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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying Partnership consolidated financial statements, prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), include the accounts of CVR Partners and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made within the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 to conform with current presentation.
Use of Estimates

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosure of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We review our estimates on an ongoing basis, based on currently available information. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates and actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and on deposit, investments in highly liquid money market accounts, and debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less.

Accounts Receivable

Our receivables primarily consist of customer accounts receivable recorded at the invoiced amounts and generally do not bear interest. Also included within Accounts Receivable are unbilled fixed price contracts which is further discussed within Note 6 (“Revenue”).

Allowances for doubtful accounts are generally recorded when it becomes probable the receivable will not be collected and is booked to bad debt expense. The largest concentration of credit for any one customer was approximately 18% and 25%, respectively, of the accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Inventories

Inventories consist of fertilizer products which are valued at the lower of first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) cost, or net realizable value. Inventories also include raw materials (primarily gauze, natural gas, and pet coke) and parts and supplies that are valued at the lower of moving-average cost, which approximates FIFO, or net realizable value. The cost of inventories includes inbound freight costs.

Inventories consisted of the following:
 December 31,
(in thousands)20192018
Finished goods$17,612  $25,136  
Raw materials243  439  
Parts, supplies and other36,075  37,979  
   Total Inventories$53,930  $63,554  

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, inventories included depreciation of approximately $4.5 million and $5.7 million, respectively.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Additions to property, plant and equipment, including capitalized interest and certain costs allocable to construction and property purchases, are recorded at cost. Expenditures for improvements that increase economic benefit or returns and/or extend useful life are capitalized. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the various classes of depreciable assets. The lives used in computing depreciation for significant asset classes are as follows:
Asset
Range of Useful
Lives, in Years
Land and improvements
15 to 30
Buildings and improvements
20 to 30
Automotive equipment
5 to 15
Machinery and equipment
5 to 30
Other
5 to 30
Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:
December 31,
(in thousands)20192018
Machinery and equipment$1,378,651  $1,362,965  
Buildings and improvements17,221  17,116  
Automotive equipment16,691  16,773  
Land and improvements14,075  13,250  
Construction in progress5,198  15,126  
Other1,752  2,753  
1,433,588  1,427,983  
Less: Accumulated depreciation481,629  412,743  
     Total Property, plant and equipment, net$951,959  $1,015,240  

Leasehold improvements and assets held under finance leases are depreciated or amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the contractual lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset. Expenditures for routine maintenance and repair costs are expensed when incurred. Such expenses are reported in Direct operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) in the Partnership’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Leases

At inception, the Partnership determines whether an arrangement is a lease and the appropriate lease classification. Operating leases are included as operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets within Other long-term assets and lease liabilities within Other current liabilities and Other long-term liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Finance leases are included as ROU finance leases within Property, plant, and equipment, net, and finance lease liabilities within Other current liabilities and Long-term debt, net of current portion on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Leases with an initial expected term of 12 months or less are considered short-term and are not recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Partnership recognizes lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term.

ROU assets represent the Partnership’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of minimum lease payments over the lease term. The lease term is modified to reflect options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain we will exercise such option. The depreciable life of assets and leasehold improvements is limited by the expected lease term, unless there is a transfer of title or purchase option reasonably certain of exercise, in which case the depreciation policy in the “Property, Plant and Equipment” section above is applicable. The periodic lease payments are treated as payments of the lease obligation and interest is recorded as interest expense. See “Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Adoption of Lease Standard” within this Note for a further discussion on the impacts of adopting the lease standard.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Partnership reviews long-lived assets (excluding goodwill, intangible assets with indefinite lives, and deferred tax assets) for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future net cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less cost to sell.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the fair value of the assets acquired less liabilities assumed. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the asset might be impaired. The Partnership uses November 1 of each year as its annual valuation date for its goodwill impairment test.
The Partnership performed its annual impairment review of goodwill for 2019, 2018, and 2017 and concluded there were no impairments. For the period ended December 31, 2019, the Partnership determined there were no events or circumstances which would trigger the performance of a quantitative analysis after reviewing all qualitative factors impacting the reporting unit including improved market conditions, financial results, and financial forecasts from those used in the fair value analysis at December 31, 2018. For the periods ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the fair value of the Coffeyville reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by approximately 36% and 12%, respectively, based upon the results of the Partnership’s goodwill impairment test.

