Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Business

Genuine Parts Company and all of its majority-owned subsidiaries (the Company) is a distributor of automotive replacement parts, industrial replacement parts, office products, and electrical/electronic materials. The Company serves a diverse customer base through approximately 2,670 locations in North America and Australasia and, therefore, has limited exposure from credit losses to any particular customer, region, or industry segment. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and generally does not require collateral. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include all of the accounts of the Company. The net income attributable to noncontrolling interests is not material to the Company’s consolidated net income. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates and the differences could be material.

Revenue Recognition

The Company records revenue when the following criteria are met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the Company’s price to the customer is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Delivery is not considered to have occurred until the customer assumes the risks and rewards of ownership.

Foreign Currency Translation

The consolidated balance sheets and statements of income and comprehensive income of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries have been translated into U.S. dollars at the current and average exchange rates, respectively. The foreign currency translation adjustment is included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Trade Accounts Receivable and the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company evaluates the collectability of trade accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. The Company estimates an allowance for doubtful accounts as a percentage of net sales based on historical bad debt experience and periodically adjusts this estimate when the Company becomes aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filing) or as a result of changes in the overall aging of accounts receivable. While the Company has a large customer base that is geographically dispersed, a general economic downturn in any of the industry segments in which the Company operates could result in higher than expected defaults and, therefore, the need to revise estimates for bad debts. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, the Company recorded provisions for doubtful accounts of approximately $11,515,000, $12,373,000, and $7,192,000, respectively. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the allowance for doubtful accounts was approximately $15,557,000 and $10,693,000, respectively.

Merchandise Inventories, Including Consideration Received From Vendors

Merchandise inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method for a majority of automotive parts, electrical/electronic materials, and industrial parts, and by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method for office products and certain other inventories. If the FIFO method had been used for all inventories, cost would have been approximately $426,760,000 and $438,510,000 higher than reported at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. During 2016 and 2014, reductions in inventory levels in industrial parts inventories resulted in liquidations of LIFO inventory layers. The effect of the LIFO liquidations in 2016 and 2014 was to reduce cost of goods sold by approximately $6,000,000 and $8,000,000, respectively. There were no LIFO liquidations in 2015.

The Company identifies slow moving or obsolete inventories and estimates appropriate provisions related thereto. Historically, these losses have not been significant as the vast majority of the Company’s inventories are not highly susceptible to obsolescence and are eligible for return under various vendor return programs. While the Company has no reason to believe its inventory return privileges will be discontinued in the future, its risk of loss associated with obsolete or slow moving inventories would increase if such were to occur.

The Company enters into agreements at the beginning of each year with many of its vendors that provide for inventory purchase incentives. Generally, the Company earns inventory purchase incentives upon achieving specified volume purchasing levels or other criteria. The Company accrues for the receipt of these incentives as part of its inventory cost based on cumulative purchases of inventory to date and projected inventory purchases through the end of the year. While management believes the Company will continue to receive consideration from vendors in 2017 and beyond, there can be no assurance that vendors will continue to provide comparable amounts of incentives in the future.

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist primarily of prepaid expenses, amounts due from vendors, and income taxes receivable.

Goodwill

The Company reviews its goodwill annually in the fourth quarter, or sooner if circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may exceed fair value. The Company tests goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is an operating segment or a level below an operating segment, which is referred to as a component. A component of an operating segment is a reporting unit if the component constitutes a business for which discrete financial information is available and management regularly reviews the operating results of that component. However, two or more components of an operating segment are aggregated and deemed a single reporting unit if the components have similar economic characteristics.

The present value of future cash flows approach was used to determine any potential impairment. The Company determined that goodwill was not impaired and, therefore, no impairments were recognized for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014.

Other Assets

Other assets are comprised of the following:



	December 31
	2016		2015
	(In Thousands)
Retirement benefit assets	$	6,721	$	3,336
Deferred compensation benefits	29,222		28,488
Investments	28,793		28,351
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	106,251		105,213
Customer sales returns inventories	68,160		72,814
Guarantees related to borrowings	42,000		35,000
Other long-term prepayments and receivables	194,383		187,716
Total other assets	$	475,530	$	460,918

The guarantees related to borrowings are discussed further in the guarantees footnote.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization is primarily determined on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful life of each asset: buildings and improvements, 10 to 40 years; machinery and equipment, 5 to 15 years.

