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Summary of Significant Accouting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
NOTE 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., which we refer to in this report as GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting period. Significant areas requiring the use of estimates and measurement of uncertainty include determination of net realizable value for deferred tax assets, uncertain income tax positions, assessment of impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, assessment of environmental matters, allocation of purchase price and fair value estimates for business combinations, equity-based compensation and pension and postretirement obligation assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
Our short-term investments, which are classified as available for sale, are invested primarily in demand deposits, which have very short maturity periods, and therefore earn an interest rate commensurate with low-risk instruments. Due to our investments' short-term maturity periods there is no significant difference between the investments' cost and fair value. We do not attempt to hedge our exposure to interest rate risk for our short-term investments. Our restricted cash in which the underlying instrument has a term of greater than twelve months from the balance sheet date is classified as non-current and is included in “Other assets” on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 31, 2013, substantially all restricted cash balances were classified as current and included in "Restricted cash" on our Consolidated Balance Sheet, compared to approximately $1.5 million of restricted cash classified as non-current and included in "Other assets, net" as of December 31, 2012.
TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Trade accounts receivable are stated at the amount we expect to collect. Trade accounts receivable do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is our best estimate of the losses we expect will result from the inability of our customers to make required payments. We generally determine the allowance based on a combination of actual historical write-off experience and an analysis of specific customer accounts. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had allowances for doubtful accounts of $1.9 million and $1.6 million, respectively. Bad debt expense, net, charged to selling, general and administrative expenses during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $1.5 million, $0.2 million and $1.0 million, respectively. All other activity impacting the allowance for doubtful accounts was immaterial for all periods.
INVENTORIES
At December 31, 2013, our inventories are stated at the lower of market or current average cost using the average cost method. Prior to the November 2011 sale of our Lewiston, Idaho, sawmill, we used the last-in, first-out, or LIFO, method to determine cost for our logs, wood fiber and the majority of our lumber.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, including assets acquired under capital lease obligations and any interest costs capitalized, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of buildings, equipment and other depreciable assets is determined using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives generally range from 10 to 40 years for land improvements; 10 to 40 years for buildings and improvements; 5 to 25 years for machinery and equipment; and 2 to 15 years for office and other equipment. Assets we acquire through business combinations have estimated lives that are typically shorter than the assets we construct or buy new.
LONG-LIVED ASSETS
Our long-lived assets include property, plant and equipment and amortizable intangible assets. We review the carrying value of long-lived assets for impairment annually and when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. An impairment of long-lived assets exists when the carrying value is not considered to be recoverable through future undiscounted cash flows from operations and the carrying value of the asset or asset group exceeds the estimated fair value.
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill from an acquisition represents the excess of the cost of a business acquired over the net of the amounts assigned to assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets and liabilities assumed. Goodwill and intangible assets resulted from our acquisition of Cellu Tissue Holdings, or Cellu Tissue, on December 27, 2010. Intangible assets also resulted from our December 2012 acquisition of a wood chipping facility. We used estimates in determining and assigning the fair value of goodwill and intangible assets, including estimates of useful lives of intangible assets, the amount and timing of related future cash flows and fair values of the related operations. Our intangible assets have definite lives and are amortized over their estimated useful lives. We assess our intangibles for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable.
As a result of our acquisition of Cellu Tissue in December 2010, we recorded $229.5 million of goodwill as included on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012. All of the recorded goodwill was assigned to our Consumer Products segment and reporting unit. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment annually as of November 1, as well as any time when events suggest impairment may have occurred. In the event the carrying value of our consumer products reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit, an impairment loss would be recognized to the extent the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value.
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
The determination of pension plan expense and the requirements for funding our pension plans are based on a number of actuarial assumptions. Two critical assumptions are the discount rate applied to pension plan obligations and the rate of return on plan assets. For other postretirement employee benefit, or OPEB, plans, which provide certain health care and life insurance benefits to qualified retired employees, critical assumptions in determining OPEB expense are the discount rate applied to benefit obligations and the assumed health care cost trend rates used in the calculation of benefit obligations. We also participate in multiemployer defined benefit pension plans. We make contributions to these multiemployer plans, as well as make contributions to a trust fund established to provide retiree medical benefits for a portion of these employees.
The discount rate used in the determination of pension benefit obligations and pension expense is determined based on a review of long-term high-grade bonds and management's expectations. To determine the expected long-term rate of return on pension assets, we employ a process that analyzes historical long-term returns for various investment categories, as measured by appropriate indices. These indices are weighted based upon the extent to which plan assets are invested in the particular categories in arriving at our determination of a composite expected return.
An increase in the discount rate or the rate of expected return on plan assets, all other assumptions remaining the same, would decrease pension plan expense, and conversely, a decrease in either of these measures would increase plan expense. The actual rates of return on plan assets may vary significantly from the assumptions used because of unanticipated changes in financial markets.
The estimated net loss and prior service cost (credit) for the defined benefit pension and OPEB plans is amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic cost (benefit) in accordance with current accounting guidance.
