Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned, and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which the Company is considered the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated . Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which includes excise taxes and shipping and handling charges billed to customers, net of cash discounts for prompt payment, sales returns and incentives, upon delivery of goods to the customer – at which time the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied – at an amount that the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods in accordance with the five-step analysis outlined in Topic 606: (i) identify the contract with the customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) performance obligations are satisfied. The Company excludes from the transaction price, sales taxes and value-added taxes imposed at the time of sale (which do not include excise taxes on smokeless tobacco, cigars or vaping products billed to customers). The Company records an allowance for sales returns, based principally on historical volume and return rates, which is included in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company records sales incentives, which consist of consumer incentives and trade promotion activities, as a reduction in revenues (a portion of which is based on amounts estimated as being due to wholesalers, retailers and consumers at the end of the period) based principally on historical volume and utilization rates. Expected payments for sales incentives are included in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. A further requirement of ASU 2014-09 is for entities to disaggregate revenue recognized from contracts with customers into categories that depict how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. The Company’s management views business performance through segments that closely resemble the performance of major product lines. Thus, the primary and most useful disaggregation of the Company’s contract revenue for decision making purposes is the disaggregation by segment which can be found in Note 18 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. An additional disaggregation of contract revenue by sales channel can be found within Note 18 as well. Shipping Costs The Company records shipping costs incurred as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses. Shipping costs incurred were approximately $ million and $ million for the three months ending March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Effective January 1, 2021, the Company changed its method of accounting for inventory using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method to the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. The Company applied this change retrospectively to all prior periods presented, which is discussed further in Note 6. Leaf tobacco is presented in current assets in accordance with standard industry practice, notwithstanding the fact that such tobaccos are carried longer than one year for the purpose of curing. Fair Value GAAP establishes a framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under GAAP are described below: ● Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date. ● Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means. ● Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Derivative Instruments Foreign Currency Forward Contracts: Interest Rate Swap Agreements: Risks and Uncertainties Manufacturers and sellers of tobacco products are subject to regulation at the federal, state, and local levels. Such regulations include, among others, labeling requirements, limitations on advertising, and prohibition of sales to minors. The tobacco industry is likely to continue to be heavily regulated. There can be no assurance as to the ultimate content, timing, or effect of any regulation of tobacco products by any federal, state, or local legislative or regulatory body, nor can there be any assurance that any such legislation or regulation would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In a number of states targeted flavor bans have been proposed or enacted legislatively or by the administrative process. Depending on the number and location of such bans, that legislation or regulation could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) continues to consider various restrictive regulations around our products, including targeted flavor bans; however, the details, timing, and ultimate implementation of such measures remain unclear. The tobacco industry has experienced, and is experiencing, significant product liability litigation. Most tobacco liability lawsuits have been brought against manufacturers and sellers of cigarettes for injuries allegedly caused by smoking or exposure to smoke. However, several lawsuits have been brought against manufacturers and sellers of smokeless products for injuries to health allegedly caused by use of smokeless products. Typically, such claims assert that use of smokeless products is addictive and causes oral cancer. Additionally, several lawsuits have been brought against manufacturers and distributors of NewGen products due to malfunctioning devices. There can be no assurance the Company will not sustain losses in connection with such lawsuits and that such losses will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Master Settlement Agreement (MSA): Pursuant to the Master Settlement Agreement (the “MSA”) entered into in November 1998 by most states (represented by their attorneys