Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Gibraltar Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company"). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue recognition

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” and all related Accounting Standards Updates. As further described in this Note under Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted, the core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of control, promised goods or services, to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company’s policy for recognizing revenue by timing of transfer of control to the customer, at a point in time or over time, is discussed in more detail in Note 3 of the consolidated financial statements. Note 18 of these consolidated financial statements provide information related to the amount of revenue recognized as defined by timing of transfer of control to the customer along with the reportable segment detail.

REVENUE

Sales includes revenue from contracts with customers from roof and foundation ventilation products; centralized mail systems and electronic package solutions; rain dispersion products and roofing accessories; expanded and perforated metal; perimeter security solutions; expansion joints and structural bearings; designing, engineering, manufacturing and installation of solar racking systems and greenhouse structures.

Revenue recognition

Revenue is recognized when, or as, the Company transfers control of promised products or service to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring those products or service. Refer to Note 18 of this annual report on Form 10K for additional information related to revenue recognized by timing of transfer of control by reportable segment.

Payment terms and conditions vary by contract, although terms generally include a requirement of payment within a range from 30 to 60 days, or in certain cases, up front deposits. In circumstances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing, the Company has determined that the Company's contracts generally do not include a significant financing component. Taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities, are excluded from sales.

Performance obligations satisfied at a point in time and significant judgments

The majority of the Company's revenue from contracts with customers is recognized when the Company transfers control of the promised product at a point in time, which is determined when the customer has legal title and the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the asset, and the Company has a present right to payment for the product. These contracts with customers include promised products, which are generally capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. Accordingly, the Company allocates the transaction price, which is generally the quoted price per terms of the contract and the consideration the Company expects to receive, to each performance obligation in an amount based on an observable price of the products as the Company frequently sells these products separately in similar circumstances and to similar customers. These products are generally sold with rights of return and these contracts may provide other credits or incentives, which are accounted for as variable consideration. Variable consideration is estimated at the most likely amount to predict the consideration to which the Company will be entitled, and only to the extent it is probable that a subsequent change in estimate will not result in a significant revenue reversal when estimating the amount of revenue to recognize. Sales returns, allowances, and customer incentives, including rebates, are treated as reductions to the sales transaction price and based largely on an assessment of all information (i.e., historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available to the Company, and estimated at contract inception and updated at the end of each reporting period as additional information becomes available.

Performance obligations satisfied over time and significant judgments

For contracts with customers which the Company satisfies a promise to the customer to construct a certain asset that the customer controls as it is being created or enhanced, or a promise to provide a product that has no alternative use to the Company and the Company has enforceable rights to payment, the Company satisfies the performance obligation and recognizes revenue over time. For the contracts to construct a certain asset, the Company determines that the customer controls the asset while it is being constructed. For the contracts for products that have no alternative use and for which the Company has an enforceable right to payment, the Company identifies these products as products that are not a standard inventory item or the Company cannot readily direct the product to another customer or use without incurring a significant economic loss, or significant costs to rework the product.

When the promised products and services are to construct a certain asset that the customer controls, the entire contract is accounted for as one performance obligation. The Company determines the transaction price for each contract based on the consideration the Company expects to receive for the promised products and services under the entire contract, which is generally the stated contract price based on an expected cost plus a margin.

When the promised products do not have an alternative use to the Company, and the Company has enforceable rights to payment, the transaction price is determined for each contract based on the consideration the Company expects to receive for the promised products under the contract and is generally the stated contract price based on an expected cost plus a margin for each performance obligation. These promised products are generally capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations.

For the above contracts with customers with respect to which the Company satisfies a performance obligation over time, the Company recognizes revenue based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. The cost-to-cost measure of progress best depicts the transfer of control to the customer which occurs as the Company incurs costs on the contract as the incurred costs are proportionate to the Company's progress in satisfying the performance obligation. Under the cost-to-cost measure of progress, the extent of progress toward completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation. Revenues are recognized proportionally as costs are incurred. Costs to fulfill a contract include all direct costs related to contract performance. Selling and administrative expenses are charged to operations as incurred. Provision for loss on an uncompleted performance obligation is recognized in the period in which such loss is determined.

The Company regularly reviews the progress and performance of the performance obligation recognized over time under the cost-to-cost method. Any adjustments to net sales, cost of sales, and the related impact to operating income are recognized as necessary in the period they become known. Changes in estimates of net sales, cost of sales, and the related impact to operating income are recognized on a cumulative catch-up basis, which recognizes in the current period the cumulative effect of the changes on current or prior periods based on a performance obligation's cost-to-cost measure of progress.

