Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of RPC, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (“RPC” or the “Company”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the presentation in the current year.

Common Stock

Common Stock

RPC is authorized to issue 349,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.10 par value. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as, and if declared by the Board of Directors out of legally available funds. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of common stock are entitled to ratable distribution of the remaining assets available for distribution to stockholders.

Preferred Stock

Preferred Stock

RPC is authorized to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.10 par value. As of December 31, 2015, there were no shares of preferred stock issued. The Board of Directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of preferred stock as a class without series or, if so determined from time to time, in one or more series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable laws of the state of Delaware and to fix the designations, powers, preferences and rights, exchangeability for shares of any other class or classes of stock. Any preferred stock to be issued could rank prior to the common stock with respect to dividend rights and rights on liquidation.

Dividends

On July 28, 2015, the Board of Directors voted to temporarily suspend RPC’s quarterly dividend to common stockholders.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Significant estimates are used in the determination of the allowance for doubtful accounts, income taxes, accrued insurance expenses, depreciable lives of assets, and pension liabilities.

Revenues

RPC’s revenues are generated principally from providing services and the related equipment. Revenues are recognized when the services are rendered and collectibility is reasonably assured. Revenues from services and equipment are based on fixed or determinable priced purchase orders or contracts with the customer and do not include the right of return. Rates for services and equipment are priced on a per day, per unit of measure, per man hour or similar basis. Sales tax charged to customers is presented on a net basis within the consolidated statement of operations and excluded from revenues.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Substantially all of the Company’s customers are engaged in the oil and gas industry. This concentration of customers may impact overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic and industry conditions. The Company provided oilfield services to several hundred customers during each of the last three years. One customer accounted for approximately 23 percent of revenues in 2015, and there were no customers that accounted for more than 10 percent of the Company’s revenues in 2014 and 2013. Additionally, one customer accounted for approximately 14 percent of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2015, and there were no customers that accounted for more than 10 percent of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2014.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when acquired are considered to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash in bank accounts which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. RPC maintains cash equivalents and investments in one or more large financial institutions, and RPC’s policy restricts investment in any securities rated less than “investment grade” by national rating services.

Investments

Investments classified as available-for-sale securities are stated at their fair values, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Realized gains and losses, declines in value judged to be other than temporary, interest, and dividends with respect to available-for-sale securities are included in interest income. The Company realized an immaterial realized loss during 2015 and no gains or losses during 2014 or 2013 on its available-for-sale securities. Securities that are held in the non-qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) are classified as trading. See Note 10 for further information regarding the SERP. The change in fair value of trading securities is presented as compensation cost in selling, general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations.

Management determines the appropriate classification of investments at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such designations as of each balance sheet date.

Accounts Receivable

The majority of the Company’s accounts receivable is due principally from major and independent oil and natural gas exploration and production companies. Credit is extended based on evaluation of a customer’s financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required. Accounts receivable are considered past due after 60 days and are stated at amounts due from customers, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts receivable are carried at the amounts due from customers, reduced by an allowance for estimated amounts that may not be collectible in the future. The estimated allowance for doubtful accounts is based on an evaluation of industry trends, financial condition of customers, historical write-off experience, current economic conditions, and in the case of international customers, judgments about the economic and political environment of the related country and region. Accounts are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts when the Company determines that amounts are uncollectible and recoveries of previously written-off accounts are recorded when collected.

Inventories

Inventories, which consist principally of (i) raw materials and supplies that are consumed providing services to the Company’s customers, (ii) spare parts for equipment used in providing these services and (iii) components and attachments for manufactured equipment used in providing services, are recorded at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is determined using first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method or the weighted average cost method. Market value is determined based on replacement cost for materials and supplies. The Company regularly reviews inventory quantities on hand and records a write-down for excess or obsolete inventory based primarily on its estimated forecast of product demand, market conditions, production requirements and technological developments.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment, including software costs, are reported at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization, which is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Annual depreciation and amortization expenses are computed using the following useful lives: operating equipment, 3 to 20 years; buildings and leasehold improvements or the life of the lease, 15 to 39 years; furniture and fixtures, 5 to 7 years; software, 5 years; and vehicles, 3 to 5 years. The cost of assets retired or otherwise disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation and amortization are eliminated from the accounts in the year of disposal with the resulting gain or loss credited or charged to income from operations. Expenditures for additions, major renewals, and betterments are capitalized. Expenditures for restoring an identifiable asset to working condition or for maintaining the asset in good working order constitute repairs and maintenance and are expensed as incurred.

