Control Agreements (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 18, 2005). +
(10.31)Time Sharing Agreement, dated October 17, 2014 (and effective November 1, 2014), by and between Mark S. Sutton and International Paper Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 14, 2014). +
(10.32)Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of December 12, 2016, among International Paper Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., individually and as administrative agent, and certain lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 6, 2017).
(10.33)Amended and Restated Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of October 16, 2020, among International Paper Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., individually and as administrative agent, and certain lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 19, 2020).
(10.34)Commitment Agreement, dated September 26, 2017, between International Paper Company and The Prudential Insurance Company of America, relating to the Retirement Plan of International Paper Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017). +
(10.35)Credit Agreement, dated December 8, 2017, by and among the Company, Bank of America, N.A., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and BNP Paribas Securities Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8¬K filed December 12, 2017). +
(10.36)Commitment Agreement, dated September 25, 2018, between International Paper Company and The Prudential Insurance Company of America, relating to the Retirement Plan of International Paper Company (corrected version of previously filed exhibit) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018). * +
(10.37)Credit Agreement, dated March 25, 2020, by and among the Company, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation as administrative agent; and certain lenders reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/ A dated March 26, 2020).
(10.38)Amendment No. 16 to the Second Amended and Restated Credit and Security Agreement, dated April 28, 2020, by and among International Paper Company, as servicer, Red Bird Receivables, LLC, as borrower, the lenders and co-agents from time to time party thereto, and Mizuho Bank, Ltd., as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 29, 2020).
(10.39)Agreement Regarding Continued Employment, Termination, Severance and General Release dated September 8, 2020 between International Paper Company and Catherine I. Slater (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 11, 2020). +
(10.40)Second Amended and Restated Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of June 17, 2021, among International Paper Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., individually and as administrative agent, and certain lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 17, 2021).
(10.41)Share Purchase Agreement for the Divestiture of International Paper-Kwidzyn SP. Z.O.O. by and among International Paper (Poland) Holding SP. Z.O.O., Mayr-Melnhof Containerboard International, GMBH, Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG and International Paper dated August 4, 2021, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed October 28. 2021.
(10.42)Share Purchase Agreement, dated February 12, 2021, by and between International Paper Investments (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l, Mayr-Melnhoff Cartonboard International GmbH, Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG, International Paper Company (Poland) Holding Sp. Z O.O., and International Paper Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2021).
(21)Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures.*
(23)Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. *
(24)Power of Attorney (contained on the signature page to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010). *
(31.1)Certification by Mark S. Sutton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
(31.2)Certification by Tim S. Nicholls, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
(32)Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
(101.INS)XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document. *
(101.SCH)XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema *
(101.CAL)XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase *
(101.DEF)XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase *
(101.LAB)XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase *
(101.PRE)XBRL Extension Presentation Linkbase *
(104)Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL, and contained in Exhibit 101. *

+ Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

** Filed herewith*

*** Furnished herewith*

† Confidential treatment has been granted for certain information pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended.

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

None.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY

By:/S/ SHARON R. RYANFebruary 18, 2022
Sharon R. Ryan
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Timothy S. Nicholls, Sharon R. Ryan and Alan R. Haguewood as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this annual report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

SignatureTitleDate
/S/ MARK S. SUTTONChairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer and DirectorFebruary 18, 2022
Mark S. Sutton
/S/ CHRISTOPHER M. CONNORDirectorFebruary 18, 2022
Christopher M. Connor
/S/ AHMET C. DORDUNCUDirectorFebruary 18, 2022
Ahmet C. Dorduncu
/S/ ILENE S. GORDONDirectorFebruary 18, 2022
Ilene S. Gordon
/S/ ANDERS GUSTAFSSONDirectorFebruary 18, 2022
Anders Gustafsson
/S/ JACQUELINE C. HINMANDirectorFebruary 18, 2022
Jacqueline C. Hinman
/s/ CLINTON A. LEWIS, JR.DirectorFebruary 18, 2022
Clinton A. Lewis, Jr.
/s/ DONALD G. (DG) MACPHERSONDirectorFebruary 18, 2022
Donald G. (DG) Macpherson
/s/ KATHRYN D. SULLIVANDirectorFebruary 18, 2022
Kathryn D. Sullivan
/s/ ANTON V. VINCENTDirectorFebruary 18, 2022
Anton V. Vincent
/S/ RAY G. YOUNGDirectorFebruary 18, 2022
Ray G. Young
/S/ TIMOTHY S. NICHOLLSSenior Vice President and Chief Financial OfficerFebruary 18, 2022
Timothy S. Nicholls
/S/ VINCENT P. BONNOTVice President – Finance and ControllerFebruary 18, 2022
Vincent P. Bonnot

