Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes

v2.4.1.9
Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
6. Income Taxes:

Below are the components of the Company’s income tax provision for the periods indicated:

 

     Successor           Predecessor  
     Period from
06/30/2014
through

12/31/2014
           Six months
Ended

06/29/2014
     Year
Ended

12/31/2013
     Year
Ended

12/31/2012
 
              

Current:

                

Federal & State

   $ 102            $ 105       $ 552       $ 206   

Foreign

     800              212         795         344   
  

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current

  902        317      1,347      550   
  

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred:

 

Federal & State

  (7,081     (23,056   (2,857   (5,000

Foreign

  (98     328      (890   (746
  

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred

  (7,179     (22,728   (3,747   (5,746
  

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Valuation allowance

  89        (1,717   (381   28   
  

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax benefit

$ (6,188   $ (24,128 $ (2,781 $ (5,168
  

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company has U.S. federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards for tax purposes, totaling $105,867 as of December 31, 2014, that are available to offset future taxable income. These carry forwards expire from 2022 to 2034. Management estimates that the Company will not be able to utilize some of the loss carryforwards before they expire due to limitations imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 382. A valuation allowance with a year-end balance of $6 has been recorded for these deferred tax assets. In addition, the Company’s foreign subsidiaries have NOL carryforwards aggregating $1,668. A portion of these carryforwards expire from 2031 to 2034. Approximately $1.3 million of the US NOL carryforward has an indefinite life carryforward provided the Company continues to meet certain obligations under Luxembourg’s tax codes. Management has recorded a valuation reserve of $703 against the deferred tax assets recorded for the foreign subsidiary.

The Company has state net operating loss carryforwards with an aggregate tax benefit of $4,089 which expire from 2015 to 2034. Management estimates that the Company will not be able to utilize some of the loss carryforwards in certain states before they expire. A valuation allowance with a year-end balance of $290 has been recorded for these deferred tax assets. In 2014, the valuation allowance for state net operating loss carryforwards increased by $72. The increase was primarily a result of a change in the estimation of the utilization of the net operating losses in the carryforward years. In conjunction with the Paulin Acquisition, the Company recorded a deferred tax asset related to the carryforward of a foreign exchange loss. The total carryforward balance at year-end is $194. Management estimates that the Company will not be able to realize the benefit of this deferred tax asset and has recorded a valuation reserve of $74.

The Company fully utilized its federal capital loss carryforward as of December 31, 2013. Management had previously recorded a valuation allowance for this capital loss carryforward to fully offset the deferred tax asset at 2012. In 2013, the valuation allowance for the capital loss carryforward was decreased by $374 due to utilization in the current period. The Company has $294 of general business tax credit carryforwards which expire from 2016 to 2033. A valuation allowance of $149 has been established for these tax credits. The Company has $675 of foreign tax credit carryforwards which expire from 2020 to 2024.

Deferred income taxes reflect the net effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.

The table below reflects the significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

     Successor Period
As of December 31, 2014
           Predecessor Period
As of December 31, 2013
 
     Current      Non-current            Current      Non-current  

Deferred Tax Asset:

                

Inventory

   $ 9,905       $ —              $ 8,377       $ —     

Bad debt reserve

     956         —                978         —     

Casualty loss reserve

     363         502              297         410   

Accrued bonus / deferred compensation

     1,013         907              1,805         4,608   

Deferred rent

     —           68              —           546   

Derivative security value

     276         —                (120      —     

Deferred distribution of foreign subsidiary

        312                 —     

Deferred financing fees

     —           5,190              —           283   

Deferred revenue - shipping terms

     421                 285         —     

Medical insurance reserve

     373         —                355         —     

Original issue discount amortization

        513              —           596   

Transaction costs

        1,389              —           3,454   

Federal / foreign net operating loss

        37,552              —           20,595   

State net operating loss

        4,089              —           2,524   

Unrecognized tax benefit

        (58           —           (2,024

Tax credit carryforwards

        3,619              —           2,881   

All other

     31         531              (275      824   
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross deferred tax assets

  13,338      54,614        11,702      34,697   

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets

  (99   (1,124     (606   (2,302
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

$ 13,239    $ 53,490      $ 11,096    $ 32,395   
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred Tax Liability:

 

Intangible asset amortization

$ —      $ 303,124      $ —      $ 135,335   

Property and equipment

  —        24,147        —        17,106   

All other items

  —        —          —        14   
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities

$ —      $ 327,271      $ —      $ 152,455   
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liability

$ 260,542      $ 108,964   
     

 

 

            

 

 

 

Long term net deferred tax liability

$ 273,781      $ 120,060   

Current net deferred tax asset

  13,239        11,096   

Long term net deferred tax asset

  —          —     
     

 

 

            

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liability

$ 260,542      $ 108,964   
     

 

 

            

 

 

 

Realization of the net deferred tax assets is dependent on the reversal of deferred tax liabilities and generating sufficient taxable income prior to their expiration. Although realization is not assured, management estimates it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets will be realized. The amount of net deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward periods are reduced.

