Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis Of Presentation

Basis of Presentation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of Tredegar and all of its majority-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. On February 12, 2008, Tredegar sold its aluminum extrusions business in Canada. All historical results for this business have been reflected as discontinued operations in these financial statements; however, cash flows for discontinued operations have not been separately disclosed in the consolidated statements of cash flows. See Note 3 regarding discontinued operations.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) requires Tredegar to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation. The financial statements of subsidiaries located outside the U.S., where the local currency is the functional currency, are translated into U.S. Dollars using exchange rates in effect at the period end for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates during each reporting period for results of operations. Adjustments resulting from the translation of these financial statements are reflected as a separate component of shareholders’ equity. There are no operating subsidiaries located outside the U.S. where the U.S. Dollar is the functional currency.

Transaction and remeasurement gains or losses included in income were losses of $4.0 million, $1.5 million and $0.4 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These amounts do not include the effects between reporting periods that exchange rate changes have on income of the locations outside the U.S. that result from translation into U.S. Dollars.

Cash And Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand in excess of daily operating requirements and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, Tredegar had cash and cash equivalents of $44.2 million and $50.1 million, respectively, including funds held in locations outside the U.S. of $27.7 million and $40.5 million, respectively.

The Company’s policy permits investment of excess cash in marketable securities that have the highest credit ratings and maturities of less than one year. The primary objectives of the policy are safety of principal and liquidity.

Accounts And Other Receivables

Accounts and Other Receivables. Accounts receivable are stated at the amount invoiced to customers less allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns. Accounts receivable are non-interest bearing and arise from the sale of product to customers under typical industry trade terms. Notes receivable are not significant. Past due amounts are determined based on established terms and charged-off when deemed uncollectible. The allowance for doubtful accounts is determined based on an assessment of probable losses taking into account past due amounts, customer credit profile, historical experience and current economic conditions. Other receivables include value-added taxes related to certain foreign subsidiaries and other miscellaneous receivables due within one year.

Inventories

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined on the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) basis, the weighted average cost or the first-in, first-out basis. Cost elements included in work-in-process and finished goods inventories are raw materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead.

Property, Plant And Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment. Accounts include costs of assets constructed or purchased, related delivery and installation costs and interest incurred on significant capital projects during their construction periods. Expenditures for renewals and betterments also are capitalized, but expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. The cost and accumulated depreciation applicable to assets retired or sold are removed from the respective accounts, and gains or losses thereon are included in income.

Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment include capitalized interest. Capitalized interest included in capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment was $0.4 million, $1.1 million and $0.9 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Depreciation is computed primarily by the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the assets that, except for isolated exceptions, range from 5 to 40 years for buildings and land improvements and 2 to 20 years for machinery and equipment.

Investments In Private Entities With Less Than Or Equal To 50% Voting Ownership Interest

Investments in Private Entities with Less Than or Equal to 50% Voting Ownership Interest. The Company accounts for its investments in private entities where its voting ownership is less than or equal to 50% based on the facts and circumstances surrounding the investment. Investments are required to be accounted for under the consolidation method in situations where Tredegar is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. The primary beneficiary is the party that has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity. The Company is deemed to have a controlling financial interest if it has (i) the power to direct activities of the variable interest entity that most significantly impact its economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the variable interest entity that could potentially be significant to its operations.

If the Company is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary in an investment in a variable interest entity then it selects either: (i) the fair value method or (ii) either (a) the cost method if it does not have significant influence over operating and financial policies of the investee or (b) the equity method if it does have significant influence.

For those investments measured at fair value, U.S. GAAP requires disclosure of the level within the fair value hierarchy in which fair value measurements in their entirety fall, segregating fair value measurements using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1), significant other observable inputs (Level 2), and significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

Goodwill And Other Intangibles

Goodwill and Other Intangibles. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets of acquired companies is allocated to goodwill. The Company assesses goodwill for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable or, at a minimum, on an annual basis (December 1 of each year). The Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $44.5 million ($44.5 million after taxes) to write off the goodwill associated with Flexible Packaging Films in the third quarter of 2015. See Note 8for additional details.

The Company estimates the fair value of its reporting units using discounted cash flow analysis and comparative enterprise value-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) multiples. The remaining goodwill were tested for impairment at the annual testing date, with the estimated fair value of these reporting units substantially exceeding the carrying value of its net assets.

Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. The Company reviews long-lived assets for possible impairment when events indicate that an impairment may exist. For assets that are held and used in operations, if events indicate that an asset may be impaired, the Company estimates the future unlevered pre-tax cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. Assets are grouped for this purpose at the lowest level for which there are identifiable and independent cash flows. If the sum of these undiscounted pre-tax cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is calculated. Measurement of the impairment loss is the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset group.

Assets that are held for sale are reported at the lower of their carrying amount or estimated fair value less cost to sell, with an impairment loss recognized for any write-down required.

Pension Costs And Postretirement Benefit Costs Other Than Pensions

Pension Costs and Postretirement Benefit Costs Other than Pensions. Pension costs and postretirement benefit costs other than pensions are accrued over the period employees provide service to Tredegar. Liabilities and expenses for pension plans and other postretirement benefits are determined using actuarial methodologies and incorporate significant assumptions, including the rate used to discount the future estimated liability, the long-term rate of return on plan assets, and several assumptions relating to the employee workforce. The Company recognizes the funded status of its pension and other postretirement plans in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Tredegar’s policy is to fund its pension plans at amounts not less than the minimum requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) of 1974 and to fund postretirement benefits other than pensions when claims are incurred.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition. Revenue from the sale of products, which is shown net of estimated sales returns and allowances, is recognized when title has passed to the customer, the price of the product is fixed and determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. Amounts billed to customers related to freight have been classified as sales in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The cost of freight has been classified as a separate line in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction between Tredegar and its customers (such as value-added taxes) are accounted for on a net basis and therefore excluded from revenues.

