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Guarantees and Indemnifications | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Guarantees and Indemnifications | GUARANTEES AND INDEMNIFICATIONS LP is a party to contracts in which LP agrees to indemnify third parties for certain liabilities that arise out of or relate to the subject matter of the contract. In some cases, this indemnity extends to related liabilities arising out of the negligence of the indemnified parties, but usually excludes any liabilities caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified parties. LP cannot estimate the potential amount of future payments under these agreements until events arise that would trigger the liability. Additionally, in connection with certain sales of assets and divestures of businesses, LP has agreed to indemnify the buyer and related parties for certain losses or liabilities incurred by the buyer or such related parties with respect to (1) the representations and warranties made to the buyer by LP in connection with the sales and (2) liabilities related to the pre-closing operations of the assets sold. Indemnities related to pre-closing operations generally include environmental liabilities, tax liabilities and other liabilities not assumed by the buyer. Indemnities related to the pre-closing operations of sold assets normally do not represent added liabilities for LP, but simply serve to protect the buyer from potential liability associated with the obligations that existed (known and unknown) at the time of the sale. LP records accruals for those pre-closing obligations that are considered probable and estimable. LP has not accrued any additional amounts as a result of the indemnity agreements summarized below as LP believes the fair value of the guarantees are not material.
• | In connection with various sales of LP’s timberlands, LP has agreed to indemnify various buyers with respect to losses resulting from breaches of limited representations and warranties contained in these agreements. These indemnities generally are capped at a maximum potential liability and have an unspecified duration.
• | In connection with the sale by LP Canada Pulp Ltd (LPCP) of its pulp mill in Chetwynd, BC, Canada to Tembec, Ltd in October 2002, LP provided an indemnity of unspecified duration provided by LPCP for liabilities arising out of pre-closing operations. These indemnities, which do not extend to environmental liabilities, are capped at C$15.0 million in the aggregate.
LP also has various other indemnities that are individually and in the aggregate immaterial. LP will record a liability related to specific indemnification when future payment is probable and the amount is estimable. Additionally, LP offers warranties on the sale of most of its products and records an accrual for estimated future claims. Such accruals are based upon historical experience and management’s estimate of the level of future claims. The activity in warranty reserves for the last three years is summarized in the following table.
| Year ended December 31,
Dollar amounts in millions | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Beginning balance | $ | 31.4 |  |  | $ | 29.3 |  |  | $ | 21.4 |
Accrued to expense during the year | 0.7 |  |  | 0.6 |  |  | 0.7 |
Accrued/ (credited) to other operating credits and charges | (1.4 | ) |  | 11.3 |  |  | 17.7 |
Accrued to discontinued operations | 2.5 |  |  | 3.0 |  |  | 2.0 |
Foreign currency translation | (0.5 | ) |  | (1.2 | ) |  | — |
Payments made | (11.7 | ) |  | (11.6 | ) |  | (12.5 | )
Total warranty reserves | 21.0 |  |  | 31.4 |  |  | 29.3 |
Current portion of warranty reserves | (6.0 | ) |  | (12.0 | ) |  | (12.0 | )
Long term portion of warranty reserves | $ | 15.0 |  |  | $ | 19.4 |  |  | $ | 17.3 |
The current portion of the warranty reserve is included in “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” and the long-term portion is included in “Other long-term liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. During 2015, LP decreased the warranty reserve associated with SmartSide products by $1.4 million based upon reduced claims activity. During 2014 and 2013, LP increased the warranty reserve associated with CanExel products sold in certain geographic areas by $11.3 million and $17.7 million. The changes to the reserve reflected revised estimates of future claims. LP increased the warranty reserves related to discontinued composite decking products by $2.5 million, $3.0 million and $2.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. The additional reserves reflect revised estimates of future claim payments based upon an increase in decking warranty claims related to a specific operation and specific time period. LP believes that the warranty reserve balances at December 31, 2015 are adequate to cover future warranty payments. However, it is possible that additional charges may be required.

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