Long-Lived Assets Other Than Goodwill

The Company assesses its long-lived assets other than goodwill for impairment whenever facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable. To analyze recoverability, the Company projects undiscounted net future cash flows over the remaining life of such assets. If these projected cash flows are less than the carrying amount, an impairment would be recognized, resulting in a write-down of assets with a corresponding charge to earnings. Impairment losses, if any, are measured based upon the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the assets.

Other Long-Term Liabilities

Other long-term liabilities are comprised of the following:



	December 31
	2016		2015
	(In Thousands)
Post-employment and other benefit/retirement liabilities	$	56,723	$	54,034
Insurance liabilities	37,608		33,979
Other lease obligations	39,221		37,642
Other taxes payable	16,997		15,495
Customer deposits	79,528		85,552
Guarantees related to borrowings	42,000		35,000
Other	195,981		198,254
Total other long-term liabilities	$	468,058	$	459,956

The guarantees related to borrowings are discussed further in the guarantees footnote.

Self-Insurance

The Company is self-insured for the majority of group health insurance costs. A reserve for claims incurred but not reported is developed by analyzing historical claims data provided by the Company’s claims administrators. These reserves are included in accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as the expenses are expected to be paid within one year.

Long-term insurance liabilities consist primarily of reserves for the workers’ compensation program. In addition, the Company carries various large risk deductible workers’ compensation policies for the majority of workers’ compensation liabilities. The Company records the workers’ compensation reserves based on an analysis performed by an independent actuary. The analysis calculates development factors, which are applied to total reserves as provided by the various insurance companies who underwrite the program. While the Company believes that the assumptions used to calculate these liabilities are appropriate, significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in these assumptions may materially affect workers’ compensation costs.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Accumulated other comprehensive loss is comprised of the following:



	December 31
	2016			2015
	(In Thousands)
Foreign currency translation	$	(403,941	)	$	(394,984	)
Unrecognized net actuarial loss, net of tax	(611,333		)	(540,018		)
Unrecognized prior service credit, net of tax	2,253			4,384
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(1,013,021	)	$	(930,618	)

The following table presents the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the years ended on December 31, 2016 and 2015:



	Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss by Component
	Pension Benefits			Other Post- Retirement Benefits			Foreign Currency Translation			Total
	(In Thousands)
Beginning balance, January 1, 2015	$	(532,069	)	$	(1,144	)	$	(186,998	)	$	(720,211	)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(25,558		)	(111		)	(207,986		)	(233,655		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	23,412			(164		)	—			23,248
Net current period other comprehensive loss	(2,146		)	(275		)	(207,986		)	(210,407		)
Ending balance, December 31, 2015	(534,215		)	(1,419		)	(394,984		)	(930,618		)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications, net of tax	(92,758		)	15			(8,957		)	(101,700		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	19,505			(208		)	—			19,297
Net current period other comprehensive loss	(73,253		)	(193		)	(8,957		)	(82,403		)
Ending balance, December 31, 2016	$	(607,468	)	$	(1,612	)	$	(403,941	)	$	(1,013,021	)

The accumulated other comprehensive loss components related to the pension benefits are included in the computation of net periodic benefit income in the employee benefit plans footnote.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts reflected in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, and borrowings under the line of credit approximate their respective fair values based on the short-term nature of these instruments. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the fair value of fixed rate debt was approximately $549,000,000 and $501,000,000, respectively. The fair value of fixed rate debt is designated as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy (i.e., significant observable inputs) and is based primarily on the discounted value of future cash flows using current market interest rates offered for debt of similar credit risk and maturity. At December 31, 2016, the carrying value of fixed rate debt was $550,000,000 and is included in long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheet. At December 31, 2015, the carrying value of fixed rate debt was $500,000,000 and is included in current portion of debt and long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheet.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are classified as selling, administrative and other expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income and totaled approximately $230,000,000, $240,000,000, and $230,000,000, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and totaled $66,900,000, $75,000,000, and $71,300,000 in the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