Periodic pension and OPEB expenses are included in “Cost of sales” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The expense is allocated to all business segments. In accordance with current accounting guidance governing defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, at December 31, 2013 and 2012, long-term assets are recorded for overfunded single-employer plans and liabilities are recorded for underfunded single-employer plans. The funded status of a benefit plan is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the projected benefit obligation. For underfunded single-employer plans, the estimated liability to be payable in the next twelve months is recorded as a current liability, with the remaining portion recorded as a long-term liability.
INCOME TAXES
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. 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. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
The determination of our provision for income taxes requires significant judgment, the use of estimates, and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws. Significant judgment is required in assessing the timing and amounts of deductible and taxable items and the probability of sustaining uncertain tax positions. The benefits of uncertain tax positions are recorded in our consolidated financial statements only after determining a more-likely-than-not probability that the uncertain tax positions will withstand challenge, if any, from tax authorities. When facts and circumstances change, we reassess these probabilities and record any changes in the consolidated financial statements as appropriate.
REVENUE RECOGNITION
We recognize revenue when there is persuasive evidence of a sales agreement, the price to the customer is fixed and determinable, collection is reasonably assured, and title and the risk of loss passes to the customer. Shipping terms generally indicate when title and the risk of loss have passed. Revenue is recognized at shipment for sales when shipping terms are free on board, or FOB, shipping point. For sales where shipping terms are FOB destination, revenue is recognized when the goods are received by the customer. Revenue from both domestic and foreign sales of our products can involve shipping terms of either FOB shipping point or FOB destination or other shipping terms, depending upon the sales agreement with the customer.
In 2013 we had one customer in the Consumer Products segment, the Kroger Company, that accounted for approximately $204 million, or 10.8%, of our total company net sales. In 2012 and 2011, we did not have any single customer that accounted for 10% or more of our total net sales.
We provide for trade promotions, customer cash discounts, customer returns and other deductions as reductions to net sales in the same period as the related revenues are recognized. Provisions for these items are determined based on historical experience or specific customer arrangements.
Revenue is recognized net of any sales taxes collected. Sales taxes, when collected, are recorded as a current liability and remitted to the appropriate governmental entities.
ENVIRONMENTAL
As part of our corporate policy, we have an ongoing process to monitor, report on and comply with environmental requirements. Based on this ongoing process, accruals for environmental liabilities that are not within the scope of specific authoritative guidance related to accounting for asset retirement obligations or conditional asset retirement obligations are established in accordance with guidance related to accounting for contingencies. We estimate our environmental liabilities based on various assumptions and judgments, the specific nature of which varies in light of the particular facts and circumstances surrounding each environmental liability. These estimates typically reflect assumptions and judgments as to the probable nature, magnitude and timing of required investigation, remediation and monitoring activities and the probable cost of these activities. Currently, we are not aware of any material environmental liabilities and have accrued for only specific environmental remediation costs that we have determined are probable and for which an amount can be reasonably estimated. Fees for professional services associated with environmental and legal issues are expensed as incurred.
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
On February 5, 2014, in an event subsequent to the close of our 2013 fiscal year, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of our common stock. The repurchase program authorizes purchases of our common stock from time to time through open market purchases, negotiated transactions or other means, including accelerated stock repurchases and 10b5-1 trading plans in accordance with applicable securities laws and other restrictions. We have no obligation to repurchase stock under this program and may suspend or terminate the program at any time.
On January 17, 2013, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of our common stock, which was completed in 2013. The repurchases were authorized to be carried out by the utilization of a number of different methods, including but not limited to, open market purchases, accelerated buybacks and negotiated block purchases. On March 1, 2013, we entered into an accelerated stock buyback, or ASB, agreement with a major financial institution to repurchase an aggregate of $50.0 million of our outstanding common stock. In total, 1,039,513 shares of our outstanding common stock were delivered under the ASB agreement at an average repurchase price of $48.10 per share. In addition to the ASB agreement, we also made repurchases of 1,030,657 shares of our outstanding common stock on the open market at a total cost of $50.0 million, representing an an average price of $48.51 per share.
On July 28, 2011, we announced that our Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to $30.0 million of our common stock. Under the stock repurchase program, we were authorized to repurchase shares in the open market or as otherwise determined by management, subject to market conditions, business opportunities and other factors. We completed this repurchase program in the fourth quarter of 2012. The total number of shares repurchased under this program was 853,470 at an aggregate cost of $30.0 million and an average price of $35.15 per share.
In addition, on July 28, 2011, we announced that our Board of Directors had declared a two-for-one stock split of our outstanding shares of common stock, which was effected in the form of a stock dividend distributed on August 26, 2011 to shareholders of record on August 12, 2011. On the August 26, 2011 distribution date, there were 11,373,460 shares of common stock outstanding. Immediately following the distribution date, there were 22,746,920 outstanding shares of common stock. All common share and per share amounts have been adjusted for the stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend.
DERIVATIVES
We had no activity during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 that required hedge or derivative accounting treatment. However, to partially mitigate our exposure to market risk for changes in utility commodity pricing, we use firm price contracts to supply a portion of the natural gas requirements for our manufacturing facilities. As of December 31, 2013, these contracts covered approximately 55% of the expected average monthly requirements for the first quarter of 2014. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, approximately 16%, 29% and 2%, respectively, of our natural gas volumes were supplied through firm price contracts. These contracts qualify for treatment as “normal purchases or normal sales” under authoritative guidance and thus require no mark-to-market adjustment.