Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

The Company and Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v3.10.0.1
The Company and Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
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 470 domestic and 222 international retail stores and an e-commerce business as of December 31, 2018.

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. Certain reclassifications have been made to consolidated financial statements of prior years to conform to the current year presentation.

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

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (“ASU 2014-09”) 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 was January 1, 2018, and two methods of adoption were 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 January 1, 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 adopted the new revenue standard effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method.  The adoption of these standards did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company recognizes revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to its customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.  The Company derives income from the sale of footwear and royalties earned from licensing the Skechers brand. For North America, goods are shipped Free on Board (“FOB”) shipping point directly from the Company’s domestic distribution center in Rancho Belago, California. For international wholesale customers product is shipped FOB shipping point, (i) direct from the Company’s distribution center in Liege, Belgium, (ii) to third-party distribution centers in Central America, South America and Asia, (iii) directly from third-party manufacturers to our other international customers.  For our distributor sales, the goods are generally delivered directly from the independent factories to third-party distribution centers or to our distributors’ freight forwarders on a Free Named Carrier (“FCA”) basis. The Company recognizes revenue on wholesale sales upon shipment as that is when the customer obtains control of the promised goods. Related costs paid to third-party shipping companies are recorded as cost of sales and are accounted for as a fulfillment cost and not as a separate performance obligation.  The Company generates retail revenues primarily from the sale of footwear to customers at retail locations or through the Company’s websites. For our in-store sales, the Company recognizes revenue at the point of sale. For sales made through the Company’s websites, the Company recognizes revenue upon shipment to the customer which is when the customer obtains control of the promised good.  Sales and value added taxes collected from e-commerce or retail customers are excluded from reported revenues.  

The Company records accounts receivable at the time of shipment when the Company’s right to the consideration becomes unconditional. The Company typically extends credit terms to our wholesale customers based on their creditworthiness and generally does not receive advance payments. 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.  Retail and e-commerce sales represent amounts due from credit card companies and are generally collected within a few days of the purchase. As such, the Company has determined that no allowance for doubtful accounts for retail and e-commerce sales is necessary.

The Company earns royalty income from its licensing arrangements which qualify as symbolic licenses rather than functional licenses. 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 is earned (i.e., as licensed sales are reported to the Company or on a straight-line basis over the term of the agreement).  The Company applies the sales-based royalty exception for the royalty income based on sales and recognizes revenue only when subsequent sales occur. The Company calculates and accrues estimated royalties based on the agreement terms and correspondence with the licensees regarding actual sales.

Judgments

The Company considered several factors in determining that control transfers to the customer upon shipment of products. These factors include that legal title transfers to the customer, the Company has a present right to payment, and the customer has assumed the risks and rewards of ownership at the time of shipment.   The Company accrues a liability for product returns at the time of sale based on our historical experience. The Company also accrues amounts for goods expected to be returned in salable condition.  During the first quarter of 2018, the Company reclassified $30.7 million of its sales return and allowance from accounts receivable to accrued expenses, which increased both assets and liabilities by $30.7 million.  As of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company’s sales returns liability totaled $67.3 million and $43.4 million, respectively, and was included in accrued expenses and accounts receivable in the consolidated balance sheets, respectively.

Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company's historic revenue recognition methodology under ASC 605, Revenue Recognition.

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 19 – 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 2018 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 accounting standard for fair value measurements provides a framework for measuring fair value and requires expanded disclosures regarding fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for an asset or the exit price that would be paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. This accounting standard established a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, where available. The following summarizes the three levels of inputs required:

 

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The Company’s Level 1 non-derivative investments primarily include money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities.

 

Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. The Company’s Level 2 non-derivative investments primarily include corporate notes and bonds, asset-backed securities, U.S. Agency securities, and actively traded mutual funds.  The Company has one Level 2 derivative which is an interest rate swap related to the refinancing of its domestic distribution center (see below).

 

Level 3 – Inputs that are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimate of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The Company currently does not have any Level 3 assets or liabilities.

