Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

v2.4.1.9
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Jan. 03, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business
Synalloy Corporation (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 1958 as the successor to a chemical manufacturing business founded in 1945. Its charter is perpetual. The name was changed on July 31, 1967 from Blackman Uhler Industries, Inc. On June 3, 1988, the state of incorporation was changed from South Carolina to Delaware. The Company's executive offices are located at 775 Spartan Boulevard, Suite 102, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29301 and 4301 Dominion Boulevard, Suite 130, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060.
The Company's business is divided into two segments, the Metals Segment and the Specialty Chemicals Segment. The Metals Segment operates as BRISMET, Bristol Fab, Ram-Fab, Palmer and Specialty. BRISMET manufactures pipe, Bristol Fab fabricates piping systems from stainless and carbon steel and other alloys, Ram-Fab fabricates piping systems from chrome, stainless and carbon steel and other alloys, Palmer manufactures liquid storage solutions and separation equipment and Specialty is a master distributor of seamless carbon pipe and tube. The Specialty Chemicals Segment operates as Manufacturers Chemicals and CRI Tolling and produces specialty chemicals. Bristol Fab and Ram-Fab were sold or closed during 2014. See Note 17.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. The Metals Segment is comprised of three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Synalloy Metals, Inc. which owns 100 percent of Bristol Metals, LLC, located in Bristol, Tennessee; Palmer of Texas Tanks, Inc., located in Andrews, Texas and Specialty Pipe & Tube, Inc., located in Mineral Ridge, Ohio and Houston, Texas. The Specialty Chemicals Segment consists of two wholly-owned subsidiaries: Manufacturers Soap and Chemical Company which owns 100 percent of Manufacturers Chemicals, LLC, located in Cleveland, Tennessee and CRI Tolling, LLC, located in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
Accounting Period
The Company's fiscal year is the 52 or 53 week period ending the Saturday nearest to December 31. Fiscal year 2014 ended on January 3, 2015 with the year having 53 weeks. Fiscal year 2013 ended on December 28, 2013 and fiscal year 2012 ended on December 29, 2012, each year having 52 weeks.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash balances at financial institutions with strong credit ratings.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable from the sale of products are recorded at net realizable value and the Company generally grants credit to customers on an unsecured basis. Substantially all of the Company's accounts receivable are due from companies located throughout the United States. The Company provides an allowance for doubtful collections and for disputed claims and quality issues. The allowance is based upon a review of outstanding receivables, historical collection information and existing economic conditions. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition and generally does not require collateral. Receivables are generally due within 30 to 60 days. Delinquent receivables are written off based on individual credit evaluations and specific circumstances of the customer.
Included in the stock purchase agreement (the "SPA") of Palmer, the sellers guaranteed the collectability of the acquired accounts receivable. Per the SPA, at 120 days after the acquisition date, an allowance for doubtful accounts was established for all open, pre-acquisition receivables of $821,000, with an offsetting increase in the amount due from the sellers during the year ended December 29, 2012. Subsequent collections on these accounts by the Company are reimbursed to the sellers.
Included in the SPA of Specialty, the sellers guaranteed the collectability of the acquired accounts receivable. Per the SPA, at 120 days after the acquisition date, any uncollected accounts receivable will be remitted to the Company.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. The Company writes down its inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and current market conditions. Based upon historical results, the Company also maintains an inventory reserve to provide for the amount of estimated inventory quantity loss since the last physical inventory. As of January 3, 2015 and December 28, 2013, inventories have been reduced by $4,866,000 and $2,217,000, respectively, for obsolescence, market and physical inventory reserves.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the assets. Land improvements and buildings are depreciated over a range of ten to 40 years, and machinery, fixtures and equipment are depreciated over a range of three to 20 years. The costs of software licenses are amortized over five years using the straight-line method. The Company continually reviews the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets. The Company also reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. When the future undiscounted cash flows of the operation to which the assets relate do not exceed the carrying value of the asset, the assets are written down to fair value.
Business Combinations
Acquisitions are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations in accordance with GAAP. Under this method, the total consideration transferred to consummate the acquisition is allocated to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective fair values as of the closing date of the acquisition. The acquisition method of accounting requires extensive use of estimates and judgments to allocate the consideration transferred to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets, if any, acquired and liabilities assumed.
Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Deferred Charges
