Nature Of Operations And Significant Accounting Policies Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature Of Operations [Policy Text Block]

Nature of Operations

Universal Corporation, which together with its subsidiaries is referred to herein as “Universal” or the “Company,” is the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. The Company conducts its leaf tobacco business in over 30 countries, primarily in major tobacco-producing regions of the world.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Universal Corporation and all domestic and foreign subsidiaries in which the Company maintains a controlling financial interest. Control is generally determined based on a voting interest of greater than 50%, such that Universal controls all significant corporate activities of the subsidiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

The equity method of accounting is used for investments in companies where Universal Corporation has a voting interest of 20% to 50%. These investments are accounted for under the equity method because Universal exercises significant influence over those companies, but not control. The Company received dividends totaling $7.5 million in fiscal year 2019, $5.5 million in fiscal year 2018, and $5.1 million in fiscal year 2017, from companies accounted for under the equity method. Investments where Universal has a voting interest of less than 20% are not significant and do not have readily determinable fair values. As such, the Company has elected the alternate method of measuring these investments at cost, less any impairment. The Company's 49% ownership interest in Socotab L.L.C. (“Socotab”), a leading supplier of oriental tobaccos with operations located principally in Eastern Europe and Turkey, is the primary investment accounted for under the equity method. The investment in Socotab is an important part of the Company's overall product and service arrangements with its major customers. The Company reviews the carrying value of its investments in Socotab and its other unconsolidated affiliates on a regular basis and considers whether any factors exist that might indicate an impairment in value that is other than temporary. At March 31, 2019, the Company determined that no such factors existed with respect to those investments.

The Company's operations in Zimbabwe are deconsolidated under accounting requirements that apply under certain conditions to foreign subsidiaries that are subject to foreign exchange controls and other government restrictions. The investment in the Zimbabwe operations is accounted for at cost less impairment, and was zero at March 31, 2019 and 2018. The Company has a net foreign currency translation loss associated with the Zimbabwe operations of approximately $7.2 million, which remains a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. As a regular part of its reporting, the Company reviews the conditions that resulted in the deconsolidation of the Zimbabwe operations to confirm that such accounting treatment is still appropriate. Dividends from the Zimbabwe operations are recorded in income in the period received.

The Company holds less than a 100% financial interest in certain consolidated subsidiaries. The net income and shareholders’ equity attributable to the noncontrolling interests in these subsidiaries are reported on the face of the consolidated financial statements. During fiscal year 2018, the Company purchased the noncontrolling interest of one subsidiary for $0.6 million. Other than this transaction, there were no changes in the Company’s ownership percentage in any of these subsidiaries during fiscal years 2017, 2018, or 2019.

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

The Company’s investments in its unconsolidated affiliates, which include its Zimbabwe operations, are non-marketable securities. Universal reviews such investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an investment may not be recovered. For example, the Company would review such an investment for impairment if the investee were to lose a significant customer, suffer a large reduction in sales margins, experience a major change in its business environment, or undergo any other significant change in its normal business. In assessing the recoverability of these investments, the Company follows the applicable accounting guidance in determining the fair value of the investments. In most cases, this involves the use of undiscounted and discounted cash flow models (Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy under the accounting guidance). If the fair value of an unconsolidated investee is determined to be lower than its carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized. The determination of fair value using discounted cash flow models is normally not based on observable market data from independent sources and therefore requires significant management judgment with respect to estimates of future operating earnings and the selection of an appropriate discount rate. The use of different assumptions could increase or decrease estimated future operating cash flows, and the discounted value of those cash flows, and therefore could increase or decrease any impairment charge related to these investments.

In its consolidated statements of income, the Company reports its proportional share of the earnings of unconsolidated affiliates accounted for on the equity method based on the pretax earnings of those affiliates, as permitted under the applicable accounting guidance. All applicable foreign and U.S. income taxes are provided on these earnings and reported as a component of consolidated income tax expense. For unconsolidated affiliates located in foreign jurisdictions, repatriation of the Company’s share of the earnings through dividends is assumed in determining consolidated income tax expense.

