Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Accounting Policies

The complete summary of significant accounting policies is included in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" in our 2017 Form 10-K.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Such estimates include the valuation of accounts receivable, inventories, goodwill, intangible assets, and other long-lived assets; legal contingencies; guarantee obligations; indemnifications; assumptions used in retirement, medical, and workers' compensation benefits; stock-based compensation; fair value measurements; income taxes; and vendor and customer rebates, among others. These estimates and assumptions are based on management's best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. We adjust such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in these estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements in future periods.

Vendor Rebates and Allowances

We receive rebates and allowances from our vendors under a number of different programs, including vendor marketing programs. At March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, we had $5.3 million and $6.7 million, respectively, of vendor rebates and allowances recorded in "Receivables, Other" on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Rebates and allowances received from our vendors are recognized as a reduction of "Materials, labor, and other operating expenses (excluding depreciation)" when the product is sold, unless the rebates and allowances are linked to a specific incremental cost to sell a vendor's product. Amounts received from vendors that are linked to specific selling and distribution expenses are recognized as a reduction of "Selling and distribution expenses" in the period the expense is incurred.

Leases

We lease a portion of our distribution centers as well as other property and equipment under operating leases. For purposes of determining straight-line rent expense, the lease term is calculated from the date we first take possession of the facility, including any periods of free rent and any renewal option periods we are reasonably assured of exercising. Rental expense for operating leases was $4.6 million and $4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Sublease rental income was not material in any of the periods presented.

We also have leases of certain distribution centers recorded as capital leases. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recorded a capital lease for a distribution center with an initial lease term of 20 years in the amount of $14.3 million, which represents a non-cash investing and financing activity. At March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, we had $17.9 million and $3.9 million, respectively, of capital lease obligations recorded in "Other long-term liabilities" on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Inventories

Inventories included the following (work in process is not material):



	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(thousands)
Finished goods and work in process	$	452,917	$	377,266
Logs	43,195		57,229
Other raw materials and supplies	42,611		42,178
	$	538,723	$	476,673

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consisted of the following asset classes:



	March 31, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(thousands)
Land	$	38,606		$	38,606
Buildings	144,775			144,404
Improvements	69,777			55,267
Mobile equipment, information technology, and office furniture	143,417			138,245
Machinery and equipment	668,839			659,708
Construction in progress	16,712			23,303
	1,082,126			1,059,533
Less accumulated depreciation	(513,872		)	(493,741		)
	$	568,254		$	565,792

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. The fair value hierarchy under GAAP gives the highest priority to quoted market prices (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). In general, and where applicable, we use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities to determine fair value (Level 1). If quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities are not available to determine fair value, we use quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2). If quoted prices for identical or similar assets are not available or are unobservable, we may use internally developed valuation models, whose inputs include bid prices, and third-party valuations utilizing underlying asset assumptions (Level 3).

Financial Instruments

Our financial instruments are cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, long-term debt, and interest rate swaps. Our cash is recorded at cost, which approximates fair value, and our cash equivalents are money market funds. As of March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, we held $55.8 million and $137.5 million, respectively, in money market funds that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 1 inputs. The recorded values of accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair values based on their short-term nature. At March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, the book value of our fixed-rate debt for each period was $350.0 million, and the fair value was estimated to be $358.8 million and $369.3 million, respectively. The difference between the book value and the fair value is derived from the difference between the period-end market interest rate and the stated rate of our fixed-rate, long-term debt. We estimated the fair value of our fixed-rate debt using quoted market prices of our debt in inactive markets (Level 2 inputs). The interest rate on our term loans is based on market conditions such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or a base rate. Because the interest rate on the term loans is based on current market conditions, we believe that the estimated fair value of the outstanding balance on our term loans approximates book value. As discussed below, we also have interest rate swaps to mitigate our variable interest rate exposure, the fair value of which is measured based on Level 2 inputs.

Interest Rate Risk and Interest Rate Swaps

We are exposed to interest rate risk arising from fluctuations in variable-rate LIBOR on our term loans and when we have loan amounts outstanding on our revolving credit facility. Our objective is to limit the variability of interest payments on our debt. To meet this objective, in 2016 we entered into receive-variable, pay-fixed interest rate swaps to change the variable-rate cash flow exposure to fixed-rate cash flows. In accordance with our risk management strategy, we actively monitor our interest rate exposure and use derivative instruments from time to time to manage the related risk.