Deferred Financing Costs

Lender and other third-party costs associated with debt issuances are deferred and amortized to interest expense and other financing costs using the effective-interest method over the life of the debt. Deferred financing costs related to line-of-credit arrangements are amortized using the straight-line method through the termination date of the facility. The deferred financing costs are included, net, within long-term debt and in other long-term assets for the line-of-credit arrangements where no debt balance exists.

Loss Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, CVR Partners may become party to lawsuits, administrative proceedings, and governmental investigations, including environmental, regulatory, and other matters. The outcome of these matters cannot always be predicted accurately, but the Partnership accrues liabilities for these matters if the Partnership has determined that it is probable a loss has been incurred and the loss can be reasonably estimated.

Environmental, Health & Safety (“EHS”) Matters

The Partnership is subject to various stringent federal, state, and local environmental, health, and safety rules and regulations. Liabilities related to future remediation costs of past environmental contamination of properties are recognized when the related costs are considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. Estimates of these costs are based upon currently available facts, internal and third-party assessments of contamination, available remediation technology, site-specific costs, and currently enacted laws and regulations. In reporting environmental liabilities, no offset is made for potential recoveries. Loss contingency accruals, including those for environmental remediation, are subject to revision as further information develops or circumstances change and such accruals can take into account the legal liability of other parties. Management periodically reviews and, as appropriate, revises its environmental accruals. Environmental expenditures for capital assets are capitalized at the time of the expenditure when such costs provide future economic benefits. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, no liabilities have been recognized for environmental remediation matters as no matters have been identified that are considered to be probable or estimable.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue based on consideration specified in contracts or agreements with customers when we satisfy our performance obligations by transferring control over products or services to a customer. The adoption of ASC 606 resulted in the recognition of deferred revenue and related receivables, on a gross basis, associated with contracts that guarantee a price and supply of nitrogen fertilizer products in quantities expected to be delivered in the normal course of business.

Other accounting policies relevant to revenue include:
Excise and other taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are excluded from reported revenues;
Revenue transactions that pass control at customers’ designated facilities;
Non-monetary product exchanges which are entered into in the normal course of business are included on a net cost basis in operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations; and
Pass-through finished goods delivery costs reimbursed by customers are reported in net sales, while an offsetting expense is included in cost of materials and other.

Other considerations - Excise and other taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are excluded from reported revenues.
Cost Classifications

Cost of materials and other consist primarily of freight and distribution expenses, feedstock expenses, purchased ammonia, and purchased hydrogen. Direct operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) consist primarily of energy and other utility costs, direct costs of labor, property taxes, plant-related maintenance services, including turnaround, and environmental and safety compliance costs, as well as catalyst and chemical costs. Each of these financial statement line items are also impacted by changes in inventory balances. Direct operating expenses also include allocated share-based compensation from CVR Energy and its subsidiaries, as discussed in Note 7 (“Share-Based Compensation”). Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of legal expenses, treasury, accounting, marketing, human resources, information technology, and maintaining the corporate and administrative offices in Texas and Kansas.

Turnaround Expenses

The direct-expense method of accounting is used for turnaround activities. Turnarounds represent major maintenance activities that require for the shutdown of significant parts of a plant to perform necessary inspection, cleaning, repairs, and replacements of assets. Planned turnaround activities for the nitrogen facilities generally occur every two to three years. Costs associated with these turnaround activities were included in Direct operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Costs incurred for routine repairs and maintenance or unplanned outages at the two facilities are expensed as incurred. During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, the Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment incurred turnaround expenses of $9.8 million, $6.4 million, and $2.6 million, respectively.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for share-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). Currently, all of the Company’s share-based compensation awards are liability-classified and are measured at fair value at the end of each reporting period based on the applicable closing unit price. Compensation expense will fluctuate based on changes in the applicable unit price value and expense reversals resulting from employee terminations prior to award vesting. See Note 7 (“Share-Based Compensation”) for further discussion.

