Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Consolidation

Basis of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We have no interests in any unconsolidated entity.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates. 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 amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. The estimates and assumptions used in these consolidated financial statements are based on known information available as of the balance sheet date. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk.  We limit our credit risk on accounts receivable by performing ongoing credit evaluations and, when deemed necessary, require letters of credit, guarantees or cash collateral.  During 2013 and 2011, we had two customers, which each accounted for more than 10%, and collectively accounted for 26% and 24%, respectively, of our total net sales.  During 2012, we had three customers, which each accounted for more than 10%, and collectively accounted for 36% of our total net sales.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.  Accounts receivable are presented net of the allowance for doubtful accounts on our consolidated balance sheets.  We market our products to a diverse customer base, primarily throughout the United States.  During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, we derived 6%,  6% and 4%, respectively, of our net sales from markets outside of the United States.  The allowance for doubtful accounts includes specific reserves for the value of outstanding invoices issued to customers that are deemed potentially not collectible.  Receivables are charged-off to the allowance when they are deemed to be uncollectible.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, we received our final distribution of approximately $40,000 from a customer bankruptcy in a prior year.  As a result of the final distribution, we have removed the $1.8 million balance from our accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts balances at December 31, 2013.  Bad debt expense, net of recoveries for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $30,000, $4,000 and $(99,000), respectively.

Inventories

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost principally determined by the weighted average cost method. Such costs include the acquisition cost for raw materials and supplies, direct labor and applied manufacturing overhead within the guidelines of normal plant capacity. Provisions are made for slow-moving inventory based upon management’s expected method of disposition. The net change in inventory reserves for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was a $617,000, $300,000 and a $148,000increase, respectively.

Included in inventory are operating materials consisting of forge dies and production molds and rolls, that are consumed over their useful lives.  During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, we amortized these operating materials in the amount of $1.2 million,  $1.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively.  This expense is recorded as a component of cost of products sold on the consolidated statements of operations and included as a part of our total depreciation and amortization on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost or its fair value at acquisition date. Costs incurred in connection with the construction or major rebuild of facilities, including interest directly related to the project, are capitalized as construction in progress.  During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, we capitalized $263,000, $476,000 and $394,000, respectively, of interest expense related to construction projects in progress.  No depreciation is recognized on assets until they are placed in service. Assets which have been retired or disposed of are removed from cost and accumulated depreciation accounts, with the gain or loss reflected in operating income on the consolidated statements of operations.  Major equipment maintenance costs are capitalized as incurred and amortized to expense within a twelve-month period.  Other maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Costs of improvements and renewals are capitalized.  Our maintenance expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $13.8 million, $17.7 million and $15.9 million, respectively.

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The estimated useful lives of buildings and land improvements are between 10 and 39 years, and the estimated useful lives of machinery and equipment are between 5 and 20 years.  Our total depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $14.3 million, $12.1 million and $7.0 million, respectively, of which $14.1 million,  $11.8 million and $6.9 million, respectively was included as a component of cost of products sold while the remainder was included in selling and administrative expense.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets.  Identifiable intangible assets are recorded at fair value upon acquisition and are amortized over their useful lives using the straight-line method.  In 2011, we allocated $1.3 million of the North Jackson facility purchase price to an intangible asset related to the non-compete agreement entered into with the seller of the North Jackson facility.  The intangible asset is included on the consolidated balance sheets as a component of other long-term assets and is being be amortized over the five-year life of the agreement.  We recognized $266,000, $266,000 and $100,000 of amortization expense during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, from this intangible asset, which is included as a component of selling and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations and included as part of total depreciation and amortization on the consolidated statements of cash flows.  Amortization expense for this intangible asset is estimated to be $266,000 for 2014 and 2015 and $166,000 for 2016.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment

Long-Lived Asset Impairment. Long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in relation to the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying assets. Adjustments are made if the sum of expected future cash flows is less than the book value. Based on management’s assessment of the carrying values of long-lived assets, no impairment reserve was deemed necessary as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.  

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred Financing Costs.  Deferred financing costs are amortized up to the maturity date of the related financial instrument using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method.  Deferred financing cost amortization for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $444,000, $308,000 and $153,000, respectively, and is included as a component of interest expense and other financing costs on the consolidated statements of operations and included as part of total depreciation and amortization on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Goodwill

Goodwill.  Goodwill, which represents the excess of cost over net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses, is stated at fair value. Goodwill is not amortized, but will be evaluated or tested annually for impairment or more frequently if any event indicates that the carrying amount of goodwill may be impaired.