Goodwill, arising from the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets of businesses acquired, is not amortized but is reviewed annually in the fourth quarter for impairment. Intangible assets represent the fair value of intellectual, non-physical assets resulting from a business acquisition. Deferred charges represent other intangible assets such as debt service costs. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives using an accelerated method or a straight-line method. Deferred charges are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Deferred charges are amortized over a period ranging from 3 to 10 years and intangible assets are amortized over a period ranging from 10 to 15 years. The weighted average amortization period for the customer relationships is approximately twelve years. Deferred charges and intangible assets totaled $20,961,000 and $9,407,000 at January 3, 2015 and December 28, 2013, respectively. Accumulated amortization of deferred charges and intangible assets as of January 3, 2015 and December 28, 2013 totaled $3,670,000 and $2,203,000, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for the next five fiscal years based on existing deferred charges and intangible assets is: 2015 - $2,335,000, 2016 - $2,171,000, 2017 - $2,032,000; 2018 - $1,868,000; 2019 - $1,740,000; and thereafter - $7,145,000. The Company recorded amortization expense of $1,466,000, $1,598,000 and $568,000 for 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue from product sales is recognized at the time ownership of goods transfers to the customer and the earnings process is complete, which is typically on the date the inventory is shipped to the customer.
Shipping Costs
Shipping costs of approximately $3,775,000, $4,871,000 and $3,445,000 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, are recorded in cost of goods sold.
Research and Development Expenses
The Company incurred research and development expense of approximately $531,000, $558,000 and $612,000 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
Earnings per share of common stock are computed based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period. See Note 12.
Fair Value Disclosures
The Company makes estimates of fair value in accounting for certain transactions, in testing and measuring impairment, and in providing disclosures of fair value in its consolidated financial instruments. The Company determines the fair values of its financial instruments for disclosure purposes by maximizing the use of observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Fair value disclosures for assets and liabilities are grouped in three levels. The levels prioritize the inputs used to measure the fair value of the assets or liabilities. These levels are:
Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for assets and liabilities, either directly or indirectly. These inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are less active.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity for assets or liabilities and includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques.
Estimates of fair value using levels 2 and 3 may require judgments as to the timing and amount of cash flows, discount rates, and other factors requiring significant judgment, and the outcomes may vary widely depending on the selection of these assumptions. The Company's most significant fair value estimates relate to purchase accounting adjustments which included the measurement of contingent consideration, estimating the fair value of the reporting units in testing goodwill for impairment, estimating the fair value of the interest rate swaps, and providing disclosures of the fair values of financial instruments.
As of January 3, 2015 and December 28, 2013, the carrying amount for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and borrowings under the Company's line of credit and term loan, which are based on variable interest rates, approximates their fair value.
The Company does not currently have any Level 1 financial assets or liabilities.  The Company has three Level 2 financial assets and liabilities. Cash value of life insurance had a fair value of $2,047,000 and $2,007,000 at January 3, 2015 and December 28, 2013, respectively. The fair value of the life insurance policies was determined by the underwriting insurance company's valuation models and represents the guaranteed value the Company would receive upon surrender of these policies. Changes in the policies' fair value were recorded in non-current assets with corresponding offsetting entries to selling, general and administrative expense. Also, the fair value of the Palmer swap was an asset of $11,000 and $301,000 at January 3, 2015 and December 28, 2013, respectively. The fair value of the CRI swap was a liability of $215,000 and $80,000 at January 3, 2015 and December 28, 2013, respectively. The interest rate swaps were priced using discounted cash flow techniques which are corroborated by using non-binding market prices. Changes in the swaps' fair value were recorded in current assets or liabilities, as appropriate, with corresponding offsetting entries to other income (expense). Significant inputs to the discounted cash flow model include projected future cash flows based on projected one-month LIBOR and the average margin for companies with similar credit ratings and similar maturities. These are classified as Level 2 as they are not actively traded and are valued using pricing models that use observable market inputs.
The contingent consideration payments, discussed in Note 16, are classified as Level 3. The amount of the total earn-out liability to the prior owners of Palmer was determined using management's best estimate of Palmer's EBITDA for the three-year earn-out period which will determine the amount of the ultimate payment to be made. The amount of the total earn-out liability due to the prior owner of Specialty was determined using management's best estimate of Specialty's EBITDA for the two-year earn out period which will determine the amount of the ultimate payment to be made. Factors such as volume increases, selling price increases and inflation were used to develop a base projection. The Company believes additional costs will be required to improve employee turnover, safety, internal controls, etc. These estimated costs were deducted in order to determine projected EBITDA. The Company's current cost of borrowing was used to determine the present value of these expected payments. Each quarter-end, the Company re-evaluates their assumptions and adjustments to the estimated present value of the expected payments to be made, if required. During the three months ended June 28, 2014, the Company reviewed the Palmer earn-out reserve for the second and third year payments and determined the EBTIDA threshold target of $5,825,000 for the period from August 22, 2013 to August 21, 2014 ("Year 2") would not be attained, and therefore, the earn-out payment of $2,500,000 for Year 2 was not made to the former Palmer shareholders. As a result, the Company adjusted the earn-out liability to the present value of the Company's current estimates by recognizing a gain of approximately $3,476,000 during the second quarter. The Company does not expect Palmer to meet the EBITDA threshold target of $6,825,000 during the final twelve month earn-out period; however, it should reach the $5,825,000 threshold for year three.
The following table presents a summary of changes in fair value of the Company's Level 3 liabilities measured on a recurring basis for 2014 and 2013:
 
