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Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company establishes an accrued liability when it believes it is both probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company will evaluate the range of reasonably estimated losses and record an accrued liability based on what it believes to be the minimum amount in the range, unless it believes an amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount. In such cases, there may be an exposure to loss in excess of the amounts accrued. The Company evaluates quarterly whether further developments could affect the amount of the accrued liability previously established or would make a loss contingency both probable and reasonably estimable.
The Company also provides disclosure when it believes it is reasonably possible that a loss will be incurred or when it believes it is reasonably possible that the amount of a loss will exceed the recorded liability. The Company reviews loss contingencies at least quarterly to determine whether the likelihood of loss has changed and to assess whether a reasonable estimate of the loss or range of loss can be made. This estimated range of possible loss is based upon currently available information and is subject to significant judgment and a variety of assumptions, and known and unknown uncertainties. The matters underlying the estimated range will change from time to time, and actual results may vary significantly from the current estimate.
The Company is subject to a variety of litigation, claims, other disputes and governmental proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of its business, including litigation related to its prior homebuilding activities and those described herein. The Company cannot assure that it will be successful in defending these matters. Based on current knowledge, the Company does not believe that loss contingencies arising from pending litigation, claims, other disputes and governmental proceedings, including those described herein, will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or liquidity of the Company. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties involved in these matters, an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could be material to the Company’s results of operations or cash flows for any particular reporting period.
The Company is subject to costs arising out of environmental laws and regulations, which include obligations to remove or limit the effects on the environment of the disposal or release of certain wastes or substances at various sites, including sites which have been previously sold. It is the Company’s policy to accrue and charge against earnings environmental cleanup costs when it is probable that a liability has been incurred or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. As assessments and cleanups proceed, these accruals are reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, as additional information becomes available.
The Company’s former paper mill site in Gulf County and certain adjacent properties are subject to various Consent Agreements and Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreements with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (“FDEP”). The paper mill site has been rehabilitated by Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation in accordance with these agreements and a final Site Rehabilitation Completion Order (“SRCO”) issued by the FDEP has been received. The Company is in the process of assessing certain neighboring properties. Management is unable to quantify future rehabilitation costs above present accruals at this time or provide a reasonably estimated range of loss.
Other litigation, claims, disputes and governmental proceedings, including environmental matters, are pending against the Company. Accrued aggregate liabilities related to the matters described above and other litigation matters were $2.5 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, including a $1.2 million accrual related to legal costs for the settled SEC investigation as of each such date. Significant judgment is required in both the determination of probability and the determination as to whether the amount of an exposure is reasonably estimable. Due to uncertainties related to these matters, accruals are based only on the information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, management reassesses potential liabilities related to pending claims and litigation and may revise its previous estimates, which could materially affect the Company's results of operations in a given period.    
The Company has retained certain self-insurance risks with respect to losses for third party liability and property damage, including our timber assets.
At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company was required to provide surety bonds that guarantee completion of certain infrastructure in certain development projects and mitigation banks of $6.2 million and $7.1 million, respectively, and standby letters of credit in the amount of $0.5 million as of each such date, which may potentially result in liability to the Company if certain obligations of the Company are not met.
At March 31, 2016, the Company has a total of $2.4 million in contractual obligations, of which $1.8 million are for the remainder of 2016, $0.2 million are for 2017 and $0.4 million are for 2018 and thereafter.
In connection with the Refinanced Loan, the Company guaranteed the joint venture’s obligations under a short term $6.6 million letter of credit which is securing a portion of the joint venture’s obligations under the Refinanced Loan. See Note 9, Real Estate Joint Ventures for a further discussion on the Refinanced Loan.
As part of the AgReserves Sale in 2014 and certain sales of timberlands in 2007 and 2008, the Company generated significant tax gains. The installment notes structure allowed the Company to defer the resulting tax liability of $61.8 million until 2022 - 2024 and $69.3 million until 2029, respectively, the maturity dates for the installment notes. The Company has a deferred tax liability related to the gains in connection with these sales.