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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Pope Resources, A Delaware Limited Partnership is a publicly traded limited partnership engaged primarily in managing timber resources on its own properties as well as those owned by others. Pope Resources’ wholly-owned subsidiaries include the following: ORM, Inc., which is responsible for managing Pope Resources’ timber properties; Olympic Resource Management LLC (ORMLLC), which provides timberland management activities and is responsible for developing the timber fund business; Olympic Property Group I LLC, which manages the Port Gamble townsite and millsite together with land that is held as development property; and OPG Properties LLC, which owns land that is held as development property and holds other real estate investments. These consolidated financial statements include ORM Timber Fund II, Inc. (Fund II), ORM Timber Fund III, Inc. (Fund III), and ORM Timber Fund IV LLC (Fund IV, and collectively with Fund II and Fund III, the Funds). ORMLLC is the manager of and owns 1% of Funds II, III and IV. Pope Resources owns 19% of Fund II, 4% of Fund III, and 14% of Fund IV. The purpose of all three Funds is to invest in timberlands. See Note 4 for additional information. These consolidated financial statements also include OPG Ferncliff Investors LLC (Ferncliff Investors). OPG Properties LLC, through wholly-owned subsidiary OPG Ferncliff Management LLC (Ferncliff Management) owns 33.33% of Ferncliff Investors, which in turn holds a 50% interest in an unconsolidated real estate joint venture entity, Bainbridge Landing LLC. Ferncliff Management is the manager of Ferncliff Investors. See Note 6 for additional information.

The Partnership operates in four business segments: Partnership Timber, Funds Timber, Timberland Investment Management, and Real Estate. The Partnership Timber and Funds Timber segments represent the growing and harvesting of trees from properties owned by the Partnership and the Funds, respectively. Timberland Investment Management represents management, acquisition, disposition, and consulting services provided to third-party owners of timberland and provides management services to the Funds. Real Estate consists of obtaining and entitling properties that have been identified as having value as developed residential or commercial property and operating the Partnership’s existing commercial properties in Kitsap County, Washington.

Principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership, entities controlled by the Partnership, and variable interest entities where the Partnership or entities it controls have the authority to direct the activities that most significantly impact their economic performance. Intercompany balances and transactions, including operations related to the Funds, have been eliminated in consolidation. The wholly-owned subsidiaries, Funds, and Ferncliff Investors are consolidated into Pope Resources’ financial statements (see Notes 3 and 5).

New accounting standards

Effective January 1, 2018, the Partnership adopted Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. For delivered log sales from the Partnership Timber and Funds Timber segments, there were no changes to the timing or amount of revenue recognized because contracts are legally enforceable, the transaction price is fixed, and performance is completed and control transfers at a point in time, typically when risk of loss and title passes to the customer. Similarly, no changes were identified to the timing or amount of revenue recognized from certain components of other revenue in these segments, including commercial thinning, royalties from gravel mines and quarries, and land use permits. For timber deed sales, the timing of revenue recognition was accelerated under the new standard to the effective date of the contract, whereas under the previous revenue recognition guidance the revenue was generally recognized when the timber was harvested by the customer. Under Topic 606, revenue recognized from timber deed sales for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $3.2 million less than it would have been under the previous revenue recognition standards. For the year ended December 31, 2018, revenue recognized from timber deed sales was $7.4 million greater than it would have been under the previous revenue recognition accounting standards. For the Real Estate segment, this new standard may result in accelerating the recognition of revenue for performance obligations that are satisfied over time, which generally consist of construction and landscaping activity in common areas completed after transaction closing. The Partnership adopted this standard using the cumulative effect transition method applied to uncompleted contracts as of the date of adoption. The Partnership, however, had no uncompleted contracts at the date of adoption. Accordingly, the adoption of this standard did not have a cumulative effect on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB established Topic 842, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize leases on the balance sheet and disclose certain information about leasing arrangements. Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and ASU No. 2018-11, Targeted Improvements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases are classified as financing or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement. For lessors, leases are classified as a sales-type, direct financing, or operating lease.

The Partnership adopted this new standard effective January 1, 2019 and utilized the effective date as the date of initial application. Consequently, financial information was not updated, and the disclosures required under the new standard are not provided for dates and periods prior to January 1, 2019. The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients in transition. The Partnership elected the ‘package of practical expedients’, which permits us to not reassess under the new standard our prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification, and initial direct costs. We did not elect the use-of-hindsight or the practical expedient pertaining to land easements, the latter not being applicable to us.

