Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements (“financial statements”) include the accounts of Glatfelter and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

We prepared these financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“generally accepted accounting principles” or “GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission pertaining to interim financial statements. In our opinion, the financial statements reflect all normal, recurring adjustments needed to present fairly our results for the interim periods. When preparing these financial statements, we have assumed that you have read the audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Reclassification

Reclassification   As a result of adopting the provisions of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Cost we reclassified certain amounts of periodic benefit expense for previously reported periods from Cost of products sold and Selling, general and administrative expense to Non Operating Expense.  As a result of applying the ASU, Costs of products sold for the first quarter of 2017 was increased by $1.3 million and Selling, general and administrative expenses were reduced by $0.2 million and the offsetting net reclassification reduced Non-operating expense by $1.1 million.

Accounting Estimates

Accounting Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingencies as of the balance sheet date and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management believes the estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of these financial statements are reasonable, based upon currently available facts and known circumstances, but recognizes that actual results may differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition  We adopted ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers in the first quarter of 2018. This ASU clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue and establishes expanded disclosure requirements; however, the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 had no impact on the timing or amount of revenue recognized for any period presented.  Refer to Note 3 for additional information about the disaggregation of our net sales.

Our revenue is earned primarily from the manufacture and sale of specialty papers and engineered materials (“product sales”).  Revenue is earned pursuant to contracts, supply agreements and other arrangements with a wide variety of customers. Our performance obligation is to produce a specified product according to technical specifications and, in substantially all instances, to deliver the product. Revenue from product sales is earned at a point in time. We recognize revenue on product sales when we have satisfied our performance obligation and control of the product has passed to the customer thereby entitling us to payment. With respect to substantially all arrangements for product sales, this is deemed to occur when title transfers in accordance with specified shipping terms.

The prices are fixed at the time the sales arrangement is entered into and payment terms are customary for similar arrangements in our industry. Many of our agreements include customary provisions for volume rebates, discounts and similar incentives. In addition, we are obligated for products that fail to meet agreed upon specification. Provisions for such items are estimated and recorded as sales deductions in the period in which the related revenue is recognized.

Revenue from power sales and renewable energy credits is recorded under the caption “Energy and related sales, net” in the condensed consolidated statements of income and is recognized upon fulfillment of our performance obligation which is generally upon meeting capacity commitments or delivery of REC certificates. Revenue from energy sales is recognized when electricity is delivered to the customer. Prices for power sales and renewable energy credits are fixed at the time of sale and payment is generally due within normal terms and conditions customary for the industry.

Certain costs associated with the production of electricity, such as fuel, labor, depreciation and maintenance are netted against energy sales for presentation on the condensed consolidated statements of income.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements   In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, “Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. (“ASU No. 2018-02”).”  In December 2017, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) was passed into law and, among other provisions, reduced the statutory federal tax rate from 35% to 21%.  The change in the tax rate impacted the carrying value of deferred tax assets and liabilities.  ASU No. 2018-02 allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the TCJA.  We elected to adopt ASU No. 2018-02 in the first quarter of 2018, and we reclassified $22.3 million of net deferred tax benefits from AOCI to retained earnings.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This ASU will require organizations such as us that lease assets to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. The new guidance will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted. We are in the process of assessing the impact this standard will have on us and expect to follow a modified retrospective method provided for under the standard.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13 Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments that changes the impairment model for most financial instruments, including trade receivables from an incurred loss method to a new forward-looking approach, based on expected losses. Under the new guidance, an allowance is recognized based on an estimate of expected credit losses. This standard is effective for us in the first quarter of 2020 and must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition approach. We are currently assessing the impact this standard may have on our results of operations and financial position.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities" (“ASU No. 2017-12”), which simplifies the application of hedge accounting and more closely aligns hedge accounting with an entity’s risk management strategies. ASU No. 2017-12 also amends the manner in which hedge effectiveness may be performed and changes the presentation of hedge ineffectiveness in the financial statements. ASU No. 2017-12 is effective for us beginning January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. ASU No. 2017-12 requires a cumulative-effect adjustment for certain items upon adoption. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU No. 2017-12 will have on our consolidated financial statements.