The following table provides a reconciliation of (1) equity in the pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, as reported in the consolidated statements of income to (2) equity in the net income of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends, as reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017

	Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
	2019			2018			2017
Equity in pretax earnings reported in the consolidated statements of income	$	5,299		$	9,125		$	5,774
Less: Equity in income taxes	(1,441		)	(2,063		)	(1,092		)
Equity in net income	3,858			7,062			4,682
Less: Dividends received on investments (1)	(7,517		)	(5,541		)	(5,078		)
Equity in net income, net of dividends, reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows	$	(3,659	)	$	1,521		$	(396	)

⁽¹⁾ 

In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance, dividends received from unconsolidated affiliates accounted for on the equity method that represent a return on capital (i.e., a return of earnings on a cumulative basis) are presented as operating cash flows in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings Per Share

 The Company calculates basic earnings per share based on earnings available to common shareholders. For fiscal years prior to 2018, dividends paid on the Company’s Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock prior to its conversion (see Note 12) were deducted in determining earnings available to common shareholders. The calculation uses the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share is computed in a similar manner using the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding. Dilutive potential common shares include unvested restricted stock units and performance share awards that are assumed to be fully vested and paid out in shares of common stock, dilutive stock options and stock appreciation rights that were assumed to be exercised, and shares of convertible perpetual preferred stock that were assumed to be converted when the effect was dilutive (prior to their actual conversion). In periods when the effect of the convertible perpetual preferred stock was dilutive and those shares were assumed to be converted into common stock, dividends paid on the preferred stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share.

Calculations of earnings per share for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, are provided in Note 4.

Cash and Cash Equivalents [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase are classified as cash equivalents.

Advances to Suppliers [Policy Text Block]

Advances to Suppliers

In many sourcing origins where the Company operates, it provides agronomy services and seasonal advances of seed, fertilizer, and other supplies to tobacco farmers for crop production, or makes seasonal cash advances to farmers for the procurement of those inputs. These advances are short term, are repaid upon delivery of tobacco to the Company, and are reported in advances to suppliers in the consolidated balance sheets. In several origins, the Company has made long-term advances to tobacco farmers to finance curing barns and other farm infrastructure. In some years, due to low crop yields and other factors, individual farmers may not deliver sufficient volumes of tobacco to fully repay their seasonal advances, and the Company may extend repayment of those advances into future crop years. The long-term portion of advances is included in other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Both the current and the long-term portions of advances to suppliers are reported net of allowances recorded when the Company determines that amounts outstanding are not likely to be collected. Short-term and long-term advances to suppliers totaled approximately $129 million at March 31, 2019 and $150 million at March 31, 2018. The related valuation allowances totaled $18 million at March 31, 2019, and $22 million at March 31, 2018, and were estimated based on the Company’s historical loss information and crop projections. The allowances were reduced by net recoveries of approximately $2.3 million in fiscal year 2019 and $0.9 million in fiscal year 2017, and increased by net provisions for estimated uncollectible amounts of approximately $3.7 million in fiscal year 2018. These net provisions and recoveries are included in selling, general, and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income. Interest on advances is recognized in earnings upon the farmers’ delivery of tobacco in payment of principal and interest. Advances on which interest accrual had been discontinued totaled approximately $6 million at March 31, 2019 and $8 million at March 31, 2018.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories

Tobacco inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Raw materials primarily consist of unprocessed leaf tobacco, which is clearly identified by type and grade at the time of purchase. The Company tracks the costs associated with this tobacco in the final product lots, and maintains this identification through the time of sale. This method of cost accounting is referred to as the specific cost or specific identification method. The predominant cost component of the Company’s inventories is the cost of the unprocessed tobacco. Direct and indirect processing costs related to these raw materials are capitalized and allocated to inventory in a systematic manner. The Company does not capitalize any interest or sales-related costs in inventory. Freight costs are recorded in cost of goods sold. Other inventories consist primarily of seed, fertilizer, packing materials, and other supplies, and are valued principally at the lower of average cost or net realizable value.

Recoverable Value-Added Tax Credits [Policy Text Block]

