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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Business

HEICO Corporation, through its principal subsidiaries consisting of HEICO Aerospace Holdings Corp. (“HEICO Aerospace”), HEICO Flight Support Corp. and HEICO Electronic Technologies Corp. (“HEICO Electronic”) and their respective subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), is principally engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of aerospace, defense and electronic related products and services throughout the United States ("U.S.") and internationally.  The Company’s customer base is primarily the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries.

Basis of Presentation

The Company has two operating segments:  the Flight Support Group (“FSG”), consisting of HEICO Aerospace and HEICO Flight Support Corp. and their respective subsidiaries; and the Electronic Technologies Group (“ETG”), consisting of HEICO Electronic and its subsidiaries.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation principally to reflect the adoption of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," in the first quarter of fiscal 2019.

The consolidated financial statements include the financial accounts of HEICO Corporation and its direct subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned except for HEICO Aerospace, which is 20% owned by Lufthansa Technik AG ("LHT"), the technical services subsidiary of Lufthansa German Airlines. HEICO Flight Support Corp. consolidates three subsidiaries which are 80%, 82.3% and 84%, owned, respectively, and six subsidiaries that are each 80.1% owned. In addition, HEICO Aerospace consolidates a joint venture, which is 84% owned. HEICO Electronic consolidates seven subsidiaries, which are 75.0%, 80.1%, 80.1%, 82.5%, 85.0%, 92.7% and 95.9% owned, respectively. Certain subsidiaries of HEICO Electronic consolidate subsidiaries that are less than wholly owned. See Note 12, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated.

Use of Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the consolidated financial statements, the Company considers all highly liquid investments such as U.S. Treasury bills and money market funds with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consist of amounts billed and currently due from customers. The valuation of accounts receivable requires that the Company set up an allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts and record a corresponding charge to bad debt expense.  The Company estimates uncollectible receivables based on such factors as its prior experience, its appraisal of a customer’s ability to pay, age of receivables outstanding and economic conditions within and outside of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries.

Contract Assets

Contract assets (unbilled receivables) represent revenue recognized on contracts using an over-time recognition model in excess of amounts invoiced to the customer. See Note 6, Revenue, for additional information regarding the Company's contract assets.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of temporary cash investments and trade accounts receivable.  The Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions and limits the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution.  Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited due to the large number of customers comprising the Company’s customer base and their dispersion across many different geographical regions.  The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers, but does not generally require collateral to support customer receivables.

Inventory

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost being determined on the first-in, first-out or the average cost basis.  Losses, if any, are recognized fully in the period when identified. The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of inventory, giving consideration to factors such as its physical condition, sales patterns and expected future demand in order to estimate the amount necessary to write down any slow moving, obsolete or damaged inventory. These estimates could vary significantly from actual amounts based upon future economic conditions, customer inventory levels or competitive factors that were not foreseen or did not exist when the estimated write-downs were made. In accordance with industry practice, all inventories are classified as a current asset including portions with long production cycles, some of which may not be realized within one year.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost.  Depreciation and amortization is generally provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the various assets.  The Company’s property, plant and equipment is generally depreciated over the following estimated useful lives:

 
Buildings and improvements
10
to
40
years
 
 
Machinery and equipment
3
to
10
years
 
 
Leasehold improvements
2
to
20
years
 
 
Tooling
2
to
5
years
 


The costs of major additions and improvements are capitalized.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the leasehold improvement’s useful life or the lease term.
Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Upon an asset's disposition, its cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the financial accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected within earnings.

Capital Leases

Assets acquired under capital leases are recorded at the lower of the asset's fair value or the present value of the future minimum lease payments, excluding any portion of the lease payments representing executory costs. The discount rate used in determining the present value of the minimum lease payments is the lower of the rate implicit in the lease or the Company's incremental borrowing rate. Assets under capital leases are included in property, plant and equipment and are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term or the useful life of the leased asset. Lease payments under capital leases are recognized as a reduction of the capital lease obligation and as interest expense.

Business Combinations

The Company allocates the purchase price of acquired entities to the underlying tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities and any noncontrolling interests assumed based on their estimated fair values, with any excess recorded as goodwill.  The operating results of acquired businesses are included in the Company’s results of operations beginning as of their effective acquisition dates. Acquisition costs are generally expensed as incurred and totaled $3.2 million in fiscal 2019. Acquisition costs were not material in fiscal 2018 or 2017.