The Company also recognizes revenues from services contracts over time. For these contracts, the transaction price is determined for each contract based on the consideration the Company expects to receive for the promised service under the contract, which generally is the stated contract price. In order to estimate the standalone selling price of the performance obligation, the Company evaluates the market in which the promised service is sold and estimates the price that customers in the market would be willing to pay. Further, the Company recognizes revenue over time during the term of the agreement as the customer is simultaneously receiving and consuming the benefits provided throughout the Company's performance. Therefore due to control transferring over time, the Company recognizes revenue on a straight-line basis throughout the contract period.

Remaining performance obligations

As of December 31, 2018, the Company's remaining performance obligations are part of contracts that have an original expected duration of one year or less. Therefore, any remaining performance obligations are not required to be disclosed.

Contract assets

Contract assets consist of costs in excess of billings. Costs in excess of billings includes unbilled amounts resulting from revenues under contracts with customers that are satisfied over time and when the cost-to-cost measurement method of revenue recognition is utilized and revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer, and right to payment is not just subject to the passage of time. Amounts may not exceed their net realizable value. Costs in excess of billings are classified as current assets and are reported net of contract billings on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period.

Contract liabilities

Contract liabilities consist of billings in excess of cost and unearned revenue. Billings in excess of cost includes billings in excess of revenue recognized and deferred revenue, which includes advanced payments, up-front payments, and progress billing payments. Billings in excess of cost are reported net of contract cost on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period and are classified as current liabilities. To determine the revenue recognized in the period from the beginning balance of billings in excess of cost, the contract liability as of the beginning of the period is recognized as revenue on a contract by contract basis when the Company incurs costs to satisfy the performance obligation related to the individual contract. Once the beginning contract liability balance for an individual contract has been fully recognized as revenue, any additional payments received in the period are recognized as revenue once the related costs have been incurred.

Unearned revenue relates to payments received in advance of performance under the contract and is recognized when the Company performs under the contract. Unearned revenue is presented within accrued expenses in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

Costs to obtain a contract with a customer

The Company recognizes an asset for the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if the Company expects the benefit of those costs to be longer than one year. As of December 31, 2018, the Company does not have any open contracts with an original expected duration of greater than one year, and therefore, we expense such costs as incurred. These incremental costs include, but are not limited to, sales commissions incurred to obtain a contract with a customer.

Contract assets and contract liabilities

The Company's contract assets and contract liabilities consist of costs in excess of billings, billings in excess of cost and unearned revenue, respectively. The following table presents the beginning and ending balances and significant changes in the costs in excess of billings and billings in excess of cost balance during the year ended December 31, 2018:



	December 31, 2018			January 1, 2018 (1)
Costs in excess of billings	$	22,634		$	16,532
Billings in excess of cost	(17,857		)	(12,779		)
Unearned revenue	(12,028		)	(3,336		)
Revenue recognized in the period from:
Amounts included in billings in excess of cost at the beginning of the period	10,097
Amounts included in unearned revenue at the beginning of the period	2,988



(1) Due to the adoption of ASC 606 effective January 1, 2018, the Company recorded a transition adjustment to the opening balance of "Costs in excess of billings" and "Unearned revenue" at January 1, 2018, respectively. There were no transition adjustments to the opening balance of "Billings in Excess of Cost" at January 1, 2018. Refer to "Transition disclosures" below for further explanation of cumulative effect of the changes made to the Company's consolidated January 1, 2018 balance sheet for the adoption of ASC 606.

Transition disclosures

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the accounting standard ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, only for contracts that were not completed at the date of initial application using the modified retrospective method. The Company recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying ASC 606 as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative period information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for that period. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact to the Company's net income on an ongoing basis.

A majority of the Company's revenues continue to be recognized when products are shipped or service is provided and the customer takes ownership and assumes the risk of loss. For certain custom fabricated products for which there is no alternative use and the Company has enforceable rights to payment for performance to date where revenue was previously recognized upon transfer of title and risk of loss, the Company now recognizes revenue as the Company satisfies its performance over time in accordance with ASC 606.

The cumulative effect of the changes made to the Company's consolidated January 1, 2018 balance sheet for the adoption of ASC 606 is as follows (in thousands):



	Balance at December 31, 2017		Adjustments			Balance at January 1, 2018
Assets
Accounts receivable, net	$	145,385	$	4,922		$	150,307
Costs in excess of billings (1)	$	11,610	$	4,922		$	16,532
Inventories	$	86,372	$	(4,735	)	$	81,637
Total current assets	$	462,764	$	187		$	462,951
Total assets	$	991,385	$	187		$	991,572

Liabilities
Accrued expenses (2)	$	75,467	$	(87	)	$	75,380
Total current liabilities	$	171,033	$	(87	)	$	170,946

Shareholders' equity
Retained earnings	$	274,562	$	274		$	274,836
Total shareholders' equity	$	531,719	$	274		$	531,993
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	991,385	$	187		$	991,572



