Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

The Company and Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

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The Company and Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
The Company and Basis of Presentation

 

(a)

The Company and Basis of Presentation

Skechers U.S.A., Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) designs, develops, markets and distributes footwear. The Company operates 413 domestic and 157 international retail stores and an e-commerce business as of December 31, 2016.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

On August 21, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a three-for-one stock split, effected in the form of a stock dividend, of both the Company’s Class A and Class B common stock. The stock split was made on October 16, 2015 to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 2, 2015. All share numbers and per-share amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements reflect the three-for-one stock split.

Use of Estimates

 

(b)

Use of Estimates

The Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Significant areas requiring the use of estimates relate primarily to revenue recognition, allowance for bad debts, returns, sales allowances and customer chargebacks, inventory write-downs, valuation of intangibles and long-lived assets, litigation reserves and valuation of deferred income taxes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

 

(c)

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue on wholesale sales when products are shipped and the customer takes title and assumes risk of loss, collection of the relevant receivable is reasonably assured, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists and the sales price is fixed or determinable. This generally occurs at time of shipment. Related costs paid to third-party shipping companies are recorded as a cost of sales. Generally, wholesale customers do not have the right to return goods, however, the Company periodically decides to accept returns or provide customers with credits. Allowances for estimated returns, discounts, doubtful accounts and chargebacks are provided for when related revenue is recorded. The Company recognizes revenue from retail sales at the point of sale. Sales and value added taxes collected from retail customers are excluded from reported revenues.

Royalty income is earned from licensing arrangements. Upon signing a new licensing agreement, the Company receives up-front fees, which are generally characterized as prepaid royalties. These fees are initially deferred and recognized as revenue as earned. The first calculated royalty payment is based on actual sales of the licensed product or, in some cases, minimum royalty payments. Typically, at each quarter-end, the Company receives correspondence from licensees indicating actual sales for the period, which is used to calculate and accrue the related royalties currently receivable based on the terms of the agreement.

Business Segment Information

 

(d)

Business Segment Information

The Company’s operations and segments are organized along its distribution channels and consist of the following: domestic wholesale, international wholesale, and retail, which includes e-commerce sales. Information regarding these segments is summarized in Note 17 – Segment and Geographic Reporting.

Noncontrolling Interests

 

(e)

Noncontrolling Interests

The Company has equity interests in several joint ventures that were established either to exclusively distribute the Company’s products throughout Asia and the Middle East or to construct the Company’s domestic distribution facility. These joint ventures are variable interest entities (“VIE”)’s under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810-10-15-14. The Company’s determination of the primary beneficiary of a VIE considers all relationships between the Company and the VIE, including management agreements, governance documents and other contractual arrangements. The Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary for these VIE’s because the Company has both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance; and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity, or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity. Accordingly, the Company includes the assets and liabilities and results of operations of these entities in its consolidated financial statements, even though the Company may not hold a majority equity interest. There have been no changes during 2016 in the accounting treatment or characterization of any previously identified VIE. The Company continues to reassess these relationships quarterly. The assets of these joint ventures are restricted in that they are not available for general business use outside the context of such joint ventures. The holders of the liabilities of each joint venture have no recourse to the Company. The Company does not have a variable interest in any unconsolidated VIEs.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

(f)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments, which principally include cash and cash equivalents, investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, approximate fair value due to the relatively short maturity of such instruments.

The carrying amount of the Company’s long-term borrowings are considered Level 2 liabilities, which approximates fair value, based upon current rates and terms available to the Company for similar debt.

As of August 12, 2015, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement concurrent with refinancing its domestic distribution center construction loan (see Note 6, Derivative Instruments). The fair value of the interest rate swap was determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash payments and the discounted expected variable cash receipts. The variable cash receipt was based on an expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observable market interest rate curves. To comply with U.S. GAAP, credit valuation adjustments were incorporated to appropriately reflect both the Company’s nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements. The majority of the inputs used to value the interest rate swap were within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. As of December 31, 2016, the interest rate swap was a Level 2 derivative and was classified as other long-term liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

(g)

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include deposits with initial terms of less than three months. For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Allowance for Bad Debts, Returns, Sales Allowances and Customer Chargebacks

 

(h)

Allowance for Bad Debts, Returns, Sales Allowances and Customer Chargebacks

The Company provides a reserve, charged against revenue and its receivables, for estimated losses that may result from its customers’ inability to pay. To minimize the likelihood of uncollectability, customers’ credit-worthiness is reviewed and adjusted periodically in accordance with external credit reporting services, financial statements issued by the customer and the Company’s experience with the account. When a customer’s account becomes significantly past due, the Company generally places a hold on the account and discontinues further shipments to that customer, minimizing further risk of loss. The Company determines the amount of the reserve by analyzing known uncollectible accounts, aged receivables, economic conditions in the customers’ countries or industries, historical losses and its customers’ credit-worthiness. Amounts later determined and specifically identified to be uncollectible are charged against this reserve.