Accounting for Legal Costs

The Company’s legal costs expected to be incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as such costs are incurred.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company maintains various long-term incentive plans, which provide for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), restricted stock, restricted stock units (RSUs), performance awards, dividend equivalents and other share-based awards. SARs represent a right to receive upon exercise an amount, payable in shares of common stock, equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise over the base value of the grant. The terms of such SARs require net settlement in shares of common stock and do not provide for cash settlement. RSUs represent a contingent right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock at a future date. The majority of awards previously granted vest on a pro-rata basis for periods ranging from one to five years and are expensed accordingly on a straight-line basis. The Company issues new shares upon exercise or conversion of awards under these plans.

Net Income per Common Share

Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. The computation of diluted net income per common share includes the dilutive effect of stock options, stock appreciation rights and nonvested restricted stock awards options. Options to purchase approximately 1,290,000, 1,280,000, and 610,000 shares of common stock ranging from $87 — $100 per share were outstanding at December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. These options were excluded from the computation of diluted net income per common share because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market prices of common stock in each respective year.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which will create a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. The standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and may be adopted either retrospectively or on a modified retrospective basis. The core principle of the new standard is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, it is possible more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing guidance, including identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation, among others.

The Company has established a cross-functional implementation team to evaluate and implement the new standard update related to the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The Company primarily sells goods and recognizes revenue at point of sale or delivery and this will not change under the new standard. We are completing an analysis of revenue streams at each of the business units and are evaluating the impact the new standard may have on revenue recognition. In addition, the Company is evaluating recently issued guidance on practical expedients as part of the transition decision.

Preliminarily, the Company plans to use the modified retrospective adoption method and does not believe there will be a material impact to the Company’s consolidated revenues upon adoption. The Company will continue to evaluate the impacts of the pending adoption of ASU 2014-09 and the preliminary assessments are subject to change.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”). ASU 2015-02 amends the consolidation requirements and significantly changes the consolidation analysis required. ASU 2015-02 requires management to reevaluate all legal entities under a revised consolidation model to specifically (i) modify the evaluation of whether limited partnership and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (“VIEs”), (ii) eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, (iii) affect the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships, and (iv) provide a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities with interests in legal entities that are required to comply with or operate in accordance with requirements that are similar to those in Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Act of 1940 for registered money market funds. ASU 2015-02 is effective for the Company's interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of ASU 2015-02 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or related disclosures.

In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-07, Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent), which no longer requires investments that measure fair value using net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient to be categorized in the fair value hierarchy. ASU 2015-07 is effective for the Company's interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The impact of the adoption of ASU 2015-07 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the presentation of investments measured at net asset value is shown in the employee benefit plans footnote.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASU 2016-02"), which requires an entity to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than twelve months. Expanded disclosures with additional qualitative and quantitative information will also be required. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The new standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, but the Company does believe the adoption of this standard will have a significant impact on the consolidated balance sheets. As disclosed in the leased properties footnote, future minimum payments under noncancelable operating leases are approximately $865,000,000 and the Company does believe the adoption of this standard will have a significant impact on the consolidated balance sheets.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting ("ASU 2016-09") that changes the accounting for certain aspects of share-based compensation to employees including forfeitures, employer tax withholding, and the financial statement presentation of excess tax benefits or expense. ASU 2016-09 also clarifies the statement of cash flows presentation for certain components of share-based compensation, which prospectively reclassifies cash flows from excess tax benefits of share-based compensation currently disclosed in financing activities to operating activities in the period of adoption. The guidance will increase income tax expense volatility, as well as the Company's cash flows from operations. In addition, the Company did not elect to change shares withheld for employment income tax purposes, or the current methodology of estimating forfeitures upon adoption. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-09 January 1, 2017, and it is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or related disclosures.