Recoverable Value-Added Tax Credits

In many foreign countries, the Company’s local operating subsidiaries pay significant amounts of value-added tax (“VAT”) on purchases of unprocessed and processed tobacco, crop inputs, packing materials, and various other goods and services. In some countries, VAT is a national tax, and in other countries it is assessed at the state level. Items subject to VAT vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, as do the rates at which the tax is assessed. When tobacco is sold to customers in the country of origin, the operating subsidiaries generally collect VAT on those sales. The subsidiaries are normally permitted to offset their VAT payments against the collections and remit only the incremental VAT collections to the tax authorities. When tobacco is sold for export, VAT is normally not assessed. In countries where tobacco sales are predominately for export markets, VAT collections generated on downstream sales are often not sufficient to fully offset the subsidiaries’ VAT payments. In those situations, unused VAT credits can accumulate. Some jurisdictions have procedures that allow companies to apply for refunds of unused VAT credits from the tax authorities, but the refund process often takes an extended period of time, and it is not uncommon for refund applications to be challenged or rejected in part on technical grounds. Other jurisdictions may permit companies to sell or transfer unused VAT credits to third parties in private transactions, although approval for such transactions must normally be obtained from the tax authorities, limits on the amounts that can be transferred may be imposed, and the proceeds realized may be heavily discounted from the face value of the credits. Due to these factors, local operating subsidiaries in some countries can accumulate significant balances of VAT credits over time. The Company reviews these balances on a regular basis and records valuation allowances on the credits to reflect amounts that are not expected to be recovered, as well as discounts anticipated on credits that are expected to be sold or transferred. At March 31, 2019 and 2018, the aggregate balances of recoverable tax credits held by the Company’s subsidiaries totaled approximately $53 million and $49 million, respectively, and the related valuation allowances totaled approximately $17 million and $15 million, respectively. The net balances are reported in other current assets and other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is based upon historical cost and the estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciation is calculated primarily using the straight-line method. Buildings include tobacco processing and blending facilities, offices, and warehouses. Machinery and equipment consists of processing and packing machinery and transport, office, and computer equipment. Estimated useful lives range as follows: buildings - 15 to 40 years; processing and packing machinery - 3 to 11 years; transport equipment - 3 to 10 years; and office and computer equipment - 3 to 12 years. Where applicable and material in amount,

the Company capitalizes related interest costs during periods that property, plant and equipment are being constructed or made ready for service. No interest was capitalized in fiscal years 2019, 2018, or 2017.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill and Other Intangibles

Goodwill and other intangibles principally consist of the excess of the purchase price of acquired companies over the fair value of the net assets. Goodwill is carried at the lower of cost or fair value and is reviewed for potential impairment on an annual basis as of the end of the fiscal year. Accounting Standards Codification Topic 350 (“ASC 350”) permits companies to base their initial assessments of potential goodwill impairment on qualitative factors, and the Company elected to use that approach at March 31, 2019 and 2018. Those factors did not indicate any potential impairment of the Company's recorded goodwill at those dates.

Reporting units are distinct operating subsidiaries or groups of subsidiaries that typically compose the Company’s business in a specific country or location. Goodwill is allocated to reporting units based on the country or location to which a specific acquisition relates, or by allocation based on expected future cash flows if the acquisition relates to more than one country or location. The majority of the Company’s goodwill relates to its reporting unit in Brazil. Significant adverse changes in the operations or estimated future cash flows for a reporting unit with recorded goodwill could result in an impairment charge. During fiscal year 2019, based on business changes that have affected the Company's operations in Tanzania, a charge of approximately $0.9 million was recorded for the full impairment of goodwill attributable to that reporting unit. No charges for goodwill impairment were recorded in fiscal years 2018 or 2017.

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Intangible Assets, Impairment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

    The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events, changes in business conditions, or other circumstances provide an indication that such assets may be impaired. Potential impairment is initially assessed by comparing management’s undiscounted estimates of future cash flows from the use or disposition of the assets to their carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the undiscounted cash flows, an impairment charge is recorded to reduce the carrying value of the asset to its fair value determined in accordance with the accounting guidance. In many cases, this involves the use of discounted cash flow models that are not based on observable market data from independent sources (Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy under the accounting guidance). In the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, impairment charges of $14.6 million were recorded on land, building, equipment, and other long-lived assets of the Company's operations in Tanzania due to declining customer demand for tobaccos sourced from that origin, as well as other changes affecting that business (see Note 3). In fiscal year 2017, impairment charges of $2.3 million were incurred on factory and equipment assets as a result of the Company's decision to close its tobacco processing facility in Hungary (see Note 3). No significant charges for the impairment of long-lived assets were recorded during fiscal year 2018.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

The Company provides deferred income taxes on temporary differences between the book and tax basis of its assets and liabilities. Those differences arise principally from employee benefit accruals, depreciation, deferred compensation, undistributed earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries, goodwill, and valuation allowances on farmer advances and value-added tax credits. Income taxes provided on pretax amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are released when the related pretax amounts are reclassified to earnings.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, disclosed in Note 10, approximates the carrying amount since the variable interest rates in the underlying credit agreement reflect the market interest rates that were available to the Company at March 31, 2019. In periods when fixed-rate obligations are outstanding, fair values are estimated using market prices where they are available or discounted cash flow models based on current incremental borrowing rates for similar classes of borrowers and borrowing arrangements. The fair values of interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges and used to fix the variable benchmark rate on outstanding long-term debt are determined separately and recorded in other long-term liabilities. Except for interest rate swaps and forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are discussed below, the fair values of all other assets and liabilities that qualify as financial instruments approximate their carrying amounts.

Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company recognizes all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Interest rate swaps and forward foreign currency exchange contracts are used from time to time to manage interest rate risk and foreign currency risk. The Company enters into such contracts only with counterparties of good standing. The credit exposure related to non-performance by the counterparties and the Company is considered in determining the fair values of the derivatives, and the effect has not been material to the financial statements or operations of the Company. Additional disclosures related to the Company’s derivatives and hedging activities are provided in Note 9.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Translation and Remeasurement of Foreign Currencies

The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries having the local currency as the functional currency are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at period end for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates applicable to each reporting period for results of operations. Adjustments resulting from translation of financial statements are reflected as a separate component of other comprehensive income or loss. The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries having the U.S. dollar as the functional currency, with certain transactions denominated in a local currency, are remeasured into U.S. dollars. The remeasurement of local currency amounts into U.S. dollars creates remeasurement gains and losses that are included in earnings as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses. The Company recognized net remeasurement losses of $1.8 million in fiscal year 2019 and $9.3 million in fiscal year 2017, and net remeasurement gains of $0.2 million in fiscal year 2018.

Foreign currency transactions and forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are not designated as hedges generate gains and losses when they are settled or when they are marked to market under the prescribed accounting guidance. These transaction gains and losses are also included in earnings as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses. The Company recognized net foreign currency transaction losses of $4.3 million in fiscal year 2019, $0.1 million in fiscal year 2018, and $1.3 million in fiscal year 2017.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

As discussed below under "Accounting Pronouncements", the Company adopted updated comprehensive accounting guidance for revenue recognition at the beginning of fiscal year 2019 (Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" and supplemental amendments, now codified as Section 606 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification). Under this updated guidance, revenue is recognized when the Company completes its performance obligation for the transfer of products and services under its contractual arrangements with customers. For sales of tobacco, satisfaction of the performance obligation and recognition of the corresponding revenue is based on the transfer of the ownership and control of the product to the customer, which is substantially unchanged from the previous accounting guidance. A large percentage of the Company’s sales are to major multinational manufacturers of consumer tobacco products. The Company works closely with those customers to understand and plan for their requirements for volumes, styles, and grades of leaf tobacco from its various growing regions, and extensive coordination is maintained on an ongoing basis to determine and satisfy their requirements for transfer of ownership and physical shipment of processed tobacco. The customers typically specify, in sales contracts and in shipping documents, the precise terms for transfer of title and risk of loss for the tobacco. Customer returns and rejections are not significant, and the Company’s sales history indicates that customer-specific acceptance provisions are consistently met upon transfer of title and risk of loss.

While most of the Company’s revenue is derived from tobacco that is purchased from farmers, processed and packed in its factories, and then sold to customers, some revenue is earned from processing tobacco owned by customers and from other value-added services. The arrangements for processing services usually exist in specific markets where the customers contract directly with farmers for leaf production, and they have accounted for less than 5% of total revenue on an annual basis through the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019. Processing and packing of leaf tobacco is a short-duration process. Under normal operating conditions, raw tobacco that is placed into the production line exits as processed and packed tobacco within one hour, and is then later transported to customer-designated storage facilities. The revenue for these services is recognized when the performance obligation is met upon the completion of processing, and the Company’s operating history indicates that customer requirements for processed tobacco are consistently met upon completion of processing.

Additional disclosures related to the Company's revenue from contracts with customers are provided in Note 2.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation

Share-based payments, such as grants of restricted stock units, performance share awards, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, and stock options, are measured at fair value and reported as expense in the financial statements over the requisite service period. Additional disclosures related to stock-based compensation are included in Note 13.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Accounting Pronouncements [Policy Text Block]

Accounting Pronouncements

Pronouncements Adopted in Fiscal Year 2017

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03, “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (“ASU 2015-03”). ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the

balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. ASU 2015-03 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015. The Company adopted ASU 2015-03 effective for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, which was the first quarter of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. The implementation of ASU 2015-03, which required retrospective application, resulted in the reclassification of unamortized debt issuance costs totaling less than $2 million from other noncurrent assets to long-term debt for comparative prior periods.

