Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CARBO Ceramics Inc. and its operating subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Concentration of Credit Risk, Accounts Receivable and Other Receivables

Concentration of Credit Risk, Accounts Receivable and Other Receivables

The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and generally does not require collateral. Receivables are generally due within 30 days. The majority of the Company’s receivables are from customers in the petroleum pressure pumping industry. The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based on its assessment of collectability risk and periodically evaluates the balance in the allowance based on a review of trade accounts receivable. Trade accounts receivable are periodically reviewed for collectability based on customers’ past credit history and current financial condition, and the allowance is adjusted if necessary. Credit losses historically have been insignificant. The allowance for doubtful accounts at December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $2,083 and $1,844, respectively. Other receivables were $2,781 and $1,732 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, of which related mainly to miscellaneous receivables in the United States and China.

Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash equivalents approximate fair value.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (weighted average) or market. Finished goods inventories include costs of materials, plant labor and overhead incurred in the production of the Company’s products and costs to transfer finished goods to distribution centers.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes using the following estimated useful lives:

Buildings and improvements	15 to 30 years
Machinery and equipment	3 to 30 years
Land-use rights	30 years

The Company holds approximately 4,220 acres of land and leasehold interests containing kaolin reserves near its plants in Georgia and Alabama. The Company also holds approximately 490 acres of land and leasehold interests near its resin-coating facility currently under construction in Marshfield, Wisconsin containing sand reserves for use as raw material in the production of its resin-coated sand products. The capitalized costs of land and mineral rights as well as costs incurred to develop such property are amortized using the units-of-production method based on estimated total tons of these reserves.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Assets

Long-lived assets to be held and used and intangible assets that are subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate their carrying amounts might not be recoverable. Recoverability is assessed by comparing the undiscounted expected future cash flows from the assets with their carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows an impairment loss is recorded. The impairment loss is measured by comparing the fair value of the assets with their carrying amounts. Intangible assets that are not subject to amortization are tested for impairment at least annually by comparing their fair value with the carrying amount and recording an impairment loss for any excess of carrying amount over fair value. Fair values are generally determined based on discounted expected future cash flows or appraised values, as appropriate. During 2013, the Company recognized a gain of $43, and in 2012 and 2011, the Company recognized losses of $518 and $1,548, respectively, on disposal or impairment of various assets. The gain in 2013 consisted primarily of equipment disposals. The loss in 2012 consisted primarily of the wind down of the geotechnical monitoring business. The loss in 2011 consisted of an impairment of goodwill related to the Company’s geotechnical monitoring business, a write-down of a 6% interest in an investment accounted for under the cost method as a result of the sale of the business by majority shareholders and certain equipment disposals.

Capitalized Software

Capitalized Software

The Company capitalizes certain software costs, after technological feasibility has been established, which are amortized utilizing the straight-line method over the economic lives of the related products, generally not to exceed five years.

Goodwill

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of companies acquired over the fair value of their net assets at the date of acquisition. Goodwill relating to each of the Company’s reporting units is tested for impairment annually as well as when an event, or change in circumstances, indicates an impairment is more likely than not to have occurred. As a result of changes in business conditions in the geotechnical monitoring business during 2011, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $889 on goodwill associated with that reporting unit. The latest impairment review indicated goodwill related to other reporting units was not impaired.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from proppant sales is recognized when title passes to the customer, generally upon delivery. Revenue from consulting and geotechnical services is recognized at the time service is performed. Revenue from the sale of fracture simulation software is recognized when title passes to the customer at time of shipment. Revenue from the sale of spill prevention services is recognized at the time service is performed. Revenue from the sale of containment goods is recognized at the time goods are delivered.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are classified as cost of sales. Shipping costs consist of transportation costs to deliver products to customers. Handling costs include labor and overhead to maintain finished goods inventory and operate distribution facilities.

Cost of Start-Up Activities

Cost of Start-Up Activities

Start-up activities, including organization costs, are expensed as incurred. There were no start-up costs during 2013. Start-up costs for 2012 primarily related to the start-up of the second resin-coating line at the Company’s New Iberia, Louisiana facility. Start-up costs for 2011 primarily related to the start-up of the fourth production line at the Company’s Toomsboro, Georgia facility.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

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

Research and Development Costs

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are charged to operations when incurred and are included in Selling, General and Administrative expenses. The amounts incurred in 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $8,416, $6,916 and $7,335, respectively.

Foreign Subsidiaries

Foreign Subsidiaries

Financial statements of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated using current exchange rates for assets and liabilities; average exchange rates for the period for revenues, expenses, gains and losses; and historical exchange rates for equity accounts. Resulting translation adjustments are included in, and the only component of, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance on reporting of amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income. The new guidance requires a company to present significant amounts reclassified from each component of other comprehensive income and the income statement line items affected by the reclassification. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2013. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

On September 13, 2013, the U.S. Treasury and IRS issued final Tangible Property Regulations (“TPR”) under IRC Section 162 and IRC Section 263(a). The regulations are not effective until tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014; however, certain portions may require an accounting method change on a retroactive basis, thus requiring a IRC Section 481(a) adjustment related to fixed and real asset deferred taxes. The accounting rules under ASC 740 treat the release of the regulations as a change in tax law as of the date of issuance and require the Company to determine whether there will be an impact on its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013. Any such impact of the final tangible property regulations would affect temporary deferred taxes only and result in a balance sheet reclassification between current and deferred taxes. The Company has analyzed the expected impact of the TPR on the Company and concluded that the expected impact is immaterial. The Company will continue to monitor the impact of any future changes to the TPR on the Company prospectively.