HollyFrontier 2013 Annual Report Download - page 72

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Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from
those estimates.
Cash Equivalents: We consider all highly liquid instruments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be
cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value and are primarily invested in highly-rated
instruments issued by government or municipal entities with strong credit standings.
Marketable Securities: We consider all marketable debt securities with maturities greater than three months at the date of purchase
to be marketable securities. Our marketable securities consist of certificates of deposit, commercial paper, corporate debt securities
and government and municipal debt securities with the maximum maturity or put date of any individual issue generally not more
than two years, while the maximum duration of the portfolio of investments is not greater than one year. These instruments are
classified as available-for-sale, and as a result, are reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses, net of related income taxes,
are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.
Balance Sheet Offsetting: We purchase and sell inventories of crude oil with certain same-parties that are net settled in accordance
with contractual net settlement provisions. Our policy is to present such balances on a net basis because it more appropriately
presents our economic resources (accounts receivable) and claims against us (accounts payable) and the future cash flows associated
with such assets and liabilities.
Accounts Receivable: Our accounts receivable consist of amounts due from customers that are primarily companies in the petroleum
industry. Credit is extended based on our evaluation of the customer's financial condition, and in certain circumstances collateral,
such as letters of credit or guarantees, is required. We reserve for doubtful accounts based on our historical loss experience as well
as specific accounts identified as high risk, which historically have been minimal. Credit losses are charged to the allowance for
doubtful accounts when an account is deemed uncollectible. Our allowance for doubtful accounts was $2.4 million and $2.5 million
at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Accounts receivable attributable to crude oil resales generally represent the sell side of excess crude oil sales to other purchasers
and / or users in cases when our crude oil supplies are in excess of our immediate needs as well as certain reciprocal buy / sell
exchanges of crude oil. At times we enter into such buy / sell exchanges to facilitate the delivery of quantities to certain locations.
In many cases, we enter into net settlement agreements relating to the buy/sell arrangements, which may mitigate credit risk.
Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method for crude oil unfinished and
finished refined products and the average cost method for materials and supplies, or market. Cost, consisting of raw material,
transportation and conversion costs, is determined using the LIFO inventory valuation methodology and market is determined
using current estimated selling prices. Under the LIFO method, the most recently incurred costs are charged to cost of sales and
inventories are valued at the earliest acquisition costs. In periods of rapidly declining prices, LIFO inventories may have to be
written down to market value due to the higher costs assigned to LIFO layers in prior periods. In addition, the use of the LIFO
inventory method may result in increases or decreases to cost of sales in years that inventory volumes decline as the result of
charging cost of sales with LIFO inventory costs generated in prior periods. An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO
method is made at the end of each year based on the inventory levels at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO calculations are based
on management's estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory valuation.
Derivative Instruments: All derivative instruments are recognized as either assets or liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets
and are measured at fair value. Changes in the derivative instrument's fair value are recognized in earnings unless specific hedge
accounting criteria are met. See Note 13 for additional information.
Long-lived assets: We calculate depreciation and amortization based on estimated useful lives and salvage values of our assets.
We evaluate long-lived assets for potential impairment by identifying whether indicators of impairment exist and, if so, assessing
whether the long-lived assets are recoverable from estimated future undiscounted cash flows. The actual amount of impairment
loss, if any, to be recorded is equal to the amount by which a long-lived asset's carrying value exceeds its fair value, which is
generally determined under an income approach using the forecasted cash flows associated with the underlying asset. Estimates
of future cash flows require subjective assumptions with regard to future operating results and actual results could differ from
those estimates. No impairments of long-lived assets were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Continued