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Summary of Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Accounting Policies
Summary of Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of HNH and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Discontinued Operations

The results of operations for businesses that have been disposed of or classified as held-for-sale are segregated from the results of the Company's continuing operations and classified as discontinued operations for each period presented in the Company's consolidated income statement. Similarly, the assets and liabilities of such businesses are reclassified from continuing operations and presented as discontinued operations for each period presented in the Company's consolidated balance sheet. Businesses are reported as discontinued operations when the Company no longer has continuing involvement in their operations and no longer has significant continuing cash flows from their operation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to bad debts, inventories, long-lived assets, intangibles, accrued expenses, income taxes, pensions and other post-retirement benefits, and contingencies and litigation. Estimates are based on historical experience, future cash flows and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recognized when title and risk of loss has passed to the customer. This condition is normally met when product has been shipped or the service performed. An allowance is provided for estimated returns and discounts based on experience. Cash received by the Company from customers prior to shipment of goods, or otherwise not yet earned, is recorded as deferred revenue. Rental revenues are derived from the rental of certain equipment to the food industry where customers prepay for the rental period, usually three to six month periods. For prepaid rental contracts, sales revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract. Service revenues consist of repair and maintenance work performed on equipment used at mass merchants, supermarkets and restaurants.

The Company experiences a certain degree of sales returns that varies over time, but is able to make a reasonable estimation of expected sales returns based upon history. The Company records all shipping and handling fees billed to customers as revenue, and related costs are charged principally to cost of goods sold, when incurred. The Company has also entered into agreements with certain customers under which the Company has agreed to pay rebates to such customers. These programs are typically structured to incentivize the customers to increase their annual purchases from the Company. The rebates are usually calculated as a percentage of the purchase amount, and such percentages may increase as the customer’s level of purchases rise. Rebates are recorded as a reduction of net sales in the consolidated income statement and are accounted for on an accrual basis. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, accrued rebates payable totaled $5.4 million and $4.5 million, respectively, and are included in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. In limited circumstances, the Company is required to collect and remit sales tax on certain of its sales. The Company accounts for sales taxes on a net basis, and such sales taxes are not included in net sales in the consolidated income statement.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and on deposit and highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had cash held in foreign banks of $6.5 million and $8.0 million, respectively. The Company's credit risk arising from cash deposits held in U.S. banks in excess of insured amounts is reduced given that cash balances in U.S. banks are generally utilized to pay down the Company's revolving credit loans (see Note 11 - "Debt"). At December 31, 2013, the Company held cash and cash equivalents which exceeded federally-insured limits by approximately $2.2 million.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company extends credit to customers based on its evaluation of the customer's financial condition. The Company does not require that any collateral be provided by its customers. The Company has established an allowance for accounts that are expected to be uncollectible in the future. This estimated allowance is based primarily on management's evaluation of the financial condition of the customer and historical experience. The Company monitors its accounts receivable and charges to expense an amount equal to its estimate of expected credit losses. Accounts that are outstanding longer than contractual payment terms are considered past due. The Company considers a number of factors in determining its estimates, including the length of time its trade receivables are past due, the Company's previous loss history and the customer's current ability to pay its obligation. Accounts receivable balances are charged off against the allowance when it is determined that the receivable will not be recovered, and payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to recovery of accounts written-off. The Company does not charge interest on past due receivables.

The Company believes that the credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable is limited due to the Company's credit evaluation process, the allowance for doubtful accounts that has been established and the diversified nature of its customer base. There were no customers which accounted for more than 5% of consolidated net sales in 2013, 2012 or 2011. In 2013, 2012 and 2011, the 15 largest customers accounted for approximately 26%, 28% and 27% of consolidated net sales, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method for certain precious metal inventory held in the United States. Non-precious metal inventories and remaining precious metal inventory are stated at the lower of cost (determined by the first-in, first-out method or average cost method) or market. For precious metal inventory, no segregation among raw materials, work in process and finished products is practicable.

Non-precious metal inventories are evaluated for estimated excess and obsolescence based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions and are adjusted accordingly. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected, write-downs may be required.

Derivatives and Risks

Precious Metal and Commodity Risk

H&H's precious metal and commodity inventories are subject to market price fluctuations. H&H enters into commodity futures and forward contracts to mitigate the impact of price fluctuations on its precious and certain non-precious metal inventories that are not subject to fixed price contracts. The Company's hedging strategy is designed to protect it against normal volatility; therefore, abnormal price increases in these commodities or markets could negatively impact H&H's earnings. H&H does not enter into derivatives or other financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. H&H accounts for these contracts as either fair value hedges or economic hedges under the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 815, Derivatives and Hedging.

Fair Value Hedges. The fair values of these derivatives are recognized as derivative assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The net change in fair value of the derivative assets and liabilities and the change in the fair value of the underlying hedged inventory are recognized in the consolidated income statement, and such amounts principally offset each other due to the effectiveness of the hedges. The fair value hedges are associated primarily with the Company's precious metal inventory carried at fair value.

Economic Hedges. As these derivatives are not designated as accounting hedges under ASC 815, they are accounted for as derivatives with no hedge designation. The derivatives are marked to market and both realized and unrealized gains and losses are recorded in current period earnings in the consolidated income statement. The economic hedges are associated primarily with the Company's precious metal inventory valued using the LIFO method.

