| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a)
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of B&G Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.
(b)
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires our management to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions made by management involve trade and consumer promotion expenses; allowances for excess, obsolete and unsaleable inventories; pension benefits; acquisition accounting fair value allocations; the recoverability of goodwill, other intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and deferred tax assets; the determination of the useful life of customer relationship and amortizable trademark intangibles; and the fair value of contingent consideration. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions.
Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, including the current economic environment. We adjust such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Volatility in the credit and equity markets can increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions.
(c)
We have evaluated subsequent events for disclosure through the date of issuance of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
(d)
For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, all highly liquid instruments with maturities of three months or less when acquired are considered to be cash and cash equivalents.
(e)
Prepaid and other current assets at January 2, 2016, included a $52.6 million receivable related to a transition services agreement with General Mills, Inc. in connection with our Green Giant acquisition. The transition services agreement terminated as of October 2, 2016. See Note 3, “Acquisitions.”
(f)
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and include direct material, direct labor, overhead, warehousing and product transfer costs. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out and average cost methods. Inventories have been reduced by an allowance for excess, obsolete and unsaleable inventories. The allowance is an estimate based on our management’s review of inventories on hand compared to estimated future usage and sales.
(g)
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation on plant and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, 10 to 30 years for buildings and improvements, 5 to 12 years for machinery and equipment, and 2 to 5 years for office furniture and vehicles. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset. Expenditures for maintenance, repairs and minor replacements are charged to current operations. Expenditures for major replacements and betterments are capitalized. We capitalize interest on qualifying assets based on our effective interest rate. During fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, we capitalized $0.5 million, $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively.
(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(h)
Goodwill and unamortizable intangible assets (trademarks) are tested for impairment at least annually and whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill or unamortizable intangibles might be impaired. We perform the annual impairment tests as of the last day of each fiscal year. The annual goodwill impairment test involves a two-step process. The first step of the impairment test involves comparing our company’s market capitalization with our company’s carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying value of our company exceeds our market capitalization, we perform the second step of the impairment test to determine the amount of the impairment loss. The second step of the goodwill impairment test involves comparing the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying value and recognizing a loss for the difference.
We test our unamortizable intangibles by comparing the fair value with the carrying value and recognize a loss for the difference. We estimate the fair value of our unamortizable intangibles based on discounted cash flows that reflect certain third party market value indicators.
Calculating our fair value for these purposes requires significant estimates and assumptions by management. We completed our annual impairment tests for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014 with no adjustments to the carrying values of goodwill and unamortizable intangibles. Each annual test confirmed that the market capitalization and fair values of our goodwill and unamortizable intangibles, respectively, exceeded their current carrying values.
Customer relationship intangibles and amortizable trademarks are presented at cost, net of accumulated amortization, and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of 10 to 20 years.
Seed technology assets are presented at cost, net of accumulated amortization, and are amortized utilizing a declining balance approach over their estimated useful lives of 5 years.
(i)
Debt financing costs are capitalized and amortized over the term of the related debt agreements and are included as a reduction of long-term debt. Amortization of deferred debt financing costs for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $4.9 million, $3.6 million and $3.6 million, respectively.
(j)
Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment, and intangibles with estimated useful lives are depreciated or amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future net cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Recoverability of assets held for sale is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to their fair value less estimated costs to sell. Estimating future cash flows and calculating the fair value of assets requires significant estimates and assumptions by management.
Assets to be disposed of are separately presented in the consolidated balance sheets and are no longer depreciated.
(k)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss includes foreign currency translation adjustments relating to assets and liabilities located in our foreign subsidiaries and changes in our pension benefits due to the initial adoption and ongoing application of the authoritative accounting literature relating to pensions, net of tax.
