Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Organization and Nature of Operations

Organization and Nature of Operations. Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company”) specializes in the production of semi-fabricated specialty aluminum products, such as aluminum sheet and plate and extruded and drawn products, primarily used in aerospace/high strength, automotive, general engineering and other industrial end market applications. The Company has one operating segment, Fabricated Products. See Note 13 for additional information regarding the Company's reportable segment and business unit.

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries and are prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities known to exist as of the date the financial statements are published and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Uncertainties with respect to such estimates and assumptions are inherent in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements; accordingly, it is possible that the actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions, which could have a material effect on the reported amounts of the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

Recognition of Sales

Recognition of Sales. Sales are generally recognized on a gross basis when all of the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (ii) title, ownership and risk of loss has passed to the customer; (iii) the price to the customer is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. A provision for estimated sales returns from and allowances to, customers is made in the same period as the related revenues are recognized, based on historical experience or the specific identification of an event necessitating a reserve.

From time to time, in the ordinary course of business, the Company may enter into agreements with customers in which the Company, in return for a fee, agrees to reserve certain amounts of its existing production capacity for the customer, defer an existing customer purchase commitment into future periods and reserve certain amounts of its expected production capacity in those periods for the customer, or cancel or reduce existing commitments under existing contracts. These agreements may have terms or impact periods exceeding one year.

Certain of the capacity reservation and commitment deferral agreements provide for periodic, such as quarterly or annual, billing for the duration of the contract. For capacity reservation agreements, the Company recognizes revenue ratably over the period of the capacity reservation. Accordingly, the Company may recognize revenue prior to billing reservation fees. Unbilled receivables are included within Trade receivables on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets (see Note 2). For commitment deferral agreements, the Company recognizes revenue upon the earlier occurrence of the related sale of product or the end of the commitment period. In connection with other agreements, the Company may collect funds from customers in advance of the periods for which (i) the production capacity is reserved; (ii) commitments are deferred; (iii) commitments are reduced; or (iv) performance is completed, in which event the recognition of revenue is deferred until the fee is earned. Any unearned fees are included within Other accrued liabilities or Long-term liabilities, as appropriate, on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets (see Note 2).

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation. Stock-based compensation in the form of service-based awards is provided to executive officers, certain employees and non-employee directors and is accounted for at fair value. The Company measures the cost of services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award and the number of awards expected to ultimately vest. The grant-date fair value is determined based on the stock price on the date of grant, adjusted for expected dividends to be paid during the vesting period.

The Company also grants performance-based awards to executive officers and other key employees. Performance awards granted prior to 2014 are subject to performance conditions pertaining to specified financial metrics and are valued based on the stock price at the date of grant, adjusted for expected dividends to be paid during the vesting period. Performance awards granted in 2014 are subject to performance conditions pertaining to total shareholder return and are valued on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo valuation model. The key assumptions in applying this model are an expected volatility and a risk free interest rate. For more information on the Company's stock-based compensation, see Note 8.

The cost of service-based awards, including time-vested restricted stock and performance shares is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period of the award on a straight-line basis. For performance shares, the related expense is updated quarterly by adjusting the estimated number of shares expected to vest based on the most probable outcome of the performance condition (see Note 8).

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and Handling Costs. Shipping and handling costs are recorded as a component of Cost of products sold, excluding depreciation, amortization and other items.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs. Advertising costs, which are included in Selling, administrative, research and development and general, are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs for 2014, 2013 and 2012 were $0.6, $1.3 and $0.4, respectively.

Research and Development Costs

Research and Development Costs. Research and development costs, which are included in Selling, research and development and general, are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs for 2014, 2013 and 2012 were $8.9, $7.8 and $6.4, respectively.

Major Maintenance Activities

Major Maintenance Activities. All major maintenance costs are accounted for using the direct expensing method.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers only those short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash equivalents consist primarily of funds in commercial paper, savings accounts, demand notes, money market funds and other highly liquid investments, which are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy with the exception of commercial paper, which is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash. The Company is required to keep certain amounts on deposit relating to workers’ compensation and other agreements. The Company accounts for such deposits as restricted cash (see Note 2).