RPC records impairment losses on long-lived assets used in operations when events and circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amount of those assets. The Company periodically reviews the values assigned to long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment and other assets, to determine if any impairments should be recognized. Management believes that the long-lived assets in the accompanying balance sheets have not been impaired. During 2015, RPC recorded immaterial write-downs on certain equipment to comply with the Company’s policy to store and maintain key equipment in an efficient manner.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets of businesses acquired. The carrying amount of goodwill was $32,150,000 at December 31, 2015 and 2014. Goodwill is reviewed annually, or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying amount, for impairment. The Company completes on an annual basis a comprehensive qualitative assessment of the various factors that impact goodwill, and concluded it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting units exceeds their carrying amounts as of the annual test date. Therefore the Company did not proceed to Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test in 2015, 2014 and 2013. Based on the qualitative assessment, the Company concluded that no impairment of its goodwill occurred for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.

Advertising

Advertising

Advertising expenses are charged to expense during the period in which they are incurred. Advertising expenses totaled $2,058,000 in 2015, $3,959,000 in 2014, and $3,458,000 in 2013.

Insurance Expenses

RPC self insures, up to certain policy-specified limits, certain risks related to general liability, workers’ compensation, vehicle and equipment liability, and employee health insurance plan costs. The estimated cost of claims under these self-insurance programs is estimated and accrued as the claims are incurred (although actual settlement of the claims may not be made until future periods) and may subsequently be revised based on developments relating to such claims. The portion of these estimated outstanding claims expected to be paid more than one year in the future is classified as long-term accrued insurance expenses.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company establishes a valuation allowance against the carrying value of deferred tax assets when the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the asset will not be realized through future taxable income.

The Company elected to early adopt the provisions of Accounting Standards Update 2015-17 that requires all deferred tax balances to be classified as non-current. Accordingly, net deferred tax balances have been reflected as a non-current liability in the accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 2015. Deferred tax balances for prior periods have not been retrospectively adjusted.

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

The Company has a defined benefit pension plan that provides monthly benefits upon retirement at age 65 to eligible employees with at least one year of service prior to 2002. In 2002, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a resolution to cease all future retirement benefit accruals under the defined benefit pension plan. See Note 10 for a full description of this plan and the related accounting and funding policies.

Share Repurchases

Share Repurchases

The Company records the cost of share repurchases in stockholders’ equity as a reduction to common stock to the extent of par value of the shares acquired and the remainder is allocated to capital in excess of par value and retained earnings if capital in excess of par value is depleted.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per Share

FASB ASC Topic 260-10 “Earnings Per Share-Overall,” requires a basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share presentation. The Company considers all outstanding unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, to be participating securities. The Company has periodically issued share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends, and therefore are considered participating securities. See Note 10 for further information on restricted stock granted to employees.

The basic and diluted calculations differ as a result of the dilutive effect of stock options, time lapse restricted shares and performance restricted shares included in diluted earnings per share, but excluded from basic (loss) earnings per share. Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share are computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the respective periods.

A reconciliation of weighted average shares outstanding along with the (losses) earnings per share attributable to restricted shares of common stock (participating securities) is as follows:

(In thousands except per share data )	2015			2014			2013
Net (loss) income available for stockholders:	$	(99,561	)	$	245,193		$	166,895
Less: Dividends paid
Common stock		(33,120	)		(90,231	)		(86,282	)
Restricted shares of common stock		(482	)		(1,377	)		(1,507	)
(Over distributed loss) Undistributed earnings	$	(133,163	)	$	153,585		$	79,106

Allocation of (over distributed loss) undistributed earnings:
Common stock	$	(131,130	)	$	151,049		$	77,620
Restricted shares of common stock		(2,033	)		2,536			1,486

Basic shares outstanding :
Common stock		210,273			211,208			211,305
Restricted shares of common stock		3,359			3,632			4,199
		213,632			214,840			215,504
Diluted shares outstanding :
Common stock		210,273			211,208			211,305
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards		—			1,049			1,229
		210,273			212,257			212,534
Restricted shares of common stock		3,359			3,632			4,199
		213,632			215,889			216,733
Basic (loss) earnings per share:
Common stock:
Distributed (loss) earnings	$	0.16		$	0.43		$	0.40
(Over distributed loss) undistributed earnings		(0.63	)		0.71			0.37
	$	(0.47	)	$	1.14		$	0.77
Restricted shares of common stock:
Distributed (loss) earnings	$	0.14		$	0.38		$	0.36
(Over distributed loss) Undistributed earnings		(0.61	)		0.70			0.35
	$	(0.47	)	$	1.08		$	0.71
Diluted (loss) earnings per share:
Common Stock:
Distributed earnings	$	0.16		$	0.43		$	0.40
Undistributed (loss) earnings		(0.63	)		0.71			0.37
	$	(0.47	)	$	1.14		$	0.77