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-05, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software - Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement” (“ASU 2015-05”). ASU 2015-05 requires customers who enter into a cloud computing arrangement that includes a software license to account for the arrangement as an intangible asset. If the cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the arrangement is accounted for as a service contract. The guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015, and allowed for retrospective or prospective adoption. The Company prospectively adopted ASU 2015-05 effective as of April 1, 2016, the beginning of fiscal year 2017. The Company’s adoption of ASU 2015-05 did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-07, "Fair Value Measurement, Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value per Share or its Equivalent" ("ASU 2015-07"). ASU 2015-07 removed the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient and eliminated certain disclosures for those investments. The Company adopted ASU 2015-07 effective as of April 1, 2016, the beginning of fiscal year 2017. Disclosures for all periods presented in Note 9 - Fair Value Measurements reflect the revised category presentation.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718)" ("ASU 2016-09"). ASU 2016-09 provides simplification for the accounting for employee stock-based payment transactions, including the related income tax consequences, the classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and the classification of transactions in the statement of cash flows. The guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to early-adopt ASU 2016-09 effective April 1, 2016, which was the beginning of its fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. As required by the guidance, employee tax withholding payments and excess tax benefits resulting from stock-based compensation are classified as financing activities and operating activities, respectively, in the consolidated statements of cash flows for all periods presented.    

Pronouncements Adopted in Fiscal Year 2018

In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory” (“ASU 2015-11”). ASU 2015-11 requires that most inventory be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value. ASU 2015-11 defines net realizable value as the "estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonable predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation." ASU 2015-11 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2016, and was adopted by the Company effective April 1, 2017, the beginning of fiscal year 2018. As required under the guidance, ASU 2015-11 has been applied prospectively after the date of adoption, and its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.    

In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815)" ("ASU 2017-12").  ASU 2017-12 expands derivative strategies that quality for hedge accounting and amends presentation and disclosure requirements. The guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to early-adopt ASU 2017-12 in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018. As required under the guidance, ASU 2017-12 was applied using the modified retrospective approach and its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02, "Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) - Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" ("ASU 2018-02") to address the disproportionate income tax effects on pretax amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) resulting from the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017. Under the existing accounting guidance, companies were required to record the impact of changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities from the enactment of the new law through income from continuing operations, including the impact related to pretax amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). As a result, the income tax effects on amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were not reflective of the rates at which those amounts ultimately would be taxed. ASU 2018-02 permits companies to reclassify these disproportionate tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to retained earnings. It was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to early-adopt ASU 2018-02 in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018 and reclassify the disproportionate tax effects to retained earnings as allowed under the guidance. The reclassification increased accumulated other comprehensive loss and increased retained earnings by approximately $12.4 million.

Pronouncements Adopted in Fiscal Year 2019    

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (ASU 2014-09), which superseded substantially all of the current revenue recognition guidance under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”), and was developed under a joint project with the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) to improve and converge the existing revenue recognition accounting guidance in U.S. GAAP and International Accounting Standards.  Under ASU 2014-09, the central underlying principle is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers at an amount determined by the consideration a company expects to receive for those goods or services.  The guidance outlines a five-step process for determining the amount and timing of revenue to be recognized from those arrangements.  ASU 2014-09 and various supplemental amendments were codified into the U.S. GAAP hierarchy in Section 606 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC 606”).  The Company's implementation process for ASU 2014-09 included a comprehensive assessment of its contractual arrangements with customers that involved classifying those arrangements by specific revenue streams, documenting the relevant terms and conditions of the contracts, and determining the appropriate revenue recognition for those contracts under the new guidance. Through this process, the Company determined in all cases that revenue recognition under the new guidance based on the transfer of its goods and services to customers was substantially the same as under the prior guidance. The Company adopted ASU 2014-09 effective April 1, 2018, the beginning of fiscal year 2019. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 had no impact on the amount and timing of revenue recognized, and no adjustment for the cumulative effect of implementing the new guidance was required under the modified retrospective transition adoption method selected by the Company. The disclosures required for revenue recognition under the new guidance are provided in Note 2.

