Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation    The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Glatfelter and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Accounting Estimates

Accounting Estimates    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingencies as of the balance sheet date and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management believes the estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are reasonable, based upon currently available facts and known circumstances, but recognizes that actual results may differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents    We classify all highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase as cash equivalents.

Inventories

Inventories    Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Raw materials, in-process and finished inventories of our U.S. manufacturing operations are valued using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, and the supplies inventories are valued principally using the average-cost method. Inventories at our foreign operations are valued using the average cost method.

Plant, Equipment and Timberlands

Plant, Equipment and Timberlands    For financial reporting purposes, depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets.

The range of estimated service lives used to calculate financial reporting depreciation for principal items of plant and equipment are as follows:

Buildings	15 – 45 Years
Machinery and equipment	5 – 40 Years
Other	3 – 25 Years

Maintenance and Repairs

Maintenance and Repairs    Maintenance and repairs costs are charged to income and major renewals and betterments are capitalized. At the time property is retired or sold, the net carrying value is eliminated and any resultant gain or loss is included in income.

Valuation of Long-lived Assets, Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Valuation of Long-lived Assets, Intangible Assets and Goodwill    We evaluate long-lived assets for impairment when a specific event indicates that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is assessed based on estimates of future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the sum of expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the asset, the asset’s fair value is estimated and an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value. Goodwill and non-amortizing tradename intangible assets are reviewed, on a discounted cash flow basis, during the third quarter of each year for impairment or more frequently if impairment indicators are present. Impairment losses, if any, are recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value. The carrying value of a reporting unit is defined using an enterprise premise which is generally determined by the difference between the unit’s assets and operating liabilities.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations    In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 410, Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations, we accrue asset retirement obligations in the period in which obligations relating to future asset retirements are incurred and when a reasonable estimate of fair value can be determined. Under these standards, costs are to be accrued at estimated fair value, and a related long-lived asset is capitalized. Over time, the liability is accreted to its settlement value and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset for which the obligation exists. Upon settlement of the liability, we recognize a gain or loss for any difference between the settlement amount and the liability recorded.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes    Income taxes are determined using the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with FASB ASC 740 Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). Under ASC 740, tax expense includes U.S. and international income taxes plus the provision for U.S. taxes on undistributed earnings of international subsidiaries not deemed to be permanently invested. Tax credits and other incentives reduce tax expense in the year the credits are claimed. Certain items of income and expense are not reported in tax returns and financial statements in the same year. The tax effect of such temporary differences is reported in deferred income taxes. Deferred tax assets are recognized if it is more likely than not that the assets will be realized in future years. We establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets for which realization is not more likely than not.

Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes and recording the related assets and liabilities. In the ordinary course of our business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is less than certain. We and our subsidiaries are examined by various Federal, State, and foreign tax authorities. We regularly assess the potential outcomes of these examinations and any future examinations for the current or prior years in determining the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. We continually assess the likelihood and amount of potential adjustments and record any necessary adjustments in the period in which the facts that give rise to a revision become known.

Investment tax credits are accounted for by the flow-through method, which results in recognition of the benefit in the year in which the credit become available.

Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock    Common stock purchased for treasury is recorded at cost. At the date of subsequent reissue, the treasury stock account is reduced by the cost of such stock on the weighted-average cost basis.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation    Foreign currency translation gains and losses and the effect of exchange rate changes on transactions designated as hedges of net foreign investments are included as a component of other comprehensive income (loss). Transaction gains and losses are included in income in the period in which they occur.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition    We recognize revenue on product sales when the customer takes title and assumes the risks and rewards of ownership. Estimated costs for sales incentives, discounts and sales returns and allowances are recorded as sales deductions in the period in which the related revenue is recognized.

Revenue from energy sales is recognized when electricity is delivered to the customer. Certain costs associated with the production of electricity, such as fuel, labor, depreciation and maintenance are netted against energy sales for presentation on the consolidated statements of income.

Revenue from renewable energy credits is recorded under the caption “Energy and related sales, net” in the consolidated statements of income and is recognized when all risks, rights and rewards to the certificate are transferred to the counterparty.

Environmental Liabilities

Environmental Liabilities    Accruals for losses associated with environmental obligations are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated based on existing legislation and remediation technologies. These accruals are adjusted periodically as assessment and remediation actions continue and/or further legal or technical information develops. Such undiscounted liabilities are exclusive of any insurance or other claims against third parties. Environmental costs are capitalized if the costs extend the life of the asset, increase its capacity and/or mitigate or prevent contamination from future operations. Recoveries of environmental remediation costs from other parties, including insurance carriers, are recorded as assets when their receipt is assured beyond a reasonable doubt.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share    Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the respective periods. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average common shares and common share equivalents outstanding during the period. The dilutive effect of common share equivalents is considered in the diluted earnings per share computation using the treasury stock method.

Financial Derivatives and Hedging Activities

Financial Derivatives and Hedging Activities    We use financial derivatives to manage exposure to changes in foreign currencies. In accordance with FASB ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”), we record all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether we have elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting, and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting.

Cash Flow Hedges The effective portion of the gain or loss on those derivative instruments designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows related to forecasted transactions is deferred and reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Deferred gains or losses are reclassified to our results of operations at the time the hedged forecasted transaction is recorded in our results of operations. The effectiveness of cash flow hedges is assessed at inception and quarterly thereafter. If the instrument becomes ineffective or it becomes probable that the originally forecasted transaction will not occur, the related change in fair value of the derivative instrument is also reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and recognized in earnings.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments    Under the accounting for fair value measurements and disclosures, a fair value hierarchy was established that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). A financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g., interest rates); and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3 - Inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements  In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting designed to simplify certain aspects of accounting for share-based awards. The new ASU requires entities to recognize as a component of income tax expense all excess tax benefits or deficiencies arising from the difference between compensation costs recognized and the intrinsic value at the time an option is exercised or, in the case of restricted stock and similar awards, the fair value upon vesting of an award. Previously such differences were recognized in additional paid in capital as part of an “APIC pool.” In addition, the ASU also requires entities to exclude excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies from the calculation of common share equivalents for purposes of calculating earnings per share. The new standard is required to be adopted, either prospectively or retrospectively, in the first quarter of 2017. We do not believe the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our reported results of operations or financial position.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This ASU will require organizations that lease assets to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. The new guidance will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted. We are in the process of assessing the impact this standard will have on us and expect to follow a modified retrospective method provided for under the standard.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers which clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue and develops a common revenue standard for GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The new standard is required to be adopted retrospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted only for reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2016. We are in the process of evaluating the impact this standard may have, if any, on our reported results of operations or financial position. Based on our initial assessment, we do not expect this ASU will have a significant impact on the timing or amount of revenue recognition.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13 Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments that changes the impairment model for most financial instruments, including trade receivables from an incurred loss method to a new forward-looking approach, based on expected losses. Under the new guidance, an allowance is recognized based on an estimate of expected credit losses. This standard is effective for us in the first quarter of 2020 and must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition approach. We are currently assessing the impact this standard may have on our results of operations and financial position.