Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

The Company

The Company.  MGP Ingredients, Inc. ("Registrant" or "Company") is a Kansas corporation headquartered in Atchison, Kansas.  It was incorporated in 2011 and is a holding company with no operations of its own.  Its principal directly-owned operating subsidiaries are MGPI Processing, Inc. ("Processing") and MGPI of Indiana, LLC ("MGPI-I").  Processing was incorporated in Kansas in 1957 and is the successor to a business founded in 1941 by Cloud L. Cray, Sr.  Prior to the Reorganization (discussed below), Processing was named MGP Ingredients, Inc.  MGPI-I (previously named Firebird Acquisitions, Inc.) acquired substantially all the beverage alcohol distillery assets of Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana, LLC ("LDI") at its Lawrenceburg and Greendale, Indiana facility on December 27, 2011.

On January 3, 2012, MGP Ingredients, Inc. was reorganized into a holding company structure (the "Reorganization"). In connection with the Reorganization and to further the holding company structure, Processing distributed three of its formerly directly owned subsidiaries, MGPI-I, D.M. Ingredients, GmbH ("DMI"), and Midwest Grain Pipeline, Inc., to the Company.  Processing’s other subsidiary, Illinois Corn Processing, LLC ("ICP"), remained a directly owned subsidiary of Processing and is now 30 percent owned. During the second quarter of fiscal 2010, through a series of transactions, the Company formed a joint venture by contributing its former Pekin, Illinois facility to a newly formed company, ICP, and then selling a 50 percent interest in ICP.  In 2012, the Company sold an additional 20 percent interest in ICP.  The Company purchases food grade alcohol products manufactured by ICP.  

Throughout the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, when "the Company" is used in reference to activities prior to the Reorganization, the reference is to the combined business, Processing (formerly MGP Ingredients, Inc.) and its consolidated subsidiaries, and when "the Company" is used in reference to activities occurring after the Reorganization, reference is to the combined business of MGP Ingredients, Inc. (formerly MGPI Holdings, Inc.) and its consolidated subsidiaries, except to the extent the context indicates otherwise.

MGP is a leading producer and supplier of premium distilled spirits and specialty wheat proteins and starches. Distilled spirits include premium bourbon and rye whiskeys, and grain neutral spirits, including vodka and gin. The Company’s proteins and starches provide a host of functional, nutritional and sensory benefits for a wide range of food products to serve the packaged goods industry. MGP is also a top producer of high quality industrial alcohol for use in both food and non-food applications. Our distillery products are derived from corn and other grains (including rye, barley, wheat, barley malt, and milo), and our ingredient products are derived from wheat flour.  The majority of our sales are made directly or through distributors to manufacturers and processors of finished packaged goods or to bakeries. 

Since February 8, 2013, the Company has consisted of two reportable segments: distillery products and ingredient solutions. Effective February 8, 2013, the Company sold the assets at its bioplastics manufacturing facility in Onaga, Kansas and certain assets at its extruder-bio-resin laboratory located in Atchison, Kansas, which were included in the Company's other segment, as further described in Note 11. The distillery products segment consists primarily of food grade alcohol, and to a much lesser extent, fuel grade alcohol, distillers feed and corn oil. Distillers feed, fuel grade alcohol, and corn oil are co-products of our distillery operations.  The ingredient solutions segment products primarily consist of specialty starches, specialty proteins, commodity starches and commodity vital wheat gluten (or commodity wheat proteins).  Included in the other segment were products comprised of plant-based biopolymers and wood-based composite resins manufactured through the further processing of certain of our proteins and starches and wood. The Company produces textured wheat proteins through a toll manufacturing arrangement at a facility in the United States. During December 2011, through its wholly owned subsidiary, MGPI-I, the Company acquired the beverage alcohol distillery assets of LDI.

The Company sells its products on normal credit terms to customers in a variety of industries located primarily throughout the United States and Japan.  The Company operates facilities in Atchison, Kansas, and in Lawrenceburg and Greendale, Indiana.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates.  The financial reporting policies of the Company conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").  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, the 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.  The application of certain of these policies places significant demands on management’s judgment, with financial reporting results relying on estimation about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain.  For all of these policies, management cautions that future events rarely develop as forecast, and estimates routinely require adjustment and may require material adjustment.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation.  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents.  Short-term liquid investments with an initial maturity of 90 days or less are considered cash equivalents.  Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value due to the relatively short maturity of these instruments.