In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” ("ASU 2016-01"). ASU 2016-01 requires all equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income (other than those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee). The Company adopted ASU 2016-01 effective April 1, 2018, the beginning of fiscal year 2019. The adoption of ASU 2016-01 did not have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.    

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments" ("ASU 2016-15"). ASU 2016-15 provides guidance on the disclosure and classification of certain items within the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 using the retrospective approach effective April 1, 2018, the beginning of fiscal year 2019. The adoption resulted in the reporting of life insurance proceeds as a cash flow from investing activities and a corresponding reclassification for the prior year period, but otherwise did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated statement of cash flows for the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-16, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory" ("ASU 2016-16"). ASU 2016-16 requires companies to recognize the income tax effects of intercompany sales or transfers of assets other than inventory in the income statement as income tax expense in the period the sale or transfer occurs, rather than deferring those tax effects until the asset has been sold to a third-party or otherwise recognized in earnings through depreciation, amortization, or impairment. In prior fiscal reporting periods, various subsidiaries of the Company sold tobacco processing equipment to other subsidiaries, and the related income effects have been deferred as required under the previous accounting guidance. The Company adopted ASU 2016-16 effective April 1, 2018, the beginning of fiscal year 2019. Under the modified retrospective transition method required by the guidance, the Company recorded a $1.9 million reduction to retained earnings for the year ended March 31, 2019 for the cumulative effect of recognizing the deferred income tax effects on all prior intercompany sales of equipment as of the date of adoption.

In March 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-07, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715)" ("ASU 2017-07"). ASU 2017-07 requires that an employer report the service cost component of pension or other postretirement benefits expense in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net periodic benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations. With the adoption of ASU 2017-07, the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost continues to be reported in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income, or in cost of goods sold for the portion that is recorded as a component of the cost of inventory sold or services provided to customers. The other components of net benefit cost, which include interest cost, expected return on plan assets, and the net amortization and deferral of actuarial gains and losses, are included in other non-operating income (expense) in the consolidated statements of income. The Company adopted ASU 2017-07 effective April 1, 2018, the beginning of fiscal year 2019. The financial statement presentation for comparative prior periods has been reclassified accordingly using amounts previously disclosed for net periodic benefit cost as a practical expedient. The components of net periodic benefit cost and other disclosures related to the Company's pension and other postretirement benefit plans are provided in Note 11.

Pronouncements to be Adopted in Future Periods

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 requires a lessee to recognize lease payment obligations as a lease liability and the corresponding right-of-use asset as a leased asset in the balance sheet for the term of the lease. This guidance supersedes Topic 840 “Leases” and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company will be required to adopt ASU 2016-02 effective April 1, 2019, which is the beginning of its fiscal year ending March 31, 2020. The process of cataloging the leasing arrangements for all subsidiaries and operating locations is substantially complete, including both traditional lease arrangements and other arrangements under various service and supply contracts that qualify as leases under ASU 2016-02. The Company has also made final determinations on the adoption of certain practical expedients for implementation that are provided for under the new guidance. The Company has licensed third-party software to track its leasing arrangements and account for the right-of-use assets and related lease obligations. The process of entering lease records and related details into the software platform is nearing completion.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments" ("ASU 2016-13"). ASU 2016-13 replaces current methods for evaluating the impairment of financial instruments not measured at fair value with a model that reflects expected credit losses. Financial instruments to which ASU 2016-13 will apply for the Company include trade accounts receivable and advances to suppliers. The guidance in ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company will be required to adopt the new standard effective April 1, 2020, which is the beginning of its fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, and is currently evaluating the impact that the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-04, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350)" ("ASU 2017-04"). Under current accounting guidance, the fair value of a reporting unit to which a specific goodwill balance relates is first compared to its carrying value in the financial statements (Step 1). If that comparison indicates that the goodwill is impaired, an implied fair value for the goodwill must then be calculated by deducting the individual fair values of all other assets and liabilities, including any unrecognized intangible assets, from the total fair value of the reporting unit (Step 2). ASU 2017-04 simplifies the accounting guidance by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test and using the fair value of the reporting unit determined in Step 1 to measure the goodwill impairment loss. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company will be required to adopt ASU 2017-04 effective April 1, 2020, which is the beginning of its fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, and is currently evaluating the impact that the updated guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

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Reclassifications [Policy Text Block]

classifications Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.