The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments, which principally include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, long-term investments, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates fair value because of the relatively short maturity of such instruments. The carrying amount of the Company’s short-term and long-term borrowings, which are considered Level 2 liabilities, 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 7, 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, 2018, 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.

Investments

 

(h)

Investments

In general, investments with original maturities of greater than three months and remaining maturities of less than one year are classified as short-term investments.  Investments consist of U.S. Treasury Bonds, U.S. Agency securities, corporate notes and bonds, asset-backed securities and actively traded mutual funds.

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

 

(i)

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. Allowance for returns, sales allowances and customer chargebacks are recorded against revenue. Allowances for bad debts are recorded to general and administrative expenses. Retail and e-commerce receivables represent amounts due from credit card companies and are generally collected within a few days of the purchase. As such, the Company has determined that no allowance for doubtful accounts is necessary.

Inventories

 

(j)

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

 

(k)

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 reviews all stores for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances require it. 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, 2018, 2017 or 2016.

Income Taxes

 

(l)

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

 

(m)

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

 

(n)

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

 

(o)

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, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $278.4 million, $260.4 million and $213.1 million, respectively. Prepaid advertising costs were $4.4 million and $8.6 million at December 31, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Prepaid amounts outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017 represent the unamortized portion of endorsement contracts, advertising in trade publications and media productions created, but not run, as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Product Design and Development Costs

 

(p)

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 $18.5 million, $18.8 million, and $13.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Warehouse and Distribution Costs

 

(q)

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 $249.6 million, $219.6 million and $187.3 million for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

(r)

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842),” (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 is intended to increase transparency and comparability among organizations relating to leases. Lessees will be required to recognize a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The FASB retained a dual model for lease classification, requiring leases to be classified as finance or operating leases to determine recognition in the earnings statement and cash flows; however, substantially all leases will be required to be recognized on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 will also require quantitative and qualitative disclosures regarding key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 is effective using a modified retrospective approach for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted.  As originally issued, ASU 2016-02 requires application at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented at the time of adoption. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-10, “Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases,” (“ASU 2018-10”). This ASU makes various targeted amendments to the leasing standard. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements,” (“ASU No. 2018-11”).  This standard allows entities to initially apply the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The standard also provides for certain practical expedients.  We adopted this ASU on January 1, 2019, using the optional transition method and also elected to use the 'package of practical expedients', which allows us not to continue to reassess our previous conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. The Company is still assessing the impact of the new standard on its consolidated financial statements and its internal controls process and finalizing the present value calculation for its right-of-use asset.  The Company anticipates a material 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 retail stores, real estate leases for corporate headquarters, administrative offices, showrooms, and distribution facilities, as well as the significant new quantitative and qualitative disclosure requirements on all of the Company’s lease obligations. The Company expects the right of use asset will be the present value of the remaining lease payments as noted in Note 9 – Commitments and Contingencies.  The earnings statement recognition of lease expense is expected to be similar to the Company’s current methodology.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, “Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income,” (“ASU 2018-02”). The standard permits a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. ASU 2018-02 is effective for the Company’s annual and interim reporting periods beginning December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2018-02; 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.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13 “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement,” (“ASU No. 2018-13”), which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements, including the consideration of costs and benefits. ASU 2018-13 is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, but entities are permitted to early adopt either the entire standard or only the provisions that eliminate or modify the requirements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2018-13; 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.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15 “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract,” (“ASU 2018-15”).  ASU 2018-15 requires that issuers follow the internal-use software guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 350-40 to determine which costs to capitalize as assets or expense as incurred. The ASC 350-40 guidance requires that certain costs incurred during the application development stage be capitalized and other costs incurred during the preliminary project and post-implementation stages be expensed as they are incurred. ASU 2018-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2018-15; 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.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instrument,” (“ASU 2016-13”). The new standard amends the impairment model to utilize an expected loss methodology in place of the currently used incurred loss methodology, which may result in earlier recognition of losses. Public business entities should apply the guidance in ASU 2016-13 for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption will be permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. 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.