(1) The balance presented at December 31, 2017 for "Costs in excess of billings" represents the balance reported in Note 2 of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. This balance was included within the total balance of "Accounts receivable, net" presented on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2017. Due to the adoption of ASC 606 effective January 1, 2018, the Company recorded a transition adjustment to the opening balance of "Costs in excess of billings" at January 1, 2018 that is included in the "Accounts receivable, net" line item presented on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet and disclosed in Note 2 of this Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.
(2) Included in "Accrued expenses" at December 31, 2017 was "Unearned revenue" in the amount of $3.681 million presented in "Other" balance reported in Note 7 of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Due to the adoption of ASC 606 effective January 1, 2018, the Company recorded a transition adjustment in the amount of $0.3 million to reduce the opening balance of "Unearned revenue" at January 1, 2018 that is included in "Accrued expense" line item presented on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet and disclosed in "Other" in Note 8 of this Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

In accordance with ASC 606, the disclosure of the impact of adoption on the Company's consolidated statement of operations and balance sheet for the periods ended December 31, 2018 is as follows (in thousands):



Consolidated Statement of Operations
	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2018
	As Reported		Without Adoption of ASC 606		Effect of Change Higher (Lower)

Net sales	$	1,002,372	$	1,000,882	$	1,490
Cost of sales	760,012		759,165		847
Gross profit	242,360		241,717		643
Provision for income taxes	16,136		15,956		180
Net income	$	63,809	$	63,346	$	463



Consolidated Balance Sheet
	December 31, 2018
	As Reported		Without Adoption of ASC 606		Effect of Change Higher (Lower)
Assets
Accounts receivable, net	$	140,283	$	133,526	$	6,757
Inventories	98,913		104,592		(5,679		)
Total current assets	544,553		543,475		1,078
Total assets	1,061,645		1,060,567		1,078

Liabilities
Accrued expenses	87,074		86,733		341
Total current liabilities	392,872		392,531		341

Shareholders' equity
Retained earnings	338,995		338,258		737
Total shareholders' equity	596,693		595,956		737
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	1,061,645	$	1,060,567	$	1,078

Cash and cash equivalents

All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less are considered cash equivalents.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts

Accounts receivable are composed of trade and contract receivables recorded at either the invoiced amount or costs in excess of billings, are expected to be collected within one year, and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the probable amount of uncollectible accounts in the Company’s existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on a number of factors, including historical experience, credit worthiness of customers, and current market and economic conditions. The Company reviews the allowance for doubtful accounts on a regular basis. Account balances are charged against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.

The following table summarizes activity recorded within the allowance for doubtful accounts balances for the years ended December 31 (in thousands):



	2018			2017			2016
Beginning balance	$	6,434		$	5,272		$	4,868
Bad debt expense	1,150			1,253			2,519
Accounts written off and other adjustments	(624		)	(91		)	(2,115		)
Ending balance	$	6,960		$	6,434		$	5,272

Concentrations of credit risk on accounts receivable are limited to those from significant customers that are believed to be financially sound. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company's most significant customer is a home improvement retailer. The home improvement retailer purchases from the Residential Products and the Renewable Energy and Conservation segmen

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost, determined using the first-in, first-out method, or net realizable value. Shipping and handling costs are recognized as a component of cost of sales.

Property, plant, and equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Interest is capitalized in connection with construction of qualified assets. Expenditures that exceed an established dollar threshold and that extend the useful lives of assets are capitalized, while repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. The estimated useful lives of land improvements, buildings, and building improvements are 15 to 40 years, while the estimated useful lives for machinery and equipment are 3 to 20 years.

Accounting for the acquisition of a business as a purchase transaction requires an allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed in the transaction at their respective estimated fair values. The most complex estimations of individual fair values are those involving long-lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment and intangible assets. The Company uses all available information to make these fair value determinations and, for major business acquisitions, engages independent valuation specialists to assist in the fair value determination of the acquired long-lived assets.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

The Company tests goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis at October 31, or more frequently if an event occurs, or circumstances change, that indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit could be below its carrying value. The reporting units are at the component level, or one level below the operating segment level. Goodwill is assigned to each reporting unit as of the date the reporting unit is acquired and based upon the expected synergies of the acquisition.

The Company may elect to perform a qualitative assessment that considers economic, industry and company-specific factors for some or all of our selected reporting units. If, after completing the assessment, it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company proceeds to a quantitative test. The Company may also elect to perform a quantitative test instead of a qualitative test for any or all of the Company's reporting units.

The quantitative impairment test consists of comparing the fair value of a reporting unit, determined using two valuation techniques, to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired, and a loss measured by the excess of the carrying value of the reporting unit over the fair value of the reporting unit must be recorded.

