SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. and all wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries, after elimination of intercompany amounts. Significant investments in businesses, partnerships and limited liability companies in which the Company does not have a controlling financial interest, but has the ability to exercise significant influence, are accounted for under the equity method. A controlling financial interest is one in which the Company has a majority voting interest or one in which the Company is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. In determining whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity in which it has an interest, the Company is required to make significant judgments with respect to various factors including, but not limited to, the Company’s ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, the rights and ability of other investors to participate in decisions affecting the economic performance of the entity, and kick-out rights, among others. Activities that significantly affect the economic performance of the entities in which the Company has an interest include, but are not limited to, establishing and modifying detailed business, development, marketing and sales plans, approving and modifying the project budget, approving design changes and associated overruns, if any, and approving project financing, among others. The Company has not consolidated any variable interest entity in which the Company does not also have voting control because it has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary since decisions to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s performance are shared by the joint venture partners.

The consolidated financial statements include the results of GP/RM, a supplier in the precast concrete industry, and GLP Asphalt, LLC ("GLP"), an importer and distributor of liquid asphalt, which are owned 51 percent and 70 percent, respectively. These entities are consolidated because the Company holds a controlling financial interest through its majority ownership of the voting interests of the entities. The remaining interest in these entities is reported as noncontrolling interest in the consolidated financial statements. Profits, losses and cash distributions are allocated in accordance with the respective operating agreements.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates: The preparation of the consolidated 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. Estimates and assumptions are used for, but not limited to: (i) asset impairments, including intangible assets and goodwill, (ii) litigation and contingencies, (iii) revenue recognition for long-term real estate developments and construction contracts, (iv) pension and postretirement estimates, and (v) income taxes. Future results could be materially affected if actual results differ from these estimates and assumptions.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase. The Company carries these investments at cost, which approximates fair value.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts: Allowances for doubtful accounts are established by management based on estimates of collectability. Estimates of collectability are principally based on an evaluation of the current financial condition of the Company’s customers and their payment history, which are regularly monitored by the Company.

Operating Cycle

Operating Cycle: The Company uses the duration of the construction contracts that range from one year to three years as its operating cycle for purposes of classifying assets and liabilities related to contracts.

Inventories

Inventories: Sugar inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out basis) or market value. Materials and supplies and Materials and Construction segment inventory are stated at the lower of cost (principally average cost, first-in, first-out basis) or market value.

Property

Property: Property is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Expenditures for major renewals and betterments are capitalized. Replacements, maintenance, and repairs that do not improve or extend asset lives are charged to expense as incurred. Upon acquiring commercial real estate that is deemed a business, the Company records land, buildings, leases above and below market, and other intangible assets based on their fair values. Costs related to due diligence are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation

Depreciation: Depreciation and amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets or the units-of-production method for quarry production-related assets. Estimated useful lives of property are as follows:



Classification	Range of Life (in years)
Buildings	10 to 40
Water, power and sewer systems	5 to 50
Rock crushing and asphalt plants	25 to 35
Machinery and equipment	2 to 35
Other property improvements	3 to 35

Real Estate Developments

Real Estate Developments: Expenditures for real estate developments are capitalized during construction and are classified as real estate developments on the consolidated balance sheets. When construction is substantially complete, the costs are reclassified as either Real Estate Held for Sale or Property, based upon the Company’s intent to either sell the completed asset or to hold it as an investment property, respectively. Cash flows related to real estate developments are classified as either operating or investing activities, based upon the Company’s intention to sell the property or retain ownership of the property as an investment following completion of construction.

For development projects, capitalized costs are allocated using the direct method for expenditures that are specifically associated with the unit being sold and the relative-sales-value method for expenditures that benefit the entire project. Capitalized development costs typically include costs related to land acquisition, grading, roads, water and sewage systems, landscaping, capitalized interest, and project amenities. Direct overhead costs incurred after the development project is substantially complete, such as utilities, maintenance and real estate taxes, are charged to selling, general and administrative expense as incurred. All indirect overhead costs are charged to selling, general and administrative costs as incurred.