Trade Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. Trade receivables primarily consist of amounts billed to customers for products sold. Accounts receivable are generally due within 30 to 60 days. For the majority of its receivables, the Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon collection experience and other factors. On certain other receivables where the Company is aware of a specific customer’s inability or reluctance to pay, an allowance for doubtful accounts is established against amounts due, to reduce the net receivable balance to the amount the Company reasonably expects to collect. However, if circumstances change, the Company’s estimate of the recoverability of accounts receivable could be different. Circumstances that could affect the Company’s estimates include, but are not limited to, customer credit issues and general economic conditions. Accounts are written off once deemed to be uncollectible. Any subsequent cash collections relating to accounts that have been previously written off are typically recorded as a reduction to total bad debt expense in the period of payment.

Inventories

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Finished products, work-in-process and raw material inventories are stated on the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) basis. The excesses of current cost over the stated LIFO value of inventory at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were $37.6 and $0.4, respectively. Other inventories, principally operating supplies and repair and maintenance parts, are stated at average cost. Inventory costs consist of material, labor and manufacturing overhead, including depreciation. Abnormal costs, such as idle facility expenses, freight, handling costs and spoilage, are accounted for as current period charges. All of the Company's inventories at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were included in the Fabricated Products segment (see Note 2 for the components of inventories).

Property, Plant and Equipment - Net

Property, Plant and Equipment - Net. Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost (see Note 2). Construction in progress is included within Property, plant and equipment - net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Interest related to the construction of qualifying assets is capitalized as part of the construction costs. The aggregate amount of interest capitalized is limited to the interest expense incurred in the period. The amount of interest expense capitalized as construction in progress was $2.5, $3.4 and $1.7 during 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method at rates based on the estimated useful lives of the various classes of assets. Capital lease assets and leasehold improvements are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease term. The principal estimated useful lives are as follows:

	Range (in years)
Land improvements	3	-	25
Buildings and leasehold improvements	15	-	45
Machinery and equipment	1	-	24
Capital lease assets	3	-	5

Depreciation expense is not included in Cost of products sold, excluding depreciation and amortization and other items, but is included in Depreciation and amortization on the Statements of Consolidated Income. For 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded depreciation expense of $29.0, $25.8 and $24.2, respectively, relating to the Company's operating facilities in its Fabricated Products segment. An immaterial amount of depreciation expense was also recorded within All Other for all periods presented herein.

Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset or group of assets may not be recoverable. The Company regularly assesses whether events and circumstances with the potential to trigger impairment have occurred and relies on a number of factors, including operating results, business plans, economic projections and anticipated future cash flow, to make such assessments. The Company uses an estimate of the future undiscounted cash flows of the related asset or asset group over the estimated remaining life of such asset(s) in measuring whether the asset(s) are recoverable. Measurement of the amount of impairment, if any, is based on the difference between the carrying value of the asset(s) and the estimated fair value of such asset(s). Fair value is determined through a series of standard valuation techniques.

During 2014 and 2012, the Company determined not to deploy some of its property, plant and equipment held for future development and recorded impairment charges of $1.5 and $4.4, respectively, to reflect the scrap value of such assets. There were no impairment charges in 2013. Asset impairment charges are included in Other operating charges, net in the Statements of Consolidated Income and are included in the Fabricated Products segment.

Available for Sale Securities

Available for Sale Securities. The Company accounts for investments in certain marketable debt securities as available for sale securities. Such securities are recorded at fair value (see “Fair Values of Financial Assets and Liabilities - Available for Sale Securities” in Note 11), with net unrealized gains and losses, net of income taxes, reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as a component of Stockholders' equity. Realized gains and losses from the sale of marketable debt securities, if any, are determined on a specific identification basis. Debt investment securities with an original maturity of 90 days or less are classified as Cash and cash equivalents (see Note 2). Debt investment securities with an original maturity of greater than 90 days are presented as Short-term investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In addition to debt investment securities, the Company also holds assets in various investment funds managed by a third-party trust in connection with the Company's deferred compensation program (see Note 6).

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred Financing Costs. Costs incurred in connection with debt financing are deferred and amortized over the estimated term of the related borrowing. Such amortization is included in Interest expense and may be capitalized as part of construction in progress (see Note 2 and Note 3).