For contingent consideration arrangements, a liability is recognized at fair value as of the acquisition date with subsequent fair value adjustments recorded in operations. Additional information regarding the Company's contingent consideration arrangements may be found in Note 2, Acquisitions, and Note 8, Fair Value Measurements.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually as of October 31, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may not be fully recoverable.  In evaluating the recoverability of goodwill, the Company compares the fair value of each of its reporting units to its carrying value to determine potential impairment.  If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the implied fair value of that reporting unit’s goodwill is to be calculated and an impairment loss is recognized in the amount by which the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, if any. The fair values of the Company's reporting units are determined by using a weighted average of a market approach and an income approach.  Under the market approach, fair values are estimated using published market multiples for comparable companies. The Company calculates fair values under the income approach by taking estimated future cash flows that are based on internal projections and other assumptions deemed reasonable by management and discounting them using an estimated weighted average cost of capital.

The Company’s intangible assets not subject to amortization consist principally of its trade names.  The Company’s intangible assets subject to amortization are amortized on the straight-line method (except for certain customer relationships amortized on an accelerated method) over the following estimated useful lives:
 
Customer relationships
4
to
15
years
 
 
Intellectual property
4
to
22
years
 
 
Licenses
10
to
11
years
 
 
Patents
5
to
20
years
 
 
Trade names
8
to
15
years
 

Amortization expense of intellectual property, licenses and patents is recorded as a component of cost of sales, and amortization expense of customer relationships, non-compete agreements and trade names is recorded as a component of selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.  The Company tests each non-amortizing intangible asset for impairment annually as of October 31, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. To derive the fair value of its trade names, the Company utilizes an income approach, which relies upon management's assumptions of royalty rates, projected revenues and discount rates.  The Company also tests each amortizing intangible asset for impairment if events or circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.  The test consists of determining whether the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through undiscounted expected future cash flows.  If the total of the undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of those assets, the Company recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the assets. The determination of fair value requires management to make a number of estimates, assumptions and judgments of such factors as projected revenues and earnings and discount rates.

Customer Rebates and Credits

The Company records accrued customer rebates and credits as a component of accrued expenses and other current liabilities in its Consolidated Balance Sheets.  These amounts generally relate to discounts negotiated with customers as part of certain sales contracts that are usually tied to sales volume thresholds.  The Company accrues customer rebates and credits as a reduction within net sales as the revenue is recognized based on the estimated level of discount rate expected to be earned by each customer over the life of the contractual rebate period (generally one year).  Accrued customer rebates and credits are monitored by management and discount levels are updated at least quarterly.

Product Warranties

Product warranty liabilities are estimated at the time of shipment and recorded as a component of accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The amount recognized is based on historical claims experience.

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

In connection with a prior year acquisition, the Company assumed a frozen qualified defined benefit pension plan (the "Plan"). The Plan's benefits are based on employee compensation and years of service; however, the accrued benefit for Plan participants was fixed as of the date of acquisition. The Company uses an actuarial valuation to determine the projected benefit obligation of the Plan and records the difference between the fair value of the Plan's assets and the projected benefit obligation as of October 31 in other long-term liabilities in its Consolidated Balance Sheets. Additionally, any actuarial gain or loss that arises during a fiscal year that is not recognized as a component of net periodic pension income or expense is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income or (loss), net of tax. The following table presents the fair value of the Plan's assets and projected benefit obligation as of October 31, for each of the last two fiscal years (in thousands):
 
As of October 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Fair value of plan assets

$11,311

 

$10,379

Projected benefit obligation
13,943

 
12,890

Funded status

($2,632
)
 

($2,511
)

