SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements furnished reflect all normal and recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The results of operations of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year. The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. Certain prior year amounts in the notes to the consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. Management Estimates The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses reported in those financial statements. Descriptions of the Company’s significant accounting policies are discussed in the notes to consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. Management evaluates the related estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, and makes adjustments when facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from those estimates and assumptions. Significant changes, if any, in those estimates and assumptions resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements in future periods. Currency Translation and Transactions All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries and affiliates are translated at period-end rates of exchange, while revenue and expenses are translated at monthly average rates of exchange for the period. Unrealized translation losses, net of tax, reported as translation adjustments through other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”) attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. were $143 million and $352 million, during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. For the Company’s subsidiaries operating in highly inflationary economies, the U.S. dollar is the functional currency. Remeasurement adjustments in financial statements in a highly inflationary economy and other transactional gains and losses are reflected in earnings. These subsidiaries are not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements or liquidity. The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts and may enter into option contracts to hedge foreign currency transactions for periods consistent with its identified exposures. The Company also uses cross-currency swap contracts to hedge the impact of foreign currency changes on certain intercompany foreign currency denominated debt. Additionally, the Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge a portion of its net investment in certain foreign operations, which are designated as net investment hedges. See Note 4 – Derivative Financial Instruments for further discussion . The Company categorizes these instruments as entered into for purposes other than trading. The accompanying consolidated statements of earnings include net exchange gains on foreign currency transactions of $16 million and $14 million during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Concentration of Credit Risk The Company is a worldwide manufacturer, marketer and seller of skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The Company’s sales subject to credit risk are made primarily to retailers in its travel retail business, department stores, specialty multi-brand retailers and perfumeries. The Company grants credit to qualified customers. While the Company does not believe it is exposed significantly to any undue concentration of credit risk at this time, it continues to monitor its customers' abilities, individually and collectively, to make timely payments. The Company’s largest customer during the first quarter of fiscal 2024 sells products primarily within the United States and accounted for $194 million, or 10%, and $93 million, or 6%, of the Company's accounts receivable at September 30, 2023 and June 30, 2023, respectively. Inventory and Promotional Merchandise Inventory and promotional merchandise consists of the following: (In millions) September 30, 2023 June 30, 2023 Raw materials $ 863 $ 876 Work in process 325 362 Finished goods 1,334 1,404 Promotional merchandise 341 337 $ 2,863 $ 2,979 Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment consists of the following: (In millions) September 30, 2023 June 30, 2023 Assets (Useful Life) Land and improvements (1) $ 68 $ 70 Buildings and improvements (10 to 40 years) 852 843 Machinery and equipment (3 to 10 years) 1,083 1,071 Computer hardware and software (4 to 10 years) 1,767 1,651 Furniture and fixtures (5 to 10 years) 137 136 Leasehold improvements 2,336 2,310 Construction in progress 691 827 6,934 6,908 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (3,831) (3,729) $ 3,103 $ 3,179 (1) Land improvements are depreciated over a 10 year useful life. Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment was $162 million and $136 million during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Depreciation and amortization related to the Company’s manufacturing process is included in Cost of sales, and all other depreciation and amortization is included in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings. Income Taxes The effective rate for income taxes was 21.7% and 22.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate of 90 basis points was primarily attributable to a decrease in income tax reserve adjustments and an increase in the impact of excess tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation arrangements, offset by a higher effective tax rate on the Company's foreign operations, due to the Company's geographical mix of earnings for fiscal 2024. The lower amount of earnings before income taxes increased the impact of these tax adjustments in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. On August 16, 2022, the U.S. federal government enacted the Inflation Reduction Act, including a tax provision implementing a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax based on global adjusted financial statement income. The corporate alternative minimum tax became effective beginning with the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2024 and did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the three months ended September 30, 2023. As of September 30, 2023 and June 30, 2023, the gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits, exclusive of interest and penalties, totaled $61 million and $63 million, respectively. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2023 that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate was $51 million. There was no gross interest or penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits during the three months ended September 30, 2023 in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings. The total gross accrued interest and penalties in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at each of September 30, 2023 and June 30, 2023, was $15 million. On the basis of the information available as of September 30, 2023, the Company does not expect significant changes to the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months. Subsequent to September 30, 2023, the Company formally concluded the compliance process with respect to its fiscal 2022 income tax return under the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Compliance Assurance Program (“CAP”), which had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the three months ended September 30, 2023. Supplier Finance Programs Under its supplier finance programs, the Company agrees to pay the banks the stated amount of confirmed invoices from its designated suppliers on the due dates of the invoices. The Company may terminate the agreements upon written notice (with notice periods ranging from 30 to 60 days) or immediately upon a breach. The supplier invoices that have been confirmed as valid under the programs require payment in full within 90 days of the invoice date. Outstanding obligations confirmed as valid totaling $40 million and $52 million as of September 30, 2023 and June 30, 2023, respectively, are included in accounts payable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Other Accrued and Noncurrent Liabilities Other accrued liabilities consist of the following: (In millions) September 30, 2023 June 30, 2023 Employee compensation $ 472 $ 546 Accrued sales incentives 371 321 Deferred revenue 336 323 Payroll and other non-income taxes 307 297 Sales return accrual 313 289 Other 1,501 1,440 $ 3,300 $ 3,216 At September 30, 2023 and June 30, 2023, total Other noncurrent liabilities of $1,793 million and $1,943 million included $598 million and $620 million of deferred tax liabilities, respectively. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards FASB ASU No. 2022-04 – Liabilities—Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations In September 2022, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which is intended to enhance the transparency surrounding the use of supplier finance programs. The guidance requires companies that use supplier finance programs to make annual disclosures about the program’s key terms, the balance sheet presentation of related amounts, the confirmed amount outstanding at the end of the period and associated rollforward information. Only the amount outstanding at the end of the period must be disclosed in interim periods. The guidance does not affect the recognition, measurement or financial statement presentation of supplier finance program obligations. Effective for the Company – The guidance became effective for the Company’s first quarter fiscal 2024 and has been applied on a retrospective basis, except for the requirement to disclose rollforward information annually which is effective prospectively for the Company beginning in fiscal 2025. Impact on consolidated financial statements – The Company has supplier financing arrangements and applied the disclosure requirements as required by the amendments. Such information is included in Supplier Finance Programs above within Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. Reference Rate Reform (ASC Topic 848 “ ASC 848 ” ) In March 2020, t he FAS B issued authoritative guidance to provide optional relief for companies preparing for the discontinuation of interest rates such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and applies to lease and other contracts, hedging instruments, held-to-maturity debt securities and debt arrangements that reference LIBOR or another rate that is expected to be discontinued as a result of reference rate reform. In January 2021, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that makes amendments to the new rules on accounting for reference rate reform. The amendments clar ify that for all derivative instruments affected by the changes to interest rates used for discounting, margining or contract price alignment, regardless of whether they reference LIBOR or another rate expected to be discontinued as a result of reference rate reform, an entity may apply certain practical expedients in ASC 848. In December 2022, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to defer the sunset date of ASC 848 from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024. Effective for the Company – This guidance can only be applied for a limited time through December 31, 2024. Impact on consolidated financial statements – The Company completed its comprehensive evaluation of applying this guidance and adopted certain practical expedients for its interest rate swap agreements in the fiscal 2024 first quarter which did not have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements. The practical expedients that were adopted permit its hedging relationships to continue without de-designation upon changes due to reference rate reform. Foreign currency forward contracts do not reference LIBOR and no practical expedients were elected but are now discounted using the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"). For existing lease, debt arrangements and other contracts, the Company did not adopt any ASC 848 practical expedients as it relates to these arrangements. Recently Issued Accounting Standards No recently issued accounting pronouncements are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. |