We perform our annual evaluation or test of goodwill as of the beginning of the fourth quarter.  We evaluate or test goodwill for impairment by either performing a qualitative evaluation or a two-step quantitative test, which involves comparing the estimated fair value of the associated reporting unit to its carrying value.  The qualitative evaluation is an assessment of factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that fair value is less than its carrying amount.  Factors considered as part of the qualitative assessment include entity-specific, industry, market and general economic conditions.  We may elect to bypass this qualitative assessment and perform a two-step quantitative test.  We test for goodwill impairment using a combination of valuation techniques, which include consideration of a market-based approach (guideline company method) and an income approach (discounted cash flow method), in determining fair value in the annual impairment test of goodwill.  We believe that the combination of the valuation models provides a more appropriate valuation by taking into account different marketplace participant assumptions.  Both methods utilize market data in the derivation of a value estimate and are forward-looking in nature.  The guideline assessment of future performance and the discounted cash flow method utilize a market-derived rate of return to discount anticipated performance.

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders’ Equity:  We have never paid a cash dividend on our common stock.  Our Amended Credit Agreement does not permit the payment of cash dividends.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition. Revenue from the sale of products is recognized when both risk of loss and title have transferred to the customer, which in most cases coincides with shipment of the related products, and collection is reasonably assured. Revenue from conversion services is recognized when the performance of the service is complete. Invoiced shipping and handling costs are also accounted for as revenue. Customer claims, which are not material, are accounted for primarily as a reduction to gross sales after the matter has been researched and an acceptable resolution has been reached.

Income Taxes

For the years ended December 31,	2013		2012		2011
(dollars in thousands)
Stainless steel	$	137,383	$	195,315	$	202,000
Tool steel		18,112		20,420		21,963
High-strength low alloy steel		17,894		21,897		17,532
High-temperature alloy steel		4,277		7,787		6,809
Conversion services and other sales		3,102		5,571		4,292
Total net sales	$	180,768	$	250,990	$	252,596

Income Taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided for unused tax credits earned and the tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements. We use the liability method to account for income taxes, which requires deferred taxes to be recorded at the statutory rate expected to be in effect when the taxes are paid. Valuation allowances are provided for a deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that the asset will not be realized. Income tax penalties and interest are included in the provision for income tax expense.

We evaluate the tax positions taken or expected to be taken in our tax returns. A tax position should only be recognized in the financial statements if we determine that it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities, based upon the technical merits of the position. For those tax positions that should be recognized, the measurement of a tax position is determined as being the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.  We believe there are no material uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.  

We use the with-and-without method to account for excess tax benefits recognized as a result of the exercise of employee stock options.  Under the with-and-without method, excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation are not deemed to be realized until after the utilization of all other tax benefits available to us, which are also subject to applicable limitations.

Share-based Compensation Plans

Share-based Compensation Plans. We recognize compensation expense based on the grant-date fair value of the awards. The fair value of the stock option grants is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, and is recognized ratably over the service/vesting period of the award. The fair value of time-based restricted stock grants is calculated using the market value of the stock on the date of issuance, and is recognized ratably over the service/vesting period of the award. 

Net (Loss) Income per Common Share

Net (Loss) Income per Common Share.  Net (loss) income per common share is computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted net income per common share is computed by dividing net income, adjusted to include interest expense (tax effected) for the convertible notes by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period.  All shares that were issuable under our outstanding convertible notes were considered outstanding for our net income per common share computation, using the “if converted” method of accounting from the date of issuance.

Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock.  We account for treasury stock under the cost method and include such shares as a reduction of total stockholders’ equity.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments.Financial instruments held by us include cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and long-term debt.  The carrying value of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable is considered to be representative of fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.  Refer to Note 7 for fair value disclosures of our financial instruments.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting.  As a result of our North Jackson acquisition, our operating facilities have become more integrated, resulting in our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) viewing the Company as one business unit.  Our CODM sets performance goals, assesses performance and makes decisions about resource allocations on a consolidated basis. As a result of these factors, as well as the nature of the financial information available which is reviewed by our CODM, we commenced reporting as one reportable segment beginning January 1, 2013.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2013 presentation.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncement

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncement

On July 18, 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) that changes how certain unrecognized tax benefits are to be presented on the consolidated balance sheets. This ASU clarifies current guidance to require that an unrecognized tax benefit or a portion thereof be presented in the consolidated balance sheet as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward, similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward except when an NOL carryforward, similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward is not available under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position. In such a case, the unrecognized tax benefit would be presented in the consolidated balance sheets as a liability. This new standard is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2013. This standard is to be applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. Early adoption and retrospective application are permitted. We are currently evaluating the new requirements.