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets. Goodwill is tested for impairment during the fourth quarter on an annual basis, as well as on an interim basis, as warranted, at the time of relevant events and changes in circumstances. Intangible assets with definite lives are initially recognized at fair value and subsequently amortized over the estimated useful lives to reflect the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are consumed. In the event the pattern cannot be reliably determined, the Company uses a straight-line amortization method. Whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the intangible assets may not be recoverable, the intangible assets are reviewed for impairment. A significant amount of synergies resulting from the acquisition of the Company's Florence, Alabama facility was realized by its Newark, Ohio and Jackson, Tennessee manufacturing facilities, which, when combined with the Florence, Alabama facility, are managed into a coordinated manner and comprise the Company's hard alloy rod, bar and wire value chain. Management determined that the hard alloy rod, bar and wire value chain should be considered one reporting unit for the purpose of performing the Company's goodwill impairment test related to the Florence, Alabama facility acquisition. The Company concluded there was no impairment of the carrying value of goodwill at December 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013 (Note 4).

Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations ("CAROs")

Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations (“CAROs”). The Company has CAROs at several of its Fabricated Products facilities. The vast majority of such CAROs consist primarily of incremental costs that would be associated with the removal and disposal of asbestos (all of which is believed to be fully contained and encapsulated within walls, floors, roofs, ceilings or piping) at certain of the Company’s older facilities if such facilities were to undergo major renovation or be demolished. The Company estimates incremental costs for special handling, removal and disposal costs of materials that may or will give rise to CAROs and then discounts the expected costs back to the current year using a credit-adjusted, risk-free rate. When it is unclear when or if CAROs will be triggered, the Company uses probability weighting for possible timing scenarios to determine the probability-weighted liability amounts that should be recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements (see Note 11).

Self Insurance of Employee Health and Workers' Compensation Liabilities

Self Insurance of Employee Health and Workers' Compensation Liabilities. The Company is primarily self-insured for group health insurance and workers' compensation benefits provided to employees. Self insurance liabilities are estimated for incurred-but-not-paid claims based on judgment, using the Company's historical claims data and information and analysis provided by actuarial and claims advisors, the Company's insurance carriers and other professionals. The Company's undiscounted workers' compensation liabilities were estimated at $25.9 and $29.1 at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. However, the Company accounts for its workers' compensation accrued liability on a discounted basis, using a discount rate of 1.75% at both December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The accrued liabilities for health insurance and workers' compensation is included in Other accrued liabilities or Long-term liabilities, as appropriate (see Note 2).

Environmental Contingencies

Environmental Contingencies. With respect to environmental loss contingencies, the Company records a loss contingency whenever a contingency is probable and reasonably estimable (see Note 9). Accruals for estimated losses from environmental remediation obligations are generally recognized no later than the completion of the remedial feasibility study. Such accruals are adjusted as information develops or circumstances change. Costs of future expenditures for environmental remediation obligations are not discounted to their present value. Accruals for expected environmental costs are included in Other accrued liabilities or Long-term liabilities, as appropriate (see Note 2). Environmental expense relating to continuing operations is included in Cost of products sold, excluding depreciation and amortization and other items in the Statements of Consolidated Income. Environmental expense relating to non-operating locations is included in Selling, administrative, research and development and general in the Statements of Consolidated Income.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments. Hedging transactions using derivative financial instruments are primarily designed to mitigate the Company's exposure to changes in prices for certain products sold and consumed by the Company and, to a lesser extent, to mitigate the Company's exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. From time to time, the Company also enters into hedging arrangements in connection with financing transactions to mitigate financial risks.

The Company does not utilize derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes. The Company's derivative activities are initiated within guidelines established by management and approved by the Company's Board of Directors. Hedging transactions are executed centrally on behalf of all of the Company's operations to minimize transaction costs, monitor consolidated net exposures and allow for increased responsiveness to changes in market factors.

The Company recognizes all derivative instruments as assets or liabilities in its Consolidated Balance Sheets and measures these instruments at fair value by “marking-to-market” all of its hedging positions at each period's end (see Note 11). Because the Company does not meet the documentation requirements for hedge (deferral) accounting, unrealized and realized gains and losses associated with hedges of operational risks are reflected as a reduction or increase, respectively, in Cost of products sold - Unrealized losses (gains) on derivative instruments and unrealized and realized gains and losses relating to hedges of financing transactions are reflected as a component of Other income (expense) (see Note 15). See Note 10 for additional information about realized and unrealized gains and losses relating to the Company's derivative financial instruments.

Fair Value Measurement

Fair Value Measurements. The Company applies the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, in measuring the fair value of its derivative contracts and plan assets invested by certain of the Company’s employee benefit plans (see Note 11).