Research & Development ("R&D") Costs

Research & Development (“R&D”) Costs. R&D costs are expensed as incurred and include primarily salaries, wages, employee benefits, equipment depreciation, facility costs and the cost of materials consumed relating to R&D efforts. R&D costs include a reasonable allocation of indirect costs.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes. Income taxes are recognized during the period in which transactions enter into the determination of income for financial reporting purposes, with deferred income taxes being provided at enacted statutory tax rates on the differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities (see Note 17). Deferred U.S. federal income taxes have not been recorded for the undistributed earnings for Terphane Holdings, LLC (“Terphane”) because of the Company’s intent to permanently reinvest these earnings. Because of the accumulation of significant losses related to foreign currency translations at Terphane as of December 31, 2015, there were no unrecorded deferred tax liabilities associated with the U.S. federal income taxes and foreign withholding taxes on undistributed earnings indefinitely invested outside the U.S. The Company accrues U.S. federal income taxes to the extent required under U.S. GAAP on unremitted earnings of all other foreign subsidiaries.

A valuation allowance is recorded in the period when the Company determines that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets may not be realized. The establishment and removal of a valuation allowance requires the Company to consider all positive and negative evidence and make a judgmental decision regarding the amount of valuation allowance required as of a reporting date. The benefit of an uncertain tax position is included in the accompanying financial statements when the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained, based on the technical merits of the position, if the taxing authority examines the position and the dispute is litigated. This determination is made on the basis of all the facts, circumstances and information available as of the reporting date.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share. Basic earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average common and potentially dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding, determined as follows:

	2015	2014	2013
Weighted average shares outstanding used to compute basic earnings per share	32,578,116	32,302,108	32,171,751
Incremental shares attributable to stock options and restricted stock	—	251,746	427,528
Shares used to compute diluted earnings per share	32,578,116	32,553,854	32,599,279

Incremental shares attributable to stock options and restricted stock are computed using the average market price during the related period. The Company had a net loss from continuing operations in 2015, so there is no dilutive impact for such shares. If the Company had reported net income from continuing operations in 2015, average out-of-the-money options to purchase shares that would have been excluded from the calculation of incremental shares attributable to stock options and restricted stock were 881,513. The average out-of-the-money options to purchase shares that were excluded from the calculation of incremental shares attributable to stock options and restricted stock were 320,849 in 2014 and 31,167 in 2013.

Stock-Based Employee Compensation Plans

Stock-Based Employee Compensation Plans. Compensation expense is recorded on all share-based awards based upon its calculated fair value over the requisite service period using the graded-vesting method. The fair value of stock option awards was estimated as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes options-pricing model. The fair value of restricted stock awards was estimated as of the grant date using the closing stock price on that date.

The assumptions used in this model for valuing Tredegar stock options granted in 2014 and 2013 (no grants in 2015) are as follows:

	2014			2013
Dividend yield	1.3		%	1.1		%
Weighted average volatility percentage	43.5		%	48.3		%
Weighted average risk-free interest rate	2.0		%	1.1		%
Holding period (years):
Officers	6.0			6.0
Management	5.0			5.0
Weighted average exercise price at date of grant (also weighted average market price at date of grant):
Officers	$	22.49		$	24.84
Management	$	22.33		$	25.10

The dividend yield is the actual dividend yield on Tredegar’s common stock at the date of grant, which the Company believes is a reasonable estimate of the expected yield during the holding period. The expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of Tredegar’s common stock using a sequential period of historical data equal to the expected holding period of the option. The Company has no reason to believe that future volatility for this period is likely to differ from the past. The assumed risk-free interest rate is based on observed interest rates (zero coupon U.S. Treasury debt securities) appropriate for the expected holding period. The expected holding period and forfeiture assumptions are based on historical experience. Estimated forfeiture assumptions are reviewed through the vesting period. Adjustments are made if actual forfeitures differ from previous estimates. The cumulative effect of a change in estimated forfeitures is recognized in the period of the change.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments. Tredegar uses derivative financial instruments for the purpose of hedging aluminum price volatility and currency exchange rate exposures that exist as part of transactions associated with ongoing business operations. The Company’s derivative financial instruments are designated as and qualify as cash flow hedges and are recognized in the accompanying balance sheet at fair value. A change in the fair value of the derivative that is highly effective and that is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge is recorded in other comprehensive income. Gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified to earnings in the periods in which earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows of the hedged transaction. Such gains and losses are reported on the same line as the underlying hedged item, and the cash flows related to financial instruments are classified in the consolidated statements of cash flows in a manner consistent with those of the transactions being hedged. Any hedge ineffectiveness (which represents the amount by which the changes in the fair value of the derivative exceed the variability in the cash flows of the forecasted transaction) is recorded in current period earnings. The amount of gains and losses recognized for hedge ineffectiveness were not material in 2015, 2014 and 2013.

The Company’s policy requires that it formally document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. The Company also formally assesses (both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis) whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions have been highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of hedged items and whether those derivatives may be expected to remain highly effective in future periods. When it is determined that a derivative is not (or has ceased to be) highly effective as a hedge, the Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively.

As a policy, Tredegar does not engage in speculative or leveraged transactions, nor does it hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. Additional disclosure of the utilization of derivative hedging instruments is included in Note 9.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive Income (Loss). Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as net income or loss as adjusted by other comprehensive income or loss items. Other comprehensive income (loss) includes changes in foreign currency translation adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments, prior service costs and net gains or losses from pension and other postretirement benefit plans arising during the period and amortization of these prior service costs and net gain or loss adjustments, all recorded net of deferred income taxes.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Recently Issued Accounting Standards.