Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

CSS Industries, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries, “CSS” or the “Company”) has prepared the consolidated financial statements included herein pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company has condensed or omitted certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, the statements include all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) required for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year.

The Company’s fiscal year ends on March 31. References to a particular fiscal year refer to the fiscal year ending in March of that year. For example, “fiscal 2018” refers to the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

Nature of Business

CSS is a consumer products company within the seasonal, celebrations and craft markets that is primarily engaged in the design, manufacture, procurement, distribution and sale of seasonal, celebrations and craft social expression products, principally to mass market retailers.

Seasonal The seasonal product category is defined as products designed, produced and sold to mass market retailers for holidays and seasonal events, including Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter and back-to-school. Products include Christmas packaging ribbons and bows, boxed greeting cards, gift tags, gift card holders, gift bags, gift wrap, tissue paper, classroom exchange Valentine cards, Easter egg dyes and novelties, and educational products. Production forecasts for these products are generally known well in advance of shipment.

Celebrations The celebrations product category is defined as products primarily designed to celebrate certain life events or special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or the birth of a child. These products are primarily sold into mass and specialty retailers, floral and packaging wholesalers and distributors. Products include ribbons and bows, floral accessories, infant products, journals, gift card holders, all occasion boxed greeting cards, memory books, scrapbooks, stationery, stickers and other items that commemorate life's celebrations. Products in this category are generally ordered on a replenishment basis throughout the year.

Craft The craft product category is defined as products used for craft activities and includes ribbons, trims, buttons, sewing patterns, knitting needles, needle arts and kids crafts. These products are sold to mass market and specialty retailers and are generally ordered on a replenishment basis throughout the year.

The seasonal nature of CSS’ business has historically resulted in lower sales levels and operating losses in the first and fourth quarters and comparatively higher sales levels and operating profits in the second and third quarters of the Company’s fiscal year, which ends March 31, thereby causing significant fluctuations in the quarterly results of operations of the Company.

The Company's principal operating subsidiaries include Berwick Offray LLC ("Berwick Offray"), Paper Magic Group, Inc. ("Paper Magic"), C.R. Gibson, LLC ("C.R. Gibson"), The McCall Pattern Company, Inc. ("McCall") and Simplicity Creative Corp. ("Simplicity"), and their respective subsidiaries.

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

The Company's foreign subsidiaries use the local currency as the functional currency. The Company translates all assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates and all income and expense accounts at average rates during the period. Translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Gains and losses on foreign currency transactions (denominated in currencies other than the local currency) are not material and are included in other expense (income), net in the consolidated statements of operations.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 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 during the reporting period. Judgments and assessments of uncertainties are required in applying the Company’s accounting policies in many areas. Such estimates pertain to revenue recognition, the valuation of inventory and accounts receivable, the assessment of the recoverability of goodwill and other intangible and long-lived assets, income tax accounting, the valuation of share-based awards and resolution of litigation and other proceedings. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Short-Term Investments

The Company categorized and accounted for its short-term investment holdings as held-to-maturity securities. This categorization was based upon the Company's positive intent and ability to hold these securities until maturity. There were no short-term investments at December 31, 2017 and 2016. Short-term investments at March 31, 2017 consisted of commercial paper with an amortized cost of $19,931,000 and matured in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. Held-to-maturity securities are recorded at amortized cost which approximated fair value at March 31, 2017.

Inventories

The Company records inventory when title is transferred, which occurs upon receipt or prior to receipt dependent on supplier shipping terms. The Company adjusts unsaleable and slow-moving inventory to its estimated net realizable value. Substantially all of the Company’s inventories are stated at the lower of first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost and net realizable value. The remaining portion of the inventory is valued at the lower of last-in, first-out (LIFO) cost and net realizable value.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and include the following (in thousands):



	December 31, 2017			March 31, 2017			December 31, 2016
Land	$	7,052		$	5,838		$	5,818
Buildings, leasehold interests and improvements	45,009			40,661			40,257
Machinery, equipment and other	102,311			89,917			90,681
	154,372			136,416			136,756
Less - Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(102,904		)	(100,652		)	(100,758		)
Net property, plant and equipment	$	51,468		$	35,764		$	35,998

Long-Lived Assets including Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company performs an annual impairment test of the carrying amount of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year. Additionally, the Company would perform its impairment testing at an interim date if events or circumstances indicate that goodwill or intangibles might be impaired. During the nine months ended December 31, 2017, there were no such events or circumstances.

The Company uses a dual approach to determine the fair value of its reporting units, including both a market approach and an income approach. The Company believes the use of multiple valuation techniques results in a more accurate indicator of the fair value of each reporting unit. The test compares the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill, as of the date of the test. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss would be reported.