 
Level 3 Inputs
Balance at December 29, 2012
 
$
8,208,831

Interest expense charged during the year
 
153,200

Payment to Palmer sellers
 
(2,500,000
)
Balance at December 28, 2013
 
5,862,031

Present value of contingent consideration liability associated with the Specialty acquisition
 
4,773,620

Interest expense charged during the year
 
96,933

Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability associated with the Palmer acquisition
 
(3,476,197
)
Balance at January 3, 2015
 
$
7,256,387


There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 in the years ended January 3, 2015 or December 28, 2013. There have also been no changes in the fair value methodologies used by the Company during the years ended January 3, 2015 or December 28, 2013.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions, primarily for testing goodwill for impairment, determining proper period-end balances for certain employee benefit accruals, estimating fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as a result of business acquisitions and for establishing reserves on accounts receivable, inventories and environmental issues, that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash deposits, trade accounts receivable and cash surrender value of life insurance. The cash surrender value of life insurance is the contractual amount on policies maintained with one insurance company. The Company performs a periodic evaluation of the relative credit standing of this company as it relates to the insurance industry.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. These reclassifications had no material effect on previously reported results of operations or shareholders' equity.
Recent accounting pronouncements
In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 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", which changes the criteria for when the disposal of a component entity may be presented as discontinued operations. The standard requires that the disposal be considered a strategic shift (such as the disposal of a major geographical area, a major line of business, a major equity method investment, or other major part of an entity) which will have a major effect on a reporting entity's operating and financial results in order to be presented as discontinued operations. Disposals that do qualify for discontinued operations presentation will require expanded disclosure. ASU 2014-08 is effective for disposals which occur during annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014. The Company did not elect to early adopt the provisions of this ASU.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)", which changes the criteria for recognizing revenue. The standard requires an entity to 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. The standard requires a five-step process for recognizing revenue including identifying the contract with the customer, identifying the performance obligations in the contract, determining the transaction price, allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and recognizing revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated subsequent events through the date of filing this Form 10-K.