The Company also tests its indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis as of October 31, or more frequently if an event occurs, or circumstances change, that indicate that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset could be below its carrying value. The impairment test consists of comparing the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset, determined using discounted cash flows on a relief-from-royalty basis, with its carrying amount. An impairment loss would be recognized for the carrying amount in excess of its fair value. Acquired identifiable intangible assets are recorded at cost. Identifiable intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives.

Impairment of long-lived assets

Long-lived assets, including acquired identifiable intangible assets with finite useful lives, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of those assets may not be recoverable. In specific situations, when the Company has selected individual assets to be sold or scrapped, the Company obtains market value data for those specific assets and measures and records the impairment loss based on such data. Otherwise, the Company uses undiscounted cash flows to determine whether impairment exists and measures any impairment loss by approximating fair value using acceptable valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow models and third-party appraisals. The Company recognized impairment charges related to intangible assets during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. Several of these impairment charges related to exit activities during the three year period ended December 31, 2018 as described in Note 14 of the consolidated financial statements.

Deferred charges

Deferred charges associated with initial costs incurred to enter into new debt arrangements are included as a component of long-term debt and are amortized as a part of interest expense over the terms of the associated debt agreements.

Advertising

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred.

Foreign currency transactions and translation

The assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates prevailing during the period.

Income taxes

The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach. Under this approach, deferred income taxes represent the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets when uncertainty exists regarding their realization.

Equity-based compensation

The Company measures the cost of equity-based compensation based on grant date fair value and recognizes the cost over the period in which the employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award reduced by forfeitures. Equity-based compensation consists of grants of stock options, deferred stock units, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance stock units. Equity-based compensation expense is included as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses. The Company’s equity-based compensation plans are discussed in more detail in Note 12 of the consolidated financial statements.

Recent accounting pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted



Standard	Description	Financial Statement Effect or Other Significant Matters
ASU No. 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) And All Related ASUs	The standard requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard also requires additional disclosures about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The provisions of the standard, as well as all subsequently issued clarifications to the standard, are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The standard can be adopted using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach.	The Company has adopted this standard using the modified retrospective method. The Company recognized the cumulative- effect adjustment of initially applying this standard of $274,000 to the opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative 2017 and 2016 information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standard in effect for that period. Refer to Note 3 for further disclosure of the financial statement effect and other significant matters as a result of the adoption of this standard. Date of adoption: Q1 2018
ASU No. 2016-15 Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments	The standard provides guidance on eight specific cash flow issues to reduce diversity in reporting. The provisions of this standard are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted.	The Company has adopted this standard and it did not have any impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Date of adoption: Q1 2018
ASU No. 2016-16 Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory	The standard allows an entity to recognize income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The provisions of this standard are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual reporting period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance.	The Company has adopted this standard and it did not have any impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Date of adoption: Q1 2018
ASU No. 2018-02 Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	The standard allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The provisions of this standard are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the standard is permitted, including adoption in any interim period.	The Company has early adopted this standard. As a result of adopting this standard, the Company recorded an adjustment of $350,000 from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in the consolidated statement of shareholders' equity as of January 1, 2018. Date of adoption: Q1 2018

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted



Standard	Description	Financial Statement Effect or Other Significant Matters
ASU No. 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842)	The standard requires lessees to recognize most leases as assets and liabilities on the balance sheet, but record expenses on the statement of operations in a manner similar to current accounting. For lessors, the guidance modifies the classification criteria and accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases. The standard also requires additional disclosures about leasing arrangements and requires a modified retrospective transition approach for existing leases, whereby the standard will be applied to the earliest year presented. The provisions of the standard are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted.	The standard is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2019. The Company will adopt the new leasing standard using the modified retrospective transition approach and will elect the transition method to initially apply the new leases standard to leases that exist at January 1, 2019 (i.e., adoption date). Under this transition method, the date of initial application, and the consolidated financial statements which the Company will first apply the new standard will be January 1, 2019, rather than the later of January 1, 2017 or the Company's underlying leases commencements dates. Further under this approach, the Company will continue reporting and presenting comparative periods in accordance with ASC 840, including disclosures. In addition, the Company will elect the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the standard, which among other things, allows the Company to carry-forward the historical lease classification assessed under ASC 840. The Company will make an accounting policy election to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off of the consolidated balance sheet. The Company will recognize operating lease costs in the consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company estimates the adoption of the standard will result in recognition of operating lease assets and operating lease liabilities of approximately $29 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2019. The Company expects the standard will have no impact to the Company's lease expense presentation in the consolidated statement of operations nor the Company's liquidity. The standard will have no impact on the Company's debt covenant compliance under the Company's current agreements. Also, the Company has identified and will be implementing appropriate changes to the Company's business processes, systems and internal controls to support recognition and disclosure under this standard. Planned date of adoption: Q1 2019