Interest Rate Risk

HNH enters into interest rate swap agreements in order to economically hedge a portion of its debt, which is subject to variable interest rates. As these derivatives are not designated as accounting hedges under U.S. GAAP, they are accounted for as derivatives with no hedge designation. The Company records the expense (or gain) both from the mark-to-market adjustments and net settlements in interest expense in the consolidated income statement as the hedges are intended to offset interest rate movements.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

H&H and Bairnco are subject to the risk of price fluctuations related to anticipated revenues and operating costs, firm commitments for capital expenditures and existing assets or liabilities denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars. H&H and Bairnco have not generally used derivative instruments to manage this risk.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at historical cost. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is provided principally on the straight line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range as follows: machinery and equipment 315 years and buildings and improvements 1030 years. Interest cost is capitalized for qualifying assets during the asset's acquisition period. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense, and renewals and betterments are capitalized. Gain or loss on dispositions is credited or charged to operating income.

Goodwill, Other Intangibles and Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill represents the difference between the purchase price and the fair value of net assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment in accordance with U.S. GAAP as of the end of the fourth quarter. The Company uses judgment in assessing whether assets may have become impaired between annual impairment tests. Circumstances that could trigger an interim impairment test include, but are not limited to: the occurrence of a significant change in circumstances, such as continuing adverse business conditions or legal factors; an adverse action or assessment by a regulator; unanticipated competition; loss of key personnel; the likelihood that a reporting unit or significant portion of a reporting unit will be sold or otherwise disposed; or results of testing for recoverability of a significant asset group within a reporting unit.

The testing of goodwill for impairment is performed at a level referred to as a reporting unit. Goodwill is allocated to each reporting unit based on the goodwill valued in connection with each business combination consummated within each reporting unit. Five reporting units of the Company have goodwill assigned to them.

Goodwill impairment testing consists of a two-step process. Step 1 of the impairment test involves comparing the fair values of the applicable reporting units with their carrying values, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the reporting unit's fair value, Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test is performed to determine the amount of impairment loss. Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test involves comparing the implied fair value of the affected reporting unit's goodwill against the carrying value of that goodwill. In performing the first step of the impairment test, the Company also reconciles the aggregate estimated fair value of its reporting units to its enterprise value, which includes a control premium.

Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2011-08 provides an entity the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not (more than 50%) that the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If an entity elects to perform a qualitative assessment and determines that an impairment is more likely than not, the entity is then required to perform the two-step quantitative impairment test discussed above; otherwise no further analysis is required. An entity also may elect not to perform the qualitative assessment and, instead, proceed directly to the two-step quantitative impairment test. The ultimate outcome of the goodwill impairment review for a reporting unit should be the same whether an entity chooses to perform the qualitative assessment or proceeds directly to the two-step quantitative impairment test.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The Company also estimates the depreciable lives of property, plant and equipment, and reviews the assets for impairment if events, or changes in circumstances, indicate that it may not recover the carrying amount of an asset. Long-lived assets consisting of land and buildings used in previously operating businesses are carried at the lower of cost or fair value and are included primarily in other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. A reduction in the carrying value of such long-lived assets used in previously operating businesses is recorded as an asset impairment charge in the consolidated income statement.

Investments

Investments are accounted for using the equity method of accounting if the investment provides the Company the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over an investee. Significant influence is generally deemed to exist if the Company has an ownership interest in the voting stock of the investee of between 20% and 50%, although other factors, such as representation on the investee's Board of Directors, or additional shares held by affiliates, are considered in determining whether the equity method of accounting is appropriate.

Investments in equity securities that have readily determinable fair values that are classified as available-for-sale are measured at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet. Unrealized holding gains and losses on available-for-sale securities (including those classified as current assets) are excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income (loss) until realized. Dividend and interest income, if any, are included in earnings. The Company uses the specific identification method to determine the cost of a security sold and the amount of realized gain or loss associated with any sales. The Company assesses whether an available-for-sale investment is impaired in each quarterly reporting period. If it is determined that an impairment is other than temporary, then an impairment loss is recognized in earnings equal to the difference between the investment's cost and its fair value at the balance sheet date of the reporting period for which the assessment is made. The measurement of an impairment does not include partial recoveries after the balance sheet date if they occur.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock options and restricted stock granted to employees, directors and service providers as compensation expense, which is recognized in exchange for the services received. The compensation expense is based on the fair value of the equity instruments on the grant-date and is recognized as an expense over the service period of the recipients.

Income Taxes

Income taxes currently payable or tax refunds receivable are recorded on a net basis and included in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. Deferred income taxes reflect the tax effect of net operating loss carryforwards ("NOLs"), capital loss or tax credit carryforwards and the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes, as determined under enacted tax laws and rates. Valuation allowances are established if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or the entire deferred income tax asset will not be realized. The financial effect of changes in tax laws or rates is accounted for in the period of enactment.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each year. Diluted earnings per share gives effect to dilutive potential common shares outstanding during each year.

Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated at current exchange rates and related revenues and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange in effect during the year. Resulting cumulative translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs consist of sales promotion literature, samples, cost of trade shows, and general advertising costs, and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated income statement. Advertising, promotion and trade show costs totaled approximately $2.8 million in 2013, $2.4 million in 2012 and $2.2 million in 2011.

Legal Contingencies

The Company provides for legal contingencies when the liability is probable and the amount of the associated costs is reasonably estimable. The Company regularly monitors the progress of legal contingencies and revises the amounts recorded in the period in which a change in estimate occurs.

Environmental Liabilities

The Company accrues for losses associated with environmental remediation obligations when such losses are probable and reasonably estimable. Accruals for estimated losses from environmental remediation obligations generally are recognized no later than completion of the remedial feasibility study. Such accruals are adjusted as further information develops or circumstances change. Costs of future expenditures for environmental remediation obligations are not discounted to their present value. Recoveries of environmental remediation costs from other parties are recorded as assets when their receipt is deemed probable.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts for prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. In particular, the assets, liabilities and income or loss of discontinued operations (see Note 5 - "Discontinued Operations") have been reclassified into separate lines on the consolidated financial statements to segregate them from continuing operations.