The Partnership recognized a ROU asset and lease liability of $294,000 as of January 1, 2019 in connection with the adoption of this standard and all of its leases continue to be classified as operating leases. Accordingly, the adoption of this standard did not have a cumulative effect, or material effect, on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

General partner

The Partnership has two general partners: Pope MGP, Inc. and Pope EGP, Inc. In total, these two entities own 60,000 Partnership units. The allocation of distributions, income and other capital related items between the general and limited partners is pro rata among all units outstanding. The managing general partner of the Partnership is Pope MGP, Inc. The Partnership has no directors. Instead, the board of directors of Pope MGP, Inc. serves in that capacity.

Noncontrolling interests

Noncontrolling interests represents the portion of net income and losses of the Funds and Ferncliff Investors attributable to third-party owners of these entities. Noncontrolling interests represent 80% of Fund II, 95% of Fund III, 85% of Fund IV, and 66.67% of Ferncliff Investors ownership. To arrive at net and comprehensive income attributable to Partnership unitholders, the portion of the income attributable to these third-party investors is subtracted from net and comprehensive income or, in the case of a loss attributable to third-party investors, added back to net and comprehensive income.

Significant estimates in financial statements

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 disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Depletion

Timber costs are combined into depletion pools based on how the tree farms are managed and on the common characteristics of the timber such as location and species mix. Each tree farm within the Funds is considered a separate depletion pool and timber harvested from the Funds’ tree farms is accounted for and depleted separately from timber harvested from the Partnership’s timberlands, which are considered one depletion pool. The applicable depletion rate is derived by dividing the aggregate cost of merchantable stands of timber, together with capitalized road expenditures, by the estimated volume of merchantable timber available for harvest at the beginning of that year. For purposes of the depletion calculation, merchantable timber is defined as timber that is equal to or greater than 35 years of age for all of the tree farms except California, for which merchantable timber is defined as timber with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 16 inches or greater. The depletion rate, so derived and expressed in per thousand board feet (MBF) terms, is then multiplied by the volume harvested in a given period to calculate depletion expense for that period as follows:

Depletion rate = Accumulated cost of timber and capitalized road expenditures

Estimated volume of merchantable timber

Purchased timberland cost allocation

When the Partnership or Funds acquire timberlands, a purchase price allocation is performed that allocates cost between the categories of merchantable timber, pre-merchantable timber, roads, and land based upon the relative fair values pertaining to each of the categories. Land value may include uses other than timberland including potential conservation easement (CE) sales and development opportunities.

Cost of sales and Deferred revenue

Cost of sales

Cost of sales consists of the Partnership’s cost basis in timber (depletion expense), real estate, and other inventory sold, and direct costs incurred to make those assets salable. Those direct costs include the expenditures associated with the harvesting and transporting of timber and closing costs incurred in land and lot sale transactions. Cost of sales also consists of those costs directly attributable to the Partnership’s rental activities.

Deferred revenue

Deferred revenue represents the unearned portion of cash collected. Deferred revenue of $223,000 and $336,000 at December 31, 2019, and 2018, respectively, reflects primarily the unearned portion of rental payments received on cell tower leases.

Restricted cash

Restricted cash comprises capital contributed by third-party owners of Ferncliff Investors that must be invested in an unconsolidated real estate joint venture entity or used to pay related management fees.

Like-kind exchanges

In order to acquire and sell assets, primarily timberland and other real property, in a tax efficient manner, we sometimes utilize Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 1031 like-kind exchange transactions. There are two main types of like-kind exchange transactions: forward transactions, in which property is sold and the proceeds are reinvested by acquiring similar property; and reverse transactions, in which property is acquired and similar property is subsequently sold. We use qualified intermediaries to facilitate such transactions and proceeds from forward transactions are held by the intermediaries. Both types of transactions must be completed within prescribed periods under IRC Section 1031, generally 180 days. Any unused funds held by intermediaries at the expiration of these time periods revert to the Partnership. To the extent we have identified potential replacement properties to acquire, funds held by intermediaries are classified as non-current in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. To the extent funds held by qualified intermediaries exceed the value of identified potential properties to acquire, the funds are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets.

Concentration of credit risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Partnership to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of accounts and notes receivable. The Partnership limits its credit exposure by considering the creditworthiness of potential customers and utilizing the underlying land sold as collateral on real estate contracts.

Income taxes

The Partnership itself is not subject to income taxes, but its corporate subsidiaries, and those of the Funds, are subject to income taxes which are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, if any, are also factored into the calculation of deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which 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. The Partnership has concluded that it is more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will be realizable and thus no valuation allowance has been recorded as of December 31, 2019. This conclusion is based on anticipated future taxable income, the expected future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, and tax planning strategies to generate taxable income, if needed. The Partnership will continue to reassess the need for a valuation allowance during each future reporting period. The Partnership is not aware of any tax exposure items as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, where the Partnership’s tax position is not more likely than not to be sustained if challenged by the taxing authorities. The Partnership recognizes interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits or underpayment of income taxes in interest expense and recognizes penalties in operating expenses.