The Company also reserves for potential disputed amounts or chargebacks from its customers. The Company’s chargeback reserve is based on a collectability percentage calculated using factors such as historical trends, current economic conditions, and nature of the chargeback receivables. The Company also reserves for potential sales returns and allowances based on historical trends.

The likelihood of a material loss on an uncollectible account would be mainly dependent on deterioration in the overall economic conditions in a particular country or environment. Reserves are fully provided for all probable losses of this nature. For receivables that are not specifically identified as high-risk, the Company provides a reserve based upon its historical loss rate as a percentage of sales.

Inventories

 

(i)

Inventories

Inventories, principally finished goods, are stated at the lower of cost (based on the first-in, first-out method) or market (net realizable value). Cost includes shipping and handling fees and costs, which are subsequently expensed to cost of sales. The Company provides for estimated losses from obsolete or slow-moving inventories, and writes down the cost of inventory at the time such determinations are made. Reserves are estimated based on inventory on hand, historical sales activity, industry trends, the retail environment, and the expected net realizable value. The net realizable value is determined using estimated sales prices of similar inventory through off-price or discount store channels.

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

(j)

Property, Plant and Equipment

Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment is computed using the straight-line method, which based on the following estimated useful lives:

 

Buildings

 

20 years

Building improvements

 

10 years

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

 

5 to 20 years

Leasehold improvements

 

Useful life or remaining lease term,

   whichever is shorter

 

Property, plant and equipment subject to depreciation and amortization is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. The Company reviews both quantitative and qualitative factors to assess whether a triggering event occurred. The Company prepares a summary of store cash flows from its retail stores to assess potential impairment of the fixed assets and leasehold improvements. Stores with negative cash flows which have been open in excess of 24 months are then reviewed in detail to determine whether impairment exists. Recoverability of assets or asset group to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If the carrying amount of an asset or asset group exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset or asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset or asset group. The Company did not record impairment charges during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 or 2014.

Income Taxes

 

(k)

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740-10, which requires that the Company recognize deferred tax liabilities for taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets for deductible temporary differences and operating loss carry-forwards using enacted tax rates in effect in the years the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred income tax benefit or expense is recognized as a result of changes in net deferred tax assets or deferred tax liabilities. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some or all of any deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Foreign Currency Translation

 

(l)

Foreign Currency Translation

In accordance with ASC 830-30, certain international operations use the respective local currencies as their functional currency, while other international operations use the U.S. Dollar as their functional currency. The Company considers the U.S. dollar as its reporting currency. The Company operates internationally through several foreign subsidiaries. Skechers S.a.r.l. located in Switzerland, operates with a functional currency of the U.S. dollar. Translation adjustments for subsidiaries where the functional currency is its local currency are included in other comprehensive income. Foreign currency transaction gains (losses) resulting from exchange rate fluctuation on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are reported in earnings. Assets and liabilities of the foreign operations denominated in local currencies are translated at the rate of exchange at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the weighted average rate of exchange during the period. Translations of intercompany loans of a long-term investment nature are included as a component of translation adjustment in other comprehensive income.

Comprehensive Income

 

(m)

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Comprehensive income consists of net earnings, foreign currency translation adjustments, and income attributable to non-controlling interests.

Advertising Costs

 

(n)

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed in the period in which the advertisements are first run, or over the life of the endorsement contract. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was approximately $213.1 million, $188.1 million and $141.7 million, respectively. Prepaid advertising costs were $9.8 million and $11.2 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Prepaid amounts outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015 represent the unamortized portion of endorsement contracts, advertising in trade publications and media productions created, but not run, as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Product Design and Development Costs

 

(o)

Product Design and Development Costs

The Company charges all product design and development costs to general and administrative expenses, when incurred. Product design and development costs aggregated approximately $13.6 million, $11.2 million, and $10.3 million during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Warehouse and Distribution Costs

 

(p)

Warehouse and Distribution Costs

The Company’s distribution network-related costs are included in general and administrative expenses and are not allocated to specific segments. The expenses related to its distribution network, including the functions of purchasing, receiving, inspecting, allocating, warehousing and packaging of its products totaled $187.3 million, $167.3 million and $134.8 million for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