Other indefinite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of tradenames, which are also required to be tested annually for impairment. The fair value of the Company’s tradenames is calculated using a “relief from royalty payments” methodology. Long-lived assets (including property, plant and equipment), except for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset group may not be recoverable. If such asset group is considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset group. During the nine months ended December 31, 2017, there were no such events or circumstances. See Note 5 for further information on other intangible assets.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes the majority of its revenue from product sales when the goods are shipped, title and risk of loss have been transferred to the customer and collection is reasonably assured. The Company has certain products, primarily sewing patterns, that are on consignment at mass market retailers and the Company recognizes the sale as products are sold to end consumers as recorded at point-of-sale terminals. Provisions for returns, allowances, rebates to customers and other adjustments are provided in the same period that the related sales are recorded.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities," that amends and simplifies existing hedge accounting guidance and allows for more hedging strategies to be eligible for hedge accounting. In addition, the ASU amends disclosure requirements and how hedge effectiveness is assessed. This new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard, but it does not expect that it will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting,” clarifying when a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as a modification. The new guidance requires modification accounting if the fair value, vesting condition or the classification of the award is not the same immediately before and after a change to the terms and conditions of the award. The new guidance is effective for the Company on a prospective basis beginning on April 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. This new guidance is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as it is not the Company’s practice to change either the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards once they are granted.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment" ("ASU 2017-04"). Under the amendments in ASU 2017-04, Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test is eliminated. An entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. Also eliminated is the requirement for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment and, if it fails that qualitative test, to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. Therefore, the same impairment assessment applies to all reporting units. An entity is required to disclose the amount of goodwill allocated to each reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount of net assets. This standard is effective for the Company for its annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. Effective April 1, 2017, the Company elected to early adopt ASU 2017-04 and the amendments described therein will be applied prospectively to all future goodwill impairment tests performed on an interim or annual basis. The adoption of the standard did not have an impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, "Clarifying the Definition of a Business" ("ASU 2017-01"). This new guidance clarifies the definition of a business in order to assist with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. ASU 2017-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted for transactions not reported in financial statements that have been issued or made available for issuance. The new guidance must be applied prospectively on or after the effective date, and no disclosures for a change in accounting principle are required at transition. The Company elected to early adopt ASU 2017-01 effective April 1, 2017 and the new guidance did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory" ("ASU 2016-16") which amends the accounting for income taxes. ASU 2016-16 requires the recognition of the income tax consequences of an intra-entity asset transfer, other than transfers of inventory, when the transaction occurs. For intra-entity transfers of inventory, the income tax effects will continue to be deferred until the inventory has been sold to a third party. The standard is effective in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The new guidance is required to be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company intends to adopt the guidance when it becomes effective in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and does not anticipate that this guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" ("ASU 2016-09"). ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either liability or equity, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the guidance effective April 1, 2017 and recorded a $1,059,000 cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings to recognize deferred taxes attributable to excess tax benefits. The Company also elected to adopt the cash flow presentation of the excess tax benefits prospectively commencing in the first quarter of fiscal 2018.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)" ("ASU 2016-02"). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to record a right-of-use asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The standard also requires certain quantitative and qualitative disclosures. While we are continuing to assess all potential aspects of ASU 2016-02, including taking an inventory of outstanding leases, the Company currently believes the most significant impact relates to our accounting for manufacturing, distribution, warehouse and office space operating leases. The Company expects this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated balance sheet, but does not believe that it will have a material impact on its consolidated net income.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, "Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory" ("ASU 2015-11"). ASU 2015-11 amends the guidelines for the measurement of inventory from lower of cost or market to the lower of cost and net realizable value ("NRV"). NRV is defined as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Under existing standards, inventory is measured at lower of cost or market, which requires the consideration of replacement cost, NRV and NRV less an amount that approximates a normal profit margin. This ASU eliminates the requirement to determine and consider replacement cost or NRV less a normal profit margin for inventory measurement. The new standard is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2015-11 effective April 1, 2017 and it had no impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASU 2014-09"). ASU 2014-09 provides a single model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance. The new standard also requires expanded disclosures regarding the qualitative and quantitative information about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The standard permits the use of either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach.

The Company will adopt the new guidance effective April 1, 2018, with a cumulative-effect adjustment, if any, to opening retained earnings under the modified retrospective approach. The Company’s implementation of this ASU includes the evaluation of its customer agreements to identify terms or conditions that could be considered a performance obligation such that, if material to the terms of the contract, consideration would be allocated to the performance obligation and could accelerate or defer the timing of recognizing revenue. The Company has made significant progress in the review of its customer contracts and its current accounting policies and practices to identify potential differences that could result from applying the requirements of the new standard to its revenue contracts. To date, the Company has evaluated a majority of its revenue streams and based on the Company's preliminary analysis, it does not expect the new revenue standard will have a significant impact on the timing of recognizing revenue. The Company currently does not expect any significant changes to its accounting systems, but it will enhance its internal controls related to the new standard. While the Company has made significant progress, it is still evaluating other aspects of its revenue streams. The Company will continue to update its assessment of the effect that the new revenue guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements, disclosures and related internal controls, and will disclose any material effects, if any