Receivables

Receivables.  Receivables are stated at the amounts billed to customers.  The Company provides an allowance for estimated doubtful accounts.  This allowance is based upon a review of outstanding receivables, historical collection information and an evaluation of existing economic conditions impacting the Company’s customers.  Accounts receivable are ordinarily due 30 days after the issuance of the invoice.  Receivables are considered delinquent after 30 days past the due date.  These delinquent receivables are monitored and are charged to the allowance for doubtful accounts based upon an evaluation of individual circumstances of the customer.  Account balances are written off after collection efforts have been made and potential recovery is considered remote.

Inventory

Inventory.  Inventory includes finished goods, raw materials in the form of agricultural commodities used in the production process and certain maintenance and repair items.  Bourbon and whiskeys are normally aged in barrels for several years, following industry practice; all barreled bourbon and whiskey is classified as a current asset. The Company includes warehousing, insurance, and other carrying charges applicable to barreled whiskey in inventory costs.

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market on the first-in, first-out, or FIFO, method.  Inventory valuations are impacted by constantly changing prices paid for key materials, primarily corn.

Derivatives Instruments

Derivative Instruments. The Company recognizes all derivatives as either assets or liabilities at their fair values.  Accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on whether the derivative has been designated as a cash flow hedge and the effectiveness of the hedging relationship.  Derivatives qualify for treatment as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes when there is a high correlation between the change in fair value of the hedging instrument ("derivative") and the related change in value of the underlying commitment ("hedged item").  For derivatives that qualify as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes, except for ineffectiveness, the change in fair value has no net impact on earnings, to the extent the derivative is considered effective, until the hedged item or transaction affects earnings.  For derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes, or for the ineffective portion of a hedging instrument, the change in fair value affects current period net earnings.  

Property, Depreciation and Amortization

Properties, Depreciation and Amortization.  Property and equipment are typically stated at cost.  Additions, including those that increase the life or utility of an asset, are capitalized and all properties are depreciated over their estimated remaining useful lives.  Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Buildings and improvements	20 – 40 years
Transportation equipment	5 – 6 years
Machinery and equipment	10 – 12 years

Maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. The cost of property and equipment sold, retired or otherwise disposed of, as well as related accumulated depreciation and amortization, is eliminated from the property accounts with related gains and losses reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.  The Company capitalizes interest costs associated with significant construction projects.

Equity Method Investments

Equity Method Investments.  The Company accounts for its investment in non-consolidated subsidiaries under the equity method of accounting when the Company has significant influence, but does not have more than 50 percent voting control, and is not considered the primary beneficiary.  Under the equity method of accounting, the Company reflects its investment in non-consolidated subsidiaries within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as Equity method investments; the Company’s share of the earnings or losses of the non-consolidated subsidiaries are reflected as Equity method investment earnings (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company reviews its investments in non-consolidated subsidiaries for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investments may not be fully recoverable. Evidence of a loss in value that is other than temporary include, but are not limited to, the absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment, the inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment, or, where applicable, estimated sales proceeds which are insufficient to recover the carrying amount of the investment. If the fair value of the investment is determined to be less than the carrying value and the decline in value is considered to be other than temporary, an appropriate write-down is recorded based on the excess of the carrying value over the best estimate of fair value of the investment.

Earnings (loss) per Share

Earnings (loss) per Share.  Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share are computed using the two-class method, which is an earnings allocation formula that determines net income (loss) per share for each class of Common Stock and participating security according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings.  Per share amounts are computed by dividing net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average shares outstanding during each year or period.

Deferred Credit

Deferred Credits.  In 2001, the United States Department of Agriculture developed a grant program for the gluten industry ("USDA grant"). As part of this program, the Company received nearly $26,000 of grants. The funds were required to be used for research, marketing, promotional and capital costs related to value-added gluten and starch products. Funds allocated on the basis of current operating costs were recognized in income as those costs were incurred. Funds allocated based on capital expenditures were included as a deferred credit and are being recognized appropriately as a credit to Cost of Sales and Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as the related assets are depreciated. As of December 31, 2015 the remaining deferred credit balance was $1,949.

In 2012, the Lawrenceburg Conservancy District ("LCD") in Greendale, IN agreed to reimburse the Company up to $1,250 of certain capital maintenance costs of a Company-owned warehouse structure that is integral to the efficacy of the LCD’s flood control system ("LCD reimbursement").  Per the agreement, certain capital maintenance activities were completed prior to December 31, 2012 and the remaining capital maintenance activities were completed during 2014. As of December 31, 2014 the Company had received a total of $1,236 in reimbursements.  The deferred credit balance has been and will be recognized as a credit to Cost of Sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as the related assets are depreciated.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes. The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability method which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. A valuation allowance is recognized if it is more likely than not that at least some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

Evaluating the need for, and amount of, a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets often requires significant judgment and extensive analysis of all available evidence on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. Such judgments require the Company to interpret existing tax law and other published guidance as applied to our circumstances. As part of this assessment, the Company considers both positive and negative evidence about its profitability and tax situation. A valuation allowance is provided if, based on available evidence, it is more likely than not that all or some portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company generally considers the following and other positive and negative evidence to determine the likelihood of realization of the deferred tax assets:

• Future realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on projected taxable income of the appropriate character from our continuing operations.