Capitalized Interest

Capitalized Interest: Interest costs incurred in connection with significant expenditures for real estate developments, the construction of assets, or investments in real estate joint ventures are capitalized during the period in which activities necessary to get the asset ready for its intended use are in progress. Capitalization of interest is discontinued when the asset is substantially complete and ready for its intended use. Capitalization of interest on investments in real estate joint ventures is recorded until the underlying investee commences its principal operations, which is typically when the investee has other-than-ancillary revenue generation.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Finite-Lived Intangible Assets: Long-lived assets, including finite-lived intangible assets, are reviewed for possible impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. In such an evaluation, the estimated future undiscounted cash flows generated by the asset are compared with the amount recorded for the asset to determine if its carrying value is not recoverable. If this review determines that the recorded value will not be recovered, the amount recorded for the asset is reduced to estimated fair value. These asset impairment analyses are highly subjective because they require management to make assumptions and apply considerable judgments to, among others, estimates of the timing and amount of future cash flows, expected useful lives of the assets, uncertainty about future events, including changes in economic conditions, changes in operating performance, changes in the use of the assets and ongoing costs of maintenance and improvements of the assets, and thus, the accounting estimates may change from period to period. If management uses different assumptions or if different conditions occur in future periods, A&B’s financial condition or its future operating results could be materially impacted.

Impairment of Investments

Impairment of Investments: The Company's investments in unconsolidated affiliates are reviewed for impairment whenever there is evidence that fair value may be below carrying cost. An investment is written down to fair value if fair value is below carrying cost and the impairment is believed to be other-than-temporary. In evaluating the fair value of an investment and whether any identified impairment is other-than-temporary, significant estimates and considerable judgments are involved. These estimates and judgments are based, in part, on the Company’s current and future evaluation of economic conditions in general, as well as a joint venture’s current and future plans. Additionally, these impairment calculations are highly subjective because they also require management to make assumptions and apply judgments to estimates regarding the timing and amount of future cash flows that may consider various factors, including sales prices, development costs, market conditions and absorption rates, probabilities related to various cash flow scenarios, and appropriate discount rates based on the perceived risks, among others. In evaluating whether an impairment is other-than-temporary, the Company considers all available information, including the length of time and extent of the impairment, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the affiliate, the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value, and projected industry and economic trends, among others. Changes in these and other assumptions could affect the projected operational results and fair value of the unconsolidated affiliates, and accordingly, may require valuation adjustments to the Company’s investments that may materially impact the Company’s financial condition or its future operating results. For example, if current market conditions deteriorate significantly or a joint venture’s plans change materially, impairment charges may be required in future periods, and those charges could be material.

Weakness in particular real estate markets, difficulty in obtaining or renewing project-level financing or development approvals, and changes in the Company’s development strategy, among other factors, may affect the value or feasibility of certain development projects owned by the Company or by its joint ventures and could lead to additional impairment charges in the future.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements: The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and short-term borrowings approximate their carrying values due to the short-term nature of the instruments. The carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s debt at December 31, 2016 were $515.1 million and $529.3 million, respectively, and $587.0 million and $597 million at December 31, 2015, respectively. The fair value of debt is calculated by discounting the future cash flows of the debt at rates based on instruments with similar risk, terms and maturities as compared to the Company’s existing debt arrangements (level 2).

FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820), as amended, establishes a fair value hierarchy, which requires the Company to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The hierarchy places the highest priority on unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and assigns the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of inputs within the hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2: Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

If the technique used to measure fair value includes inputs from multiple levels of the fair value hierarchy, the lowest level of significant input determines the placement of the entire fair value measurement in the hierarchy.

The Company's non-active, long-term development projects that were impaired during the year ended December 31, 2016 represent assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis subsequent to their initial recognition. The Company estimated the fair values of these long-lived assets based on the Company’s own judgments about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the real estate assets and available, observable market data. The Company classified these fair value measurements as Level 3 inputs. After the impairment charges recorded, the carrying values of the non-active, long-term development projects were not material.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets: Intangible assets are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets as other non-current assets and are related to the acquisition of commercial properties.

Goodwill

Goodwill: The Company reviews goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition: The Company has a wide variety of revenue sources, including sales of real estate, commercial property rentals, material sales, paving construction, and the sales of raw sugar and molasses. Before recognizing revenue, the Company assesses the underlying terms of the transaction to ensure that recognition meets the requirements of relevant accounting standards. In general, the Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery of the service or product has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured.

Sales of Real Estate Revenue Recognition: Sales of real estate revenue involve proceeds from the sale of a variety of real estate development inventory. Real estate development inventory may include industrial lots, residential lots, agricultural lots, condominium units, single-family homes and multi-family homes. Sales are recorded when the risks and rewards of ownership have passed to the buyers (generally on closing dates), adequate initial and continuing investments have been received, and collection of remaining balances, if any, is reasonably assured. For certain development projects that have continuing post-closing involvement and for which total revenue and capital costs are reasonably estimable, the Company uses the percentage-of-completion method for revenue recognition. Under this method, the amount of revenue recognized is based on development costs that have been incurred through the reporting period as a percentage of total expected development cost associated with the development project. This generally results in a stabilized gross margin percentage, but requires significant judgment and estimates.