(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(l)
Revenues are recognized when products are shipped. We report all amounts billed to a customer in a sale transaction as revenue, including those amounts related to shipping and handling. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of goods sold. Consideration from a vendor to a retailer is presumed to be a reduction to the selling prices of the vendor’s products and, therefore, is characterized as a reduction of sales when recognized in the vendor’s income statement. As a result, coupon incentives, slotting and promotional expenses are recorded as a reduction of sales.
(m)
We promote our products with advertising, consumer incentives and trade promotions. These programs include, but are not limited to, discounts, slotting fees, coupons, rebates, in-store display incentives and volume-based incentives. Consumer incentive and trade promotion activities are recorded as a reduction to revenues based on amounts estimated as being due to customers and consumers at the end of a period. We base these estimates principally on historical utilization and redemption rates. We expense our advertising costs either in the period the advertising first takes place or as incurred. Advertising expenses were approximately $26.0 million, $5.7 million and $5.1 million, for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
(n)
We have defined benefit pension plans covering approximately one third of our employees. Our funding policy is to contribute annually the amount recommended by our actuaries. From time to time, however, we voluntarily contribute greater amounts based on pension asset performance, tax considerations and other relevant factors.
(o)
We provide compensation benefits in the form of stock options, performance share long-term incentive awards (LTIAs) and common stock to employees and non-employee directors. The cost of share based compensation is recorded at fair value at the date of grant and expensed in our consolidated statement of income over the requisite service period, if any.
Performance share LTIAs granted to our executive officers and certain other members of senior management entitle each participant to earn shares of common stock upon the attainment of certain performance goals over the applicable performance period. The recognition of compensation expense for the performance share LTIAs is initially based on the probable outcome of the performance condition based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant and the anticipated number of shares to be awarded on a straight-line basis over the applicable performance period. The fair value of the awards on the date of grant is determined based upon the closing price of our common stock on the applicable measurement dates (i.e., the deemed grant dates for accounting purposes) reduced by the present value of expected dividends using the risk-free interest-rate as the award holders are not entitled to dividends or dividend equivalents during the vesting period. Our company’s performance against the defined performance goals are re-evaluated on a quarterly basis throughout the applicable performance period and the recognition of compensation expense is adjusted for subsequent changes in the estimated or actual outcome. The cumulative effect of a change in the estimated number of shares of common stock to be issued in respect of performance share awards is recognized as an adjustment to earnings in the period of the revision.
The fair value of stock option awards is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and is recognized in expense over the vesting period of the options using the straight-line method. The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires various assumptions, including the expected volatility of our stock, the expected term of the option, the risk-free interest rate and the expected dividend yield. Expected volatility is based on both historical and implied volatilities of our common stock over the estimated expected term of the award. The risk-free rate for the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. All stock option grants have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant, have a 10-year term and cliff vest three years from the date of grant.
(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
We recognize compensation expense for only that portion of share based awards that are expected to vest. We utilize historical employee termination behavior to determine our estimated forfeiture rates. If the actual forfeitures differ from those estimated by management, adjustments to compensation expense will be made in future periods.
(p)
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities of our company are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operations in the period that includes the enactment date.
As part of the income tax provision process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes. This process involves estimating our current tax expenses together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. We then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent we believe the recovery is not likely, we establish a valuation allowance. Further, to the extent that we establish a valuation allowance or increase this allowance in a financial accounting period, we include such charge in our tax provision, or reduce our tax benefits in our consolidated statements of operations. We use our judgment to determine our provision or benefit for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against our deferred tax assets.
There are various factors that may cause these tax assumptions to change in the near term, and we may have to record a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets. We cannot predict whether future U.S. federal and state income tax laws and regulations might be passed that could have a material effect on our results of operations. We assess the impact of significant changes to the U.S. federal and state income tax laws and regulations on a regular basis and update the assumptions and estimates used to prepare our consolidated financial statements when new regulations and legislation are enacted. We recognize the benefit of an uncertain tax position that we have taken or expect to take on our income tax returns we file if it is “more likely than not” that such tax position will be sustained based on its technical merits.