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels and 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 and 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.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes. Deferred income taxes reflect the future tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial and income tax reporting and are measured by applying statutory tax rates in effect for the year during which the differences are expected to reverse. In accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, the Company uses a “more likely than not” threshold for recognition of tax attributes that are subject to uncertainties and measures any reserves in respect of such expected benefits based on their probability. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized (see Note 5).

Earnings per Share

Net Income per Share. Basic net income per share is computed by dividing distributed and undistributed net income allocable to common shares by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the applicable period. The basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period excludes unvested share-based payment awards. Diluted net income per share was calculated under the treasury stock method for 2014, 2013 and 2012, which in all years was more dilutive than the two-class method (see Note 12).

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk. Financial arrangements which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of metal, natural gas, electricity and foreign currency derivative contracts, certain cash-settled call options that the Company purchased in March 2010 (the “Option Assets”) (see Note 3) and arrangements related to the Company's cash equivalents and short-term investments. If the market value of the Company's net commodity and currency derivative positions with certain counterparties exceeds the applicable threshold, if any, the counterparty is required to post margin by transferring cash collateral in excess of the threshold to the Company. Conversely, if the market value of these net derivative positions falls below a specified threshold, the Company is required to post margin by transferring cash collateral below the threshold to certain counterparties. At both December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had no margin deposits with or from its counterparties.

The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties on derivative contracts used in hedging activities as well as failure of counterparties to return cash collateral previously transferred to the counterparties. The counterparties to the Company's derivative contracts are major financial institutions and the Company does not expect nonperformance by any of its counterparties.

The Company places its cash in commercial paper, savings accounts, demand notes and money market funds. Such money market funds are with high credit quality financial institutions which invest primarily in commercial paper and time deposits of prime quality, short-term repurchase agreements and U.S. government agency notes.

For information about concentration risks concerning customers and suppliers, see Note 13.

Concentration of Labor Subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements [Policy Text Block]

Concentration of Labor Subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements. At December 31, 2014, approximately 63% of the Company's employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements and the Company had collective bargaining agreements with expiration dates in 2015 covering approximately 47% of its employees. In January 2015, collective bargaining agreements covering approximately 36% of the Company's employees were extended through September 30, 2020 (see Note 19).

Leases

Leases. For leases that contain predetermined fixed escalations of the minimum rent, the Company recognizes the related rent expense on a straight-line basis from the date it takes possession of the property to the end of the initial lease term. The Company records any difference between the straight-line rent amounts and the amount payable under the lease as part of deferred rent in Other accrued liabilities or Long-term liabilities, as appropriate. Deferred rent for all periods presented was not material.

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency. Certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries use the local currency as its functional currency; its assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date; and its statement of operations is translated at weighted-average monthly rates of exchange prevailing during the year. Resulting translation adjustments are recorded directly to a separate component of stockholders’ equity in accordance with ASC Topic 830, Foreign Currency Matters. At both December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the amount of translation adjustment relating to foreign subsidiaries using local currency as their functional currency was immaterial. Where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency of a foreign facility or subsidiary, re-measurement adjustments are recorded in Other income (expense).

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements. Accounting Standards Update("ASU") No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.(“ASU 2013-11”), was issued in July 2013. ASU 2013-11 requires an entity to present in the financial statements an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, as a reduction to a deferred tax asset resulting from a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. However, when the above situation is not available at the reporting date or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The Company’s adoption of ASU 2013-11 in the first quarter of 2014 did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), was issued in May 2014. ASU 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve this core principle, the guidance provides that an entity should apply the following steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when, or as, the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company expects to adopt ASU 2014-09 for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017 and the Company will continue to assess the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2014-12, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period - Consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force(“ASU 2014-12”), was issued in June 2014. ASU 2014-12 requires an entity to treat a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period as a performance condition. The performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of the award. Additionally, compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the period(s) for which the requisite service has already been rendered; if the performance target becomes probable of being achieved before the end of the requisite service period, then the remaining unrecognized compensation cost should be recognized prospectively over the remaining requisite service period. Finally, the total amount of compensation cost recognized during and after the requisite service period should reflect the number of awards that are expected to vest and should be adjusted to reflect those awards that ultimately vest. The Company expects to adopt ASU 2014-12 for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015 and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.