SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Gibraltar Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

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 in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue recognition

Revenue is recognized when products are shipped or service is provided, the customer takes ownership and assumes the risk of loss, collection of the corresponding receivable is probable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, and the sales price is fixed or determinable. Sales returns, allowances, and customer incentives, including rebates, are treated as reductions to sales and are provided for based on historical experience and current estimates.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, checking accounts, and all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are composed of trade receivables recorded at the invoiced amount, are expected to be collected within one year, and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the probable amount of uncollectible accounts in the Company’s existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on a number of factors, including experience, credit worthiness of customers, and current market and economic conditions. The Company reviews the allowance for doubtful accounts on a regular basis. Account balances are charged against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The following table summarizes activity recorded within the allowance for doubtful accounts balances for the years ended December 31 (in thousands):



	2014			2013			2012
Beginning balance	4,774			4,481			4,614
Bad debt expense	1,095			910			920
Reserves from acquisitions	—			183			189
Accounts written off	(1,589		)	(800		)	(1,242		)
Ending balance	$	4,280		$	4,774		$	4,481

Concentrations of credit risk on accounts receivable are limited to those from significant customers that are believed to be financially sound. The Company's two most significant customers are both within our Residential Products segment, and include a home improvement retailer and a postal service. Accounts receivable as a percentage of consolidated accounts receivable from the home improvement retailer and the postal service at December 31, 2014, were 17.1% and 11.5%, respectively, and 11.5% and 3.0%, respectively, as of December 31, 2013.

Net sales as a percentage of consolidated net sales to the home improvement retailer were 11.5% and 12.3% for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost, determined using the first-in, first-out method, or market value. Shipping and handling costs are recognized as a component of cost of sales. The Company records adjustments to reduce the cost of inventory to its net realizable value, if required, at the business unit level for estimated excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory. Factors influencing these adjustments include historical and current sales trends. Note 2 “Inventories” contains additional information on the Company’s inventory.

Property, plant, and equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Interest is capitalized in connection with construction of qualified assets. Expenditures that extend the useful lives of assets are capitalized, while repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. The estimated useful lives of land improvements, buildings, and building improvements are 15 to 40 years, while the estimated useful lives for machinery and equipment are 3 to 20 years. Accelerated depreciation methods are used for income tax purposes.

The table below sets forth the amount of interest capitalized and depreciation expense recognized during the years ended December 31 (in thousands):



	2014		2013		2012
Capitalized interest	$	420	$	182	$	376
Depreciation expense	$	19,712	$	20,478	$	19,673

Acquisition related assets and liabilities

Accounting for the acquisition of a business as a purchase transaction requires an allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed in the transaction at their respective estimated fair values. The most difficult estimations of individual fair values are those involving long-lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment and intangible assets. The Company uses all available information to make these fair value determinations and, for major business acquisitions, engages independent valuation specialists to assist in the fair value determination of the acquired long-lived assets.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

The Company tests goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis at October 31, or more frequently if an event occurs, or circumstances change, that indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit could be below its carrying amount. The reporting units are at the component level, or one level below the operating segment level. Goodwill is assigned to each reporting unit as of the date the reporting unit is acquired and based upon the expected synergies of the acquisition. The impairment test consists of comparing the fair value of a reporting unit, determined using two valuation techniques, with its carrying amount including goodwill, and, if the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, comparing the implied fair value of goodwill with its carrying amount. An impairment loss would be recognized for the carrying amount of goodwill in excess of its implied fair value.

The Company also tests its indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis as of October 31, or more frequently if an event occurs, or circumstances change, that indicate that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset could be below its carrying amount. The impairment test consists of comparing the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset, determined using discounted cash flows on a relief-from-royalty basis, with its carrying amount. An impairment loss would be recognized for the carrying amount in excess of its fair value. Acquired identifiable intangible assets are recorded at estimated cost. Identifiable intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives.

Impairment of long-lived assets

Long-lived assets, including acquired identifiable intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of those assets may not be recoverable. The Company uses undiscounted cash flows to determine whether impairment exists and measures any impairment loss by approximating fair value using acceptable valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow models and third-party appraisals. The Company recognized impairment charges related to intangible assets during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. In addition, the Company recognized a number of impairment charges related to restructuring plans during the three year period ended December 31, 2014 as described in Note 15 of the consolidated financial statements.