• Future reversals of existing temporary differences are heavily weighted sources of objectively verifiable positive evidence.

• The long carryback and carryforward periods permitted under the tax law are objectively verified positive evidence.

• Tax planning strategies can be, depending on their nature, heavily-weighted sources of objectively verifiable positive evidence when the strategies are available and can be reasonably executed. Tax-planning strategies are actions that are prudent and feasible, considering current operations and strategic plans, which the Company ordinarily might not take, but would take to prevent a tax benefit from expiring unused. Tax planning strategies, if available, may accelerate the recovery of a deferred tax asset so the tax benefit of the deferred tax asset can be carried back.

• Projections of future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences are a source of positive evidence when the projections are combined with a history of recent profits and current financial trends and can be reasonably estimated. During 2014, the Company achieved cumulative income for a recent period of the last three years, which was regarded as a significant piece of evidence in management's decision to also rely, in part, on projections of future operating income in assessing the need for and amount of the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.

Accounting for uncertainty in income tax positions requires management judgment and the use of estimates in determining whether the impact of a tax position is "more likely than not" of being sustained. The Company considers many factors when evaluating and estimating its tax positions, which may require periodic adjustment and which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes. It is reasonably possible that amounts reserved for potential exposure could change significantly as a result of the conclusion of tax examinations and, accordingly, materially affect the Company’s reported net income after tax.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition.  Except as discussed below, revenue from the sale of the Company’s products is recognized as products are delivered to customers according to shipping terms and when title and risk of loss have transferred.  Income from various government incentive grant programs is recognized as it is earned.

The Company’s Distillery segment routinely produces unaged distillate, and this product is frequently barreled and warehoused at a Company location for an extended period of time in accordance with directions received from the Company’s customers.  This product must meet customer acceptance specifications, the risks of ownership and title for these goods must be passed, and requirements for bill and hold revenue recognition must be met prior to the Company recognizing revenue for this product.  Separate warehousing agreements are maintained for customers who store their product with the Company and warehouse revenues are recognized as the service is provided.

Excise Taxes

Excise Taxes.  Certain sales of the Company are subject to excise taxes, which the Company collects from customers and remits to governmental authorities.  The Company records the collection of excise taxes on distilled products sold to these customers as accrued expenses.  No revenue or expense is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations related to excise taxes paid by customers directly to governmental authorities.

Recognition of Insurance Recoveries

Recognition of Insurance Recoveries. Estimated loss contingencies are recognized as charges to income when they are probable and reasonably estimable.  Insurance recoveries are not recognized until all contingencies related to the insurance claim have been resolved and settlement has been reached with the insurer.  Insurance recoveries, to the extent of costs and lost profits, are reported as a reduction to Cost of sales on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.  Insurance recoveries, in excess of costs and losses are included in Insurance recoveries on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

During January 2014, the Company experienced a fire at its Lawrenceburg facility. The fire damaged certain equipment in the feed dryer house and caused a temporary loss of production in late January. Prior to the insurance recovery related to the property claim, the write-off of damaged assets was included in Other operating costs and losses on sale of assets on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Research and Development

Research and Development.  During 2015, 2014, and 2013, we spent $748, $1,622, and $2,472, respectively, on research and development activities. These activities were expensed and are included in Selling, general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Long-Lived Assets and Loss on Impairment of Assets

Long-Lived Assets and Loss on Impairment of Assets.  Management reviews long-lived assets, mainly property and equipment assets, whenever events or circumstances indicate that usage may be limited and carrying values may not be fully recoverable.  Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are determined to be impaired, the impairment is measured by the amount by which the asset carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets.  Assets to be disposed are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.  Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments.  The Company determines the fair values of its financial instruments based on a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based upon the observability of inputs. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

The Company’s short term financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable.  The carrying value of the short term financial instruments approximates the fair value due to their short term nature. These financial instruments have no stated maturities or the financial instruments have short term maturities that approximate market.