Hillman is subject to income taxes in the United States and in certain foreign jurisdictions. In general, it is the practice and intention of the Company to reinvest the earnings of certain of its non-U.S. subsidiaries in those operations. Based on direction from the new management team, the Company’s position with respect to permanent reinvestment of earnings in its foreign subsidiaries was revised in the fourth quarter of 2014. As a result of this management decision, only one of the foreign subsidiaries had accumulated E&P that warranted establishment of a DTA. Due to the availability of a foreign tax credit which can offset the US tax on future distributions from this subsidiary, an overall deferred tax asset of $312 was established in 2014.

As of December 31, 2014, the Company does not have any excess amount for financial reporting over the tax basis in these certain foreign subsidiaries. In 2014 the Company recorded a deferred tax asset of $312 based on undistributed earnings in one of its foreign subsidiaries that is not being indefinitely reinvested.

Below is a reconciliation of statutory income tax rates to the effective income tax rates for the periods indicated:

 

     Successor          Predecessor  
    

Period from
06/30/2014

through

        

Six months

Ended

    Year
Ended
    Year
Ended
 
     12/31/2014           06/29/2014     12/31/2013     12/31/2012  

Statutory federal income tax rate

     35.0          35.0     35.0     35.0

Non-U.S. taxes and the impact of non-U.S. losses for which a current tax benefit is not available

     -11.0          1.5     -19.6     -6.1

State and local income taxes, net of U.S. federal income tax benefit

     2.5          3.0     -0.1     1.9

Adjustment of reserve for change in valuation allowance and other items

     0.5          -0.3     15.0     1.2

Adjustment for change in tax law

     3.1          0.5     8.9     -0.4

Adjustment of unrecognized tax benefits

     0.0          0.0     36.6     11.6

Permanent differences:

             

Acquisition and related transaction costs

     -8.2          -4.0     -4.0     -0.9

Meals and entertainment expense

     -0.2          -0.1     -3.5     -1.1

Foreign tax credit

     2.4          0.0     1.3     0.0

Reconciliation of tax provision to return

     0.0          0.0     2.0     0.5

Reconciliation of other adjustments

     0.5          -0.5     -0.8     0.0
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effective income tax rate

  24.6     35.1   70.8   41.7
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

On September 13, 2013, the US Treasury and IRS issued final Tangible Property Regulations (“TPR”) under IRC Section 162 and IRC Section 263(a). These regulations address the acquisition, production and improvement of tangible property, and also the disposition of property. The regulations were effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014; however, certain portions may require an accounting method change on a retroactive basis, thus requiring an IRC Section 481(a) adjustment related to fixed assets. The accounting rules under ASC 740 treat the release of the regulations as a change in tax law as of the date of issuance and require the Company to determine whether there will be an impact on its financial statements. Any such impact of the final tangible property regulations would affect deferred taxes only and result in a balance sheet reclassification between current and deferred taxes. The Company is currently analyzing the expected impacts of the TPR but does not believe that they will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company will continue to monitor the impact of any future changes to the TPR on the Company prospectively.

The Company has recorded a $1,558 decrease in the reserve for unrecognized tax benefits in the six month Predecessor period ended June 29, 2014 due to the resolution of a recent IRS examination in 2014. The Company has decreased its reserve for unrecognized tax benefits in the six month Successor period June 30, 2014 through December 31, 2014 and the six month Predecessor period ended June 29, 2014 by $30 and $1, respectively, related to items previously recognized by the acquired company in its financial statements. A balance of $58 of the remaining unrecognized tax benefit is shown in the financial statements at December 31, 2014 as a reduction of the deferred tax asset for the Company’s net operating loss carryforwards while $377 of the ending reserve is included in the balance of other long term liabilities. The following is a summary of the changes for the periods indicated below:

 

     Successor           Predecessor  
     Period from
06/30/2014
through
12/31/2014
           Six months
Ended
06/29/2014
     Year
Ended
12/31/2013
     Year
Ended
12/31/2012
 

Unrecognized tax benefits - beginning balance

   $ 465            $ 2,024       $ 3,002       $ 4,440   
 

Gross increases - tax positions in current period

     —                —           —           —     

Gross increases - tax positions in prior period

             —           560         —     

Gross decreases - tax positions in prior period

     (30           (1,559      (1,538      (1,438
  

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unrecognized tax benefits - ending balance

$ 435      $ 465    $ 2,024    $ 3,002   
  

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amount of unrecognized tax benefit that, if recognized would affect the company’s effective tax rate

$ 435      $ 465    $ 2,024    $ 3,002   
  

 

 

         

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The Company recognizes potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. In conjunction with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”), an interpretation of FASB No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”, which was codified in ASC 740-10, the Company has not recognized any adjustment of interest or penalties in its consolidated financial statements due to its net operating loss position. The Company does not anticipate a decrease in the unrecognized tax benefits for the tax year ending December 31, 2015.

The Company files a consolidated income tax return in the U.S. and numerous consolidated and separate income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2014, with a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, and foreign tax examinations by tax authorities for the tax years prior to 2011. However, the IRS can make adjustments to losses carried forward by the Company from 2006 forward and utilized on its federal return.