Commercial Real Estate Revenue Recognition: Commercial Real Estate revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the related leases, including periods for which no rent is due (typically referred to as “rent holidays”). Differences between revenues recognized and amounts due under respective lease agreements are recorded as increases or decreases, as applicable, to deferred rent receivable. Also included in rental revenue are certain tenant reimbursements and percentage rents determined in accordance with the terms of the leases. Income arising from tenant rents that are contingent upon the sales of the tenant exceeding a defined threshold are recognized only after the contingency has been resolved (i.e., sales thresholds have been achieved).

Construction Contracts and Related Products Revenue Recognition: Grace generates revenue primarily from material sales and paving contracts. The recognition of revenue is based on the underlying terms of the transaction.

Materials: Revenues from material sales, which include basalt aggregate, liquid asphalt and hot mix asphalt, are recognized when title to the product and risk of loss passes to third parties (generally this occurs when the product is picked up by customers or their agents) and when collection is reasonably assured.

Construction: A majority of paving contracts is performed for Hawaii state, federal, and county governments. Unit price contracts, which comprise a significant portion of Grace's paving contracts, require Grace to provide line-item deliverables at fixed unit prices based on approved quantities irrespective of Grace’s actual per unit costs. Earnings on unit price contracts are recognized as quantities are delivered and accepted by the customer. Lump sum contracts require that the total amount of work be performed for a single price irrespective of actual quantities or Grace’s actual costs. Earnings on fixed-price paving contracts are generally recognized using the percentage-of-completion method with progress toward completion measured on the basis of unit cost of work completed as of a specific date to an estimate of the total unit cost of work to be delivered under each contract. Grace uses this method as its management considers this to be the best available measure of progress on contracts. Contracts in progress are reviewed regularly, and sales and earnings may be adjusted based on revisions to assumption and estimates, including, but not limited to, revisions to job performance, job site conditions, changes to the scope of work, estimated contract costs, progress toward completion, changes in internal and external factors or conditions and final contract settlement. Selling, general and administrative costs are charged to expense as incurred. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses become evident.

Sugar and Molasses Revenue Recognition: Revenue from sugar sales is recorded when title to the product and risk of loss passes to third parties (generally this occurs when the product is shipped or delivered to customers) and when collection is reasonably assured.

Agricultural Costs

Agricultural Costs: Costs of growing and harvesting sugar cane are charged to the cost of inventory in the year incurred and to cost of sales as sugar is sold.

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations: In 2014, the Company early adopted the provisions of 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 (“ASU 2014-08”), which changes the requirements for reporting discontinued operations under Subtopic 205-20.

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans: The Company provides a wide range of benefits to existing employees and retired employees, including single-employer defined benefit plans, postretirement, defined contribution plans, post-employment and health care benefits. The Company records amounts relating to these plans based on various actuarial assumptions, including discount rates, assumed rates of return, compensation increases, turnover rates and health care cost trend rates. The Company reviews its actuarial assumptions on an annual basis and makes modifications to the assumptions based on current economic conditions and trends. The Company believes that the assumptions utilized in recording obligations under the Company’s plans, which are presented in Note 11, “Employee Benefit Plans,” are reasonable based on its experience and on advice from its independent actuaries; however, differences in actual experience or changes in the assumptions may materially affect the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation: The Company records compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors.

Earnings Per Share (''EPS'')

Earnings Per Share (“EPS”): Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed and disclosed in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 260, Earnings Per Share. The Company utilizes the two-class method to compute earnings available to common shareholders. Under the two-class method, earnings are adjusted by accretion amounts to redeemable noncontrolling interests recorded at redemption value. The adjustments represent in-substance dividend distributions to the noncontrolling interest holder as the holder has a contractual right to receive a specified amount upon redemption. As a result, earnings are adjusted to reflect this in-substance distribution that is different from other common shareholders. In addition, the Company allocates net earnings to each class of common stock and participating security as if all of the net earnings for the period had been distributed. The Company's participating securities consist of time-based restricted unit awards that contain a non-forfeitable right to receive dividends and, therefore, are considered to participate in earnings with common shareholders. Basic earnings per common share excludes dilution and is calculated by dividing net earnings allocated to common shares by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net earnings allocable to common shares by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period, as adjusted for the potential dilutive effect of non-participating share-based awards.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes: The Company makes certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement purposes. These estimates and judgments are applied in the calculation of tax credits, tax benefits and deductions, and in the calculation of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities, which arise from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes. Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are adjusted to the extent necessary to reflect tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. Adjustments may be required to deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities due to changes in tax laws and audit adjustments by tax authorities. To the extent adjustments are required in any given period, the adjustments would be included within the tax provision in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company records a liability for uncertain tax positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. The Company did not have material uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.

