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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation
BlueLinx is a leading wholesale distributor of residential and commercial building products in the United States. We are a “two-step” distributor. Two-step distributors purchase products from manufacturers and distribute those products to dealers and other suppliers in local markets, who then sell those products to end users. We carry a broad portfolio of both branded and private-label stock keeping units (“SKUs”) across two principal product categories: specialty products and structural products. Specialty products include items such as engineered wood, siding, millwork, outdoor living, specialty lumber and panels, and industrial products. Structural products include items such as lumber, plywood, oriented strand board, rebar, and remesh. We also provide a wide range of value-added services and solutions aimed at relieving distribution and logistics challenges for our customers and suppliers, while enhancing their marketing and inventory management capabilities. Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of BlueLinx Holdings Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
We operate on a 5-4-4 fiscal calendar. Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to December 31 of that fiscal year and may comprise 53 weeks in certain years. Our 2022 fiscal year contained 52 weeks and ended on December 31, 2022. Fiscal 2021 contained 52 weeks and ended on January 1, 2022. Fiscal 2020 contained 53 weeks and ended on January 2, 2021.
Reclassification of Prior Period Presentation
Reclassification of Prior Period Presentation
For the years ended January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021, we have reclassified certain items within the presentation of our statement of cash flows to align with our statement of cash flows presentation for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our reclassifications are limited to the operating activities section and include presenting pension contributions, which were previously presented within the change of other assets and liabilities, as an individual item within changes in operating assets and liabilities. These reclassifications, we believe, provide an enhanced level of transparency with regards to the presentation of our statement of cash flows.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
Our financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make estimates based on assumptions about current, and for some estimates, future economic and market conditions, which affect reported amounts and related disclosures in our financial statements. Although our current estimates contemplate current and expected future conditions, as applicable, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could differ from our expectations, which could materially affect our results of operations and financial position.
The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may also affect our accounting estimates, which may materially change from period to period due to changing market factors. We regularly evaluate these significant factors and make adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the Company’s customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expected to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The timing of revenue recognition largely is dependent on shipping terms. Revenue is recorded at the time of shipment for terms designated free on board (“FOB”) shipping point. For sales transactions designated FOB destination, revenue is recorded when the product is delivered to the customer’s delivery site.
All revenues recognized are net of trade allowances, cash discounts, and sales returns. Cash discounts and sales returns are estimated using historical experience. Trade allowances are based on the estimated obligations and historical experience. Adjustments to earnings resulting from revisions to estimates on discounts and returns have been immaterial for each of the reported periods.
In addition, we provide inventory to certain customers through pre-arranged agreements on a consignment basis. Customer consigned inventory is maintained and stored by certain customers; however, ownership and risk of loss remains with us.
We recognize revenue when the following criteria are met: (1) contract with the customer has been identified; (2) performance obligations in the contract have been identified; (3) transaction price has been determined; (4) the transaction price has been allocated to the performance obligations; and (5) when (or as) performance obligations are satisfied.
Contracts with our customers are generally in the form of standard terms and conditions of sale. From time to time, we may enter into specific contracts, which may affect delivery terms. Performance obligations in our contracts generally consist solely of delivery of goods. For all sales channel types, consisting of warehouse, direct, and reload sales, we typically satisfy our performance obligations upon shipment. Our customer payment terms are typical for our industry, and may vary by the type and location of our customer and the products or services offered. The term between invoicing and when payment is due is not deemed to be significant by us. For certain sales channels and/or products, our standard terms of payment may be as early as ten days.
In addition, we provide inventory to certain customers through pre-arranged agreements on a consignment basis. Customer consigned inventory is maintained and stored by certain customers; however, ownership and risk of loss remains with us.
All revenues recognized are net of trade allowances (i.e., rebates), cash discounts, and sales returns. Cash discounts and sales returns are estimated using historical experience. Trade allowances are based on the estimated obligations and historical experience. Adjustments to earnings resulting from revisions to estimates on discounts and returns have been insignificant for each of the reported periods. Certain customers may receive cash-based incentives or credits, which are accounted for as variable consideration. We estimate these amounts based on the expected amount to be provided to customers and reduce revenues recognized. We believe that there will not be significant changes to our estimates of variable consideration.