Land and timber held for sale and Land held for development

Land and timber held for sale and Land held for development are recorded at cost, unless impaired. Costs of development, including interest, are capitalized for these projects and allocated to individual lots based upon their relative preconstruction fair value. This allocation of basis supports, in turn, the computation of those amounts reported as current versus long-term assets based on management’s expectation of when the sales will occur (Land and timber held for sale and Land held for development, respectively). As lot sales occur, the allocation of these costs becomes part of cost of sales attributed to individual lot sales. Costs associated with land including acquisition, project design, architectural costs, road construction, capitalized interest, and utility installation are accounted for as operating activities on the statement of cash flows.

Those properties that are for sale, under contract, and for which the Partnership has an expectation they will be sold within 12 months are classified on the balance sheet as a current asset under “Land and timber held for sale”. The Partnership had no land and timber held for sale at December 31, 2019. Land and timber held for sale of $5.7 million as of December 31, 2018, reflected expected sales in 2019 of a parcel comprising 20 acres from the Harbor Hill project, as well as three other parcels in Kitsap County, Washington.

Land held for development on our balance sheet represents the Partnership’s cost basis in land that has been identified as having greater value as development property rather than as timberland. Land development costs, including interest, clearly associated with development or construction of fully entitled projects are capitalized, whereas costs associated with projects that are in the entitlement phase are expensed. Interest capitalization ceases once projects reach the point of substantial completion or construction activity has been delayed intentionally.

Timberland, timber and roads

Timberland, timber and roads are recorded at cost. The Partnership and Funds capitalize the cost of building permanent roads on the tree farms and expenses temporary roads and road maintenance. Timberland is not subject to depletion.

Buildings and equipment

Buildings and equipment depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 3 to 39 years.

Impairment of long-lived assets

When facts and circumstances indicate the carrying value of properties may be impaired, an evaluation of recoverability is performed by comparing the currently recorded carrying value of the property to the projected future undiscounted cash flows of the same property or, in the case of land held for sale, fair market value less costs to sell. If it is determined that the carrying value of such assets may not be fully recoverable, we would recognize an impairment loss, adjusting for the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair market value, and would recognize an expense in this amount against current operations.

Environmental remediation liabilities

Environmental remediation liabilities have been evaluated using a combination of methods. The liability is estimated based on amounts included in construction contracts and estimates for construction contingencies, project management, and other professional fees. See Note 14 for further discussion of environmental remediation liabilities.

Equity-based compensation

The Partnership issues restricted units to certain employees, officers, and directors of the Partnership as part of their annual compensation. Restricted units are valued on the grant date at the market closing price of the partnership units on that date. The value of the restricted units is amortized to compensation expense on a straight-line basis during the vesting period which is generally four years. Grants to retirement-eligible individuals on the date of grant are expensed immediately.

Income per partnership unit

Basic and diluted net earnings per unit are calculated by dividing net income attributable to unitholders, adjusted for non-forfeitable distributions paid out to unvested restricted unitholders and Fund II, Fund III, and Fund IV preferred shareholders, by the weighted average units outstanding during the period.

Fund II and Fund III preferred shares

Fund II, Fund III, and Fund IV preferred shares

Fund II, Fund III, and Fund IV each have issued 125 par $0.01 shares of Series A Cumulative Non-Voting Preferred Stock (Series A Preferred Stock) at $1,000 per share. Every holder of the Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. Dividends on each share of Series A Preferred Stock will accrue on a daily basis at the rate of 12.5% per annum, for Funds II and III, and 12.0% for Fund IV. Upon a liquidation, the Series A Preferred Stock will be settled in cash and is not convertible into any other class or series of Fund shares or Partnership units. The timing of such a redemption is controlled by the Funds. The maximum amount that each of the consolidated subsidiaries could be required to pay to redeem the instruments upon liquidation is $125,000 plus accrued but unpaid dividends. The Series A Preferred Stock is recorded within noncontrolling interests on the consolidated balance sheets and are considered participating securities for purposes of calculating earnings per unit.

Fair value hierarchy

We use a fair value hierarchy in accounting for certain nonfinancial assets and liabilities including long-lived assets (asset groups) measured at fair value for an impairment assessment.

The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity’s pricing based upon its own market assumptions.

The fair value hierarchy consists of the following three levels (see note 9 for further fair value information):


•	Level 1-Inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.


•	Level 2-Inputs are: (a) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, (b) quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or (c) inputs other than quoted prices that are observable and market-corroborated inputs, which are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.


•	Level 3-Inputs are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or value drivers are unobservable.