The Company has not recorded a valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets. A valuation allowance would be established if, based on the weight of available evidence, management believes that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a recorded deferred tax asset would not be realized in future periods.

The Company accounts for tax credits related to its investments in KRS II and Waihonu using the flow-through method, which reduces the provision for income taxes in the year the tax credits first become available.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive Income (Loss): Comprehensive income (loss) includes all changes in equity, except those resulting from transactions with shareholders and net income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) principally includes amortization of deferred pension and postretirement costs.

Self-Insured Liabilities

Self-Insured Liabilities: The Company is self-insured for certain losses that include, but are not limited to, employee health, workers’ compensation, general liability, real and personal property, and real estate construction warranty and defect claims. When feasible, the Company obtains third-party insurance coverage to limit its exposure to these claims. When estimating its self-insured liabilities, the Company considers a number of factors, including historical claims experience, demographic factors, and valuations provided by independent third-parties.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements: In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as a new Topic, ASC Topic 606. The new revenue recognition standard provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should apply the following steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract(s), (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract(s), and (v) recognize revenue when, or as, the entity satisfies a performance obligation. This ASU is to be applied retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. In July 2015, the FASB reached a decision to defer the effective date of the amended guidance. In August 2015, ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, was issued which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this new accounting standard.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30), Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, ("ASU 2015-03"). ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The amendments in ASU 2015-03 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2016. The Company retrospectively applied ASU 2015-03 in accordance with the standard. The retrospective impact of adopting the above guidance as of December 31, 2015 was as follows:



	Other assets			Total assets			Long-term debt			Total liabilities and equity
Previously reported	$	65.0		$	2,243.5		$	497.8		$	2,243.5
Debt Issuance Costs	(1.2		)	(1.2		)	(1.2		)	(1.2		)
Current presentation	$	63.8		$	2,242.3		$	496.6		$	2,242.3

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 requires the identification of arrangements that should be accounted for as leases by lessees. In general, lease arrangements exceeding a twelve month term must now be recognized as assets and liabilities on the balance sheet of the lessee. Under ASU 2016-02, a right-of-use asset and lease obligation will be recorded for all leases, whether operating or financing, while the income statement will reflect lease expense for operating leases and amortization/interest expense for financing leases. The balance sheet amount recorded for existing leases at the date of adoption of ASU 2016-02 must be calculated using the applicable incremental borrowing rate at the date of adoption. In addition, ASU 2016-02 requires the use of the modified retrospective method, which will require adjustment to all comparative periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. ASU 2016-02 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016.

The Company elected to early adopt the new guidance in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016, which requires the Company to reflect any adjustments as of January 1, 2016, the beginning of the annual period that includes the interim period of adoption. The primary impact of adoption was the recognition of $0.5 million of excess tax benefits in the provision for income taxes rather than paid-in capital for all periods in fiscal year 2016. Additional amendments to the accounting for income taxes and minimum statutory withholding tax requirements had no impact to retained earnings as of January 1, 2016, where the cumulative effect of these changes is required to be recorded. The Company elected to continue to estimate forfeitures expected to occur to determine the amount of compensation cost to be recognized in each period.

The Company elected to apply the presentation requirements for cash flows related to excess tax benefits retrospectively to all periods presented, which resulted in an increase to both net cash from operations and net cash used in financing of $0.6 million and $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The presentation requirements for cash flows related to employee taxes paid for withheld shares had no impact to any of the periods presented on the consolidated statement of cash flows, as such cash flows have historically been presented as a financing activity.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) ("ASU 2016-15"). ASU 2016-15 is an update that addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice of cash receipts and cash payments presentation and classification in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business ("ASU 2017-01"). ASU 2017-01 provides guidance regarding the definition of a business with the objective of providing guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. ASU 2017-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those years. ASU 2017-01 should be applied prospectively and early adoption is permitted. The new guidance will result in many real estate transactions being classified as an asset acquisition and transaction costs being capitalized. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.