Shipping and Handling
Shipping and Handling
Outbound shipping and handling costs included in “Selling, general, and administrative” expenses were $160.3 million, $149.2 million, and $151.2 million for fiscal 2022, fiscal 2021, and fiscal 2020, respectively. Shipping and handling costs include amounts related to the administration of our logistical infrastructure, handling of material in our warehouses, and amounts pertaining to the delivery of products to our customers, such as fuel and maintenance costs for our mobile fleet, wages for our drivers, and third party freight charges.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents consist of short-term investments that have an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase. At December 31, 2022 and January 1, 2022, the majority of our cash and cash equivalents were comprised of money market funds that are broadly diversified and invested in high-quality, short-duration securities, including U.S. government agency securities, and similar instruments. We have significant amounts of cash and cash equivalents that are in excess of federally insured limits. Though we have not experienced any losses on our cash and cash equivalents to date and we do not anticipate incurring any losses, we cannot be assured that we will not experience losses on our cash and cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are stated at net realizable value, do not bear interest, and consist of amounts owed for orders shipped to customers. Management establishes an overall credit policy for sales to customers. The allowance for doubtful accounts is determined based on a number of factors including specific customer account reviews, historical loss experience, current economic trends, and the creditworthiness of significant customers based on ongoing credit evaluations.
Inventory Valuation Inventory ValuationThe cost of all inventories is determined by the moving average cost method. We have included all material charges directly or indirectly incurred in bringing inventory to its existing condition and location. We evaluate our inventory value at the end of each quarter to ensure that inventory, when viewed by category, is carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value, which also considers items that may be considered damaged, excess, and obsolete inventory. As of December 31, 2022, we recorded a lower of cost or net realizable value reserve of $2.6 million and no reserve as of January 1, 2022.
Consideration Received from Vendors and Paid to Customers
Consideration Received from Vendors and Paid to Customers
Each fiscal year, we enter into agreements with many of our vendors providing for inventory purchase rebates, generally based on achievement of specified volume purchasing levels. We also receive rebates related to price protection and various marketing allowances that are common industry practice. We accrue for the receipt of vendor rebates based on purchases, and also reduce inventory to reflect the net acquisition cost (purchase price less expected purchase rebates).
In addition, we enter into agreements with many of our customers to offer customer rebates, generally based on achievement of specified sales levels and various marketing allowances that are common industry practice. We accrue for the payment of customer rebates based on sales to the customer, and also reduce sales to reflect the net sales (sales price less expected customer rebates).
Property and Equipment
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Lease obligations for which we assume or retain substantially all the property rights and risks of ownership are capitalized. Amortization of assets recorded under finance leases is included in “Depreciation and amortization” expense. Replacements of major units of property are capitalized and the replaced properties are retired. Replacements of minor components of property and repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred.
Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from seven to 15 years for land improvements, 15 to 33 years for buildings, and three to seven years for machinery and equipment. Upon retirement or disposition of assets, cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the related accounts and any gain or loss is included in income.
We assess long-lived assets other than goodwill for impairment whenever facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable. If it is determined that the carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable, we compare the carrying amount of the asset to its fair value as estimated using discounted expected future cash flows, market values or replacement values for similar assets. The amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the asset, if any, is recognized as an impairment loss.
Assets Held for Sale
Assets Held for Sale
Certain assets and liabilities met the held for sale classification criteria as of January 1, 2022. Assets and liabilities held for sale are recorded at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less estimated cost to sell and are classified within other current assets and other current liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets. Depreciation is suspended on assets upon classification as held for sale. As of December 31, 2022, we had no assets or liabilities classified as held for sale.
Assets held for sale as of January 1, 2022, consisted of fixed assets, at net book value, and current assets, including raw material and work in process inventory, affiliated with one of our business locations in the Midwest. Liabilities classified as held for sale included current liabilities, such as accounts payable, directly associated with those assets held for sale that were be transferred with the assets held for sale. We planned to sell these assets and transfer these liabilities within the next 12 months.
Self-Insurance
Self-Insurance
The Company is self-insured for its non-union and certain unionized employee health benefits. We have purchased stop-loss insurance in order to establish certain limits to our exposure on a per claim basis, both individually and in the aggregate. Health benefits for some unionized employees for fiscal 2022 and 2021 were paid directly to a union trust, depending upon the union-negotiated benefit arrangement. The Company is also self-insured, up to certain limits, for workers’ compensation losses, general liability, and automotive liability losses, all subject to varying “per occurrence” retentions or deductible limits.
The Company provides for estimated costs to settle both known claims and claims incurred but not yet reported by making periodic prepayments, considering our retention and stop loss limits. Liabilities of the Company associated with these claims are estimated, in part, by considering the frequency and severity of historical claims, both specific to us, as well as industry-wide loss experience and other actuarial assumptions. We determine our insurance obligations with the assistance of actuarial firms. Since there are many estimates and assumptions involved in recording insurance liabilities, and in the case of workers’ compensation, a significant period of time elapses before the ultimate resolution of claims, differences between actual future events, and prior estimates and assumptions could result in adjustments to these liabilities. The Company has deposits on hand with certain third-party insurance administrators and insurance carriers to cover its obligation for future payment of claims. These deposits are recorded in other current and non-current assets in our consolidated balance sheets.