(q)

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. ASU No. 2016-16, “Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory.” The standard requires that the income tax impact of intra-entity sales and transfers of property, except for inventory, be recognized when the transfer occurs. The standard will become effective for the Company’s annual and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2018 and will require any deferred taxes not yet recognized on intra-entity transfers to be recorded to retained earnings under a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-16; however at the current time the Company does not know what impact the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements, financial condition or results of operations.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments,” (“ASU 2016-15”) which eliminates the diversity in practice related to the classification of certain cash receipts and payments. ASU 2016-15 designates the appropriate cash flow classification, including requirements to allocate certain components of these cash receipts and payments among operating, investing and financing activities. The retrospective transition method, requiring adjustment to all comparative periods presented, is required unless it is impracticable for some of the amendments, in which case those amendments would be prospectively adopted as of the earliest date practicable. ASU 2016-15 is effective for the Company’s annual and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-15; however at the current time the Company does not know what impact the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements, financial condition or results of operations.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” (“ASU 2016-13”) which requires measurement and recognition of expected versus incurred credit losses for financial assets held. ASU 2016-13 is effective for the Company’s annual and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted on January 1, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-13; however at the current time the Company does not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, financial condition or results of operations.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2016-09”). The updated guidance changes how companies account for certain aspects of share-based payment awards to employees, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. Management anticipates increased income statement volatility due to the recognition of all excess tax benefits and deficiencies within the consolidated statements of earnings. Income statement volatility will be driven by the number of shares vesting in any given period, and the change in share price between grant date and vesting. Directionally, increasing share prices from grant date to vesting date will result in lower income tax expense and higher net income. The update to the standard is effective for the Company’s annual and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-09; however at the current time the Company does not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, financial condition or results of operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”). The new standard requires lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet, which will increase lessees’ reported assets and liabilities. ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company’s annual and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2019. ASU 2016-02 mandates a modified retrospective transition method. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the new standard on its consolidated financial statements, but anticipates an increase in assets and liabilities due to the recognition of the required right-of-use asset and corresponding liability for all lease obligations that are currently classified as operating leases, such as real estate leases for corporate headquarters, administrative offices, retail stores, showrooms, and distribution facilities, as well as additional disclosure on all our lease obligations. The income statement recognition of lease expense is not expected to change from the current methodology.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” “ASU 2016-01”). The updated guidance enhances the reporting model for financial instruments, which includes amendments to address aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure. The update to the standard should be applied prospectively and is effective for the Company’s annual and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-01; however at the current time the Company does not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, financial condition or results of operations.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory” (“ASU 2015-11”). ASU 2015-11 requires that inventory within the scope of this standard be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The amendments in this update do not apply to inventory that is measured using last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method. The amendments apply to all other inventory, which includes inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost. ASU 2015-11 will be effective for the Company’s annual and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU; however the Company does not expect that the adoption of ASU 2015-11 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, financial condition or results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which amended the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and created a new Topic ASC 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606”). This amendment prescribes 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 to in exchange for those goods or services. The amendment supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition,” and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. For the Company’s annual and interim reporting periods the mandatory adoption date of ASC 606 is January 1, 2018, and there will be two methods of adoption allowed, either a full retrospective adoption or a modified retrospective adoption. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to the first quarter of 2018. In March 2016, April 2016, May 2016, and December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12, and ASU 2016-20, respectively, as clarifications to ASU 2014-09. ASU 2016-08 clarifies how to identify the unit of accounting for the principal versus agent evaluation, how to apply the control principle to certain types of arrangements, such as service transactions, and reframed the indicators in the guidance to focus on evidence that an entity is acting as a principal rather than as an agent. ASU 2016-10 clarifies the existing guidance on identifying performance obligations and licensing implementation. ASU 2016-12 adds practical expedients related to the transition for contract modifications and further defines a completed contract, clarifies the objective of the collectability assessment and how revenue is recognized if collectability is not probable, and when non-cash considerations should be measured. ASU 2016-20 corrects or improves guidance in thirteen narrow focus aspects of the guidance. The effective dates for these ASUs are the same as the effective date for ASU No. 2014-09, for the Company’s annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2018. These ASU’s also require enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows.  The Company will adopt the new revenue standards in its first quarter of 2018. The Company has not selected a transition method. The Company is still completing the assessment of the impact of these ASUs on its consolidated financial statements; however at the current time the Company does not expect that the adoption of these ASUs will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, financial condition or results of operations.