APPENDIX I

2021 LISTING OF FACILITIES

(all facilities are owned except noted otherwise)

INDUSTRIAL PACKAGINGModesto, CaliforniaFridley, Minnesota
Ontario, CaliforniaMinneapolis, Minnesota leased
ContainerboardSalinas, CaliforniaShakopee, Minnesota
U.S.:Sanger, CaliforniaWhite Bear Lake, Minnesota
Pine Hill, AlabamaSanta Fe Springs, California (2 locations)Houston, Mississippi
Prattville, AlabamaTracy, CaliforniaJackson, Mississippi
Selma, Alabama (Riverdale Mill)Golden, ColoradoMagnolia, Mississippi leased
Cantonment, Florida (Pensacola Mill)Wheat Ridge, ColoradoOlive Branch, Mississippi
Rome, GeorgiaPutnam, ConnecticutFenton, Missouri
Savannah, GeorgiaOrlando, FloridaKansas City, Missouri (2 locations)
Cayuga, IndianaPlant City, FloridaMaryland Heights, Missouri
Cedar Rapids, IowaTampa, Florida leasedNorth Kansas City, Missouri leased
Henderson, KentuckyColumbus, GeorgiaSt. Joseph, Missouri
Maysville, KentuckyForest Park, GeorgiaSt. Louis, Missouri
Bogalusa, LouisianaGriffin, GeorgiaOmaha, Nebraska
Campti, LouisianaLithonia, GeorgiaMcCarran, Nevada
Mansfield, LouisianaSavannah, GeorgiaBarrington, New Jersey
Vicksburg, MississippiTucker, GeorgiaBellmawr, New Jersey
Valliant, OklahomaAurora, Illinois (3 locations)Milltown, New Jersey
Springfield, OregonBedford Park, Illinois (2 locations) 1 leasedSpotswood, New Jersey
Orange, TexasBelleville, IllinoisThorofare, New Jersey
Carol Stream, IllinoisBinghamton, New York
International:Des Plaines, IllinoisBuffalo, New York
Veracruz, MexicoLincoln, IllinoisRochester, New York
Kenitra, MoroccoMontgomery, IllinoisScotia, New York
Madrid, SpainNorthlake, IllinoisUtica, New York
Rockford, IllinoisCharlotte, North Carolina (2 locations) 1 leased
Corrugated PackagingButler, IndianaLumberton, North Carolina
U.S.:Crawfordsville, IndianaManson, North Carolina
Bay Minette, AlabamaFort Wayne, IndianaNewton, North Carolina
Decatur, AlabamaIndianapolis, Indiana (3 locations)Statesville, North Carolina
Dothan, Alabama leasedSaint Anthony, IndianaByesville, Ohio
Huntsville, AlabamaTipton, IndianaDelaware, Ohio
Conway, ArkansasCedar Rapids, IowaEaton, Ohio
Fort Smith, Arkansas (2 locations)Waterloo, IowaMadison, Ohio
Russellville, Arkansas (2 locations)Garden City, KansasMarion, Ohio
Tolleson, ArizonaBowling Green, KentuckyMarysville, Ohio leased
Yuma, ArizonaLexington, KentuckyMiddletown, Ohio
Anaheim, CaliforniaLouisville, KentuckyMt. Vernon, Ohio
Buena Park, California leasedWalton, KentuckyNewark, Ohio
Camarillo, CaliforniaBogalusa, LouisianaStreetsboro, Ohio
Carson, CaliforniaLafayette, LouisianaWooster, Ohio
Cerritos, California leasedShreveport, LouisianaOklahoma City, Oklahoma
Compton, CaliforniaSpringhill, LouisianaBeaverton, Oregon (3 locations)
Elk Grove, CaliforniaAuburn, MaineHillsboro, Oregon
Exeter, CaliforniaThree Rivers, MichiganPortland, Oregon
Gilroy, California (2 locations)Arden Hills, MinnesotaSalem, Oregon leased
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAustin, MinnesotaBiglerville, Pennsylvania (2 locations)