Leases
Leases
We are the lessee in a lease contract when we obtain the right to control an asset associated with a particular lease. For operating leases, we record a right-of-use ("ROU") asset that represents our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and a corresponding lease liability that represents our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease, both of which are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. Financing ROU assets associated with finance leases are included in property and equipment. Leases with a lease term of 12 months or less at inception are not recorded on our consolidated balance sheet and are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term in our consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. We determine the lease term by assuming the exercise of renewal options that are reasonably certain. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit interest rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of future lease payments. When our contracts contain lease and non-lease components, we account for both components as a single lease component. See Note 14, Lease Commitments, for further discussion.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
We account for deferred income taxes using the liability method. Accordingly, we recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, as measured by current enacted tax rates. All deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as noncurrent in our consolidated balance sheet. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when necessary. For additional information about our income taxes, see Note 8, Income Taxes.
Pension
Pension
We sponsor a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan administered solely by us (the “pension plan”). Most of the participants in the plan are inactive, with all remaining active participants no longer accruing benefits, and the plan is closed to new entrants. Our funding policy for the pension plan is based on actuarial calculations and the applicable requirements of federal law. Benefits under the pension plan primarily are related to years of service.
We are involved in various multiemployer pension plans (“MEPPs”) that provide retirement benefits to certain union employees in accordance with certain collective bargaining agreements (“CBAs”). As one of many participating employers in these MEPPs, we are generally responsible with the other participating employers for any plan underfunding. Our contributions
to a particular MEPP are established by the applicable CBAs; however, our required contributions may increase based on the funded status of an MEPP and legal requirements such as those of the Pension Act, which requires substantially underfunded MEPPs to implement a funding improvement plan (“FIP”) or a rehabilitation plan (“RP”) to improve their funded status.
Fair Value
Fair Value
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Authoritative guidance for fair value measurements establishes a three-level hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation models based upon the degree to which they are observable. The three levels of the fair value measurement hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 - Inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity can access at the measurement date
Level 2 - Inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly
Level 3 - Inputs are unobservable inputs for which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions
The fair value measurement guidance also establishes, as a practical expedient, that certain investments are not to be classified in the fair value hierarchy when they are measured at fair value using net asset value ("NAV").
The carrying value of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, trade receivables, and trade payables approximate their fair values because of their short-term nature. See Note 10, Fair Value Measurements, for additional information with respect to the Company’s fair value measurements.
Business Combinations Business CombinationsWe account for business combinations by recognizing the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date fair value. In valuing certain acquired assets and liabilities, fair value estimates use Level 3 inputs, including future expected cash flows and discount rates. Goodwill is measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. While we use our best estimates and assumptions to value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, our estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, we may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period, any subsequent adjustments arising from new facts and circumstances are recorded to the consolidated statements of operations. The results of operations of acquisitions are reflected in our consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.
Recent Accounting Standards - Adopted
Recent Accounting Standards - Adopted
Credit Impairment Losses. In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326).” This ASU sets forth a current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model which requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial instruments or other assets (e.g., trade receivables), held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable supportable forecasts. This replaces the existing incurred loss model, is applicable to the measurement of credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost, and applies to some off-balance sheet credit exposures. The standard also requires enhanced disclosures to help financial statement users better understand significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an entity's portfolio. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2022 and the implementation did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.
Reference Rate Reform. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” The standard provides temporary guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform primarily resulting from the discontinuation of the publication of certain tenors of the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) on December 31, 2021, with complete elimination of the publication of the LIBOR by June 30, 2023. The amendments in this ASU are elective and apply to all entities that have contracts referencing the LIBOR.
Our revolving credit agreement, as further discussed in Note 9, Long-Term Debt, to these consolidated financial statements, currently references the LIBOR for determining interest payable on current and future borrowings and includes provisions for the use of alternative rates if the LIBOR is unavailable. The guidance in this ASU provides a practical expedient which simplifies accounting analyses under current U.S. GAAP for contract modifications if the change is directly related to a change
from the LIBOR to a new interest rate index. We adopted this standard prospectively in the first quarter of 2022. The implementation did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements or to any key terms of our revolving credit agreement other than the discontinuation of the LIBOR.
Income Taxes. In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.” This ASU simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. The amendments in this standard are effective for interim periods and fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. We adopted this standard effective for fiscal year 2021. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.