general acting through the National Association of Attorneys General) and subsequent states’ statutes, a “cigarette manufacturer” (which is defined to include a manufacturer of make-your-own (“MYO”) cigarette tobacco) has the option of either becoming a signatory to the MSA or opening, funding, and maintaining an escrow account to have funds available for certain potential tobacco-related liabilities with sub-accounts on behalf of each settling state. Such companies are entitled to direct the investment of the escrowed funds and withdraw any appreciation, but cannot withdraw the principal for from the year of each annual deposit, except to withdraw funds deposited pursuant to an individual state’s escrow statute to pay a final judgement to that state’s plaintiffs in the event of such a final judgement against the Company. The Company chose to open and fund an escrow account as its method of compliance. It is the Company’s policy to record amounts on deposit in the escrow account for prior years as a non-current asset. Each year’s annual obligation is required to be deposited in the escrow account by April 15 of the following year. In addition to the annual deposit, many states have elected to require quarterly deposits for the previous quarter’s sales. As of March the Company had on deposit approximately , the fair value of which was approximately . At December the Company had on deposit approximately , the fair value of which was approximately . Effective in the quarter of the Company no longer sells any product covered under the MSA. Thus, absent a change in legislation, the Company will no longer be required to make deposits to the MSA escrow account. The Company has chosen to invest a portion of the MSA escrow, from time to time, in U.S. Government securities including TIPS, Treasury Notes, and Treasury Bonds. These investments are classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value. Realized losses are prohibited under the MSA; any investment in an unrealized loss position will be held until the value is recovered, or until maturity. The following shows the fair value of the MSA escrow account as of March and December . Fair values for the U.S. Governmental agency obligations are Level 2. The following tables show cost and estimated fair value of the assets held in the MSA account as well as the maturities of the U.S. Governmental agency obligations held in such account for the periods indicated. As of As of December 31, 2020 Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Cost and Estimated Fair Value Cash and cash equivalents $ 17,141 $ - $ - $ 17,141 $ 32,074 U.S. Governmental agency obligations (unrealized loss position < 12 months) 14,933 - (597 ) 14,336 - $ 32,074 $ - $ (597 ) $ 31,477 $ 32,074 As of March 31, 2021 Less than one year $ - One to five years - Five to ten years 12,984 Greater than ten years 1,949 Total $ 14,933 The following shows the amount of deposits by sales year for the MSA escrow account: Deposits as of Sales Year March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 1999 $ 211 $ 211 2000 1,017 1,017 2001 1,673 1,673 2002 2,271 2,271 2003 4,249 4,249 2004 3,714 3,714 2005 4,553 4,553 2006 3,847 3,847 2007 4,167 4,167 2008 3,364 3,364 2009 1,619 1,619 2010 406 406 2011 193 193 2012 199 199 2013 173 173 2014 143 143 2015 101 101 2016 91 91 2017 83 83 Total $ 32,074 $ 32,074 Food and Drug Administration: FSPTCA On August 8, 2016, the FDA deeming regulation became effective. The deeming regulation gave the FDA the authority to additionally regulate cigars, pipe tobacco, e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and e-liquids as “deemed” tobacco products under the FSPTCA. The FDA assesses tobacco product user fees classes of regulated tobacco products and computes user fees using a methodology similar to the methodology used by the U.S Department of Agriculture to compute the Tobacco Transition Payment Program (“TTPP,” also known as the “Tobacco Buyout”) assessment. First, the total, annual, congressionally established user fee assessment is allocated among the various classes of tobacco products using the federal excise tax weighted market share of tobacco products subject to regulation. Then, the assessment for each class of tobacco products is divided among individual manufacturers and importers In August 2016, the FDA’s regulatory authority under the Tobacco Control Act (the “TCA”) Under the deeming regulations, the FDA has responsibility for conducting premarket review of “new tobacco products”—defined as those products not commercially marketed in the United States as of February 15, 2007. There are three pathways for obtaining premarket authorization, including submission of a premarket tobacco product application (“PMTA”). We submitted premarket filings prior to the September 9, 2020 deadline for certain of our products and intend to supplement and complete the applications within FDA’s discretionary timeline. A successful PMTA must demonstrate that the subject product is “appropriate for the protection of public health,” taking into account the effect of the marketing of the product on all sub-populations while a Substantial Equivalence Report must demonstrate that a new product either has the same characteristics as its predicate product or different characteristics, but does not raise different questions of public health. The FDA is required under a court order to issue a decision related to the authorization of these products within twelve months; otherwise, these products cease to be subject to the FDA’s continued compliance