Deferred charges

Deferred charges associated with initial costs incurred to enter into new debt arrangements are included in other assets and are amortized as a part of interest expense over the terms of the associated debt agreements. Portions of these deferred financing charges were written off as a result of entering into amended and restated credit agreements and the redemption and reissuance of bonds as discussed in Note 7 of the consolidated financial statements.

Advertising

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. For the years December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, advertising costs were $4,000,000, $4,000,000 and $3,600,000, respectively.

Foreign currency transactions and translation

The assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates prevailing during the period.

Income taxes

The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach. Under this approach, deferred income taxes represent the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets when uncertainty exists regarding their realization.

Equity-based compensation

The Company measures the cost of equity-based compensation based on grant date fair value and recognizes the cost over the period in which the employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. Equity-based compensation consists of grants of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance stock units. Equity-based compensation expense is included as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses. The Company’s equity-based compensation plans are discussed in more detail in Note 11 of the consolidated financial statements.

Derivatives and hedging

The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on whether the Company has 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. Derivative instruments that hedge a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows related to a recognized asset or liability are designated as a cash flow hedge. Hedge accounting generally provides matching the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge. Although certain of the Company's derivative financial instruments do not qualify or are not accounted for under hedge accounting, the Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges of foreign exchange risk is recorded in other comprehensive income and is subsequently reclassified into earnings and reported in revenue in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. Any ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative is recognized directly into earnings in other (income) expense. The Company's policy is to de-designate cash flow hedges at the time forecasted transactions are recognized as assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and report subsequent changes in fair value through the other (income) expense line on our statement of operations where the gain or loss due to movements in currency rates on the underlying asset or liability is revalued. If it becomes probable that the originally forecasted transaction will not occur, the gain or loss related to the hedge recorded within accumulated other comprehensive income is immediately recognized into net income.

Sale-Leaseback Transaction

In June 2014, the Company determined that it no longer required full use of the available space on one of its real estate properties. The Company entered into a transaction to sell the property to an independent third party for $4,500,000, and lease-back a portion of it from the purchaser. The Company leased back approximately 50% of the building under a five year operating lease agreement. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the Company accounted for the transaction as a sale-leaseback. The net present value of the Company's future minimum lease payments of $892,000 were greater than the gain on sale of $829,000. As such, the gain was deferred and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the five year life of the lease. The minimum lease payment in the first year is $202,000 and escalates at 3% over the remaining four years. These amounts have been included in the future minimum lease payments table in Note 18 of the consolidated financial statements.

Recent accounting pronouncements

In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-08, "Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360)". The amendments in this update affect the presentation on the financial statements of assets which are disposed of or classified as held for sale. The amendments in Topic 205 and 360 are effective prospectively beginning on or after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals, or classifications of assets held for sale, that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. The Company does not expect the adoption of Update 2014-08 to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial results.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" (Topic 606). The update clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue and develops a common standard for U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and International Financial Reporting Standards. More specifically, the core principle of the guidance is that an entity should 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. The amendments in Topic 606 are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new standard on revenue recognition and its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-12, "Compensation - Stock Compensation" (Topic 718). The amendments in this update require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. The amendments in Topic 718 are effective either prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date, or retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and all new or modified awards thereafter. This pronouncement is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of Topic 718 to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial results.

In November 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-16, "Derivatives and Hedging - Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity" (Topic 815). The amendments in this update state that an entity should determine the nature of the host contract by considering the economic characteristics and risks of the entire hybrid financial instrument, including the embedded derivative feature that is being evaluated for separate accounting from the host contract. This pronouncement is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company does not expect the adoption of Update 2014-16 to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial results.

In November 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-17, "Business Combinations - Pushdown Accounting" (Topic 805). The amendments in this update provide an acquired entity with an option to apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements upon occurrence of an event in which an acquirer obtains control of the acquired entity. The Company adopted the amendments in this update on its effective date of November 18, 2014. The Company does not expect the adoption of Update 2014-17 to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial results.