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, investments, accounts payable, and debt. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of such instruments. The Company’s investments are classified as available-for-sale securities with the exception of investments held in the non-qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) which are classified as trading securities. All of these securities are carried at fair value in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. See Note 8 for additional information.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense is recognized for all share-based payment awards, net of an estimated forfeiture rate. Thus, compensation cost is amortized for those shares expected to vest on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award. See Note 10 for additional information.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued the following applicable Accounting Standards Updates (ASU):

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements:

Accounting Standards Update 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. The amendments in the ASU require that only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. Those strategic shifts should have a major effect on the organization’s operations and financial results. Examples include a disposal of a major geographic area, a major line of business, or a major equity method investment. In addition, the new guidance requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of discontinued operations. The new guidance also requires disclosure of the pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of an organization that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. The Company adopted these provisions in the first quarter of 2015 and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-15, Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30), Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which requires the presentation of debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. ASU 2015-03 does not address presentation or subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements. Given the absence of authoritative guidance within ASU 2015-03 for debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements, the SEC staff has approved deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The Company currently reports its debt issuance costs as part of non-current other assets and therefore is in compliance with this guidance.

Accounting Standards Updates No. 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. The amendments in this ASU eliminates the current requirement to present deferred tax liabilities and assets as current and noncurrent in a classified balance sheet and now requires that all deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as noncurrent. The amendments are effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early application permitted. The Company elected to early adopt the provisions of this ASU and classified its deferred tax balances as a non-current liability as of December 31, 2015. Deferred tax balances for prior periods have not been retrospectively adjusted.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted:

Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments. To simplify the accounting for adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination, the amendments in this ASU eliminate the requirement to retrospectively account for those adjustments. Instead, an acquirer is required to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. All of the changes are to be recorded in the reporting period and calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date and either disclosed on the face of the income statement or in the notes by each category. These amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments are to be applied prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date with earlier application permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. The Company plans to adopt the provisions in the first quarter of 2016 for all business combinations completed thereafter and currently does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. Current guidance requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. Market could be replacement cost, net realizable value, or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin. The amendments in this ASU simplify the measurement process and allows inventory to be measured at lower of cost or net realizable value and eliminates the market requirement. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The amendments do not apply to inventory that is measured using last-in, first-out or the retail inventory method. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments are to be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted. The Company plans to adopt the provisions in the first quarter of 2017 and currently does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-07, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent). The amendments apply to the fair value of an investment that is measured using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient. The amendments remove the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The amendments also remove the requirement to make certain disclosures for all investments that are eligible to be measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years and are required to be applied retrospectively to all periods presented, with earlier application permitted. The Company plans to adopt the provisions in the first quarter of 2016 and currently does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03, Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. The amendments in this ASU require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this ASU. The amendments should be applied on a retrospective basis, wherein the balance sheet of each individual period presented should be adjusted to reflect the period-specific effects of applying the new guidance. Upon transition, an entity is required to comply with the applicable disclosures for a change in an accounting principle. These disclosures include the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle, the transition method, a description of the prior-period information that has been retrospectively adjusted, and the effect of the change on the financial statement line items (i.e., debt issuance cost asset and the debt liability). The amendments in this ASU are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the amendments is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. The Company plans to adopt the provisions in the first quarter of 2016 and currently does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements —Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The provisions in this ASU are intended to define management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an organization’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. Currently, financial statements are prepared under the presumption that the reporting organization will continue to operate as a going concern, except in limited circumstances. This going concern basis of accounting is critical to financial reporting because it establishes the fundamental basis for measuring and classifying assets and liabilities. This ASU provides guidance regarding management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about the organization’s ability to continue as a going concern and the related footnote disclosures. The amendments are effective for the year ending December 31, 2016, and for interim periods beginning the first quarter of 2017, with early application permitted. The Company plans to adopt these provisions in the first quarter of 2016 and will provide such disclosures as required if there are conditions and events that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The Company currently does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This ASU affects any entity using U.S. GAAP that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (e.g., insurance contracts or lease contracts). The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply a five step process – (i) identifying the contract(s) with a customer, (ii) identifying the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determining the transaction price, (iv) allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (v) recognizing revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company plans to adopt these provisions in the first quarter of 2018 in accordance with ASU 2015-14 that deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for all entities by one year. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of these provisions on its consolidated financial statements.