On February 16, 2016, and March 31, 2016, we entered into interest rate swap agreements with notional principal amounts of $50.0 million and $75.0 million, respectively, to offset risks associated with the variability in cash flows relating to interest payments that are based on one-month LIBOR. We do not speculate using derivative instruments. At March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, the notional principal amount of our interest rate swap agreements exceeded the $95.0 million of variable-rate debt outstanding after paying down $30.0 million of variable rate debt on our term loan in December 2016. The excess notional principal amount of our interest rate swaps over our variable-rate debt is within our management strategy as we have partially funded seasonal and intra-month working capital requirements from borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Under the interest rate swaps, we receive LIBOR-based variable interest rate payments and make fixed interest rate payments, thereby fixing the interest rate on $125.0 million of variable rate debt exposure. Payments on the interest rate swaps with notional principal amounts of $50.0 million and $75.0 million are due on a monthly basis at an annual fixed rate of 1.007% and 1.256%, respectively, and expire in February 2022 and March 2022, respectively. The interest rate swap agreements were not designated as cash flow hedges, and as a result, all changes in the fair value are recognized in "Change in fair value of interest rate swaps" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations rather than through other comprehensive income. At March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, we recorded long-term assets of $6.4 million and $4.7 million, respectively, in "Other assets" on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, representing the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements. The swaps were valued based on observable inputs for similar assets and liabilities and other observable inputs for interest rates and yield curves (Level 2 inputs).

Concentration of Credit Risk

We are exposed to credit risk related to customer accounts receivable. In order to manage credit risk, we consider customer concentrations and current economic trends and monitor the creditworthiness of significant customers based on ongoing credit evaluations. At March 31, 2018, receivables from two customers accounted for approximately 13% and 10%, respectively, of total receivables. At December 31, 2017, receivables from two customers accounted for approximately 15% and 12%, respectively, of total receivables. No other customer accounted for 10% or more of total receivables.

New and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In March 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118. The amendments in this ASU add various Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) paragraphs pursuant to the issuance of SEC Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Act) (SAB 118). The SEC issued SAB 118 to address concerns about reporting entities' ability to timely comply with the accounting requirements to recognize all of the effects of the Tax Act in the period of enactment. SAB 118 allows disclosure that timely determination of some or all of the income tax effects from the Tax Act are incomplete by the due date of the financial statements and, if possible, to provide a reasonable estimate. See Note 4, Income Taxes, for our assessment of the income tax effects of the Tax Act.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This ASU permits entities to reclassify stranded tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted by the U.S. federal government on December 22, 2017. The updated guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the effects of this ASU on our financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. This ASU requires entities to present the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost in the same income statement line item(s) as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. The other components of net periodic benefit cost must be presented elsewhere in the income statement and outside of income from operations if that subtotal is presented. Entities will have to disclose the line(s) used to present the other components of net periodic benefit cost if the components are not presented separately in the income statement. The guidance on the income statement presentation of the components of net periodic benefit cost must be applied retrospectively. We adopted the standard in first quarter 2018, which resulted in a change in our income from operations in an amount equal to the other components of net periodic pension cost, which was offset by a corresponding change outside of income from operations. The amount recorded outside of income from operations is presented in "Pension expense (excluding service costs)" in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The components of net periodic cost are shown in Note 7, Retirement and Benefit Plans.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This amendment requires a lessee to recognize substantially all leases (whether operating or finance leases) on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and an associated lease liability. Short-term leases of 12 months or less are excluded from this amendment. For leases defined as finance leases under the new standard, the lessee subsequently recognizes interest expense and amortization of the right-of-use asset, similar to accounting for capital leases under current GAAP. For leases defined as operating leases under the new standard, the lessee subsequently recognizes straight-line lease expense over the life of the lease. This new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance is to be applied using a modified retrospective transition method with the option to elect a package of practical expedients. The adoption of this ASU will result in a significant increase to our balance sheet for lease liabilities and right-of-use assets, which has not yet been quantified. We are currently evaluating this and the other effects of this ASU on our financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This ASU replaced most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it became effective and requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The guidance also requires additional disclosure to help users of financial statements better understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. We adopted this standard effective January 1, 2018. See Note 3, Revenues, for the impact of this standard on our revenue recognition practices and additional required qualitative disclosures of our revenue recognition policies.

There were no other accounting standards recently issued that had or are expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and associated disclosures.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in prior year's consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with current year's presentation, none of which were considered material.