Revenue Recognition
    
During fiscal 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, which, as amended, was codified as Accounting Standard Codification ("ASC") Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASC 606"). Pursuant to ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue when it transfers control of a promised good or service to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for the good or service. The Company's performance obligations are satisfied and control is transferred either at a point-in-time or over-
time. The majority of the Company's revenue is recognized at a point-in-time when control is transferred, which is generally evidenced by the shipment or delivery of the product to the customer, a transfer of title, a transfer of the significant risks and rewards of ownership, and customer acceptance. For certain contracts under which the Company produces products with no alternative use and for which it has an enforceable right to recover costs incurred plus a reasonable profit margin for work completed to date and for certain other contracts under which the Company creates or enhances a customer-owned asset while performing repair and overhaul services, control is transferred to the customer over-time. The Company recognizes revenue using an over-time recognition model for these types of contracts. See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - New Accounting Pronouncements, and Note 6, Revenue, for additional information regarding the Company's revenue recognition policy.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company records compensation expense associated with stock options in its Consolidated Statements of Operations based on the grant date fair value of those awards.  The fair value of each stock option on the date of grant is estimated using the Black-Scholes pricing model based on certain valuation assumptions.  Expected stock price volatility is based on the Company’s historical stock prices over the contractual term of the option grant and other factors.  The risk-free interest rate used is based on the published U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the option grant for instruments with a similar life.  The dividend yield reflects the Company’s expected dividend yield at the date of grant.  The expected option life represents the period of time that the stock options are expected to be outstanding, taking into consideration the contractual term of the option grant and employee historical exercise behavior.  The Company generally recognizes stock option compensation expense ratably over the award’s vesting period.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense includes U.S. and foreign income taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided on elements of income that are recognized for financial reporting purposes in periods different from when recognized for income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Tax law and rate changes are reflected in income in the period such changes are enacted. The Company's policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters as a component of income tax expense and to treat any tax on Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income ("GILTI") as a current period income tax expense. Further information regarding income taxes can be found in Note 7, Income Taxes.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

As further detailed in Note 12, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests, the holders of equity interests in certain of the Company’s subsidiaries have rights (“Put Rights”) that require the Company to provide cash consideration for their equity interests (the “Redemption Amount”) at fair value or at a formula that management intended to reasonably approximate fair value based solely on a multiple of future earnings over a measurement period.  The Put Rights are embedded in the shares owned by the noncontrolling interest holders and are not freestanding.
The Company tracks the carrying cost of such redeemable noncontrolling interests at historical cost plus an allocation of subsidiary earnings based on ownership interest, less dividends paid to the noncontrolling interest holders.  Redeemable noncontrolling interests are recorded outside of permanent equity at the higher of their carrying cost or management’s estimate of the Redemption Amount.  The initial adjustment to record redeemable noncontrolling interests at the Redemption Amount results in a corresponding decrease to retained earnings.  Subsequent adjustments to the Redemption Amount of redeemable noncontrolling interests may result in corresponding decreases or increases to retained earnings, provided any increases to retained earnings may only be recorded to the extent of decreases previously recorded.  Adjustments to Redemption Amounts based on fair value will have no effect on net income per share attributable to HEICO shareholders whereas the portion of periodic adjustments to the carrying amount of redeemable noncontrolling interests based solely on a multiple of future earnings that reflect a redemption amount in excess of fair value will affect net income per share attributable to HEICO shareholders.  Acquisitions of redeemable noncontrolling interests are treated as equity transactions.

Net Income per Share Attributable to HEICO Shareholders

Basic net income per share attributable to HEICO shareholders is computed by dividing net income attributable to HEICO by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted net income per share attributable to HEICO shareholders is computed by dividing net income attributable to HEICO by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus potentially dilutive common shares arising from the assumed exercise of stock options, if dilutive.  The dilutive impact of potentially dilutive common shares is determined by applying the treasury stock method.    

Foreign Currency

All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries that do not utilize the U.S. dollar as its functional currency are translated at period-end exchange rates, while revenue and expenses are translated using average exchange rates for the period.  Unrealized translation gains or losses are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments through other comprehensive income or (loss) in shareholders’ equity. Transaction gains or losses related to monetary balances denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are recorded in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Contingencies

Losses for contingencies such as product warranties, litigation and environmental matters are recognized in income when they are probable and can be reasonably estimated.  Gain contingencies are not recognized in income until they have been realized.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2014-09, which, as amended, was codified as ASC Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASC 606"). ASC 606 provides a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance. Under ASC 606, an entity recognizes revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires additional disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts.
    