(q)
Cash dividends, if any, are accrued as a liability on our consolidated balance sheets and recorded as a decrease to additional paid-in capital when declared.
(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
(r)
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding plus all additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if potentially dilutive shares of common stock had been issued upon the exercise of stock options or in connection with performance share LTIAs that may be earned as of the beginning of the period using the treasury stock method.
Fiscal
Fiscal
Fiscal
2016
2015
2014
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Net income
$
$
$
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic
Net effect of potentially dilutive share-based compensation awards (1)
Diluted
Earnings per share:
Basic
$
$
$
Diluted
$
$
$
(1)
For fiscal 2016 and 2014, outstanding stock options of 22,692 and 418,158, respectively, were excluded from diluted earnings per share as their effect was antidilutive.
(s)
In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a new accounting standards update (ASU) that requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the debt liability, similar to the presentation of debt discounts. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted the provisions of this ASU at the beginning of fiscal 2016 and applied the required changes in accounting principle on a retrospective basis. Accordingly, in our consolidated balance sheet as of January 2, 2016, $28.1 million of unamortized deferred financing costs were reclassified from other assets to long-term debt. The update impacted presentation and disclosure only, and therefore, the adoption of this ASU did not have any impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
(t)
In January 2017, the FASB issued a new ASU that simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill, including the elimination of the second step from the goodwill impairment test. The update is effective for annual or any interim impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The adoption of this ASU will not have any impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
In fiscal 2016, the FASB issued several new ASUs that provide for improvements to the revenue recognition accounting standard, including principal versus agent considerations, identifying performance obligations, licensing, narrow-scope improvements and practical expedients. The updates are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. In preparation for our adoption of the new standard in our fiscal year ending December 29, 2018, we are obtaining representative samples of contracts and other forms of agreements with our customers in the U.S. and international locations and plan to evaluate the provisions contained therein in light of the five-step model specified by the new guidance. That five-step model includes: (1) determination of whether a contract—an agreement between two or more parties that creates legally enforceable rights and obligations
(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
exists; (2) identification of the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determination of the transaction price; (4) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognition of revenue when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. We are also evaluating the impact of the new standard on certain common practices currently employed by us and by other manufacturers of consumer products, such as slotting fees, co-operative advertising, rebates and other pricing allowances, merchandising funds and consumer coupons. We have not yet determined the impact of the new standard on our financial statements or whether we will adopt on a prospective or retrospective basis in the first quarter of our fiscal year ending December 29, 2018.
In March 2016, the FASB issued a new ASU that changes the accounting for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. The new guidance requires that excess tax benefits (which represent the excess of actual tax benefits received at the date of vesting or settlement over the benefits recognized over the vesting period or upon issuance of share-based payments) and tax deficiencies (which represent the amount by which actual tax benefits received at the date of vesting or settlement is lower than the benefits recognized over the vesting period or upon issuance of share-based payments) be recorded in the income statement as a reduction of income taxes when the awards vest or are settled. The new guidance also requires excess tax benefits to be classified as an operating activity in the statement of cash flows rather than as a financing activity. The ASU is effective for the first quarter of our fiscal year ending December 30, 2017. We expect that the adoption of this new guidance in fiscal 2017 will reduce our reported income taxes and will increase cash flows from operating activities; however, the amounts of that reduction/increase is dependent upon the underlying vesting or exercise activity and related future stock prices.
In February 2016, the FASB issued a new ASU that requires lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for those leases classified as operating leases under current guidance. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the impact of this new standard.
In November 2015, the FASB issued a new ASU that requires deferred tax assets and liabilities to be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. The ASU is effective for the first quarter of our fiscal year ending December 30, 2017. The adoption of this new guidance in fiscal 2017 will retrospectively reclassify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent in our consolidated balance sheet. The adoption of this ASU will not have any impact on our results of operations or liquidity. |