Pension Benefits

Pension Benefits. In April 2015, the Company received approval from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate its pension plans for employees covered under collective bargaining agreements. Benefit obligations at December 31, 2015 were zero, as $741 in termination liabilities was distributed to plan participants or transferred to an insurer during the quarter ended June 30, 2015, and was followed by the closing of the pension trust account in 2015. Prior to termination, the Company accounted for its pension benefit plan's funded status as a liability included in Other non current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company measured the funded status of its pension benefit plans using actuarial techniques that reflected management’s assumptions for discount rate, expected long-term investment returns on plan assets, salary increases, expected retirement, mortality, and employee turnover. Assumptions regarding employee and retiree life expectancy were based upon the RP 2000 Combined Mortality Table ("2000 tables"). Although the Society of Actuaries released new mortality tables on October 27, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service continued to use the 2000 tables through 2015. Because the pension benefit plan was being terminated, the actuarial valuation of the pension benefit plan assumed all remaining assets of the plan would be distributed to plan participants or transferred to an insurer during 2015, so the new mortality tables were not adopted. The funding by the Company to terminate the plans was $741 and was recognized when the pension plan settlement was fully executed, during the quarter ended June 30, 2015.

Also prior to the plan's termination, the discount rate was determined based on the rates of return on long-term, high-quality fixed income investments using the Citigroup Pension Liability Index as of year end or period end (as in the case of the June 30, 2015 plan termination date). The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption for the pension plans was determined with the assistance of actuaries, who calculated a yield considering the current asset allocation strategy, historical investment performance, and the expected future returns of each asset class and the expected future reinvestment of earnings and maturing investments.

Post-Employment Benefits

Post-Employment Benefits. The Company accounts for its post–employment benefit plan's funded status as a liability included in Accrued Retirement Health and Life Insurance Benefits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company measures the obligation for other post-employment benefits using actuarial techniques that reflect management’s assumptions for discount rate, expected retirement, mortality, employee turnover, health care costs for retirees and future increases in health care costs, which are based upon actual claims experience and other environmental and market factors impacting the costs of health care in the short and long-term.  Assumptions regarding employee and retiree life expectancy are based upon the Society of Actuaries RP-2014 Mortality Tables using Scale MP-2015.  The discount rate is determined based on the rates of return on high-quality fixed income investments using the Citigroup Pension Liability Index as of the measurement date (long-term rates of return are not considered because the plan has no assets).

Stock Options and Restricted Stock Awards

Stock Options and Restricted Stock Awards.  The Company has share-based employee compensation plans primarily in the form of restricted common stock ("restricted stock"), restricted stock units ("RSUs") and stock options, which are described more fully in Note 8. The Company recognizes the cost of share-based payments over the service period based on the grant date fair value of the award.  The grant date fair value for stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model adjusted for the unique characteristics of the awards.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which aims to make leasing activities more transparent and comparable and requires substantially all leases be recognized by lessees on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability, including leases currently accounted for as operating leases. This ASU is effective for all interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which will significantly change the income statement impact of equity investments, and the recognition of changes in fair value of financial liabilities when the fair value option is elected. The ASU is effective for public business entities for interim and annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2015-03 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. The ASU is effective for public business entities for interim and annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, however early adoption is permitted. The Company elected to early adopt the ASU on a prospective basis. As a result, the balance sheet classification for 2014 was not adjusted to be consistent with the year end 2015 reporting. The intent of the new standard was to simplify reporting of deferred taxes.  As such, the standard allows netting of current and non-current deferred taxes within a reporting jurisdiction and the resulting deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented as non-current in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2015 (see Note 5). 

In September 2015 the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments, which eliminates the requirement for an acquirer to retrospectively adjust the financial statements for measurement-period adjustments that occur in periods after a business combination is consummated. The ASU is effective for public business entities for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015. For all other entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2015-16 would impact the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures only in the instance of a business combination.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (Topic 330), which simplifies its current requirement that an entity measure inventory at lower of cost or market, when market could be replacement cost, net realizable value, or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin. Inventory within the scope of ASU 2015-11 should be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. ASU 2015-11 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2015-11 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30), which simplifies the presentation of debt issuance costs. ASU 2015-03 requires 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. ASU 2015-03 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 (and interim periods within those fiscal years) with early adoption permitted and retrospective application required. The Company adopted ASU 2015-03 for its year ended December 31, 2015, as required, and retrospectively adjusted its Consolidate Balance Sheets for the presentation of debt issuance costs as required for the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (see Note 4).

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which 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 ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. At its July 9, 2015 meeting, the FASB agreed to defer by one year the mandatory effective date of its revenue recognition standard, but will also provide entities the option to adopt it as of the original effective date (ASU No. 2015-14). The new standard has a mandatory adoption date for the Company of January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted at January 1, 2017. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09, updated to ASU 2015-14, will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.