The Company adopted ASC 606 as of November 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method and recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying ASC 606 to all uncompleted contracts on the date of adoption as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative information has not been restated and remains as previously reported in accordance with ASC Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition."

ASC 606 impacts the timing of revenue recognition for certain contracts under which the Company produces products with no alternative use and for which it has an enforceable right to recover costs incurred plus a reasonable profit margin for work completed to date. ASC 606 also impacts the timing of revenue recognition for certain other contracts under which the Company creates or enhances customer-owned assets while performing repair and overhaul services. For these two types of contracts, the Company now recognizes revenue using an over-time recognition model as opposed to generally recognizing revenue at the time of shipment under previous guidance. See Note 6, Revenue, for additional information regarding the Company's revenue recognition policy and disclosures required by ASC 606.
        
The following table presents the cumulative effect of adopting ASC 606 on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet as of November 1, 2018 (in thousands):
 
As Reported
 
Impact of
 
As Adjusted
 
Under ASC 605
 
ASC 606
 
Under ASC 606
 
October 31, 2018
 
Adoption
 
November 1, 2018
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Contract assets

$14,183

 

$40,089

 

$54,272

Inventories, net
401,553

 
(29,412
)
 
372,141

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
21,187

 
(489
)
 
20,698

 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
Accrued expenses and other current
liabilities

$171,514

 

($8,588
)
 

$162,926

Deferred income taxes
46,644

 
4,258

 
50,902

 
 
 
 
 
 
Redeemable noncontrolling interests

$132,046

 

$819

 

$132,865

 
 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders' equity
 
 
 
 
 
Retained earnings

$1,091,183

 

$13,373

 

$1,104,556

Noncontrolling interests
104,757

 
326

 
105,083

    
The following table presents the impact of adopting ASC 606 on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet as of October 31, 2019 (in thousands):
 
As of October 31, 2019
 
As Reported
 
Effect of
 
As Adjusted
 
Under ASC 606
 
ASC 606
 
Under ASC 605
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Contract assets

$43,132

 

($39,638
)
 

$3,494

Inventories, net
420,319

 
28,079

 
448,398

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
18,953

 
116

 
19,069

 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
Accrued expenses and other current
liabilities

$178,957

 

$6,144

 

$185,101

Deferred income taxes
51,496

 
(3,978
)
 
47,518

 
 
 
 
 
 
Redeemable noncontrolling interests

$188,264

 

$—

 

$188,264

 
 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders' equity
 
 
 
 
 
Retained earnings

$1,397,327

 

($13,261
)
 

$1,384,066

Noncontrolling interests
28,118

 
(348
)
 
27,770



The impact of adopting ASC 606 on the Company's Consolidated Statement of Operations was not material for fiscal 2019.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases,” which requires recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet of lessees.  ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years and interim reporting periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2018, or in fiscal 2020 for HEICO.  The Company will adopt ASU 2016-02, as amended, as of November 1, 2019 using a modified retrospective transition approach with the election to apply the guidance as of the adoption date instead of at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. The adoption of this guidance will result in an increase in the Company's assets and liabilities due to the recognition of right-of-use ("ROU") assets and corresponding lease liabilities for leases that are currently classified as operating leases.

Upon adoption, the Company will elect certain practical expedients provided by this guidance including the package of transitional practical expedients, which allows the Company to not reassess whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, not reassess the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and not reassess initial direct costs for any existing leases; the short-term lease practical expedient, which allows the Company to not record an ROU asset and lease liability for any lease with a term of twelve months or less, and the single component practical expedient, which will allow the Company to include both lease and
non-lease components associated with a lease as a single lease component, if certain criteria are met, when determining the value of the ROU asset and lease liability.

The adoption of this guidance is expected to result in the Company recording ROU assets and corresponding lease liabilities of approximately $60 million to $75 million in the Company's consolidated balance sheet. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations or cash flows.    

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, "Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment," which is intended to simplify the current test for goodwill impairment by eliminating the second step in which the implied value of a reporting unit is calculated when the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value. Under ASU 2017-04, goodwill impairment should be recognized for the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. ASU 2017-04 must be applied prospectively and is effective for any annual or interim goodwill impairment test in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, or in fiscal 2021 for HEICO. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.