policy, which allows products to be marketed pending premarket review. FDA may, in its discretion and on a case-by-case basis, deviate from this policy. FDA has issued a number of proposed rules related to premarket filings; however, those rules were not finalized until after September 9, 2020. As such, it is unclear whether and how FDA will apply any new or additional requirements to currently pending applications. We believe we have products that meet the requisite standards and have filed premarket filings supporting a showing of the respective required standard. However, there is no assurance that the FDA’s guidance or ultimate regulation will not change, or that the FDA will review and authorize the products in the requisite time period or that, in that circumstance, the FDA will use its discretion on a case-by-case basis to allow for the continued marketing of the products, or that unforeseen circumstances will not arise that prevent us from sufficiently supplementing or completing our applications or otherwise increase the amount of time and money we are required to spend to receive all necessary marketing orders. Although we filed many premarket applications in a timely manner, no assurance can be given that the applications will ultimately be successful. This may result in the prioritization of supplementing or completing applications for high priority SKUs in our inventory position, which could adversely impact future revenues. In addition, we currently distribute many third-party manufactured vapor products for which we will be completely dependent on the manufacturer complying with the premarket filing requirements. There can be no assurance that these third-party products will receive a marketing order. While we will take measures to pursue regulatory compliance for our own privately-branded or proprietary vape products that compete with these third-party products, there is no assurance that such proprietary products would be as successful in the marketplace or can fully displace third-party products that are currently being distributed by us, which could adversely affect our results of operations and liquidity. For a period of time after the filing deadline, we expect there to be a lack of enforcement, which may adversely affect our ability to compete in the marketplace against those who continue to sell unauthorized products. In January 2020, FDA issued a Guidance document (the “January 2020 Guidance”) that stated it would be prioritizing enforcement of several categories of electronic nicotine delivery system (“ENDS”) products: (1) flavored, cartridge-based ENDS products (other than tobacco- or menthol-flavored ENDS products; (2) ENDS products for which the manufacturer has failed to take (or is failing to take) adequate measures to prevent minors’ access; (3) ENDS products targeted to minors or whose marketing is likely to promote the use of ENDS by minors; and (4) ENDS products offered for sale after May 12, 2020, premarket application deadline (later updated to reflect the September 9, 2020 filing deadline) for which the manufacturer has not submitted a premarket application. The policy outlined several factors the agency would consider in its enforcement of flavored cigars going forward but did not restrict those products as it had considered in the March 2019 Guidance proposal. The FDA’s policy on these and other regulated products may change or expand over time in ways not yet known and may significantly impact our products or our premarket filings. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12 to simplify the accounting in ASC 740, Income Taxes . This guidance removes certain exceptions related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. This guidance also clarifies and simplifies other areas of ASC 740. This ASU will be effective beginning in the first quarter of the Company’s fiscal year 2021. Certain amendments in this update must be applied on a prospective basis, certain amendments must be applied on a retrospective basis, and certain amendments must be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings/(deficit) in the period of adoption. The ASU was effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of 2021. The ASU did not have an impact to the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures. In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) . This guidance simplifies the accounting for convertible debt instruments by reducing the number of accounting models and the number of embedded conversion features that could be recognized separately from the convertible instrument. This guidance also enhances transparency and improves disclosures for convertible instruments and earnings per share guidance. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. This update permits the use of either the modified retrospective or fully retrospective method of transition. The Company early adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2021 using the full retrospective method of transition. The adoption resulted in a $ million increase in Accumulated earnings, a $ million increase in Notes payable and long-term debt, a $ million decrease in deferred income taxes and a $ million decrease in Additional paid-in capital as of December 31, 2020, and a $ million decrease in Accumulated deficit and a $ million decrease in Additional paid-in capital as of December 31, 2019. Interest expense will decrease by $ million annually and weighted average diluted common shares outstanding will increase by approximately million shares |