A-1

Eighty-four, PennsylvaniaPuebla, Mexico leasedBags
Hazleton, PennsylvaniaReynosa, MexicoU.S.:
Kennett Square, PennsylvaniaSan Jose Iturbide, MexicoBuena Park, California
Lancaster, PennsylvaniaSanta Catarina, MexicoBeaverton, Oregon
Mount Carmel, PennsylvaniaSilao, MexicoGrand Prairie, Texas
Georgetown, South CarolinaToluca, Mexico
Laurens, South CarolinaZapopan, MexicoCoated Paperboard
Lexington, South CarolinaAgadir, MoroccoInternational:
Ashland City, Tennessee leasedCasablanca, MoroccoKwidzyn, Poland 2
Cleveland, TennesseeTangier, MoroccoSvetogorsk, Russia 1
Elizabethton, Tennessee leasedOvar, Portugal
Morristown, TennesseeBarcelona, SpainGLOBAL CELLULOSE FIBERS
Murfreesboro, TennesseeBilbao, Spain
Amarillo, TexasGandia, SpainPulp
Carrollton, Texas (2 locations)Grinon, SpainU.S.:
Edinburg, TexasLas Palmas, SpainCantonment, Florida (Pensacola Mill)
El Paso, TexasMadrid, SpainFlint River, Georgia
Ft. Worth, Texas leasedMontblanc, SpainPort Wentworth, Georgia
Grand Prairie, TexasTavernes de la Valldigna, SpainColumbus, Mississippi
Hidalgo, TexasTenerife, SpainNew Bern, North Carolina
McAllen, TexasValls, SpainRiegelwood, North Carolina
San Antonio, Texas (2 locations)Adana, Turkey 3Eastover, South Carolina 1
Sealy, TexasBursa, Turkey 3Georgetown, South Carolina
Waxahachie, TexasCorum, Turkey 3Franklin, Virginia
Lynchburg, VirginiaGebze, Turkey 3
Petersburg, VirginiaIzmir, Turkey 3International:
Richmond, VirginiaGrande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
Moses Lake, WashingtonRecyclingSaillat, France 1
Olympia, WashingtonU.S.:Gdansk, Poland
Yakima, WashingtonPhoenix, ArizonaKwidzyn, Poland 2
Fond du Lac, WisconsinFremont, CaliforniaSvetogorsk, Russia 1
Manitowoc, WisconsinNorwalk, California
West Sacramento, CaliforniaPRINTING PAPERS
International:Itasca, Illinois
Rancagua, ChileDes Moines, IowaUncoated Papers
Cabourg, FranceWichita, KansasU.S.:
Chalon-sur-Saone, FranceRoseville, MinnesotaTiconderoga, New York 1
LePuy, France (Espaly Box Plant)Omaha, NebraskaEastover, South Carolina 1
Mortagne, FranceCharlotte, North CarolinaSumter, South Carolina 1
Saint Amand, FranceBeaverton, Oregon
Guadeloupe, French West Indies 4Springfield, Oregon leasedInternational:
Bellusco, ItalyCarrollton, TexasLuiz Antônio, São Paulo, Brazil 1
Catania, ItalySalt Lake City, UtahMogi Guacu, São Paulo, Brazil 1
Pomezia, ItalyRichmond, VirginiaTrês Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil 1
San Felice, ItalyKent, WashingtonSaillat, France 1
Apodaco (Monterrey), Mexico leasedKwidzyn, Poland 2
Ixtaczoquitlan, MexicoInternational:Svetogorsk, Russia 1
Juarez, Mexico leased (2 locations)Monterrey, Mexico leased
Los Mochis, MexicoXalapa, Veracruz, Mexico leased

A-2

DISTRIBUTION
International:
Guangzhou, China leased
Hong Kong, China leased
Shanghai, China leased
Japan leased
Korea leased
Singapore leased
FOREST RESOURCES
International:
Approximately 314,000 acres 1
in Brazil
1) Spun off October 2021
2) Sold August 2021
3) Sold May 2021
4) Sold March 2021

A-3

APPENDIX II

2021 CAPACITY INFORMATION

(in thousands of short tons except as noted)U.S.EMEAAmericas, other than U.S.Total
Industrial Packaging
Containerboard (a)13,8055292714,361
Global Cellulose Fibers
Dried Pulp (in thousands of metric tons)2,963—3713,334

(a) In addition to Containerboard, this also includes saturated kraft, kraft bag, and gypsum.

A-4

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