Income Taxes

CVR Partners accounts for income taxes utilizing the asset and liability approach. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the anticipated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred amounts are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

Allocation of Costs

CVR Energy and its subsidiaries provide a variety of services to the Partnership, including employee benefits provided through CVR Energy’s benefit plans, administrative services provided by CVR Energy’s employees and management, insurance, and office space leased by CVR Energy. As such, the accompanying consolidated financial statements include costs that have been incurred by CVR Energy on behalf of the Partnership. These amounts incurred by CVR Energy are then billed or allocated to the Partnership and are classified on the Consolidated Statements of Operations as either Direct operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) or as Selling, general and administrative expenses. See Note 9 (“Related Party Transactions”) for a detailed discussion of the billing procedures and the basis for calculating the charges for specific products and services.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Adoption of Lease Standard

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”), creating a new topic, FASB ASC Topic 842, “Leases” (“Topic 842”), which supersedes lease requirements in FASB ASC Topic 840, “Leases.” The new standard revises accounting for operating leases by a lessee, among other changes, and requires a lessee to recognize a liability related to future lease payments and a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term on the balance sheet.
We adopted Topic 842 as of January 1, 2019, electing the option to apply the transition provisions at the adoption date instead of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. In connection with the adoption of Topic 842, we made the following elections:
Only ROU assets and the related lease liabilities for leases with an initial term greater than one year were and will be recognized;
The accounting treatment for existing land easements was carried forward;
Lease and non-lease components were not, and will not, be bifurcated for all of the Partnership’s asset groups; and
The portfolio approach was, and will continue to be, used in the selection of the discount rate used to calculate minimum lease payments and the related ROU asset and operating lease liability amounts.

The adoption of Topic 842 on January 1, 2019 incrementally impacted the Partnership’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of that date. The following table presents the financial statement line items impacted by the Partnership’s adoption of Topic 842.
(in thousands)
December 31, 2018
As Stated
Effect of Adoption of
Topic 842
January 1, 2019
As Adjusted
Current assets:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets$6,989  $(2,650) (1) $4,339  
Total currents assets193,981  (2,650) 191,331  
Other long-term assets
4,198  16,923  (2) 21,121  
Total assets$1,254,388  $14,273  $1,268,661  
Current liabilities:
Other current liabilities
$24,066  $3,462  (3) $27,528  
Total current liabilities122,635  3,462  126,097  
Long-term liabilities:
Other long-term liabilities2,938  10,811  (3) 13,749  
Total long-term liabilities631,927  10,811  642,738  
Equity:
Total liabilities and partners’ capital$1,254,388  $14,273  $1,268,661  

(1)Represents lease prepayments reclassified to ROU assets.
(2)Represents recognition of initial ROU assets for operating leases, including the reclassification of certain lease prepayments.
(3)Represents the initial recognition of lease liabilities.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Adoption of Internal-Use Software Standard

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40). This ASU better aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that’s also a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted this ASU and chose to apply the prospective approach for all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. We evaluated the effects of adopting this new accounting guidance and concluded it did not have a material impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements - New Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Implemented

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326). The ASU replaces the incurred loss model with a current expected credit loss model for more timely recognition of expected impairment losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. Effective January 1, 2020, we adopted this ASU and evaluated the effects of adopting this new accounting guidance. The adoption will not have a material impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820). The ASU eliminates such disclosures as the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Certain disclosures are required to be applied on a retrospective basis and others on a prospective basis. Effective January 1, 2020, we adopted this ASU and evaluated the effects of adopting this new accounting guidance. The adoption will not have a material impact on the Partnership’s disclosures.