Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 28, 2013

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Euramax Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these statements include all adjustments considered necessary for the fair presentation of all interim periods reported herein. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless otherwise disclosed.

Fiscal Period, Policy

Each of our interim reporting periods, other than the fourth interim reporting period, ends on the Friday closest to the last day of the corresponding quarterly calendar period. The second quarter of 2013 and 2012 ended on June 28 and June 29, respectively. Our fourth interim reporting period and our fiscal year end on December 31 regardless of the day of the week on which it falls.

Income Tax, Policy

The provision for income taxes for 2013 and 2012 are computed at the effective rate expected to be applicable in each respective full year using the statutory rates on a country by country basis, adjusted for changes in valuation allowances relating to the Company’s net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards.

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Pensions, Policy

The Company maintains a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all U.S. hourly employees (the "U.S. Plan"). In addition, the employees at Euramax Coated Products Limited and Ellbee Limited participate in a single employer pension plan (the "UK Plan"). The measurement date for the U.S. and UK plans is the last day of the fiscal year. The Company curtailed the accrual of participant benefits provided under the UK Plan effective March 31, 2009. This curtailment did not affect the timing for the payment of benefits earned under the UK Plan through the curtailment date. In January 2010, the Company's board of directors approved a motion to freeze future benefit accruals under the U.S. Plan.

Fair Value Measurement, Policy

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses, and loans and notes payable approximate their fair values because of the relatively short-term maturities of these instruments.

In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company records assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as required by accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges.

Accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. define fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Additionally, the inputs used to measure fair value are prioritized based on a three-level hierarchy. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:


•	Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.


•	Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1. We value assets and liabilities included in this level using dealer and broker quotations, certain pricing models, bid prices, quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.


•	Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., certain assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. For the Company, the only assets and liabilities that are adjusted to fair value on a recurring basis are derivative financial instruments.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy

In February 2013, the FASB issued amendments to disclosure requirements for presentation of comprehensive income. The Standard requires prospective presentation of the effect of significant amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income and the respective line items in the condensed consolidated statement of operations which are impacted. The amendment is effective prospectively for periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company has included the required disclosure in Note 6, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for determining an entity's fiscal year or other fiscal period. This disclosure may include identification of the fiscal period end-date, the length of the fiscal period, any reporting period lag between the entity and its subsidiaries, or equity investees. If a reporting lag exists, the closing date of the entity having a different period end is generally noted, along with an explanation of the necessity for using different closing dates. Any intervening events that materially affect the entity's financial position or results of operations are generally also disclosed.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and other carryforwards, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for pension plans. This accounting policy may address (1) the types of plans sponsored by the entity (2) groups that participate in (or are covered by) each plan (3) how plan assets, liabilities and expenses are measured, including the use of any actuaries and (4) significant assumptions used by the entity to value plan assets and liabilities and how such assumptions are derived.

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